Government calls key witnesses for Clifton Johnson trial

By D.C. Witness Staff - April 21, 2017
Court | Homicides | Suspects |

The events that led to the death of Dwayne Johnson were described to the jury Wednesday by key witnesses presented by the government.

Dominique Massenburg, the man who gave Clifton a ride to the restaurant  the night he allegedly murdered Dwayne Grandson, testified in court Monday.

When asked to describe to the jury what he saw that night, Massenburg said he saw someone “walk up to him (Johnson)…and tap him.”

According to Massenburg, after Johnson grabbed his food he looked “nervous.”

Massenburg explained to the jury that he heard “first gun shot” then multiple shots. He also told the jury he did not see Johnson with a gun “at all.”

When the  government reminded Massenburg he testified to the grand jury, that he did not mention Johnson being “scared, ” Massenburg said at the time he had not  “seen the video.”

The government played the 9-1-1 tape of Johnson calling the police and telling them he had been shot. When the dispatcher asked Johnson who had shot him, his response was “I don’t fuckin’ know.”

Walter Collier, a representative from Shotspotter also testified in court Wednesday.  Shotspotter is a gunshot detection company that works with D.C. Police to give them location of where the gunshots happened.

Collier detected “seven gunshots…but could not tell who fired the shots.”

The government also called Tanya Harris as a witness. Harris was at the restaurant when Johnson allegedly shot Grandson. She describes the night as “traumatic.” When the government asked her how she felt, Harris said she was “distraught that night.”  She describes the interaction between Johnson and Grandson “friendly” and they were “talking back and forth” with each other

Johnson was charged with first-degree murder while armed and is still being held without bond. His trial resumes Thursday.