Defendant Resists Marshals After Preliminary Hearing

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After a preliminary hearing, a defendant in a murder case resisted U.S. Marshals and shouted, “Get off me” as she left the courtroom.

Latasha Gray, 35, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection to the death of Anthony Thomas, 40. The incident occurred on the 4200 block of 7 Street, NE on Feb. 7.

Gray and Thomas were engaged in a romantic relationship and lived in the apartment with their two children. According to court documents, a dispute over an expensive pair of shoes for their child preceded the shooting.

Thomas was pronounced dead on the scene, suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

DC Superior Court Judge Marisa J. Demeo had to repeatedly warn defense attorney Joseph Yarbough on Feb. 21 to remind Gray to be respectful during the proceedings. Gray was also charged with second-degree cruelty to her children and simple assault prior to the homicide.

Prosecutors played a 911 call placed minutes after the shooting. One witness is heard crying out “Oh my God, what are you doing mommy?”

“Call them, get them here!” Gray states in the call, asking for help.Thomas is heard in the background moaning in pain on the floor.

The couple’s children said they were sleeping before they were awakened by the gunshot.

Yarbough stated that Gray had “no intentions” to murder Thomas.

Gray told homicide detectives she opened the drawer looking for cigarettes, took out a gun, then exclaimed, “What the fuck!” Gray says the gun then accidentally fired, and Thomas was shot in the abdomen.

Judge Demeo said there was probable cause in this case and that Gray could not have mistakenly shot Thomas as she claimed.

Judge Demeo also stated the court needed to take into consideration how the murder would affect the couple’s children long term. Gray is being held at DC Jail pending trial.

The next hearing is scheduled for April 24.

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