DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan denied a homicide defendant’s request for release at a hearing on July 24.
Jasson Vasquez Pineda, 30, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Larry Thomas, 27. The incident occurred on Aug. 24, 2023, on the 3600 block of 16th Street, NW.
Vasquez Pineda’s attorney, Camille Wagner, argued for his release and called the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective who investigated the incident to testify. The detective presented surveillance footage of events leading up to the incident, which include the suspect, who the detective alleged was Vasquez Pineda, and Thomas, interacting inside and outside of an apartment complex.
The detective confirmed that, in one clip, the suspect is seen running with Thomas “chasing after” him. The detective also established that Vasquez Pineda lived in the apartment and he had no knowledge why Thomas would be there.
In another clip, the suspect can be seen going inside the apartment’s stairwell, and Wagner alleged that he was “pulled back inside” by Thomas. Thomas wraps his arm around the suspect’s neck in the surveillance footage.
Wagner highlighted that a third individual was reportedly present at the scene but was never identified by detectives. According to Wagner, the individual was “limping” and looking over his shoulder while he returned to the apartment from the scene of the incident.
The detective clarified that they looked into the possibility of an alternative suspect but concluded that there were only two people involved.
Wagner highlighted that one witness reportedly told detectives that Vasquez Pineda said Thomas tried to rape him. According to the detective, Thomas’ mom also called the detectives and said she heard rumors about sexual interactions between the two. Wagner asserted that, after the incident, Vasquez Pineda’s behavior was “upset,” and he had bruises on his neck.
The detective confirmed that Thomas did not have on boxers when his body was recovered.
Additionally, the detective established that he had not talked to any witnesses that lived at the apartment and did not speak to any of Vasquez Pineda’s co-workers about the bruising.
Wagner argued that the evidence for first-degree murder is not strong. She asserted that Vasquez Pineda was choked, grabbed, and subjected to “several minutes of assault” from Thomas. She conceded that the case might constitute voluntary manslaughter or imperfect self-defense, but that Thomas was not living in the apartment building and would not leave.
Judge Ryan denied Wagner’s motion for release, and said that the evidence was “pretty clear” about Vasquez Pineda “find[ing] and kill[ing] Thomas.” Judge Ryan said he could not “draw the inferences” that Wagner “wants [him] to draw.”
Parties are scheduled to reconvene on Aug. 21.
