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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- March 14, 2017
Homicides
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Suspects
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The man who told police he punched 41-year-old Desmond Joseph has now been charged with murder, after the victim died from his injuries.
Paul Hagans was initially charged with aggravated assault after he allegedly punched Desmond once, killing him.
According to police, Hagans allegedly delivered the fatal punch at around 4 p.m. on March 2 on 200 Block of Rhode Island Ave., NE. Unconscious and unresponsive, Joseph was transferred to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead the following day.
The decedent’s cause of death was ruled blunt force trauma to the head. His death was deemed a homicide.
According to charging documents, Hagans turned himself in to police the night of the altercation, and was originally charged with aggravated assault. After Joseph’s death, Hagans’ charges were upgraded to a felony murder charge, police announced on Monday.
Hagans is being held without bond and is expected in court April 14 for a preliminary hearing.