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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- April 11, 2018
Court
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Homicides
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Suspects
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The prosecution in a 2014 homicide trial delivered their closing argument April 10 regarding the Christmas Eve death of 28-year-old Gregory Lee.
According to Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Bruckmann, Joseph Minor is guilty of fatally shooting Lee on the 1200 block of Stevens Road, SE on Dec. 24, 2014.
Bruckmann said Minor attempted to rob Lee about a week before the shooting, but was unsuccessful. He said the failed attempt prompted Minor to recruit the help of his friend Maurice Blakey, 26, to kill Lee.
The prosecution said Lee was in a neighborhood alley smoking marijuana and drinking tequila with his friend.
Bruckmann said Minor, armed with a handgun, and Blakey, armed with a shotgun, surprised the men in the alley. Blakey allegedly shot at Lee’s friend, but missed, while Minor allegedly shot Lee three times. Lee’s friend fled the scene.
Additionally, Bruckmann cited testimony from a former cellmate of Minor who claimed Minor admitted to the murder while in jail. Bruckmann said the cellmate’s account of the altercation was accurate because it lined up with all the other witnesses, despite the fact that the cellmate did not witness the shooting.
The prosecution also played videos of jail calls between Minor and his girlfriend. On the calls Minor is heard telling his girlfriend to stay quiet when she was subpoenaed to testify before the grand jury.
Although the handgun was never found, Bruckmann said ballistic evidence at the crime scene and DNA evidence recovered from Blakey’s shotgun left the jury with no other choice than to find Minor guilty.
“This murder was premeditated and deliberated,” said Bruckmann. “Gregory Lee deserves justice.”
Blakey is currently serving a 22-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree murder for an unrelated homicide that occurred in 2007. Blakey’s charges for Lee’s homicide were dismissed as part of a plea deal.
Minor has been charged with second-degree murder while armed.
The defense is expected to deliver their closing argument on April 11.