Defense Requests Later Status Hearing to Review Prosecution Data

By Rachel Benck [former] - February 1, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Two months after he was officially arraigned, a murder defendant appeared in front of D.C. Superior Court Judge Anthony C. Epstein on Feb. 1.

Darrow Johnson, 38, was indicted on three counts, including first-degree murder while armed, unlawful possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence all while violating a gun-free zone in connection with the murder of Michael Whitehead. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Johnson’s defense attorney, Matthew Davies, told Judge Epstein that the prosecution had recently uploaded a significant amount of evidence, which he had not yet had the chance to review prior to the hearing. 

To allow the defense time to review the evidence, Judge Epstein scheduled another status hearing for a later date.

The incident in question occurred on Feb. 27, 2021. After receiving a 911 call regarding the sound of gunshots, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers were dispatched to the 100 block of N Street, NW where they found Whitehead with a single gunshot wound to the chest, according to court documents. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

All parties are scheduled to return to court on April 7.