Homicide Defendant’s Roommate Says She Reported Him to Police

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A homicide defendant’s roommate testified on March 25 that she reported him to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) after seeing him on a lookout image.

Deonte Patterson, 29, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and obstructing justice, with influence or delay of a witness or officer, for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Ali Jamil Al-Mahdi, 32, on Aug. 23, 2021, at the 1800 block of 9th Street, NW.

The prosecution called a witness who lived with Patterson in 2023 and reported him to the authorities.

The witness explained that she read a tweet on Jan. 5, 2023, indicating that Patterson and others were wanted. Later that day, she mentioned it to Patterson, who did not react in shock or appear bothered by it. She said she informed the fire station or police and explained everything.

The prosecution called another witness, a security guard who worked near the incident, and provided video footage, which was admitted into evidence.

In the video, several people are seen verbally arguing, one group against another. Someone can be heard yelling “Keep bluffing” repeatedly, and then one individual approaches another and swings at them.

Shortly after the physical altercation, a gunshot is heard, causing people to begin running as the witness hides in place and keeps recording.

Prosecutors also called on an individual who observed the car accident that, according to court documents, occurred the night of the alleged shooting at the intersection of 9th Street and Massachusetts Avenue, NW. The accident involved Patterson’s vehicle, which was occupied by Patterson, his then-girlfriend and close friend. Two other vehicles were part of the crash.

The witness testified that she was sitting in her car at the intersection when the light turned green. According to the witness, a white vehicle crashed into the vehicle in front of her and flipped upside down. She said that she left her car to see if she could help, and located a woman that was injured and stuck in the car in front of her. Meanwhile, there was no one in the car that had flipped upside down.

According to the witness, two people were standing next to the flipped car, and one person was lying in the grass bleeding heavily.

Afterward, the prosecution recalled a crime scene analyst who conducted a trajectory analysis of the bullet holes in two cars damaged during the accident. According to his analysis, either the vehicle, the shooter, or both were moving at the time of the shots due to the varying angles of the trajectories.

Parties are expected to reconvene on March 26 before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan.