Homicide Defendant Testifies, ‘I Was Mentally Deranged,’ When Telling His Story

By Sofia Feigelson [former] - May 21, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | stabbing | Suspects | Victims |

Pleading to jurors before DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe, a homicide suspect testified he had no choice but to kill the victim.

“You were filled with rage that day,” shot back the prosecutor in a May 20 hearing.

Aaron Jackson, 30, is being charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed and a felony of carrying a dangerous weapon. Jackson allegedly stabbed Damohn Gill, 27, to death using a Dewalt folding knife on June 24, 2021 near the 3600 block of 22nd Street, SE.

Judge O’Keefe confirmed the defendant understood his rights before taking the stand. 

“I have made the decision fully aware of what’s going on,” said Jackson.

Defense attorney Wole Falodun asked his client questions regarding his relationship with Gill, also identified as “Vito,” previous incidents with the victim, and the events surrounding the stabbing.

According to Jackson, he and Gill were childhood friends who met at camp when they were about eight-years-old. However, he claimed that their friendship changed in 2013 when Jackson’s younger brother “snitched” to police about an incident that led to Gill’s brother’s arrest.

He stated that in a conversation with Gill in 2015, Gill gave him an ultimatum either disclose his younger brother’s address or kill his younger brother.

Jackson explained that he did not want to be seen with his younger brother, but his mother posted an Instagram picture with the two siblings. Jackson believed Gill discovered this.

In 2016, Jackson was shot three times in his stomach in Southeast DC allegedly by Gill, but never told the police who shot him “because snitches get stitches in my neighborhood,” he stated.

In 2017, Jackson was shot in the leg allegedly by Gill, who he also fired back at. He never told the police who shot at him.

“There’s consequences behind that,” stated Jackson, alluding to his argument that if you cooperate with police, you will likely die. 

According to Jackson, he did not have much contact with Gill until he reached out in 2020 for Gill’s birthday. 

“I told him that I gave my life to God,” stated Jackson, adding that he had left the streets.

The defense revealed Jackson’s criminal history to the jury, which included attempted robberies in 2017 and 2012, and unlawful possession of a firearm in 2017.

When questioned about the fatal incident, Jackson claimed he was going to meet up with his cousin outside his mother’s apartment to pick up free marijuana for his “lady friend.” 

The defendant stated that he brought a two-inch knife with him that he typically used for cutting open a cigar to smoke weed with.

The defense showed surveillance footage in which Jackson, his mother and cousin, and Gill are all identified.

According to Jackson, Gill said to him, “What the f*ck are you going around here?” and would not embrace him with their typical handshake.

Jackson stated that he felt a gun near Gill’s waistband when he pulled him in for an embrace. He brought up Gill’s gun possession, and reported that Gill said, “So b*tch, you got a knife.”

The defendant also claimed that Gill said to him, “Ain’t no passes,” adding “I told you what I was gonna do if I see you again.”

According to Jackson, Gill punched him in the face and tried to reach for his gun. Gill then fell and got up, reaching for his gun again. 

“I had no choice but to defend myself… I stabbed,” said Jackson.

Falodun asked his client why he stabbed the victim multiple times. Jackson replied, “I was afraid,” adding that after the first time he stabbed Gill, he saw Gill’s hand reach for his gun.

Throughout the defense’s questioning, Jackson was very emotional, choking up and crying. During the prosecution’s questioning, he was more stern and unemotional.

The prosecution asked Gill, “Is your testimony that you were emotional about this case?” and then presented Instagram evidence of Jackson a few days after the stabbing. 

In the video, posted to Jackson’s Instagram account on June 27, he is shown singing a rap song. “I feel good, I can sleep knowing that a [n-word] that was trying to kill me aint trying to kill me no more,” Jackson could be heard saying. 

Throughout his testimony, Jackson claimed he was “mentally deranged,” adding he had suicidal thoughts and had to receive therapy and take medications. 

He stated that he did not want to “incriminate myself,” emphasizing that he “was not under oath,” during the interview with detectives. 

The prosecution then stated that Jackson had been “hiding” from police for 98 days.

“During those 98 days, why didn’t you call the police?” said the prosecutor. Jackson stated that he and his family were receiving threats.

The prosecution also brought up the defendant’s jail calls, one of which Jackson reportedly tells his girlfriend within ten days of being in jail that they need to get married because of marital privilege. 

Jackson claimed that he did not know why he said that, but mentioned that his girlfriend did not want to testify.

Another call supposedly revealed Jackson saying he would “hypnotize” the jury, but Jackson claimed that he might have said “swirlify,” but it is unclear what he meant.

Furthermore, the prosecution alluded to the jury that the defendant spent a lot of time reviewing evidence and “manufacturing” his defense, claiming that his self-defense argument was developed a year later.

The prosecutor read a letter that Jackson submitted to the Judge, but never mentioned that he felt a gun or that Gill implied he would kill him. 

Jackson claimed that the letter was his “rough draft” and he never submitted it to the Judge. “It’s a scribble letter,” he stated.

The prosecution also brought up their belief that Jackson did not want his mother to testify, but she was subpoenaed to court. “I think I told her to plead the Fifth,” said Jackson.

They stated that Jackson sent a text to his mother on Mother’s Day saying, “If only you were there for me when I needed you most.”

Despite what the prosecution believed to be contradictory evidence to Jackson’s testimony, the defendant stated, “I have nothing to hide. Period,” adding “I don’t care what you ask me, I’m going to tell you the truth.”

The prosecution finished their cross-examination by arguing that Jackson was so upset that Gill banned him from his neighborhood and would not give him the “neighborhood handshake,” that he decided to kill him.

The defense rested their case. They await three witnesses in the prosecution’s rebuttal case.

Parties reconvene May 21.