DNA Evidence Doesn’t Connect to Murder Defendant, Expert Says

By D.C. Witness Staff - July 19, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

An expert witness told a jury July 17 that the defendant’s DNA was not found at the murder scene.

Devaun Drayton

Terik McLeod, 33, is charged with first-degree murder while armed with aggrivating circumstances for allegedly shooting Carlton Fisher on Oct. 1, 2006, on the 1100 block of 21st Street, NE. McLeod is also charged with first-degree murder for shooting Devaun Drayton, 17, on the 700 block of 26th Street, NE on March 10, 2004. McLeod’s first trial resulted in a hung jury.

Carlton Fisher

An expert in fingerprint analysis said she received nine fingerprints from the crime scene of Fisher’s homicide. Three of the prints came from an Icehouse beer can and six from a can of Arizona tea.

The expert said she was only able to process five of the nine fingerprints because of the quality of the impression. She said she was able to conclude that those five finger prints did not belong to the victim, defendant or second suspect.

A firearms expert also testified about the guns and bullets used in both Drayton and Fisher’s cases.

The expert said that the bullets recovered from Drayton’s head and Fisher’s body were compatible with the .357 Magnum revolver that McLeod allegedly used to kill both men.

However,  he said he could not confirm that the bullets were shot from the same gun due to some characteristics of the gun.