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By
Keirah Chen
- March 3, 2025
Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Shooting
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A defendant in a homicide case requested new counsel and rejected a plea offer before DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park on Feb. 28.
Joshua Allen, 33, is charged with first-degree murder premeditated while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict, and carrying a pistol without license outside a home or business.
The charges stem from his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Delonte Johnson on June 11, 2021, on the 4600 block of Hillside Road, SE.
At the hearing, Allen requested a new attorney, but Judge Park denied this request, stating that there was no reason for him to remove his current lawyer, Sara Kopecki, as there is no evidence she had been ineffective in any way. Judge Park also asserted that this would be Allen’s sixth lawyer if he were to appoint new counsel.
Allen also announced he would be rejecting the prosecution’s offer to plead guilty to one count of second-degree murder while armed and one count of obstruction in another case in exchange for all other charges being dropped.
The trial is set for Aug. 11, and parties are slated to reconvene on April 11.