Attorney Argues Murder Defendant Could Have Been Acting in Self Defense

By Sophia Gyuk - January 28, 2025
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan was asked to consider a self-defense argument for a homicide in a hearing on January 28, 2025. Video footage of a passenger removing unknown items from the victim’s stolen car after he was shot could justify self-defense, the murder defendant’s attorney claimed.

Terrance Stoney, 31, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Donte Tiller, 43. The shooting occurred at the intersection of Naylor Road and Southern Avenue, SE, on March 17, 2023. 

Nikki Lotze, Stoney’s attorney, explained that Tiller was traveling in a stolen car and bullets were found inside. Self defense could be argued, Lotze claimed, because of the car’s suspicious registration and its contents. However, the prosecution said that a self-defense argument would be invalid because the ammunition in Tiller’s car was never fired. 

Lotze rebutted, saying there was video footage of a passenger, previously unmentioned, in Tiller’s car. In the video, taken after the shooting, the person removed items from the car before the police arrived on the scene. Lotze argued that because Tiller’s passenger could have removed evidence of a violent altercation, there is reasonable cause to suspect Stoney was acting in self defense. 

Judge Ryan ruled that that wasn’t necessarily a valid argument from the defense, but the passenger removing items from the car was “concerning.” 

Stoney was asked if he wanted to DNA test any of the items found at the scene, but declined, waiving his right to do his own analysis.

Parties are slated to reconvene Feb. 3.