Hearing Plans Change Following Arrest of Third Co-Defendant Amid Plea Negotiations in Murder Case

By Jay McDonald [former] - April 25, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Defense attorneys in a murder case asked for more time to negotiate a plea offer and gather information in the aftermath of a third defendant’s arrest.

Darquise Montgomery was arrested on March 14 for his alleged role in the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Anthony Lee on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE, on Sept. 26, 2020. Montgomery is charged with murder alongside Niko Hall and Kyree Wells, who were arrested in 2020.

During an April 22 status hearing, attorneys in Hall and Wells’ cases agreed to reschedule an Innocence Protection Act hearing due to Montgomery’s arrest. Attorneys said they hope to reach a disposition for the two by the next hearing. 

Montgomery’s attorney, Elizabeth Weller, said she did not want to move forward with the IPA inquiry since she was just appointed a month ago and wanted to go forward with a motion she filed for her client’s release from DC Jail.

Judge Rainey Brandt granted the request and gave the prosecutor two weeks to respond to Weller’s bond review motion. The prosecutor said he plans to have a response by the end of next week. 

Wells’ attorney, David Benowitz, asked Judge Brandt to transfer his client to the Young Men Emerging (YME) program, a housing unit run by the Department of Corrections, because he is serious about continuing his education. Judge Brandt said she could not order the transfer but could recommend it. Montgomery is also a part of the YME program.

Judge Brandt noticed the young men had a lot of supporters in the audience and encouraged them to keep their heads high. 

“Do not let the stress of the situation take over your mind. Just look in the crowd knowing you have help and something to fight for,” she said.

Montgomery was arraigned on charges of first-degree murder while armed, carrying a pistol without a license, assault with the intent to kill while armed and two counts of possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. 

A status hearing is scheduled for June 10.