‘A Lot to Unpack’: Preliminary Hearing in Murder Case Continues in November

By Ella Lesher [former] - October 27, 2023
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On Oct. 27, DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein reluctantly continued a lengthy preliminary hearing until mid-November in a double homicide case.

On Sept. 8, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrested and charged 33-year-old Jeremiah Jordan with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Luke Whitaker and 19-year-old Zion Hollingsworth-Hayes.

According to MPD documents, officers responded on July 22 to the 1400 block of Girard Street, NW, for a shooting, where they located Whitaker. Shortly after, they found Hollingsworth-Hayes on the 1400 block of Fairmont Street, NW. Both victims were dead.

The prosecution called the lead MPD homicide detective who confirmed, as he wrote in the arrest warrant affidavit, that nine cartridge casings were recovered from the scene as well as a firearm found at from Jordan’s girlfriend’s house. However, the caliber of that gun didn’t match the collected cartridges.

Defense attorney Joseph Yarbough then cross-examined the detective regarding surveillance video allegedly showing Whitaker shoved Jordan before Jordan touched him, suggesting Jordan was afraid of getting hurt. Yarbough said the point is clearer when Jordan then puts his hands up.

Yarbough also directed the detective’s attention to an interview he did with a witness on a bike who rode past Jordan and Whitaker just before the incident. The witness heard an argument with the individuals saying, “This is my block!” and “I run this neighborhood!” followed by gunshots.

According to court documents, the witness allegedly saw Jordan use a black pistol with an extended magazine.

Yarbough said that Whitaker, the victim, may have had stronger connections to the neighborhood than Jordan, suggesting Whitaker, not Jordan, made the threats.

While MPD did not recover a weapon from or near Whitaker’s body, the detective’s search warrant affidavit describes the strong likelihood that Whitaker had contraband. In court, he cited Whitaker’s previous conviction for unlawful possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute narcotics in 2019.

The second victim, Hollingsworth-Hayes, ran after shots were fired. MPD recovered a knife and a gun from his path. Yarbough is expected to resume his line of questioning in mid-November. 

Judge Epstein seemed exasperated by Yarbough’s lengthy, almost repetitive questions, cutting in with “asked and answered” multiple times during the hearing. Yarbough’s says his extensive questions are organized in “chapter[s],” and he told Judge Epstein he needs about another hour because there is “a lot to unpack.”

The preliminary hearing is scheduled to continue on Nov. 13.