After Opening Statements Homicide Victim’s Mom Testifies in Co-Defendant Homicide Trial 

By Adriana Marroquin - January 11, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On Jan. 10, DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo and jurors heard parties give opening statements and a victim’s mother testify in a co-defendant homicide matter.

Vorreze Thomas, 25, and his uncle Delonta Stevenson, 28, are charged with conspiracy, first-degree murder while armed, and two counts of assault with intent to kill, among other charges, for their alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Terrance Allen. The incident occurred on Jan. 18, 2021, on the 3000 block of Stanton Road, SE, and left two other individuals suffering from gunshot wounds. All three victims were found inside of a vehicle at the scene. 

“Thirty-four. That’s the number of times Delonta Stevenson fired a rifle into the car on Jan. 18, 2021,” said prosecutors in their opening statements, adding that Stevenson was “sitting in the passenger seat of a Volvo XC90 driven by his nephew, Vorreze Thomas,” when he shot at a white Ford Crown Victoria with the three victims inside. 

“All of this evidence will prove the guilt of Thomas and Stevenson beyond a reasonable doubt,” insisted the prosecution. 

According to prosecutors, one of the surviving victims had reached out to Allen for a ride to visit his mother at the Stanton Glenn Apartments after hearing of an alleged assault against her, which was a miscommunication. On their way to the apartment complex, Allen picked up the other surviving victim. 

As the surviving victim spoke to his mother, Stevenson’s girlfriend received a text message and voice message stating the surviving victim was at the complex. The victim was blamed for shooting Stevenson in November of 2020.

The victim’s mother requested he drive her to the grocery store, and he asked Allen to drive them. 

Once Stevenson’s girlfriend alerted Stevenson and Thomas, the three meet at the complex, which only has one entry and exit way and a looped parking lot, and they are seen waiting for the victims’ vehicle to return from running errands. Prosecutors claim that, as shown in surveillance footage, Thomas removes a rifle from the back seat of the Volvo, and Stevenson a pistol from his waistband. 

After dropping the victim’s mother back home, the Crown Victoria can be seen making a u-turn to head towards the entrance. Prosecutors say Thomas and Stevenson get in the Volvo, with Thomas as the driver, and go the opposite direction to meet them at the entrance. 

Surveillance footage shows that as the Crown Victoria gets to the exit, those in the Volvo begin to shoot at them multiple times, causing the Crown Victoria to crash against a post. 

The Volvo then speeds away , and was later recovered by Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers at 29th Street and Erie Street, SE, where it had crashed into several parked cars. 

According to the prosecution, two eyewitnesses saw two individuals run away from the Volvo, and MPD recovered a rifle from their flight path, which was tested for DNA evidence, and is considered highly likely to have been used in the murder. 

Prosecutors claimed that MPD also recovered an iPhone associated with Thomas from the Volvo. 

“The only just verdict for this case is guilty on all counts,” insisted prosecutors. 

Stephen LoGerfo, Stevenson’s defense attorney, insisted that “Delonta Stevenson is not guilty… he did not shoot Terrance Allen, and the [prosecution] will not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Stevenson is guilty.” 

LoGerfo argued Stevenson is a lifelong DC resident, a devoted father and family man, who “still has a bullet lodged in his brain,” from an unrelated incident. 

He claimed that one of the surviving victims was assisted by the prosecution to relocate to Texas following the shooting, where he was arrested again. He argued because the witness is indebted to the prosecution, he will testify saying what they want him to say. 

“The only verdict consistent with the lack of evidence is not guilty,” insisted LoGerfo. 

“What [LoGerfo] said, ‘me too’,” said Charles Murdter, Thomas’ defense attorney, adding “Thomas sits before you an innocent man.” 

He argued the prosecution has the burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Thomas is guilty. 

“The only just verdict in this case is not guilty,” Murdter said. 

Following opening statements, prosecutors called Allen’s mother to the stand. She testified that Allen was working at the Pentagon and was a “family man,” stating he had two kids, and an unborn child on the way.

“Him and I were close,” said the mother, adding he “was always coming to check on me.” 

“I miss watching him walk through the door,” she said. 

Parties are slated to return Jan. 11.