Defendant in Gruesome Murder Pleads ‘Not Guilty’ Denying Original Confession

By Jaclyn Sersland [former] , Sydnee Bridges [former] - May 30, 2023
Daily Stories | Documents | Homicides | stabbing | Suspects | Victims |

On May 30, prosecutors attempted to prove that a murder defendant is a flight risk and potentially dangerous to others at his detention hearing. 

Lavaughn Barnes, 32, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly killing 59-year-old Abdul Arias-Lopez on Nov. 4, 2022 on the 1300 block of Kearny Street, NE. Barnes allegedly tased Arias-Lopez, kicked and punched him, then dragged him into his sister’s basement where he repeatedly stabbed him.

According to court documents, on Feb. 15, Barnes was shown Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) video by detectives indicating he admitted tasing Arias-Lopez just minutes after he came over to Barnes’ sister’s house to paint the kitchen. 

Barnes allegedly said in the interview that he bought an ax to “try to get rid of the evidence.” During the hearing prosecutors showed records of Barnes purchasing an ax.

Barnes allegedly confessed to detectives that he used the ax to dismember the victim, then threw then the body parts in the trash. 

In the video interview, the defendant allegedly showed signs of remorse by saying “I need to pay for what I have done.” 

Since then, Barnes has recanted his confession by pleading not guilty in court. 

Barnes’ lawyer, Anthony Matthews, says that because Barnes has cognitive disabilities and a lawyer wasn’t present at the time the confession is invalid. 

Records from the website where Barnes allegedly purchased a taser show that he received a full refund for the weapon which he told the store he never received, even though that taser was registered by police as one of the murder weapons.

Court documents of the defendant’s phone contacts show that Barnes had “Stinkin Spanish A***” as Arias-Lopez’s contact.  

Defense attorney Anthony Matthews objected to every exhibit on grounds of relevance whether the evidence shows that Barnes is a flight risk or danger to society. DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun admitted all of the government’s exhibits. 

Judge Okun set the detention hearing to continue on June 7, contingent on the lead detective’s being available at that time to testify.