A now 14-year-old child testified to hearing the gunshots that reportedly killed his mother during a murder trial before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan on July 9.
Wonell Jones Jr., 28, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior crime of violence, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in the July 19, 2022, fatal shooting of 33-year-old Audora Williams on the 2900 block of Knox Place, SE.
On July 7, after the prosecution presented its opening statement, Judge Ryan declared a mistrial due to comments made by an onlooker in the courtroom gallery. As a result, parties chose a new jury the following day.
“One can only imagine the fear.. The lump in the throat…,” the prosecution said to the jury. They described how Jones reportedly ordered eight children, two that Jones and Williams shared, to their room, which was then followed by yelling and gunshots from the room over.
The prosecution said they planned to show videos of Jones and Williams’ then 10-year-old son’s movements just moments before the incident and hear testimonies from two of the eight children who were present.
The prosecution briefed the jury on the information that would be provided by the medical examiner, who explained there was no “wound path” to follow due to the amount of injuries Williams suffered in the chest, left arm, and left leg. According to prosecutors, Williams sustained over 20 gunshot wounds.
The prosecution also explained the romantic relationship between Jones and Williams had ended before the incident and that there was a temporary protective order set prior, along with a reported stalking incident in May 2022.
“He wasn’t supposed to be there in May and was not supposed to be there in July,” the prosecution said about Jones at Williams’ apartment.
During the defense’s opening statement, Jones’ attorney, Megan Allburn, emphasized that Jones must be presumed innocent until the prosecution proves otherwise. She stated that Jones is not guilty of first-degree murder and emphasized that DNA evidence “doesn’t tell you when, how, or who put it there.”
Allburn also argued that one of the juvenile witnesses’ was only 10 at the time, now 14. As he gets older, his memory changes, for better or worse, but he’s still young, and the incident was traumatic for him. Allburn alluded that it is up to the jury to decide how reliable it is.
Prosecutors then called Williams’ now 14-year-old son who was present at the scene to testify. At the time, he was around 10 years old and living with Williams in her apartment, which Jones regularly visited. He claimed he had known Jones for “some years,” and identified the defendant in court.
The child clarified that the day “was good at first,” and that he went to Safeway with Jones to pick up groceries. Prosecutors showed surveillance footage of the witness and Jones entering the apartment complex and walking through the hallways after returning from the store.
After they arrived at Williams’ apartment, the witness claimed Jones told him to go to his room. Prosecutors demonstrated the apartment layout, identifying three bedrooms, one of which the child was in.
The child alleged that Jones began “cussing” at Williams and reportedly exclaimed, “Why were you cheating on me?” Williams replied to Jones, according to the witness, but her specific statements were not put on the record.
After he heard his mother’s voice, the child said he left his room, and Jones allegedly told him to go back inside. The witness said the arguing then resumed, as Jones allegedly continued to question Williams’ fidelity and “talking over” her.
The witness then reported hearing gunshots and left his room again. He allegedly saw Jones in the hallway holding something “like a gun.” He returned to his room and reported hearing “a little bit more” gunshots before Jones left the apartment.
On cross-examination, Allburn established that, during the child’s grand jury testimony, he did not say that he saw Jones with a gun, nor did he mention any gunshots or any verbal exchanges between Williams and Jones. Allburn emphasized that although prosecutors asked the witness for additional information in the grand jury, he did not provide any.
According to Allburn, the witness described these interactions for the “first time” a month before his testimony at trial. She clarified that it has now been four years since Williams’ death.
Upon additional examination, prosecutors highlighted that the child was never asked what happened inside the apartment that day, and he never told any prosecutor that he did not remember what happened.
The child asserted that he told the police what happened and maintained that he does not have difficulties remembering the events of that day.
“If I think about it, I’ll cry,” said the child.
Williams’ father also testified, describing his daughter as a “bright kid” who “never had any trouble.” He testified about finding out about his daughter’s death and said that he had never met or known Jones until the two started dating.
On cross-examination from Allburn, Williams’ father confirmed that he and Jones’ father are cousins. However, the witness reiterated that he didn’t directly know Jones prior to his relationship with Williams.
The prosecution called an investigator from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), who testified that he downloaded surveillance footage from cameras located at the incident address. At the time of the incident, he was employed with the Electronic Surveillance Unit (ESU).
Prosecutors played multiple video clips recovered by the investigator depicting two individuals entering the apartment building carrying grocery bags. According to court documents, the two individuals are reportedly Jones and Williams’ then 10-year-old son. Approximately 45 minutes later, footage depicts the individual alleged to be Jones fleeing the apartment, running.
On cross-examination from Jones’ other attorney, Steven Kiersh, the investigator confirmed that he was not asked to recover any footage from inside the apartment unit. As far as he was aware, there were no cameras inside the unit.
Prosecutors also called a forensic scientist with the Department of Forensic Scientists (DFS). He explained that police and emergency personnel typically arrive at a scene first, followed by DFS. When the forensic scientist arrived, he said Williams’ shirt was cut presumably due to life-saving efforts. There was also a pistol, a magazine, and casings recovered from the apartment, said the witness.
Prosecutors showed photos taken by the forensic scientists that included the apartment, as well as Williams lying on the floor of a bedroom.
The trial is set to resume with the forensic scientist’s testimony on July 13.
