‘I Remember Panicking,’ Witness Says After Hearing Shooting

By D.C. Witness Staff - April 26, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

During a murder trial April 25, the prosecution played a recording of a witness’s testimony, which places the defendant at the crime scene.

Derryck Decuir is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the shooting death of 15-year-old Malek Dayvon Mercer on the 2800 block of 28th Street, SE. Decuir, 26, has been tried for the murder twice before. Both trials resulted in mistrials after juries could not come to a unanimous decision.

The witness testified in both previous trials, however, he could not be located for the third trial. A transcript and audio recording of his testimony from the last trial was introduced to the jury as evidence.

The witness said that on the night of the shooting, he was drinking with Decuir and another individual at a family gathering. After the gathering, the witness said his group was waiting at a bus stop with two young men, one of whom was Mercer.

The witness said he asked one of the young men for a cigarette and Decuir complimented Mercer on a Versace belt, however, Mercer “snickered” in response to Decuir’s comment.

The witness said both groups got on the bus and sat in the back. The witness said his group was heading back to his house, but Decuir got off at the wrong stop, with the two boys.

“I was following Derryck,” the witness said, although he said he didn’t know where Decuir was headed. “The people I came with got off, so I got off.”

The witness said he was not walking with Decuir when he heard the gunshot. He said he crouched, looked around and saw Decuir zipping up a backpack near Mercer, who was on the ground.

“My mind went blank after that. I remember panicking,” the witness said. “I knew somebody had a gun.”

A detective also testified and said someone identified Decuir as the shooter. However, Decuir denied being involved during an initial interview with the police.

According to the prosecution’s theory, Decuir became enraged after Mercer “snickered” at him. Decuir then followed Mercer off the bus and shot him in the neck.

The defense said Decuir acted in self-defense after he saw Mercer pull a shotgun out of his bag.

The trial is scheduled to continue on April 29.