Convicted Murderer Testifies Against Childhood Friend

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A day after a  defendant’s ex-girlfriend said he confessed to murder, a cooperating witness said the defendant told him about the murder while they were housed in the same jail unit.

Kelby Gordon is charged with first-degree murder while armed, attempted robbery while armed and attempted assault with the intent to kill for allegedly shooting Gabriel Carlos Turner on the 2600 block of Birney Place, SE in 2016.  According to court documents, police found Turner suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper back.

On July 16, a cooperating witness took the stand and testified against Gordon, 32. The witness, who was convicted of second-degree murder for an unrelated homicide, is awaiting sentencing. 

According to the witness, he and Gordon met in middle school and lived in the same neighborhood. When both men were held at DC Jail, the witness said they would get together and talk about guns, women and each other’s cases.

The witness said Gordon told him he got locked up for killing someone. The witness said Gordon told him that he was in his friend’s car when he saw someone with money and he pulled out his gun to steal it. Apparently, Gordon saw Turner start to pull out a gun so Gordon shot him. The witness described the gun as a glock. Police found shell casings for a .40 caliber Smith and Wesson on the crime scene.

During cross-examination, the defense questioned the witness’ credibility. Defense Attorney Richard Holliday suggested that the witness was looking for a “get out of jail free card” for testifying. The witness said he has been a witness in a number of cases and is doing all he can to lessen his sentence.