A jury in DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz’s highly secured courtroom found six defendants involved in a mass shooting guilty on July 3, following just one day of deliberations. The verdict triggered an emotional response between the suspects and members of the victims’ families.
Erwin Dubose, 31, Kamar Queen, 28, Damonta Thompson, 28, and William Johnson-Lee, 22, were convicted of conspiracy, premeditated first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, among other charges, for their involvement in the mass shooting that killed 31-year-old Donnetta Dyson, 24-year-old Keenan Braxton, and 37-year-old Johnny Joyner. The incident occurred on the 600 block of Longfellow Street, NW on Sept. 4, 2021, and injured three additional individuals.
Mussay Rezene, 32, and Toyia Johnson, 53, were convicted of accessory after the fact while armed and tampering with physical evidence for their involvement in assisting the other defendants in discarding evidence and avoiding arrest.
Throughout the trial, the prosecution presented thousands of pieces of evidence in an attempt to prove the defendants conspired to commit the shooting and get rid of incriminating evidence.
The jury alerted Judge Kravitz they had found the defendants guilty of all charges.
“All of you have made an extraordinary contribution to the distribution of justice,” said Judge Kravitz, before dismissing the jury following a four month long trial.
As the verdict was read, Johnson, who could face up to 20 years for her accessory charges, struggled to control tears. Queen, the lead perpetrator in the murders, according to the prosecution, consoled her by putting a hand on her shoulder.
However, as the group was leaving the courthouse, tempers flared. Johnson was met with shouts of disapproval from family members of the shooting victims, to which she responded. Queen then joined the verbal altercation.
“You’re going to jail for the rest of your life,” said one family member to Queen.
“At least I’m alive. Your son is dead,” Queen was heard responding.
After escalating responses, Queen was physically removed from the courtroom by three Marshals. There were some 20 Marshals present at the hearing.
One family member, distraught at the response from Queen, left the courtroom still shouting, stirred by what happened.
Johnson’s defense attorney, David Akulian, reminded Judge Kravitz of a pending motion for judgment of acquittal, which was filed June 24. The prosecution requested two weeks to respond to the motion. They are slated to reconvene Oct. 3 to deal with the motion.
The prosecution stated that they were not seeking confinement for Johnson before sentencing, and she remained on her current release conditions.
However, the other five defendants are held without release prior to sentencing.
Parties are slated to reconvene Oct. 30 for sentencing.
