A defendant in a six-defendant trial demanded a mistrial based on fears the jury would be unfair in a trial before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on June 24.
Erwin Dubose, 31, Kamar Queen, 28, Damonta Thompson, 28, and William Johnson-Lee, 22, are charged with conspiracy, premeditated first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, among other charges, for their alleged involvement in the mass shooting that killed 31-year-old Donnetta Dyson, 24-year-old Keenan Braxton, and 37-year-old Johnny Joyner. The incident occurred on the 600 block of Longfellow Street, NW, on Sept. 4, 2021, and injured three additional individuals.
Mussay Rezene, 32, and Toyia Johnson, 53, are charged with accessory after the fact and tampering with physical evidence for their alleged involvement in assisting the other defendants discard evidence and avoid arrests.
The trial was delayed for five hours due to Queen’s being hospitalized for unspecified reasons. Judge Kravitz stated he could not allow the trial to proceed without Queen.
Meanwhile, Rezene raised concerns the jury was biased against him. “I just feel discriminated against,” he stated, adding “I want a mistrial.”
During a recess, Rezene elaborated specifically that the prosecution attempted to connect his phone number to another homicide. “I feel the way [the jury] be looking at me,” Rezene said. “There’s no way I can be heard and feel validated,” he added, stating the prosecution’s actions may have adversely impacted the jury’s ability to make a fair decision.
Judge Kravitz denied the motion for a mistrial and alerted the jury of prior convictions for Johnson-Lee, Queen, and Rezene. He added that two of the surviving victims had convictions and were connected to the Kennedy Street Crew, which prosecutors say is a street gang responsible for committing violent crimes throughout the city.
Parties are slated to reconvene on June 25.
