Case Acquitted: Eyewitnesses Testify They Saw the Shooter During a Homicide Trial

By Sophie Griggs [former] - October 31, 2023
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

This case was acquitted on Nov. 15, 2023.

On Oct. 30, DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein and a trial jury heard two eyewitnesses and one firearms expert testify in a homicide trial.

Michael Austin, 28, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict, for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Kayvon Kinney on the 1800 block of Gainesville Street, SE, on May 24, 2020. 

During the hearing the prosecution asked an eyewitness to describe in detail what he saw the day of the incident out his bedroom window. According to the witness he saw the shooter wearing a white T-shirt, jean shorts, and had a short fade hairstyle. The witness also stated that he watched the shooter running behind apartment buildings while carrying a gun, which prompted the witness to call the police.

An earlier witness described the suspect as a “young Black man in his 20’s,” wearing black jeans and a shirt, with something unidentifiable in his hand and sprinting frantically to a car.

Prosecutors called another eyewitness, who testified that she heard one gunshot then saw the shooter fire four shots at Kinney from her apartment window while he was lying on the ground.

Following the eyewitness’ testimony, the prosecution called a firearm expert who said all the shell-casings recovered from the crime scene came from the same firearm, and six of the seven bullets found at the scene were from the same semi-automatic weapon.

Due to time constraints, the witness was unable to finish her testimony. 

The eyewitness’s testimony will continue Oct. 31.