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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- March 2, 2018
Court
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Homicides
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Suspects
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The prosecution in a 2015 murder trial suggested that Kevin Chase planned on killing 38-year-old Marcus Manor.
On March 1, the prosecution cross-examined Chase, 30, showing text messages between the defendant and his mother about a month before he fatally shot Manor on on the 2900 block of Sherman Avenue, NW on Oct. 20, 2015. Chase’s mother sent texts to Chase asking if she should buy a new lock for his sister, who was allegedly in a rocky romantic relationship with Manor. “Want me to shoot him?” Chase replied.
According to Chase’s sister, Manor threatened her and her children and stole her son’s house key before she kicked him out of her apartment on Oct. 15, 2015.
The following day, Manor returned to the apartment, and Chase and his cousin broke Manor’s cheekbones and nose.
“You know I’ve been wanting to f*** his ass up,” Chase told a girlfriend over text messages. He also sent friends a picture of Manor, who was bloodied and laying facedown on the floor. Chase is charged with first-degree murder, assault with significant bodily injury, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm and carrying a pistol without a license.
Assistant United States Attorney Adrienne Dedjinou questioned Chase on the role Demetrius Brandon played in Manor’s murder. Chase said he made plans to hang out with Brandon, but Manor, who was sitting outside of Chase’s sister’s apartment, called him over when Brandon arrived. Chase said he told Manor to leave his sister alone, but Manor became angry. Chase said he shot Manor five times because he seemed to be reaching for a gun. Brandon’s lawyer claims that Brandon did not have any knowledge of the shooting beforehand.
Surveillance videos captured Chase running down the street and being picked up by Brandon by a gas station. Brandon has also been charged with first-degree murder. In addition, Brandon is charged with possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and accessory after the fact in an assault with the intent to kill while armed.
One of Manor’s ex-girlfriends was also called by the defense to establish that Manor was often violent. The girlfriend referenced instances of abuse, such as when Manor fired a gun at her from a wooded area near her home, threw her dog off a balcony and threatened to “blow her brains out” in front of her children.
The trial is expected to resume on March 5.