Case Acquitted: Hostile Prosecution Witness Testifies During A 2017 Murder Trial

By Sadie Herman [former] - October 2, 2023
Daily Stories | Shooting |

This case has been acquitted.

On Oct. 2, a hostile witness for the prosecution was called to testify in a 2017 homicide trial before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun.

Cedric Alexander, also known as Tony White, 52, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, robbery while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license outside the home or place of business with a prior felony, for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 38-year-old Daquan Hooks on the 1900 block of 13th Street, SE on March 23, 2017. 

The prosecution questioned a reluctant member of Hooks’ family who responded angrily saying, “Be careful man” and “You need to stop f***ing with me man”. In response, Judge Okun and the prosecutor explained courtroom decorum, and that the witness needed to moderate his behavior.

The witness then said he was supposed to meet Hooks outside of a methadone clinic where the witness was being treated for addiction on the morning of the murder.

Hooks was late to pick him up, and eventually the witness noticed a group of people running from the clinic to surround a body lying on the ground. The family member knew it was Hooks and he called 911.

In the 911 call, which was played during the trial, the witness can be heard begging the operator to make sure the ambulance was quick. 

As the questioning proceeded, the witness remained confrontational.

Finally, the prosecution asked, “Did you kill Daquan Hooks?” to which he replied “No”. Then, when asked if he recognized Alexander as the suspect, the witness replied he had never seen him before.

During cross examination, Sellano Simmons, Alexander’s defense attorney asked the witness from whom he got the suspect’s name, and the witness said it was the prosecutor.

“He tried to taunt me,” the witness said. “I know he probably bribed everybody that got up here on the stand,” the witness replied in response to these inquiries. 

The witness said he was struggling to answer many of the questions due to a head injury that resulted in some memory loss.

During the prosecution’s redirect, the witness admitted he had seen a photo of Alexander in a newspaper before the prosecution mentioned him, but he did not recognize him. The witness maintained his position that the prosecution informed him that the suspect for Hook’s is Alexander.

The trial is set to resume Oct. 3.