Both parties presented passionate opening statements in a homicide trial before DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson on April 2.
Jamil Whitley, 38, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol without a license outside of a home or business, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction greater than one year. These charges stem from his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Kevin Redd, 32, that occurred on the 4700 block of Jay Street, NE on June 11, 2020. Redd sustained three gunshot wounds.
Before the jury was called, defense attorney Madalyn Harvey challenged the admissibility of body-worn camera footage from an officer who responded to the shooting. Harvey argued that the officer made statements in the video that would be harmful to Whitley if the jury heard them. Prosecutors played the video for Judge Dayson, who didn’t have an issue with its admissibility.
In their opening statement, prosecutors explained that Redd was intoxicated when a co-worker dropped him off at a Shell gas station near his home, at the 4300 block of Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, NE. Whitley was also at the Shell with a car full of friends at this same time. Whitley exited the car to make a purchase at the Shell when he met Redd for the first time.
After making a purchase at the Shell, Whitley left in the car with his friends, returning 13 minutes later with “deadly intentions,” alone, armed with a firearm, and in a different car, which belonged to his girlfriend. Redd, who was still at the Shell, was beckoned over to Whitley’s car and entered the car before it drove away, said prosecutors.
Prosecutors continued, stating that Whitley drove to an alley, shot Redd, and “left him to die,” describing it as a “premeditated act.”
Whitley’s attorney, James Brockway, said that prosecutors won’t evidence that Whitley shot Redd because he only “gave him a ride.” According to Brockway, Redd and Whitley met in the Shell, and Redd asked Whitley’s friends for some marijuana. Whitley told Redd he would get him some and returned 13 minutes later in a different car to give Redd the drug.
Brockway stated that Whitley did not shoot Redd, and a gun was never found. Additionally, prosecutors will provide no witness testimony to support the murder during the course of the trial. Brockway said that Whitley was accused of murder for doing a small favor and “didn’t ask for any of this.”
Following opening arguments, prosecutors called the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer who responded to the shooting. The prosecution showed the jury two satellite images of the neighborhood where the incident took place, and the officer circled the Shell mentioned in opening arguments, and the alley where the shooting occurred.
Prosecutors also played a video from the officer’s body-worn camera, depicting the officer arriving on the scene and finding Redd in the alley. According to the officer, she searched the scene for physical evidence and witnesses and talked with two individuals who lived on the block.
The prosecution then called Whitley’s son’s mother to testify. Although the witness moved to Georgia, police there visited her on behalf of the MPD in 2021. Prosecutors played body-worn camera footage for the jury of the witness from 2021 when she identified Whitley in a video of him exiting a car. The witness said upon seeing the video she “was in shock” and thought “did something happen to my son’s dad?”
On cross-examination, Harvey pointed out that the prosecution funded the witness’ return to DC in 2021 and now for this trial, including paying for her plane tickets and lodging.
The prosecution clarified with the witness that the free trip was no incentive to testify as she did not want to be there.
A communication office employee from the MPD who made a compilation video also testified. The video surveillance footage of someone MPD officers considered to be a “person of interest.”
The video is then promoted on social media in the hopes that someone from the public will be able to provide MPD with more information about the individual. The MPD employee said “with a case like this” they “would have promoted it as much as possible.”
Harvey revealed through cross-examination that the surveillance videos for the compilations were selected by MPD officers and the people in the videos that were not considered to be of interest were not shared with the public.
Prosecutors also called Redd’s father, who identified his son from a photograph that prosecutors showed the jury.
Parties are scheduled to reconvene on April 6.
