Defense Attorney Accuses Prosecutors of ‘Sugarcoating Child Abuse’ in Homicide Case

By Kiliane Gateau [former] , Audrey Staudacher [former] - April 22, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

“He fell and never was able to get up again. He died in his own living room, shot by his son,” said prosecutors on April 22 in their closing statements in the case of a son charged with fatally shooting his father. 

Stephon Williams, 32, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol outside a home or business for his alleged involvement in the shooting of his 49-year-old father Stephen Magruder on Sept. 11, 2020, on the 700 block of 51st Street, NE.

According to prosecutors, a verbal and physical altercation occurred between Williams and Magruder, which led Williams to produce a firearm and shoot Magruder, who was unarmed, in the chest before fleeing the scene and disposing of the firearm in a trash can. 

The argument was apparently over a few dollars worth of marijuana.

“He didn’t have to pull the trigger,” said the prosecution. “Williams shot a man who was empty-handed.”

The prosecution acknowledged that, according to eyewitness testimony, Magruder was the initial aggressor during the physical altercation and hit Williams several times.

“All witnesses agree Williams did not fight back,” said the prosecution, but argued Williams could have “put up his dukes and fight him like a man.”

Further, they argued that Williams was not acting in self-defense, citing eyewitness testimony that claimed Magruder put his hands up in surrender before Williams fired. 

Of Williams’ own testimony, the prosecutors pointed out that he lied about the location of the firearm prior to the shooting.

“He doubled-down about simple details, such as where his gun was. He testified that he put his gun in a closet, while there was never a closet there. That is because it never happened and he never tried to hide his gun,” said the prosecution. 

Further, prosecutors argued that Williams did not sustain an “actual beating,” citing Williams’ only known injury from the altercation was a split lip.

“You don’t have to agree with [Magruder’s] way of disciplining his children. You can even think he’s a bad person,” said the prosecution, arguing Williams’ behavior was not self-defense, but rather an angry reaction to his father’s abuse.

“I submit to you that he was angry,” said the prosecution. “He was angry that he was not good enough for his dad.”

Williams’ defense attorney, Jason Tulley, argued that Williams’ actions were consistent with someone acting in self-defense, citing that Magruder was “stronger, bigger, angrier, and more violent” than Williams, causing him to react defensively. 

“He was not thinking ‘I’m gonna hurt my dad.’ He loved his dad,” said Tulley, arguing that the prosecution was “sugarcoating child abuse.”

According to Tulley, Magruder had a history of violent abuse, including a past conviction for a violent crime, and Williams’ knowledge of this behavior caused him to fear for his life.

“[Magruder] goes after folks that are smaller, more vulnerable,” Tulley said, claiming that the prosecution’s minimizing of these violent tendencies was “abuse-denying.”

He argued that, during the physical altercation, Magruder prevented Williams from leaving the apartment twice, and an eyewitness was unsuccessful in pulling Magruder away from the altercation.

“[Williams] was scared, trying to escape,” said Tulley, claiming Magruder was too “lost in his rage” to be stopped.

Further, Tulley argued “there was no ‘hands-up surrender’ business,” citing that the eyewitness who saw Magruder put his hands up previously told police she only heard the shot being fired.

“You all have the last word,” said Tulley. “I ask that you make that last word ‘not guilty.’”

In their rebuttal, the prosecution reiterated that Magruder was unarmed at the time of the shooting, Williams’ motive was out of revenge, not self-defense.

“Williams knew he had the means to put an end to [Magruder] humiliating him,” said the prosecution. “He had a gun!”

The prosecution also claimed Williams actions after the shooting were not consistent with self-defense. 

“He did not call the police, he fled the scene and got rid of the evidence,” said the prosecution. “I don’t know what Tulley calls that, but I call it hiding.” 

Prosecutors asked the jury to rule “the only verdict rendered by the evidence, which is guilty.”

The jury was sent out for deliberations by DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein.

Prior to the parties delivering their closing statements, Judge Epstein alerted the parties to a report from Pre-Trial Services that stated Williams tested positive for opioids prior to his testimony. The parties agreed to discuss the results at a later date.