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By
Sophia Cooper
, Brigette Bagley , John Battistelli - February 26, 2025
Daily Stories
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Shooting
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Suspects
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Victims
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Parties presented opening statements on Feb. 25 before DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson in a fatal shooting trial that defense counsel says “has the wrong guy,” as the suspect.
Guy Johnson, 57, is charged with first-degree murder premeditated while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for his alleged involvement in the murder of 28-year-old Kriston Robinson on March 25, 2020, on the 1600 block of 19th Street, SE.
In opening statements, the prosecution argued Johnson allegedly stared down Robinson’s cousin, followed them in a “cash Uber,” exited the car, and fired six shots into the white sedan Robinson was driving. Her cousin in the passenger seat fled from the shooter and wasn’t hurt. Prosecutors argued surveillance videos show the so-called stare-down between Johnson and Robinson’s cousin, demonstrating concern about the surviving victim.
Charlotte Gilliland, Johnson’s attorney, argued it’s a case of mistaken identity. She maintained there is no physical or forensic evidence connected to Johnson, eyewitness descriptions of the shooter don’t match the defendant, the bullet casings and magazine went untested, and the prosecution has no plausible explanation regarding motive.
Gilliland added that Johnson “acts like the innocent man he is on surveillance” because he remained on the scene and spoke to the police when they arrived.
Prosecutors called a witness who spent a lot of time near the incident. She identified herself in surveillance footage, and testified to seeing an unfamiliar man across the street, describing him as “kind of weird… just the way he was pacing back and forth.” She added that the individual across the street interacted with a white sedan – like the one in which Robinson was located fatally wounded.
Surveillance video showed an individual next to the witness who she was unable to identify, but she testified the person said “he’s on my line” about the man across the street which she understood as “someone is out to get you.” She left the area prior to the shooting and elaborated “that means trouble in street terms…why would I want to be there.”
Johnson’s other attorney, Kevin Mosley, asked the witness “You are in an orange jumpsuit does that mean you are locked up?” The witness answered, “Yeah, and for what reason I would like to know.” Mosley argued prosecutors issued a warrant for the witness to come to court, although she does not have a clear memory of that night and never saw anyone with a gun.
Prosecutors also called another eyewitness, who testified he heard the gunfire and his Ring camera captured the scene after the shots were fired. In the footage, a car allegedly carrying Robinson and her cousin were attempting to drive away as an individual in a grey jacket fled the scene.
Parties are slated to reconvene on Feb. 26.