A witness said she heard gunshots linked to a homicide that her friend’s ex-boyfriend is accused of committing before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan on June 15.
Irv Duff, 35, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, and obstruction of justice for his alleged involvement in the murder of Darnell Gibson, 26, on Aug. 1, 2023, on the unit block of Forrester Street, SW. Gibson sustained three gunshot wounds.
A friend of Duff’s former girlfriend claimed to have heard the entire conflict between Duff and Gibson while she was on the phone with Duff’s then girlfriend for approximately an hour. She described yelling and a loud bang.
Reportedly, the friend heard Duff tell Gibson to “go back in the house and mind [his] f***ing business.” The friend alleged that Duff told his girlfriend to go inside, grab her son, and get down before hearing five gunshots over the phone.
The friend claimed that Duff’s girlfriend felt “unsafe” before the incident occurred, so the witness called 911 preemptively.
During cross-examination, Duff’s attorney, Bernadette Armand, asserted that the friend could not call for help without an address, but text messages showed she did not receive one from the girlfriend until seven minutes after shots were fired. Armand argued the witness’ testimony was not credible because she inaccurately testified about when she called 911.
In the 911 phone call played in court, the friend stated that “somebody’s trying to hurt her” and she “didn’t know the full story.” Armand said the call sounded like the perpetrator could have been “any stranger” because the witness said no names.
“You called the police and didn’t mention anything about a shooting,” said Armand.
In grand jury testimony, the friend said she didn’t name Duff on the call because she didn’t know him. Armand highlighted that Duff had been dating his girlfriend for a month, had gone to the friend’s house, and hung out with both of them on occasion.
Armand implied that the friend wanted her testimony to help Duff’s girlfriend and asserted the lack of details in the 911 call was proof. Armand also contended in her testimony the witness was exaggerating her knowledge of the murder.
Armand asked if the witness saw Duff walking with a limp at any point, to which she confirmed that she had. Armand suggested this could have been a gunshot wound.
During additional questioning, the prosecution asked the friend about inconsistencies in the timing of the 911 call, to which she said, “there was a lot going on.”
The witness said she was repeatedly reminded of Duff’s name by his girlfriend and alleged that the incident details were described to her by the girlfriend, who also reportedly said Gibson had a gun.
The witness confirmed that she was not lying on behalf of Duff’s ex-girlfriend.
Gibson’s girlfriend also testified that she never met the other occupant of the apartment building or saw a gun in Gibson’s apartment.
Gibson’s girlfriend was staying at his apartment the night the altercation occurred but did not recognize the voice of the man he was arguing with. She reportedly thought it was going to be a “fist fight” before she heard gunshots.
When she discovered Gibson’s body after asking neighbors, she remembered his body had been moved, but didn’t remember anyone doing any chest compressions. The witness said she found Gibson face down and speculated that he was “turning around to run away when he was getting shot at.”
During cross-examination, Duff’s other attorney, Kevaan Gardner, claimed that Gibson “didn’t let [the argument] go,” and the girlfriend clarified “neither one of them let it go.” Gardner asserted that Gibson was doing most of the yelling, but the witness countered that “it was a conversation.” However, Gardner played a video of the girlfriend telling detectives Gibson did most of the talking.
Gardner established that Gibson was “rushing outside to be violent” after interacting with Duff.
Gardner argued that Duff did not point or shoot a gun at Gibson in the hallway, but the girlfriend countered that he was potentially trying to get one from his car. She also did not attempt to de-escalate the situation, saying, “I wanted [Gibson] to beat [Duff] up.”
Gardner attempted to challenge the girlfriend’s credibility that she knew Gibson did not possess a firearm, but prosecutors objected. The jury was dismissed, and Gardner asked the girlfriend questions about Instagram pictures that show Gibson with guns, which were not admitted.
When the jury returned, Gardner referenced grand jury transcripts, in which she said that it did not take much to get Gibson angry. The girlfriend clarified that it did not take much when it came to defending his family.
Gardner highlighted Gibson’s previous assault of his mother’s boyfriend, who was allegedly beating his mother, to which the girlfriend replied, “He got what he deserved.”
The girlfriend countered Gardner’s questions, saying, “I feel like you [are] trying to paint a picture and that’s not what it is.”
The girlfriend attempted to clarify the discrepancies between her grand jury testimony and statements in court, arguing that she “was under a lot of pressure, so [she] just said anything.”
Parties are scheduled to reconvene on June 16.
