‘Hell Yeah, I Ran,’ Says Homicide Suspect After Hearing Gunfire

By Brigette Bagley - March 31, 2025
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

A jury in DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt’s courtroom heard testimony from a detective and a DNA expert in a four year old ago homicide during a hearing on March 27.

Demonte Gibson, 27, and Asani Forte, 26, are charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, conspiracy, assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and destruction of property for their alleged involvement in the murder of Delonte King on Nov. 3, 2021, on the 2800 block of 14th Street, NW. Gibson is additionally charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction. 

The prosecution called a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective who said he used MPD surveillance cameras, Metro bus cameras, and a Domino’s security camera to reconstruct events before and during the incident and track suspects.

Nearly a year later, he helped execute a search warrant of Gibson’s apartment, where police allegedly found a loaded firearm, a black ski mask, and “Purple” brand jeans. The detective noted that the Purple jeans are distinctive due to a large white cloth tag hanging from the back pocket. These jeans, the detective said, were seen on the surveillance footage from the crime scene.

That same day, the detective and his partner interviewed Gibson at the MPD’s third district office, where Gibson identified himself in a still photograph taken near the crime scene, according to the detective. During this interview, the detective testified, Gibson recounted his experience from that day, saying he had been walking to pick up his cousin from school when he heard a series of gunshots.

In the interview video played before the court, Gibson is heard saying, “Hell yeah, I ran. I was shell shocked, I’ve been shot before.”

When asked if he knew the victim, Gibson said no and claimed he only knew someone had been shot, not that they had died. Upon learning of King’s death, he let out a large sigh, covered his mouth, and offered condolences.

Before the interview ended, Gibson stated he promised his mother and daughter he would “not get caught up in a mess like that,” which the detective interpreted as shootings.

The prosecution also called a DNA expert from Signature Science who testified that most of the shell coverings she tested from the crime scene contained a possible DNA match to Gibson, based on buccal or mouth swab samples she received. 

She also analyzed DNA swabs taken from a firearm, which she compared to the samples from Forte, Gibson, Tre’quan Nelson, 25, recently severed as a defendant in this case, and the victim, King. She found no definitive match but confirmed that a male had handled the gun.

During a brief cross-examination, Forte’s defense attorney, Russell Hairston, asked which shell casings the prosecution had sent her to test. She said she analyzed 13 of the 21 shell casings, with five yielding inconclusive results. None of which matched Forte’s DNA. 

Parties are slated to reconvene on March 31.