Defense Withdraws Motion for Prelim

By D.C. Witness Staff - January 7, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

During a status hearing, defense counsel in a July homicide case withdrew a motion for a second preliminary hearing after the prosecution turned over camera footage. 

Mark Price is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 47-year-old Andre Hakim Young on the 1500 block of 19th Street, SE in July of 2018.

During Price’s initial preliminary hearing in October 2018, Superior Court Judge Ronna Beck found substantial probability and ordered Price held without bond.

On Jan. 4, Price’s defense attorney, Pierce Suen, said he received a total of nearly seven minutes of footage. As a result, Suen withdrew his motion for a preliminary hearing.

Price, 24, is scheduled for a felony status conference May 3, when the prosecutor said he expects a grand jury indictment.

According to court documents, Price’s girlfriend received an eviction notice and called Price for assistance. Witnesses said Price was hostile and threatened multiple people. Apparently, Price flashed his firearm and said, “If I can’t live here nobody can. I am the reason the DC death rate is so high.”

After reporting Price’s behavior to the police, Young and two other individuals requested to be escorted back to their apartment. However, their request was denied.

Subsequently, Young, a victim who survived the shooting and a witness drove back to the apartment and that’s when Price and another male, who was not identified, allegedly approached the three individuals. Documents say Price and the other male reportedly opened fire while the victims were crossing the street.

It’s unclear if the unidentified male was arrested.

Young continues to be held without bond.