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By
Allyson Nelles
, Patrick Hillmeyer - April 8, 2025
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Shooting
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Prosecutors accused co-defendants of “turning a block into a battlefield” in a deadly mass shooting trial that began on April 8 before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz.
William Johnson-Lee, 22, Erwin Dubose, 30, Kamar Queen, 27, and Damonta Thompson, 28, are charged with conspiracy, two counts of premeditated first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, and three counts of assault with significant bodily injury while armed, for their alleged involvement in the mass shooting that claimed the lives of 31-year-old Donnetta Dyson, 24-year-old Keenan Baxter, and 37-year-old Johnny Joyner.
Dubose, Queen, and Johnson-Lee each have nine additional counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Queen and Thompson each gave one additional count of first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, and Johnson-lee has two more counts of the same charge. Dubose, Queen, and Thompson also each have an additional charge of one or more counts of assault with intent to kill while armed.
Dubose and Queen are each charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, as well. Dubose has additional charges of premeditated first-degree murder while armed and tampering with physical evidence. Finally, Queen and Johnson-Lee each have an additional charge of carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business.
The incident occurred on the 600 block of Longfellow Street, NW on Sept. 4, 2021, and left three others suffering from injuries.
Toyia Johnson, 52, and Mussay Rezene, 32, are charged with accessory after the fact while armed and tampering with physical evidence for their alleged involvement in assisting the other defendants in getting rid of the evidence and avoiding getting caught in connection with the case.
During their opening statement, the prosecution emphasized that each defendant had a role in the mass shooting and in covering it up. They explained the rap alliance among the defendants, which they identified as Drop Squad (DS), Tough Real Understanding (TRU), and Real Money Getters (RMG). According to the prosecution, their group was “beefing” with another group from Kennedy Street, known as KDY.
According to the prosecution, the mass shooting was retaliation for another shooting, which occurred two hours earlier, during which Queen and a group of friends were targeted, with one person injured. The shooting occurred at Queen’s godmother’s house on the 800 block of Oglethorpe Road, NE.
The prosecution argued that shortly after Queen and his friends attacked, he brought their group together to retaliate, arguing they immediately blamed KDY for the shooting.
According to the prosecution, the defendants planned and executed the shooting using a Black Honda, allegedly rented by Dubose’s lover, Johnson. They claimed Thompson acted as the getaway driver, and Dubose, Queen and Johnson-Lee were the shooters, identified specifically by the clothing they were wearing before, during and after the shooting. They added that Rezene was intended to be a shooter, but did not make it in time to the scene, stating that he attempted to reach out to the group multiple times, but was unable to due to their phones not working.
Prosecutors further stated that Johnson and Rezene assisted the group after the shooting, with Johnson lying to the police about the car’s being stolen and Rezene helping Dubose burn it in an alleyway.
“The sound of cicadas were replaced by bullets,” the prosecution warned, as they played camera footage of the incident caught on a Ring doorbell.
“Roads? Where we’re going we don’t need roads,” Michael Bruckheim, Dubose’s attorney, quoted from Back to the Future. According to Bruckheim, the quote is not true in this trial, insisting that it is the prosecution’s responsibility to create a complete “road” of evidence for the jury to follow to a reasonable conclusion.
Camille Wagner, Rezene’s attorney, Peter Fayne, Johnson-Lee’s attorney, and Brian McDaniel, Queen’s attorney, echoed Bruckheim’s sentiments on reasonable doubt, stressing the lack of reliable identification of their clients. Fayne pulled out a miniature Constitution from his pocket, emphasizing that the role of a jury is to prevent injustice.
David Akulian, Johnson’s attorney, stressed that this case was about love and tragedy, highlighting a romantic relationship between Johnson and Dubose. He also stated that there’s no evidence that Johnson willingly assisted anyone with the shooting, emphasizing her “complete lack of knowledge.” `
Following opening statements, the prosecution called on a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer who responded to the scene of the crime. He stated he was stationed at the intersection of 7th and Kennedy Street NW, when he heard around 20 gunshots. He stated he encountered multiple victims on the sidewalk outside of a house. He testified he saw a black vehicle drive away from the scene, and radioed it into MPD to send out a be on the lookout.
Parties are slated to reconvene April 9.