Girlfriend testifies to lending murder suspect her car

By D.C. Witness Staff - February 21, 2018
Court | Homicides | Suspects |

The girlfriend of Steven Pugh, who signed a plea deal in connection with the alleged fatal shooting of Marcellus Green, testified Feb. 20 to lending her 2008 Honda Accord, the vehicle used in a drive-by shooting on Sept. 19, 2015, to Pugh.

According to the prosecution, the shooting that Pugh participated in, allegedly with Dominique Williams and Maricco Knight, was an act of revenge.

Before the shooting took place, Pugh’s girlfriend assisted a man from the neighborhood, named CJ, with a check cashing scheme. She said she drove CJ to deposit a fraudulent check, but he was arrested. CJ then threatened the girlfriend and demanded $400 to pay a bond.

Pugh’s girlfriend said she moved to 16th Street, SE after CJ, who apparently lived in the area of 28th Street, SE, slashed her tires because she did not give him the money. Afraid to park her car at her new apartment, she said she would leave it with Pugh overnight.

A police officer from the Metropolitan Police Department also testified to finding the weapon used to kill Green on the morning after the shooting. He said an area resident told him about a gun on the ground.

Williams is charged with first-degree murder while armed and Knight is charged with accessory after the fact while armed. Knight is currently released under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP), a release program for higher risk defendants who have been charged with violent misdemeanors and felonies.

The trial is expected to continue on Feb. 21.