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Bersabel Ephrem [former]
- June 22, 2022
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Suspects
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Victims
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DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun continued a hearing on June 22, so three homicide defendants could have time to consider a plea offer.
Tyler Stringfield, 23, Keith Baham, 22, and Raymond Avent, 22, are all charged with first-degree murder while armed in the death of 23-year-old Rafiq Hawkins.
The prosecution, defense and the judge discussed the time the defendants would need to consider the deal. Specific terms of the deal were not discussed during the hearing.
On March 23, 2019, Metropolitan Police Department officers were patrolling the area around 1200 block of Brentwood Road when they heard gunshots. As they canvassed the area, the officers discovered Hawkins unconscious and suffering from gunshot wounds to the body on the 1300 block of Saratoga Avenue, NE.
Court documents state that surveillance video shows three individuals exiting a medium-colored four-door Cadillac while aiming their weapons in the general direction of the victim and opening fire.
During the hearing on June 22, Baham’s defense attorney, Russell Hairston, requested the prosecution put the plea offer in writing before proceeding.
Judge Okun scheduled a status hearing for July 19 to discuss the plea deal in more detail.
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