Judge Continues Status Hearing for Murder Defendant Charged In 2018 Drive-By Shooting

By D.C. Witness Staff - November 2, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A DC Superior Court judge continued a murder defendant’s hearing following new information from two cooperating witnesses who are currently being held at the DC Jail.

Torey Stockton, 23, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence while armed in a drive-by shooting or random shooting. Stockton allegedly shot 23-year-old Jasmine Light on the 2000 block of 16th Street, SE on Jan. 17, 2018. Stockton and another suspect supposedly drove by the King Convenience Store on the 1500 block of U Street, SE, and began firing a semi-automatic Uzi at the four victims. 

All four victims were taken to the local hospital where three men were treated for injuries. Light was the only victim to succumb to the wounds. 

During the Nov. 2 hearing, the lead detective said he received information from two inmates at the jail, who allegedly know Stockton. The witnesses said Stockton told them he shot the victims over a stolen gun. 

Lead defense attorney Rachel McCoy asked the detective if he had interviewed either of the two witnesses. 

The detective said, Department Of Correction (DOC) officers carried out the interviews and he had only read the reports. The detective testified that both of the statements were consistent and accurately described the incident. 

The detective also testified about the vehicle used for the shooting. 

Footage from the crime scene showed the shooters in a 2012 Toyota Camry. An identical vehicle was set on fire the day after the incident, documents state. The officer also said a gas can found near the burned vehicle had incomplete DNA from a male suspect. 

McCoy asked the detective if the DNA matched the defendant. The defective said the DNA found was insufficient to match a person. 

The detective went on to testify regarding Stockton’s disciplinary records at DC Jail. He said  Stockton had been involved in several incidents in jail and is now facing new charges from those incidents. 

Stockton has allegedly been involved in five incidents that resulted in disciplinary action since early 2018. In March of 2018, the defendant was found to allegedly be in possession of an edged weapon. In July the defendant was allegedly involved in an assault, another alleged assault in November 2019, and three additional possession of contraband accusations from June 2018, July 2019 and December 2019. 

Due to time constraints, the rest of the detective’s testimony had to be scheduled for another date. Judge Danya Dayson scheduled the status hearing to continue on Jan. 12.