A fatal shooting defendant remains jailed without bond after DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz established probable cause during a preliminary hearing on July 7.
Dione Dorn, 42, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Jaydon Parson, 23, on Feb. 18 on the 700 block of H Street, NE.
According to court documents, Parson was shot outside of a bar on H Street after what appeared to be a verbal altercation with two other individuals occurred inside. CCTV footage captured Parson exiting the bar, and he was followed by the two suspects. He attempted to enter his vehicle when he was dragged out by one of the suspects. He shot the other suspect in the hand who then shot him several times before the two fled the scene.
During the hearing, the prosecution called on a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective leading the case. Surveillance video of the incident was shown including evidence of the verbal altercation within the bar, CCTV footage of the shooting on H street, and footage of the suspects fleeing the scene and driving off in a vehicle. The detective used Dorn’s distinctive red outfit as identifying evidence.
Court documents indicate that after the shooting, MPD officers were able to track the suspect vehicle to an apartment complex where Dorn was again allegedly captured on video in his colorful clothing. Detectives conducted interviews at the apartment complex, where the defendant’s brother, a resident, was able to identify the person in the video as Dorn.
The detective testified that Dorn provided his phone number during an interview conducted after the shooting. Cell site analysis was conducted and placed Dorn around H street before and during the shooting, as well as in the area of the apartment complex he allegedly fled to after the incident.
According to court documents, officers showed Dorn a photo of himself from the night of the incident to which he replied, “that looks like me, but I don’t own those clothes.”
Dorn’s defense attorney, Megan Allburn, cross-examined the detective identifying Dorn as the suspect. The detective testified that nobody on the scene was able to identify the shooter, and the security at the bar had no information on the verbal altercation that occurred inside.
In response to Allburn’s questioning regarding physical evidence, the detective noted that the car the suspects used to flee was not registered to Dorn. Clothing and firearm evidence have not been recovered, according to the detective.
Judge Kravitz concluded that there was very strong evidence that the individual on the video footage committed the murder. He used Dorn’s own interview testimony, distinctive appearance, and cell site analysis as evidence for probable cause that the individual was Dorn.
Parties are slated to reconvene on July 10.
