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By
Alex Garcia Pecina
, Joseph Wolf - October 18, 2024
Daily Stories
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stabbing
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Suspects
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Victims
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A homicide defendant waived his preliminary hearing rights on Oct. 16, before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun.
David Key, 38, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 33-year-old Devon Greenfield. The incident transpired on April 1 on the 300 block of 61st Street, NE.
According to court documents, doorbell footage taken from across the street depicts an individual, later identified as Key, and Greenfield in a verbal altercation. During the argument, the suspect produced a knife and stabbed Greenfield. According to the autopsy, Greenfield sustained seven stab wounds.
Howard McEachern, Key’s attorney, informed the court that Key had decided to waive his rights to a preliminary hearing right before it started. According to McEachern, the prosecution would be inclined to extend a plea offer as a result.
During the hearing, McEachern requested Key be released, arguing that there is no way to guarantee Key was the suspect, citing the lack of eyewitness testimony and the inconsistency in the suspect’s height description with Key.
The prosecution disagreed, deeming the crime violent and brutal, adding that if he’s released Key will continue to pose a threat to the community.
Additionally, the prosecution mentioned his past criminal convictions, citing two instances where he used a metal baseball bat to injure an individual.
Judge Okun found that the defense had failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove Key does not pose a danger to the community, and ordered he be detained. Judge Okun sided with the prosecution, stating their evidence is strong.
Parties are slated to reconvene Dec. 13.