Detective Details Investigation Into 2019 Homicide During Preliminary Hearing

By Cassandra Kitchen [former] - March 21, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

The lead detective in a 2019 homicide investigation finished his testimony during the second day of a preliminary hearing to determine if the case has enough evidence to go to trial.

On the night of Sept. 3, 2019, two men were shot on the 900 block of Division Avenue, NE. One of them, 28-year-old Kalin Middleton, succumbed to his injuries. The other victim became stable after treatment. In December 2021, Lavelle Watts was arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed.

The preliminary hearing spanned over two days and concluded with DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan making a finding of probable cause.

During the second day of the proceedings on March 21, the lead detective was again sworn in to testify to his findings. Attorneys on both sides referred to the detective’s affidavit, which provided the surviving victim’s recollection of the events surrounding the shooting. 

The surviving victim said he was driving on Eastern Avenue, NE, with Middleton in the passenger seat when he noticed someone following them in a green two-door Lexus. After taking several turns to confirm they were being followed, the surviving victim says he parked the vehicle and told Middleton to settle whatever dispute he has with the operator of the other vehicle, as there were indications of a conflict between the two earlier in the day. The operator of the Lexus walked up to the passenger side of the victims’ vehicle and began firing his gun without warning, according to court documents.

During the first day of the preliminary hearing on March 18, video footage from the 900 block of Eastern Avenue, NE, supported the detective’s testimony by showing an individual in a dark coat or jacket exiting a gray Acura and standing on the passenger side of the second victim’s BMW and firing multiple shots inside the vehicle. Investigators used the make, model and license plate of the suspect’s vehicle and traced it back to someone close to Watts.

During defense attorney Quo Judkins‘ cross-examination, the detective said the car owner told them she lets Watts use her car frequently and she could not have been the shooter since she was at work when the homicide happened. However, the green Lexus the surviving victim described turned out to be a gray Acura.

Judkins used the victim’s misinterpretation of the suspect’s vehicle as an argument against probable cause, saying “it comes down to this car.” She noted how the prosecution’s case lacked DNA evidence, a recovered murder weapon or witness statements from anyone besides the surviving witness. She also argued her client did not have a motive to kill Middleton.

The detective analyzed Watts and Middleton’s phones for any evidence and showed that the decedent and defendant did know each other as there were messages sent and received two days prior to the shooting. Still, the defense pointed out how cell phone data the detective looked into did not put pick up Watts’ location at the time of the homicide.

Judge Raffinan noted that the vehicle in the surveillance footage can be connected to the defendant, indicating that Watts could be the shooter. She ruled that the case has enough evidence to go to trial.

Watts will remain held at DC Jail as he awaits his next hearing on April 26.