‘I Closed My Eyes And Started To Shoot,’ Defendant Testifies In Homicide Trial

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A homicide defendant claimed he acted in self-defense during a trial before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on April 8.

Demonte Gibson, 27, and Asani Forte, 27, are charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, conspiracy, assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and destruction of property for their alleged involvement in the murder of Delonte King, 34, on Nov. 3, 2021, on the 2800 block of 14th Street, NW. Gibson is additionally charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction.

In his testimony, Gibson recounted killing, stating that he woke up in the early afternoon and was “chilling and smoking” with his friends, including Forte, on his front porch.

While discussing “sports betting”with Forte that morning, Gibson testified that he received a call from his cousin requesting that he pick up her daughter from daycare. Surveillance footage shows Gibson receiving the phone call and proceeding down the porch steps without Forte.

As he walked toward the Columbia Heights area, he “saw a man walking back and forth, talking to himself,” according to Gibson.

When asked if Gibson recognized the person by his attorney, Kevann Gardner, he stated he knew him as “the person running around stabbing people.”

Gibson told the jury that he “saw a video of [King] at a gas station stabbing someone,” on the “Person of Interest Youtube” channel. He also testified that people in the neighborhood would point out that individual often.

According to Gibson, as he stepped onto the curb of 14th and Girard Street, he saw King turn around with a knife pointed in his direction. “I was scared, nervous, I didn’t know what he was gonna do,” said Gibson.

“[King] was known for doing it already, I thought he would stab me,” Gibson told the jury.

Gibson testified that he had been shot three times on two separate occasions, the first when he was only 13 years old in a drive-by shooting, sustaining a leg injury. Gibson was also shot twice in the chest and back at a cookout when he was 18-years-old.

The second shooting left Gibson with a metal rod stabilizing his spine. “I taught myself how to walk again,” he told the jury, adding he was hospitalized for three months after the incident.

Gibson stated that he bought a firearm six months after the shooting to protect himself, adding that he “didn’t feel safe in DC”

In his testimony, Gibson also revealed that he has had multiple loved ones die from gun violence. Two of his uncles, his girlfriend, and two of his friends had been shot and killed. “I felt like I wasn’t protected at all,” said Gibson.

“I observed [King] with a knife in his hand, walking in my direction. That’s when I pulled out the firearm,” Gibson recalled.

He stated that once he pointed his gun in King’s direction,“he kept coming towards me. At that moment I realized he was high. His eyes was real big and he was talking, shouting somewhat.”

Gardner asked Gibson if he had ever been around someone high on PCP, and he responded “yes, they feel invincible. Like they can do anything.”

According to Gibson, King continued to move towards him with the knife. “That’s when I closed my eyes and started to shoot,” he recalled.

“I shot once, maybe twice,” he stated. However, the gun had a giggleswitch, which made it capable of firing automatically. Gibson told the jury that the giggleswitch was on the gun when he purchased it, and he didn’t know how to remove it.

After the shooting occurred, Gibson stated that he was “scared” and started to run down 14th Street. An unknown individual then shouted “feds,” causing him to change directions and flee down Girard Street, according to Gibson.

Gibson testified that Forte called him after the incident, asking “what the f**k happened,” and where he was. According to Gibson, the two met up at Claypoole apartments afterwards because Gibson “knew a friend that lives there.”

Earlier prosecutors argued there was a plan to kill King with video showing there was communication among all parties in an apartment complex parking lot just hours before King was gunned down in broad daylight.

At the end of his direct examination, Gibson apologized to the victims of random gunfire for “putting them in that position.” He also stated that he never waved his gun in the air prior to shooting, contradicting previous eyewitness testimony.

Gibson also admitted to having prior felony convictions: two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm in 2025 and attempted robbery when he was in high school. According to Gibson, the attempted robbery occurred when a fight broke out with students from a rival school, and he tried to snatch an individual’s backpack.

Prosecutors questioned Gibson about why he continued carrying firearms illegally despite his prior convictions and personal experiences with gun violence. He cited self-defense, including when picking up his cousin’s young daughter from daycare.

Prosecutors also pointed out that Gibson allegedly wore a black ski mask to pick up his cousin’s child. During the redirect examination, Gibson stated that he wore the mask because he was “outside” and “you can be targeted because; you’re from the area.”

According to the prosecution, Gibson “did not tell the full story” to detectives after his arrest. Prosecutors stated Gibson did not tell the detectives that he shot King in self-defense, or that King came at him with a knife.

“Today is the first time in public you have told that story,” prosecutors told Gibson.

During the redirect examination, Gibson stated that he didn’t tell the detectives the full story because “the firearm wasn’t legal, and I didn’t know I could claim self-defense.”

Parties are slated to reconvene April 9.