DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz denied a defense motion for acquittal in a triple-homicide case on June 8.
Jalonte Thompkins, 34, is charged with three counts of premeditated first-degree murder while armed, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction greater than a year for his alleged involvement in the fatal shootout of the brothers, James Morgan, 34, Jamal Morgan, 30, and Vincent Martin, 42, on the 1700 block of Euclid Street, NW on Aug. 5, 2023.
Judge Kravitz started by asking if there were any disputes that needed to be resolved before bringing the jury into the courtroom.
The defense attorney, Brandi Harden, moved to suppress the prosecution’s compilation video that included detailed locations, CCTV footage of Thompkins, and audio of gunshots, claiming the added timestamp was inaccurate. Judge Kravitz agreed about the discrepancy but nonetheless, allowed the video to be admitted without the timestamp.
Harden also objected to diagrams said to pinpoint Thompkins’ phone calls since not “all activity” was shown. Judge Kravitz allowed all three diagrams to be presented to the jury because it would be unnecessary to show all the information.
The prosecution also presented evidence to the jury, including digitized graphs that allegedly located bullet casings, victims, and damaged vehicles. In addition, the prosecution introduced a video that walks through events before, during, and after the incident using CCTV footage with added time stamps and locations.
In arguing for acquittal Harden wanted a stipulation that the defendant acted in self-defense and that the victims engaged in criminal behavior provoking the shootout.
During the gun battle, shots were fired from both directions. Damaged buildings on the north side where the victims were located indicate shots were fired from south to north. Vehicles on the north side, Thompkins alleged location, were damaged from shots coming from the south.
Harden said Thompkins was innocent since evidence didn’t show he was the initial aggressor.
The prosecution argued Thompkins did not act in self-defense because he could have left the confrontation. He also used excessive force, the prosecutor said.
Both parties cited a witness who said, “He’s right there,” interpreting the quote different ways. The defense argued that the phrase was said before the shoot out began as a way to identify Thompkins as a target. The prosecution believed the victims’ made the statement as a way to identify the person who was shooting at them, since the witness who testified claimed she heard that after shots were fired.
Judge Kravitz agreed with prosecutors, adding that one of the victims in particular sustained multiple gunshot wounds and didn’t pose a threat to Thompkins. Therefore, he denied the motion for a judgement of acquittal.
Closing arguments scheduled to reconvene on June 9.
