Defendants have probable cause in Maleak Coffin’s homicide, Judge says

By D.C. Witness Staff - March 27, 2018
Court | Homicides | Suspects |

After considering several factors, including a fatal shooting during the daylight hours and an active dispute between young men in differing neighborhoods, a superior court judge found both defendants charged with the alleged murder of Maleak Coffin to have substantial probable cause.

Robert Washington and Derrick Hart are charged with first-degree murder while armed in the 2017 shooting. Judge Judith Bartnoff ordered March 26 that the men be held without bail while they wait for a Grand Jury trial.

Two days before Christmas, Coffin, 22, was found suffering from two gunshot wounds to the left temple and shoulder on the 2900 block of Martin Luther King Avenue, SE. He was declared dead three days later at George Washington University Hospital. A Metropolitan Police Department detective said there were rumors that the homicide was a retaliatory act from an earlier shooting a few nights before.

According to testimony from the detective, the shooting allegedly occurred after several young men parted ways at a mini-mart located on Martin Luther King Avenue, SE. Hart, 22, was captured by a surveillance camera running down an ally with a gun and shooting at a vehicle that was stopped at a gas station. The vehicle stopped in an ally behind the gas station.

Washington, 20, who was driving in the opposite direction, made a U-turn after the initial shots and drove up to the vehicle in the ally. A surveillance camera captures Washington’s car slow down in front of the stopped vehicle. According to the Metropolitan Police Department, additional shots were fired at the vehicle, but the video does not show any shots coming from Washington’s car.

Police found 21 shell casings from two different guns — a large caliber gun and a 9 millimeter gun.

Washington was arrested on traffic charges days later. A 9 millimeter, matching the casings found at the crime scene, was recovered close to where Washington was arrested. Police have not recovered the large caliber gun.

The defense argued several points to both Hart and Washington’s separate interests.

Hart’s attorney, Jonathan Zucker, argued an imperfect self defense on his client’s behalf. He said Hart had reason to fear for his life because Coffin was armed and driving a stolen vehicle. According to defense counsel, most drive-by shootings occur from stolen vehicles.

However, Judge Bartnoff refuted Zucker’s argument, referencing that Hart was walking away from the gas station before he decided to run back and allegedly shoot Coffin.

Washington’s attorneys disagreed with the prosecution’s inference that he was working with Hart to “ambush” Coffin. However, the judge’s ruling stemmed from Washington changing directions to drive to the scene and allegedly shoot another round of bullets at Coffin’s car.

A felony status hearing is scheduled for May 11.