The son of a homicide defendant testified as an eyewitness in a trial before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan on July 13.
Wonell Jones Jr., 38, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Audora Williams, 33, on the 2900 block of Knox Place, SE on July 19, 2022.
Jones’ son, who was in Williams’ apartment during the incident, was called by the prosecution to testify. He said that, to him, Williams was “no one really, to be honest.” Jones’ son noted that he was 15-years-old at the time and would stay at her apartment sometimes, but only when he was with his father.
On the morning of the incident, he said he woke up in Williams’ apartment, while Jones and Williams’ son were out getting groceries.
According to the witness, when Jones returned, Williams opened the door for him. Jones’ son testified that his father walked in looking mad. Jones and Williams immediately went into Williams’ bedroom, and the witness was pretty sure the door was “slammed shut.”
Immediately after, Jones’ son told prosecutors he heard muffled screaming, arguing, and “the voices got louder.” He heard additional noises that he could not exactly remember, but said that there was “maybe some muffled hitting noises.”
After a lengthy argument, the witness heard two shots come from the bedroom, as “the room lit up.” According to his son, Jones opened the bedroom door and poked his head out. The witness said he could reportedly hear Williams screaming as Jones “went back in and fired another two shots.” His son said that when the sound of shooting died down, Jones left the apartment.
After his father left, the witness said he entered Williams’ bedroom as the smoke alarm was going off. Through the smoke, he recognized his father’s gun on the bed and Williams lying face down on the ground.
As a result of time constraints, Jones’ son’s testimony will resume the next day of trial.
A responding officer to the scene testified that Williams was breathing when the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrived. While playing the video of her body-worn camera, she said, there were bullet “casings all around” Williams. According to court documents, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) arrived minutes after MPD and found no signs of life.
When questioned by Jones’ lawyer, Megan Allburn, the officer confirmed she was the first to enter the room where Williams’ body was found. The officer confirmed the bed sheets were disorganized and trash was on the ground.
A Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) investigator answered questions about the guns, bullets, and bullet casings found at the scene of the incident.
Jones’ attorney, Steven Kiersh, asked why the investigator moved pieces of evidence. The investigator responded they “always move evidence,” after they have documented it.
According to the investigator, he followed DFS procedures during the entire investigation, “move[ing] from the least evasive to most invasive” investigative methods. The investigator confirmed he was not sure if anything was moved before he arrived.
Kiersh continued to question the evidence, asking the witness where bullet casings are expected to land after a gun is fired. The investigator replied that casings typically emerge towards the right of the gun and travel a few feet.
Pointing to photos of the incident scene, Kiersh asked how that conclusion lines up with the evidence. The investigator told Kiersh casings land based on “a lot of variables” and to guess where they would land would be “making a lot of assumptions.”
The investigator identified two handguns on the floor of the bedroom where Williams was found. According to the investigator, the gun slides were locked and to the rear. He said, this could “happen if the mag is emptied.” If the magazines were full, the guns would hold 27 rounds.
Prosecutors also brought a firearm and toolmark specialist to the stand to explain the tests and analysis he conducted on the firearms, bullets, and bullet casings that were collected as evidence.
The specialist explained that he examined the ballistic evidence for marks left behind as a result of the firearm being used. He said as a part of his tests, he fired each handgun in order to have bullets and casings to compare to those found at the crime scene.
Photos of these comparisons were shown in court. The specialist determined “source identification,” meaning that based on the markings left on the bullets and casings, the evidence was closely matched to the guns found at the scene of the incident.
Parties are slated to reconvene to resume the trial on July 14.
