Former Lover Accused of Bedroom Murder Goes on Trial

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A young woman who alleges she saw her boyfriend shot to death in her bedroom testified her ex-boyfriend was the killer.

Marcus Walker, 23, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon against a minor, second-degree cruelty to children, and several other firearm and ammunition possession charges for his alleged involvement in the death of 28-year-old Eric King. The shooting took place on the 800 block of 21st Street, NE, on October 11, 2022. One other victim reported minor injuries.

According to court documents, Walker and his two children were living with his ex-girlfriend on the night of the incident. Walker, his ex-girlfriend, and his her new boyfriend were watching TV in the bedroom when the couple asked Walker to return to the living room so they could go to sleep.

From the living room, Walker allegedly sent his ex-girlfriend angry texts before forcing his way back into the bedroom, where he caught the couple having sex. Walker allegedly produced a firearm and shot twice, striking King in the chest and genitals. The ex-girlfriend received minor injuries.

In opening statements on April 30, the prosecution argued the ex-girlfriend’s testimony would identify Walker as the shooter and is consistent with evidence found at the scene, which included Walker’s likely DNA on shell casings found in the ex-girlfriend’s bedroom and angry texts Walker sent his ex-girlfriend moments before the shooting took place.

“That murder was premeditated and deliberate,” said the prosecutors, allegeding that Walker was infuriated with his ex-girlfriend prior to the shooting. “This is about disrespect, and this is about control.”

Walker’s defense attorney, Rachel McCoy, argued that the prosecution was using “inflammatory material” to sway the jury and asked the them to “pay attention to the investigation, or to the lack of investigation” the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) conducted in determining the identity of the shooter.

“Marcus Walker is innocent,” said McCoy. “Do not let emotions be a substitute for logic and cold hard facts.”

The prosecution then called Walker’s ex-girlfriend to the stand.

She testified that she and Walker dated for a few weeks, but broke up when she caught Walker cheating. She claimed she allowed Walker to keep living with her out of concern for the safety of Walker’s young children.

“I didn’t want the kids on the streets,” she said.

According to the witness, she had been dating King for a month prior to the shooting. On the night of the incident, Walker, King, and the eyewitness were watching movies in the witness’ bedroom.

“Everything was fine, perfect, until we said we were going to bed,” said the woman. She testified that Walker left the room “with an attitude” and proceeded to send her angry texts from the living room.

“When I stopped replying, that’s when he barged through the door,” she said, she and King were having sex and when asked by King, Walker refused to leave.

The woman attempted to keep King from getting off the bed, claiming, “I didn’t want them to fight,” but Walker produced a firearm and allegedly shot King twice. The woman’s young daughter was also in the bedroom.

Walker then allegedly instructed the woman not to tell anybody about the shooting before absconding with his infant children. The eyewitness testified she immediately called the police, and responding officers pronounced King dead at the scene.

On cross examination, Walker’s other defense attorney, Jesse Winnograd, pointed out that King and Walker had met several times prior to the shooting without any violent altercations occurring, and that Walker’s texts to the eyewitness did not contain any threats of harm.

Further, Winnograd pointed out that the eyewitness had previously filed abuse charges against another ex-boyfriend, but dropped the charges after she wrote an email to the ex-boyfriend’s lawyer claiming her statements to the police were false.

“I wrote that email just to end the case,” the eyewitness explained. “I never wanted to proceed with [the charges].”

Parties are slated to reconvene May 1 in DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun’s courtroom.