Detective Makes Courtroom ID of Suspect in Sex Worker Shooting

By Ella Munnelly - September 19, 2024
Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

A lead detective in a shooting involving a transgender sex worker identified a defendant as the incident’s perpetrator before a jury in DC Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur’s courtroom on Sept. 18. During the same proceeding, a doctor described the victim’s grievous injuries to the jury.

Jerry Tyree, 46, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of liquid PCP, and unlawful possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged role in a Nov. 29, 2023, shooting on the 5900 block of Foote Street, NE. A transgender woman sustained injuries to her penis and groin during the incident.

Throughout the trial, the prosecution has claimed that the shooting may have resulted from a transaction gone wrong with a sex worker. The defense contends the incident was the unintended result of a scuffle.

The prosecution called the doctor who removed a bullet from the victim. He testified that she appeared to be “obviously anxious and uncomfortable, relatively calm but clearly in distress.” 

According to the doctor, the bullet entered the victim’s penis from the top closest to the body and passed through to the other side, barely avoiding the urinary tract and the testicles. The victim had to undergo two surgeries and was hospitalized for four days.

The prosecution also called a detective from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) who testified he was present during a follow up interview with the victim in which she identified the defendant, Tyree, as the shooter from a photo identification. The detective was subsequently able to identify Tyree as the suspect in the courtroom. 

Under cross examination by defense attorney Sara Kopecki, the detective acknowledged that when preparing documents for this case, he relied on the victim’s testimony and another witness present at the scene to describe the defendant. 

However, he did not ask the witnesses how long they observed the defendant, saying it was about 15 minutes. Kopecki noted that the specific length of time is, “important for the reliability of the complaining witness.”

After testimony concluded, Kopecki filed a motion for judgment of acquittal, stating that the prosecution had failed to meet its burden of proof. Judge Arthur denied the motion, stating that a reasonable jury could find Tyree guilty of all charges. 

Parties are slated to reconvene Sept. 19.