Counsel Deliver Closing Arguments in Murder Trial

By Bersabel Ephrem [former] - December 14, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Counsel delivered closing arguments on Dec. 13 after a 6-day murder trial.

Jermaine Harris, 21, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to the death of 38-year-old Lamar Walters on the 2400 block of Franklin Street, NE, on Jan. 6, 2020.  

The prosecutor said that Walters attempted to drag himself to the curb but failed after being shot four times in 30 seconds. The same individuals who shot at Walters later came close to running him over with their vehicle, the prosecutor continued. 

After learning that “his own child had been shot,” his father went to the scene. Lamar, according to the prosecutor, was the man’s “heart and soul.”

The prosecutor told the jury that even though the video footage was silent, you can still make out a white Toyota Camry turning onto the street from the alley seconds before the men ducked down. The three men who were talking in front of a bodega then ducked down and began running towards Franklin Street a short while later, which is when the shooting is believed to have begun. 

After the shooting, at 12:47 p.m., the Toyota Camry received a speeding penalty, the prosecutor said. The car was traveling 22 miles per hour, which was faster than the posted limit, a few blocks away from the scene.

The four men then drove to the residence of one of the persons of interest and parked in a different parking lot even though there were a number of available spaces in front of the apartment complex. The prosecution said this was done on purpose because the men “intended to move as far away from the car as possible.”

The four men were spotted moving apart toward the house while wearing their hoodies up in an effort to conceal their identities, according to the prosecutor. 

The prosecution said there had been ongoing disputes between gangs in the Saratoga and Edgewood neighborhoods. A gang in Langdon Park was allied with Edgewood, while gangs for 18th and Otis streets were allied with Saratoga. 

One of the three people shot that day is known to frequent the bodega, which is connected to Langdon Park, where the murder took place.

“The missing piece to their puzzle is that there was no physical evidence that proves Mr. Harris was on the scene,” defense attorney Jonathan S. Zucker said. 

He said that none of the four eyewitness’ descriptions fit Harris. 

Harris’ height and unique hair are the first things people notice about him, Zucker said. The witnesses “would have mentioned it if he had been there.”

According to the first witness, there were four gunmen of varied heights who were black. The shooter was described by the second witness as being 5’9″ and 5’10”, of medium build, and sporting a white shirt and a white sweatshirt. The person who was questioned at the hospital said the shooter was tall, had prominent cheekbones, and was wearing a red sweatshirt.

“Four witnesses, none describe the shooter being 4’9 120 pounds, bushy dreads, white sleeves and black hat,” Zucker wrote on a slideshow that was shown in court. 

He also argued that the cartridges that were found in the vehicle were found to come from three of the four men seen on the surveillance footage. None were found to have Harris’ DNA on it. 

Additionally, he said there was no evidence linking Walters or the other victims to the Langdon Park neighborhood or any known gang affiliations, so there wasn’t a clear motive. 

After the incident, there was only a brief interview with the surviving victim at the hospital.

However, Zucker emphasized to the court that the interview wasn’t sufficiently thorough.

DNA that was discovered on a piece of evidence belonged to a female and a guy. Police found the man, but the female was never located or contacted.

After counsel completed their closing arguments, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt gave the jury instructions before they began deliberations.