Defendant’s friend testifies about events leading up to 15-year-old’s murder

By D.C. Witness Staff - March 8, 2018
Court | Homicides | Suspects |

During the prosecution’s last day of arguments in 15-year-old Malek Mercer’s murder trial, one of the defendant’s closest friends was called to testify about events leading up to the homicide.

Anthony Ryans, who is currently incarcerated in Prince William County for robbery, testified to what he, Derryck Decuir and another friend did before and after the alleged shooting on the night of June 15, 2015. Mercer died in the hospital four days later. Decuir is being charged with second-degree murder while armed. The friend and Ryans are not being charged with the homicide.

According to Ryans, the three were leaving a ceremony for Decuir’s father who passed a few days before the homicide. He said the mood was somber and he tried to lighten it up with a few jokes. While at the bus stop, Ryans said he joked about Decuir, 25, admiring a red Versace belt that Mercer was wearing. “Why you lookin’ at that man’s a**,” Ryans said. He said Decuir may have giggled at the comment, but it wasn’t serious. According to the prosecution, the comment’s homosexual implication is a possible motive.

The three men exited the bus on the corner of 28th Street SE and Naylor Road SE to go to a 7-Eleven. Ryans said he suffered from Hypoglycemia or cotton mouth, which was exacerbated by the alcohol he drank at the ceremony, and needed a sugary drink. The stop was apparently 20 minutes away from Ryans, Decuir and the friend’s residences.

“How the f*** did he get on the ground,” Ryans said he was thinking when he heard the shot and saw Mercer on the ground. He said the boy with Mercer took off running, so he knew that kid didn’t pull the trigger.

As he was looking around, Ryans said he saw Decuir zipping up his backpack and walk towards him. Ryans said Decuir was silent after the shooting and their friend walked with his head down shaking it from side to side. According to Ryans, Decuir usually carried a backpack filled with clothes and other personal items. Ryans said he did not see Decuir or their friend with a gun before or after the shooting.

Ryans said he proceeded home after the shooting, leaving Mercer on the ground. “I couldn’t save him and I was scared,” he said while crying on the stand. Ryans, Decuir and their friend did not call 911.

On June 16, 2015, Ryans called the police to turn himself in because he was on parole and wearing a GPS tracking device. He said he knew the police would eventually connect him to the homicide. Decuir was arrested on June 19, 2015.

The defense questioned Ryans recollection of the events, since he admitted he was drunk. Ryans said he had been drinking since he was 14 and was coherent.

During redirect, the prosecution played the full audio version of a rapping session between Decuir, Ryans and the friend, which was recorded hours before the shooting. The video shows Decuir rapping about the murder weapon, a pistol with an extended clip. Ryans said the session wasn’t referencing anything specific, the men were just saying things.

The defense is expected to present their evidence on March 8.