Detective Details High-Speed Chase Leading Up to Defendant’s Arrest

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During a Nov. 3 proceeding, a witness testified to the first-hand experience of capturing a defendant in a co-defendant homicide trial.

Jonathan Winston, 33, and Rakeem Willis, 31, are both charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to the shooting of 26-year-old Javon Abney, 26-year-old Sean Shuler, and 24-year-old Tyrik Hagood on Jan. 26, 2019, on the 1500 block of Fort Davis Place, SE.

A detective’s testimonial brought light to the surveillance and eventual arrest of Willis.

The detective, who was a part of the Fugitive Task Force, responded to a mall in Forest Hill, Maryland, on June 11, 2019. He said Willis’s black Audi was spotted in the parking lot.

He told defense attorney, Howard McEachern, surveillance was set up in an unmarked police vehicle.

The detective recalled Willis entering his vehicle and exiting the parking lot, resulting in a high-speed chase. Local police officers joined the pursuit, with the detective going approximately 100 mph.

Willis managed to evade police officers until his vehicle was found on the 3500 block of Chaplin Street, SE, on June 12, 2019, around 1:38 a.m.

The detective said Willis’s vehicle was discovered hanging off an elevated surface with exterior damage and branches hanging from the vehicle’s headlights. Prosecutors displayed images of the damaged vehicle to jurors.

The detective explained Willis was arrested on June 12, 2019, on the 4300 block of E Street, SE.

DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan said he hopes to finish the trial by next week. The next proceeding is scheduled for Nov. 7.

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