Victim’s high school sweetheart testifies in murder trial

By D.C. Witness Staff - July 5, 2017
Court | Homicides | Suspects |

A woman who picked up Onyekachi Osuchukwu III from the airport and drove him to a friend’s house where he was later killed testified at his murder suspect’s trial.

Eugene Burns is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Onyekachi Osuchukwu III on November 15, 2015.

Osuchukwu was living in California, but made frequent trips to DC, the woman testified. The woman said Osuchukwu and Burns had been friends for as long as she could remember. The last time she saw Osuchukwu she had dropped him off at Burns’ mother’s home. The next day, Osuchukwu’s family called and told her he had been shot. In disbelief, she contacted Burns via Instagram to find out what happened. Burns told her that he left his apartment that night and left his door unlocked so Osuchukwu could enter. He said when he returned the next morning he found him dead in the apartment.

The witness said Osuchukwu had dealt drugs in high school, but she was unsure if he was selling around the time he was killed. She also said that one time she overheard Osuchukwu ask Burns about getting a gun.

An expert from the Chief Medical Examiner’s officer said Osuchukwu was shot four times. The expert witness said if the gunshots didn’t initially kill him, the loss of blood would have. The expert witness also said that based upon his experience and location of the entrance and exit wounds meant, the shooter was more than likely behind the Osuchukwu or just to his left.