The prosecution called multiple witnesses to testify about video footage in a trial for a defendant accused of three shootings before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on Sept. 22.
Gerald Brevard, 35, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, and destruction of property less than $1,000. The charges stem from Brevard’s alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Morgan Holmes, 54, on March 9, 2022, on the 400 block of New York Avenue, NE.
Brevard is also charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, mayhem while armed, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business. These charges stem from his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting on March 8, 2022 on the 1700 block of H Street, NE. The victim sustained gunshot wounds to his head, face, chest, thigh, buttock, and hand.
In addition, Brevard is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, and carrying a pistol without a license for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting on March 3, 2022 on the 1000 block of New York Avenue, NE. The victim sustained two gunshot wounds on his lower back and a graze wound on his left shoulder.
Because Brevard allegedly targeted unhoused individuals in all three shootings, all violent charges carry an aggravating factor of a bias-related hate crime.
The trial continued with testimony from a former coworker who testified that Brevard missed the shifts he was scheduled for at City Winery, from March 3 through 6, 2022 from 4:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. The last shift Brevard arrived for was on Feb. 28, 2022 and he was terminated after he failed to report for subsequent shifts.
The prosecution showed surveillance video from City Winery, on March 13, 2022, in which the coworker identified a man dressed in all black with a blue face mask. Additional evidence was presented of an employment application Brevard filled out on the same day.
An Amtrak employee testified that on March 9, 2022, between 2 a.m.-and-3 a.m. he heard a gunshot and saw flames near a bridge. The witness noticed a figure standing with dark clothing and a hood, casually walking. He confirmed that he noticed black smoke appear eight-to-10 minutes after hearing gunshots, and saw flames around 30-to-40 minutes after.
Brevard’s attorney, Megan Allburn, cross-examined the Amtrak employee about a photo he captured of the scene. Allburn asked whether it was true that no one requested the location or time information from the witness’ photo.
A District Department of Transportation (DDOT) employee verified traffic camera footage from March 9, 2022 provided by the DDOT. The footage was from a speed camera on the 600 block New York Avenue, NE and showed a man wearing all black walking near the bridge at 1:40 a.m.
In cross-examination, Brevard’s other attorney, Steven Kiersh, asked the witness to verify whether he remembered reviewing the surveillance footage’s metadata, but the witness did not recall that.
A program manager at the New York Avenue Men’s Shelter, on the 1300 block of New York Avenue, NE, who was responsible for monitoring cameras testified. He confirmed the cameras worked on March 3, 2022, which is when the footage was recorded.
In a video from the front exterior camera pointing east on New York Avenue and Fenwick Street, NE around 3:00 a.m., a dark figure with a hood is seen walking by the shelter.
A senior security physical specialist from the DC Protective Services Division (PSD) provided information about video footage he monitored. This footage was taken from The Office of the State Superintendent of Education on the 1300 block of New York Avenue, NE from a motion-detected camera system.
The prosecution played videos of an individual dressed in all black wandering around the area. From videos on March 3, 2022, the witness confirmed the time was approximately 3:00 a.m. From the videos on March 9, 2022, the witness confirmed the time was approximately 1:00 a.m.
Allburn cross-examined the PSD specialist, asking what physical security involves. The witness explained that it involves conducting risk assessments, letting clients know where to set up security and setting up security advisory.
A Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) employee from the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Division also testified.
The MPD employee confirmed videos from H Street, 19th Street, 9th Street Ramp, and New York Avenue, NE on March 3, 2022 around 3:00 a.m. and March 8, 2022 before 2:00 a.m. The videos showed a figure in dark clothing walking around the area.
A trauma surgeon who treated a patient for multiple gunshot wounds on March 3, 2022 testified. The surgeon performed a CT scan on the patient that showed an intramuscular hematoma–a dangerous pooling of the blood in the muscle that can cause paralysis– requiring treatment to stop the bleeding.
The parties are slated to reconvene to continue testimony from the prosecution’s witnesses on Sept. 23.
