DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt told parties she would consider their arguments for release in a homicide and robbery case about designer glasses once a detective testifies on July 8.
Charlie Laster, 23, is charged with first-degree murder premeditated while armed, attempted robbery while armed, felony murder while armed, three counts of possession of a firearm during crime of violence and unlawful possession of a firearm for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Malon Nurse, 26, on Feb. 14, 2024 at the 1700 block of North Capitol Street, NW.
Laster was indicted by a grand jury and was arraigned on June 27 before DC Superior Court Judge Risa Berkower, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges.
According to the prosecution, Nurse was picking up food and was followed by three men while re-entering the establishment. Police said that its ShotSpotter detection system identified 12 rounds of gunfire at the time of the murder.
According to the prosecution, Nurse was able to tell police officers he was shot six times before he succumbed to his injuries.
Prosecutors claimed three people in a Mercedes sedan intended to rob Nurse and take his Cartier glasses – a luxury item – not to rob the establishment. Laster was on release for an armed robbery case, which prosecutors claimed was a similar incident where three people robbed strangers to steal a luxury item.
The prosecution said that Laster went to the hospital with two gunshot wounds 15 minutes after the incident. He and one other suspect allegedly fled the scene in a Mercedes sedan. Laster’s brother, who was also allegedly involved in the incident, suffered one gunshot and was left at the scene, paralyzed.
Evidence left at the scene including multiple firearms, bullet casings and the Cartier glasses were tested and were said to include Laster and his brother’s DNA on them, according to the prosecution.
Originally, the July 8 hearing was meant to be a detention hearing, during which a detective was supposed to testify, however he was unavailable for the hearing.
Parties are set to return for a detention hearing with the detective’s testimony on July 28.
