The victim of an armed carjacking incident testified before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno on July 2.
Antoine Lee Johnson, 35, is charged with armed carjacking, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a carjacking that occurred on July 22, 2024 on the 3330 block of 6th St, SE.
The victim testified that he was awakened in his car around 3 a. m. by an individual pointing a gun at his head through the window and telling him to get out.
Prosecuting attorneys played CCTV footage from the parking lot where the incident occurred that showed a person circling the victim’s car, opening the trunk, and standing beside the driver’s side window. The video shows the victim eventually exiting the vehicle, and the suspect in the footage entering and driving off with the trunk still open.
Johnson’s defense attorney, Craig Ricard, questioned the victim about why the incident seemed to take place so slowly, noting that he didn’t appear to be exiting his car in a hurry.
“I was still a little shocked over the situation, then humiliated,” said the victim.
The victim’s daughter was able to track his phone which was left inside the vehicle aiding the prosecution in connecting the route of the stolen vehicle to the location where Johnson was eventually arrested.
Meanwhile, a detective from Seat Pleasant, Maryland testified about his initial encounter with the suspect vehicle and the car chase that lasted more than 30 minutes before the suspect eventually stopped, allegedly attempted to flee, and was tackled by police officers.
The detective testified that he never lost sight of the vehicle, but didn’t see any firearms being discarded. Ricard then argued there was ever a gun during the carjacking.
A detective from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) did not conduct any interviews at the crime scene besides with the victim, and while DNA evidence was taken from the vehicle, none of it was used as evidence due to officers having made an arrest of a suspect matching the description provided by the victim.
Ricard pressed both officers about the clothing the suspect who was arrested was wearing, drawing attention to his blue jeans. The victim had previously testified that the suspect was wearing all black when his vehicle was stolen.
Ricard also highlighted that the surveillance footage was blurry, and looked to jurors as he reminded them that the footage cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the carjacker was holding a firearm, reminding them no firearm was ever recovered.
Prosecutors responded that in the surveillance footage from the parking lot, there is a shadow being reflected onto the vehicle from showing the suspect was holding the gun in his right hand. They added that the witness testimony remained consistent, and that he had no reason to lie about whether or not the carjacker was armed.
Parties are slated to reconvene on July 3.
