DC Superior Court Judge Ryan denied a jail stabbing defendant’s request to dismiss his attorney at a hearing on Feb. 18.
Ovid Gabriel, 21, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed and assault on a police officer for his alleged involvement in stabbing a correctional officer on Aug. 3, 2025, inside the DC Jail, on the 1900 block of D Street, SE. The officer sustained nine stab wounds, a collapsed lung, and a lacerated intestine.
At the hearing, Gabriel’s attorney, Kevin Irving, asked Judge Ryan to grant his request to withdraw because Gabriel wanted new counsel.
The prosecution opposed Gabriel’s request for new counsel and argued to the court that he had asked for new counsel on multiple occasions. According to the prosecutor, this was Gabriel’s fifth or sixth attorney. According to court records, Gabriel only had two attorneys in this case, but he has other pending cases.
Judge Ryan then asked Irving and Gabriel to approach the bench, where they conferred privately about whether Irving would remain on the case.
After the discussion, Judge Ryan decided Irving would continue to represent Gabriel in the case.
The parties are scheduled to reconvene on Jan. 4, 2027.
