Two witnesses testified in a homicide trial before DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson on April 8 about awakening to gunshots coming from the alley behind their houses.
Jamil Whitley, 38, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Kevin Redd on June 11, 2020, at the rear end of the alley on the 4700 block of Jay Street, NE.
According to court documents, in the early morning hours, Whitley and Redd were at a Shell gas station, at the 4300 block of Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, NE. Prosecutors claim Whitley later followed Redd in a white vehicle to a nearby alley, where he allegedly fatally shot him.
In court, prosecutors called two witnesses who lived near the crime scene. Both of their residences had windows overlooking the alley where Redd was killed.
The first witness testified about gunshots waking her up. She detailed how after waiting in place to ensure her safety, she looked out a window facing the alley and saw a man laying on the ground. She testified that he was moving but not standing and she did not recognize him. While calling the authorities, she reported hearing a car driving away.
On a map provided by the prosecution, the witness marked her residence and the alley where she saw Redd.
On cross-examination, Whitley’s attorney, James Brockway, confirmed that the person did not see anyone else in the alley nor what happened before the gunshots, and did not look out the window until after the shooting. Brockway also asked if she saw a car driving away or could identify it and she responded no to both questions.
The second witness recounted a similar story. She detailed hearing gunshots that were “closer than usual” and heard “stuff going on” behind her house. After hearing the gunshots, she testified that she turned off of the lights and looked out the window that overlooked the alley. She heard tires screeching and “saw a young man laying on the ground,” which prompted her to call 911.
On cross-examination, the civilian confirmed to Brockway that she did not see when the man was shot, anyone else in the alley, or a car in the alley.
Prosecutors played audio recordings of both civilians’ 911 calls.
Prosecutors also called an analyst from the Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) who responded to the crime scene. The official testified that she walked through the alley with a detective, documenting and photographing potential evidence.
The prosecution presented a series of photographs taken at the scene, many of which were marked with evidence placards. The forensic scientist identified several items in the images, including suspected blood, shattered glass, a plastic cup, a Styrofoam cup, and a single purple slipper located in the alley.
“We photographed everything in the area,” the forensic scientist said.
The analyst also testified about clothing she received from Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers, including a blue-and-white shirt, blue jeans with a black belt, black boxers, socks, and multicolored tennis shoes. Photographs displayed in court appeared to show suspected blood on the shirt.
During cross-examination, Whitley’s other attorney, Madalyn Harvey, questioned the thoroughness of the evidence collection. Harvey pointed out that not all broken glass from the scene was collected.
“It would have been almost impossible to get every piece of glass,” the forensic scientist responded.
Harvey also asked whether the forensic specialist observed marijuana bags in the pockets of the jeans. She said she had not, referencing her notes and stating that any remaining contents were documented as “miscellaneous items.”
The forensic scientist also told Harvey that MPD officers instructed her what items to collect and she did not know the reasons for their decisions not to collect certain items.
Prosecutors called a second forensic scientist with DFS who completed a re-canvas of the crime scene the next day. The prosecutors asked him about several pictures of the alley. He identified each of them as a photo he took and explained to the jury the location of each in relation to the location of the shooting.
One photo showed two cigarette butts which he explained he captured as evidence because they “appeared fresh” and were dry compared to the trees and ground in the same area.
He also detailed his interaction with one individual during his investigation, who was smoking a cigarette off of his back porch facing the alley. The forensic scientist said he asked the civilian if he frequently disposed of his cigarette butts in the alley to which the civilian responded “sometimes.” The forensic scientist stated that he then decided not to conduct further processing of the other cigarette butts.
Harvey raised during cross-examination an issue with the forensic scientist’s credibility, citing reprimands he received from DFS about failure to follow procedure. In a letter addressed to the forensic scientist about a different crime, DFS stated that his “actions compromised the integrity of the investigation.”
In response, the forensic scientist said that he was “falsely reprimanded” and that his “HR and management are trying to make [him] look bad and scapegoating” him.
Harvey continued to ask the forensic scientist about the relevant investigation, confirming that he only took two cigarette butts into evidence even though there were many more in the same location.
The forensic scientist said that he did not take them because they were “wet and dirty” and “of no probative value.” Harvey concluded her questioning by noting, “you decided that.”
Prosecutors also called a witness specializing in security technology. The witness testified that he installed both interior and exterior surveillance cameras at a nearby business, identified in court as “Cannabis.” Using a map, the witness indicated the direction of the cameras, including one that faced Jay Street, where the white car that prosecutors allege Whitley drove as he followed Redd to the alley way was caught on that camera.
Parties are scheduled to reconvene on April 9.
