‘I didn’t shoot and kill Orlando,’ Defendant Says

By D.C. Witness Staff - January 30, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Documents | Homicides | Suspects | Uncategorized | Victims |

The defendant said he did not shoot and kill the victim during the seventh day of a murder trial.

Marquette Tibbs is charged with first-degree murder while armed, conspiracy to commit a crime of violence, robbery while armed with a firearm and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for allegedly shooting Orlando Silver III, 37, on the 1300 block of Howard Road, SE, in 2016. 

“It’s messed up,” Tibbs said. “He (Silver) doesn’t deserve it.”

Tibbs was the defense team’s fifth witness on Jan. 30. He spoke about the timeline leading up to the shooting.

Tibbs said he met Silver four months prior to the incident. The men met outside of a store where Tibbs sold marijuana. He said the two became business associates —  Silver supplied Tibbs with marijuana.

Tibbs also had a friend, who he referred to as “Black,” which is Cinquan Cartledge’s nickname. 

Cartledge, 25, whose case was severed from Tibbs, is also charged in the homicide with first-degree murder while armed, conspiracy to commit a crime of violence, robbery while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, first-degree murder while armed while committing or attempting to commit a robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction.

On the day of the incident, Cartledge drove Tibbs to a location where an alleged gun exchange was going to take place. Tibbs said he was going to trade his Smith and Wesson gun with an associate of Silver. Tibbs said he was under the impression that the gun was a Beretta gun, which was worth more value than his Smith and Wesson.

During the exchange, Tibbs said he didn’t see Cartledge. Tibbs said the only people there were Silver, Silver’s associate and himself. Tibbs and Silver’s associate exchanged guns but after examining the Beretta, Tibbs said he decided he did not want to trade.

Tibbs looked at the gun and thought it was a “table gun”.

Table guns are displayed on tables at gun shows and cannot be used due to a piece inside of it blocking the chamber. Therefore, Tibbs decided he wanted his gun back.

But, the associate pointed a gun at Tibbs.

“As soon as I seen the gun raised at me, I grabbed his wrist.” Tibbs told the jury.

Tibbs said he feared for his life. He said he and the associate had a physical altercation over the gun. The gun then fired a shot. Tibbs said he was paranoid and fled the scene.

“I did not touch the gun. I didn’t shoot and kill Orlando.” Tibbs said.

Tibbs said it was the associate who fired the shot that hit Silver in the back. 

The prosecuting attorney cross-examined Tibbs on his lack of communication with Silver in regards to checking up on him after he heard the shot. 

Tibbs said he said he ran because he needed to get away from the scene before the police came.  He said he was scared about the police finding him with an illegal weapon.

“I was just discombobulated,” Tibbs said. “I was trying to figure out what had just happened.”

The trial is scheduled to continue with the defense’s last witness on Feb. 3. 

Corrine Simon and Arielle Frank wrote this story.