Forensic Evidence Places Shooting Defendant at Crime Scene

By Joseph Wolf , Ivanna Ceballos - September 17, 2024
Daily Stories | Shooting | Suspects |

Two forensic scientists provided testimony before DC Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur on Sept. 16, explaining that DNA evidence taken from a shooting scene overwhelmingly implicates the defendant.

Jerry Tyree, 46, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of liquid PCP, and unlawful possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, for his alleged involvement in a shooting that left a transgender woman wounded. The incident occurred on Nov. 29, 2023, on the 5900 Block of Foote Street, NE.

According to court documents, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) was called to the scene after a shooting. MPD officers spoke to the victim and discovered that after Tyree allegedly propositioned her for sex. After the transaction, Tyree accused her of stealing money from him, produced a firearm, and allegedly shot her in the genitals. 

The trial resumed with a forensic scientist from Bode Technology, a lab used by parties to DNA test evidence, stating that Bode evaluated a cigarette butt, suspected semen, and buccal swabs of the victim and Tyree. In her expert opinion, the witness stated there was at least one male contributor on the cigarette butt, and it is extremely likely that it was Tyree.

On cross-examination, Tyree’s attorney, Sara Kopecki, spent much of her time questioning the reliability of the machines that aid scientists in making their determinations, and how often they are calibrated which can affect the results.

Another witness, also employed at Bode Technology as a forensic serologist, confirmed they were responsible for conducting the tests. Kopecki focused on the fact that the witness did not do a confirmatory test on the semen and insisted no one was there to review a presumptive test, which ensures the bodily fluid is physically present.

Earlier in the day, the prosecution witness responsible for collecting evidence from the crime scene, testified about the items recovered, including a spent cartridge and a bloody shoe print. Kopecki pressed the witness on his qualifications and questioned the reliability of the evidence collection process, pointing out that a different officer had collected the bullet in question. The witness conceded that this “could have affected the preservation of the evidence.”

The trial is set to continue on Sept. 17.