Defendant Pleads Not Guilty to Fatally Shooting Teen

By D.C. Witness Staff - June 4, 2018
Court | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

During his arraignment May 31, a juvenile pleaded not guilty to fatally shooting a fellow classmate from Ballou Senior High School.

Sixteen-year-old Daquan Gray was charged as an adult after allegedly shooting Jaylyn Wheeler  on the 600 block of Alabama Ave., SE on May 16. The homicide stemmed from an earlier dispute at Ballou Senior High School when another student allegedly threatened Wheeler, 15, according to court documents.

The homicide marks the fourth juvenile murder this year.

Defense counsel requested Gray be released to the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS). Gray’s attorney argued he wasn’t a flight risk because he turned himself in on May 30.

DC Superior Court Judge Errol R. Arthur refused to release him.

“He is a flight risk and a danger to the community,” Arthur said. “His mother has a warrant for failure to appear in court, what would stop him from doing the same?”

Gray is being held without bond and will go before DC Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe on June 11 for a preliminary hearing.