Crime Scene Evidence Detailed in Triple Murder, Mass Shooting Case

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Evidence painting a picture of the crime scene was presented to the jury in a mass shooting that claimed three lives. The case was argued before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on April 23.

William Johnson-Lee, 22, Erwin Dubose, 30, Kamar Queen, 27, and Damonta Thompson, 28, are charged with conspiracy, two counts of premeditated first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, and three counts of assault with significant bodily injury while armed, for their alleged involvement in the mass shooting that claimed the lives of 31-year-old Donnetta Dyson, 24-year-old Keenan Braxton, and 37-year-old Johnny Joyner.

Dubose, Queen, and Johnson-Lee each incurred nine additional counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Queen and Thompson each face one additional count of first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, and Johnson-Lee is accused of two more counts of the same charge. Dubose, Queen, and Thompson also each have an additional charge of one or more counts of assault with intent to kill while armed.

Dubose and Queen are also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, as well. Dubose has additional charges of premeditated first-degree murder while armed and tampering with physical evidence. Finally, Queen and Johnson-Lee accused of carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business.

The incident occurred on the 600 block of Longfellow Street, NW on Sept. 4, 2021, and left three others suffering from injuries.

Toyia Johnson, 52, and Mussay Rezene, 32, are charged with accessory after the fact while armed and tampering with physical evidence for their alleged involvement in assisting the other defendants in getting rid of the evidence and avoiding getting caught in connection with the case.

The prosecution called an analyst from the Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) who documents, photographs, collects and preserves evidence who said most of the evidence had been located by Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives and officers on the scene. The jury viewed body-worn camera footage of her using a metal detector searching the grass for additional evidence.

During cross-examination, Peter Fayne, Johnson-Lee’s attorney, pointed out that an officer in the body-camera footage was touching the grass without gloves. The DFS witness agreed that this was not proper protocol and it posed a risk of potential contamination.

The witness testified during follow-up prosecution questioning that there was no additional evidence found in the area where the officer touched the grass.

The prosecution presented a color diagram to the court marking locations of ballistic evidence, including where bullet casings were found. Two different colors were used to separate the .40 caliber cartridge casings based similar markings–meaning they are likely to have been fired from the same gun. The prosecution said this diagram was a reference tool for the jury.

Mussay Rezene’s defense attorney, Camille Wagner, objected claiming there was not enough testimony to authenticate the diagram as evidence in terms of separating the remnant markings.

The judge decided “the safest way to proceed is to use a black and white version” of the diagram and the prosecution complied.

Wagner still objected to the diagram because of its descriptive captioning, saying the jury would infer the separation between certain .40 caliber cartridge cases.

Judge Kravitz overruled the defense saying that the issues were not large enough to delay the court and admitted the ballistic evidence.

The prosecution also called a former employee for MPD’s Office of Communications department who posted Tweets for the agency and drafted an MPD press release that identified a vehicle in connection with the homicides.

David Akulian, Johnson’s attorney determined the communications person didn’t know the license number of the vehicle or how many passengers might be inside.

The prosecution also called an MPD detective who ordered police to increase the size of the crime scene once he realized there was likely evidence outside of the taped boundaries.

During the cross examination, Fayne questioned the effectiveness of the move, and the witness admitted anyone who had walked through the area prior could have contaminated the evidence.

Parties are slated to reconvene April 24.