Information About Murder was ‘Secondhand,’ Detective Says

By D.C. Witness Staff - March 22, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

During a preliminary hearing March 21, a detective said that most of the information police received regarding a shooting was “secondhand,” which means it was based on the words of others.

Co-defendants Marcel Vines and Malique Lewis, are charged with first-degree murder while armed for their alleged involement in the shooting of 23-year-old Kerrice Lewis on the 800 block of Adrian Street, SE in 2017. Lewis’ death is allegedly connected to the shootings of 27-year-old Armani Coles and 23-year-old Ronzay Green, which took place on the same day. According to police, all three victims were believed to be involved in a credit card scam.

The detective told the court that he was unaware of any connection the co-defendants had with the shooting of Lewis. However, witnesses identified Vines, 22, and Lewis, 20, as suspects. Cell phone data also placed the two defendants together in the vicinity of where Lewis was found.

The detective said that casings found at the scene were consistent with one handgun and one rifle. He said a witness told police that they saw a man with a “long-gun” strapped to his shoulder. Police have not recovered the murder weapons.

According to the detective, another witness said they saw two men shooting into the trunk of a vehicle and fleeing the area after seeing Lewis’ car engulfed in flames. The witness told police she was not forthcoming with this information at first out of “fear.”

The preliminary hearing is scheduled to continue on March 22.

Ashton Briscoe is also charged with first-degree murder while armed and kidnapping while armed, among other offenses, for his alleged role in the shooting. Briscoe, 23, has a felony arraignment and a status hearing scheduled on May 29.