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By
Mia Febles [former]
, Ashley Drazka [former] - May 20, 2024
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Juveniles
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Shooting
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On March 8, a homicide defendant motioned to have release conditions temporarily modified before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun.
JD Wheeler, 23, is charged with second-degree murder, first-degree cruelty to children, second-degree cruelty to children, carrying a pistol without license, possession of an unregistered firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, tampering with physical evidence and contempt of court for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of his son, 23-month-old Legend King Wheeler. The incident occurred on the 2300 block of Chester Street, SE on Nov. 24, 2021.
According to court documents, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) responded to the location for the report of a shooting, where they located a juvenile male victim suffering from an apparent accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound. The firearm, which was registered to JD, had been unsecured inside the residence.
Aubrey Dillon, JD’s defense attorney, requested that his release conditions be amended to allow him to travel to Miami with his two cousins.
Dillon noted that the cousins both have stable jobs that require background checks, and that he would not be asking for the release conditions to be changed if he believed that Wheeler wanted to go to Miami to party.
The prosecution argued that the victim’s family has a right to be heard regarding the modification of JD’s release conditions.
Judge Okun is giving the prosecution until March 11 to respond to the request, at which time he will rule on the motion.
Parties are slated to return Sept. 6.