A homicide defendant and his mother both testified in a trial before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on Sept. 23.
Demonte Gibson, 28, Tre’Quan Nelson, 26, and Asani Forte, 29 are charged with conspiracy, first-degree premeditated murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, and destruction of property worth less than $1,000. The charges stem from their alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 34-year-old Delonte King, on Nov. 3, 2021, at the 2800 block of 14th Street, NW. A surviving victim also sustained a gunshot wound.
Gibson and Nelson are also charged with three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Nelson is also charged with possession of a firearm by a convict.
Gibson was found guilty by a jury of possession of a firearm by a convict on May 7, 2025, but the jury did not reach a unanimous verdict for the other charges involving Gibson and Forte.
The trial continued with Gibson’s redirect questions from his attorney, Kevann Gardner. He noted that 21 rounds were fired but only two struck King. Gardner then asked if Gibson had sharp aim, or if a thorough planner would run a block and a half away after a shooting, both of which Gibson answered no.
Gardner confirmed that Gibson was not intentionally trying to mislead the jury when he confused the names of daycare settings and his cousin’s daughter’s last name.
Gibson also testified that, when he used a different pin number at the jail, he did not intend to lie about his identity, but wanted to make multiple calls back-to-back. After an inmate ends a call, there is a 15 minute buffer before they can make another call, but Gibson said he hoped to call someone immediately after.
Gibson specified that, when he testified that he knew King, it was from YouTube and others who recognized and pointed him out. Gibson never personally spoke to or spent time with King. When Gardner asked why Gibson shot King, he said it was because King charged at him. “I knew I could die,” said Gibson who claims he was acting in self-defense.
In their rebuttal case, the prosecution called Gibson’s mother, whom he phoned from the jail with a different pin number. Gibson’s mother said he “f****d it” in regards to testifying about the wrong daycare. Later, she clarified her statement stemmed from frustration.
A Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective was called by the prosecution to discuss a call he received from King in which he asked to speak with the lead detective about an October 2021 stabbing. A meeting was scheduled for Nov. 3, 2021.
Gibson’s attorney, Elizabeth Paige White, asked if the detective was aware of King’s history of stabbing offenses and phencyclidine (PCP) use, both he answered no. White also confirmed with the detective that King could have gone to the police station at an earlier date.
Nelson’s attorney, Shawn Sukumar, called an MPD investigator who responded to the homicide scene on Nov. 3, 2021. The investigator interviewed two men, one of whom wore a balaklava. Forte’s attorney, Russell Hairston, confirmed with the investigator that the two men were released and not considered suspicious.
Another prosecution witness, an MPD detective, testified that he interviewed a stabbing victim in April 2020. The victim was not forthcoming about who stabbed him, but said he knew the suspect. The detective did not know why the victim was stabbed or the events that led up to it.
Judge Brandt reminded the jury that the case’s verdict would be only their decision. In addition, she said testimony with sustained objections should not be considered.
The prosecution also called the former Chief of Schools at AppleTree Early Learning Public Charter School in DC. The witness confirmed that procedures require parents to sign in and out and provide identification for pickup and drop-off. All other individuals must receive parental approval to pick up students, with the exception of emergency contacts.
The witness also stated the school received an email from Gibson’s cousin who asked when her daughter started at AppleTree. Though accepted through the school’s lottery system on Jan. 21, 2021, her enrollment was not approved until Aug. 9, 2022. The witness confirmed that the daughter was not enrolled at the school on Nov. 3, 2021.
In cross-examination, White confirmed that the witness was not present at the crime scene and had no knowledge of the events of Nov. 3, 2021.
The trial is scheduled to continue on Sept. 24.
