‘Hostile’ Witness Testifies in Juvenile Murder Trial 

By Adriana Marroquin - April 25, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Juveniles | Shooting | Victims |

Prosecutors in a juvenile murder trial moved to deem a man as a “hostile witness,” saying he changed his statements and avoided questions during his testimony.

The juvenile, a 16-year-old boy, is charged with first-and-second-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to kill, carrying a pistol without a license, possession of an unregistered firearm, and possession of ammunition, for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 27-year-old Jihad Darden. The incident occurred on Dec. 18, 2023, on the 5400 block of Illinois Avenue, NW. 

During the prosecution’s opening statements on April 24, counsel claimed that the boy had arrived at the Lucky Corner Store on the 5400 block of Georgia Avenue, NW in the moments leading up to the shooting. He went into the store, interacted with one of the workers, and left the location before opening fire on Darden, who was with a friend around the corner, the prosecutor said. 

According to the prosecution, Darden’s friend, who was in possession of his own firearm, shot back at the juvenile before rushing Darden to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. 

After the shooting, the juvenile rushed back to a woman’s house, where he is alleged to have frequented, before getting an Uber to his home in Maryland.

The prosecution told DC Superior Court Judge James Crowell that evidence included surveillance footage, witness identification and statements, cell site data, and items of the shooter’s clothes that were recovered from the defendant’s home and the woman’s house he frequented. 

These items would be key evidence that would prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the juvenile is responsible for the murder, the prosecutor said. 

The boy’s defense attorneys, Amanda Epstein and Matt Besman, reserved their right to deliver their opening statements when they present their own evidence. 

During the trial, prosecutors called on the owner of the Lucky Corner Store, who testified that he provided the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) with video evidence of the moments leading up to the incident. 

However, the owner, who spoke through an interpreter, said he was not at the store on the day of the incident. 

Prosecutors questioned his knowledge of the shooting suspect’s identity, which he claimed was difficult to determine due to the clothing the suspect was wearing, adding he has multiple frequent shoppers. 

Surveillance footage shows the suspect wearing a camouflage hoodie zipped to the chin, a medical face mask, black coat, and red and white Jordan sneakers. The only visible parts of the shooter were their hands, eyes and forehead.

According to the witness, officers from MPD showed the owner images of the defendant’s friends, who he frequented the store with, and a family member. However, the owner was unable to identify any of them by name. 

Despite not knowing their names, he made an in-court identification of the defendant, not as the suspect, but rather as a kid who frequented his store. 

Prosecutors moved to deem him a “hostile witness,” alleging that he was changing the information he had previously provided to MPD, and avoiding questions. 

Judge Crowell did not rule on the request.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene for trial on April 25.