Gun Found Blocks Away from Shooting, Detective Says

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A detective for the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said the gun connected to a 2021 homicide was found a few blocks away from the shooting during a preliminary hearing on July 22.

Amard Jefferson, 23, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection to the Aug. 7, 2021, shooting of 20-year-old Kendall Brown on the 3000 block of Nelson Place, SE. Jefferson resided with his then-girlfriend, who was Brown’s friend. According to court documents, the shooting occurred after a verbal altercation between Brown and Jefferson concerning some missing items.

According to the detective, a handgun was found in a street drain. Ballistics testing found a match between the handgun and the casings recovered at the scene.

The detective also showed photos of the building and a diagram of the apartment layout from the Department of Forensic Science. Three shell casings were recovered from the scene.

The prosecutor also played a video provided by a witness who recorded Brown and her friends entering the apartment and engaging in a verbal altercation with Jefferson and his girlfriend. The video ended before the shooting occurred.

The detective said the autopsy report stated the bullet entered Brown’s body through her armpit area, which, according to the detective, was consistent with Brown raising her hands above her head before being shot.

The prosecutor showed the detective text messages between Jefferson and his girlfriend a few days after the shooting when Jefferson was incarcerated. The texts depict the two discussing what they would tell the police about the shooting.

Defense attorney Jason Clark asked the detective if there was any evidence that Jefferson could have acted in self-defense. The detective answered no.

DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun scheduled the preliminary hearing to continue on July 25 to complete the detective’s cross-examination.

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