Acquitted: ‘I’m Ready to Fight,’ Says Frustrated Homicide Victim’s Friend at Trial 

By Adriana Marroquin - May 17, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Editor’s note: On May 30, a jury acquitted Devonte Brothers of all charges connected to the homicide of Deron Leake. Brothers is still being held on homicide charges in another case.

A homicide victim’s best friend gave emotional testimony about events leading up to a murder before a jury in DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein’s courtroom on May 16.

Devonte Brothers, 29, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a prior convict, for his alleged involvement in the murder of 27-year-old Deron Leake, also known as “Snoop”, on Oct. 17, 2019, at the Cascade Apartment Complex on the 4200 block of 6th Street, SE. The incident also left one individual with non-life threatening injuries.

Leake’s friend, who identified Leake as his brother, stating they were part of an organization of four men known as the “blood brothers,” testified he was with Leake when he was shot to death. 

During his testimony, the witness became visibly emotional and irate with prosecutors, stating multiple times, “I don’t want to be here,” and “this s**t hurts, man,” adding that his relationship with Leake was so close, “his mom is my mom.”

“It was just us. Everywhere we went, it was just us,” he explained about the group, emphasizing, “We all was close to Snoop.”

Throughout the prosecution’s questions, the witness told them “get straight to the point, man… y’all gotta stop playing with me,” as he grew more frustrated, stating they needed to “stop beating around the bush,” and ask direct questions. 

According to the witness, the “blood brothers” were hanging out on the day of Leake’s murder, having gone to visit Leake’s mother and one of their friends’ “old hoods,” before arriving at the Cascade Apartment Complex, where Leake grew up. 

The witness said they entered a building where a group of six to eight men were congregating. He testified that Leake had “dapped them up,” before getting into a disagreement with one of the individuals. 

“Him [Leake] and one dude got into a little conversation,” the witness told the jury, adding he heard them involved in a “disrespectful conversation.” 

According to the witness, when he realized things were heating up between the groups, he told the blood brothers “let’s get the f**k outta here,” before exiting the building. 

As they attempted to walk toward the car, the witness testified, two individuals intercepted them. 

“I seen one man come around the corner and another hand him a gun… I ran away,” he claimed, adding “I was getting the f**k out of the way,” as shots were fired. 

“I knew motherf****r was dead based on the number of shots,” the witness cried. 

According to the witness, he was the one to call Leake’s mom to tell her of his passing. “I couldn’t f*****g talk to her, man… I was choked up, I was f*****g scared,” he told the jury.

During the investigation, the witness testified, detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) talked to him about what he saw and had him participate in an photo array identification procedure. However, he was unable to identify the shooter. 

As tensions flared between the prosecutor and the witness, the witness told the prosecutor “Now you got me ready to fight,” and threatened to walk out.

During cross examination, the witness told Molly Bunke, Brothers’ defense attorney, he “told [MPD] a lot,” during their investigation, adding, “I didn’t kill. I’m gonna tell them the good, the bad, and the ugly,” about the incident. 

However, as Bunke attempted to review his answers from the prosecution’s questioning, the witness told her “I’m about to walk out on your a** too, ma’am,” adding, “Y’all don’t understand this is traumatizing.”

“Y’all might not know, but I’m ready to fight,” the witness told the parties. 

When asked by the prosecution how he felt about having to testify, the witness said “I didn’t wanna relive what I’m living right now… It hurt badly.” 

Prior to the witness’ testimony, the prosecution called a photographer for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) who testified to taking the autopsy photographs for this case on Oct. 18, 2019. 

According to the photographer, Leake experienced a shot that entered through his left side of the head, and exited through the right side, a bit behind the ear. 

Parties are slated to reconvene May 20.