Double Homicide Defendant Accused of Violations Remains on Release

By Elizabeth Brady [former] - October 21, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Data | Homicides | Shooting | Victims |

In an Oct. 17 hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan allowed a double murder defendant, Amarii Fontanelle, to remain on release, despite multiple reported violations of home confinement allegedly for family emergencies and meeting terms of an out of state probation.

Fontanelle, 20, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder premeditated while armed, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill while armed, and aggravated assault knowingly while armed. 

Fontanelle, along with his co-defendant Jahi Rapp, 21, were allegedly involved in the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Reginald Lamont Cooper, Jr. and 19-year-old Davonte Berkley on Oct. 17, 2022, on the 1300 block of Congress Street, SE.  A third victim survived the assault.

A representative from the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) reported that the defendant nearly violated a stay-away order from his co-defendant’s residence on several occasions in late September. 

The prosecution added that Fontanelle continues to defy the terms of home confinement and requested the conditions of his release to be revoked. 

Defense attorney Kevin Mosley explained to the court that the mother of Fontanelle’s child faced emergencies requiring the defendant to break the home confinement. The Metro stop he exited as a result is near his co-defendant’s residence, according to Mosley. 

The defense added that this will not occur again as the defendant’s is now living with his mother in Maryland. His previous residence allegedly put him in life-threatening circumstances, which undermined home confinement.

The representative from the PSA noted another instance of noncompliance on Oct. 12. The defense explained that it was due to mandatory visits with his probation officer for another case in Maryland.

The defense further argued that with mental health services, the defendant’s behavior would change. With the assistance of the court, he will be assigned a new case manager, and Fontanelle will be placed on proper medications after the hearing. 

Judge Raffinan denied the prosecution’s request to revoke Fontanelle’s release. The judge modified the home confinement order to allow travel meet with the probation officer in Maryland, with permission from PSA. She warned the defendant to not break home confinement in the future. 

The parties will reconvene on Dec. 3.