Expert Links Murder to Defendant’s Gun

By D.C. Witness Staff - April 25, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

During a murder trial April 24, an expert said gun shell casings found at a crime scene were consistent with being fired from a gun allegedly owned by the defendant.

Derryck Decuir is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the shooting death of 15-year-old Malek Dayvon Mercer on the 2800 block of 28th Street, SE. Decuir, 26, has been tried twice before. Both trials resulted in mistrials after the juries could not come to a unanimous decision regarding his murder charge.

A firearms expert testified that ballistics on the crime scene are consistent with markings left on cartridge casings found near Mercer’s body.

“We identified this pistol as being the one that fired that cartridge case,” the expert said.

A detective said Decuir’s cell phone contained text messages regarding a Ruger P85. The detective said there were also internet searches regarding that specific kind of handgun.

A witness also testified that Decuir’s girlfriend asked him to “take care of some jerseys in the backyard.” The witness said he eventually realized Decuir was talking about guns.

D.C. Witness previously reported that Decuir referred to his guns as “dogs” and “jerseys.”

According to the prosecution’s theory, Mercer “snickered” at the defendant after he made a comment about Mercer’s belt. The prosecution said Decuir became enraged, followed Mercer off a bus and shot him in the neck.

The defense, however, said Decuir fired in self-defense after he saw Mercer pulling a shotgun out of his bag.

The trial is scheduled to continue on April 25.