Homicide Defendant Accused of Shooting His Father Over Five Dollars

By Payton Anderson [former] , Rohan Naval [former] - April 11, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On April 10, DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein heard opening statements and witness testimony in a patricide trial. The alleged motive was a few dollars worth of marijuana.

Stephon Williams, 32, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol outside a home or business for his alleged involvement in the shooting of his 49-year-old father Stephen Magruder on Sept. 11, 2020, on the 700 block of 51st Street, NE.

According to the prosecutor, Williams and his father were involved in a heated argument in Magruder’s apartment that escalated quickly, leading to the fatal shooting. 

“He was murdered in front of his wife and children by his son,” the prosecution said. The reason, they say, was an “argument over five dollars.”

The prosecution said, “Magruder could get angry.” On the night of the incident, prosecutors alleged that Magruder “wanted [the defendant] to leave the apartment” and that the defendant was angry after the argument. 

The prosecution alleged that Williams was yelling back at his father that he was, “not about to keep punking me and putting your hands on me,” but emphasized that although Magruder became physically violent, he never used “deadly force.”  

According to prosecutors, after the shooting “other people tried to help Magruder,” as Williams fled the scene with the gun, and was found in a parking lot in a different part of the city hours later.  

“Williams had to step over or walk around his father’s body,” the prosecution said. “He walked right out the door.” 

The prosecution concluded by emphasizing to the jury that Magruder was unarmed and Williams used that against him. The prosecution also argued that Williams shot his father in retaliation for “punking,” or hitting him.    

“He did it out of defiance, out of revenge, out of resistance,” the prosecution said. “And he used his advantage–having a weapon.” 

Kavya Naini, Williams’ defense attorney, argued that Magruder was “blinded with rage” and  “he knocked his son into the ground” during an argument. 

Naini told jurors that the five dollars was allegedly what Magruder said Williams owed him for a marijuana joint, while Williams tried to tell his father that he had already paid him.  

Naini insisted that the prosecution did not show the full picture of Magruder’s behavior. 

According to Naini, Magruder had a criminal history of domestic violence, citing the multiple times Child Protective Services (CPS) had to take action against Magruder during Williams’ childhood. She also discussed the multiple women who had reported his abuse, including Williams’ mom. 

“Williams’ mom is one of several women Magruder attacked,” Naini said. “He knew what his dad was capable of.”  

Naini mentioned an incident in 2017, in which Magruder allegedly hit a cyclist with a chain as an example of the victim’s violent tendencies.

The defense also mentioned that Magruder was allegedly yelling, “I’m going to kill you,” to his son as he repeatedly hit him. Naini claimed Williams reached for his gun in a moment of desperation. 

“What happened that night was not a crime—it was self-defense,” Naini said. “Williams did what everyone under this law is allowed to do.” 

Following opening statements, prosecutors called on a responding officer from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) who stated that the environment was “chaotic and emotional” when he arrived. 

According to the officer, Magruder’s wife “would not stop screaming,” making it difficult for him and his partner to interview her about what happened. He testified to performing CPR on Magruder and staying with him until he was taken away by paramedics soon after he was shot. 

“As a responding officer, it is my responsibility to keep a scene under control,” the officer said.

Parties are slated to return on April 11.