Is Davon Peyton Guilty?

By D.C. Witness Staff - February 15, 2018
Court | Homicides | Suspects |

The prosecution, during the second week of a 2015 murder trial, referred to 27-year-old Davon Peyton as an angry man, who showed a “conscious disregard” to the possibility of death or serious bodily injury.

Assistant United State Attorney Katie Earnest told the jury Feb. 14, during her closing statement, that the homicide of Ray Andre Harrison was not an accident. The trial began on Feb. 6. Peyton is charged with second-degree murder while armed.

During the prosecution’s closing argument, Earnest presented a picture of the 21-year-old murder victim and pressed the jury to find Peyton guilty of second-degree murder while armed.

Earnest also contested the defense’s argument that Harrison’s 2:30 a.m. visit on Nov. 13, 2015, was unexpected. She referred to Peyton’s phone records, emphasizing that Peyton made outgoing calls after screening two calls from Harrison after midnight.

Additionally, Earnest replayed the 911 call made by Harrison’s girlfriend after he was shot. During the call, Peyton is heard urging the girlfriend to give an incorrect address to the operator.

The prosecution also stressed the fact that Peyton fled the scene and hid the gun used to shoot Harrison in a closet in a second girlfriend’s home.

According to the prosecution, Peyton’s actions were intentional.

Peyton’s attorney, Matthew Davies, said everything Peyton did on the night of the altercation was in reaction to Harrison.

Davies said that Peyton “woke up to a parent’s worst nightmare” when he heard banging on his 7-year-old daughter’s window in the middle of the night.

According to the defense, Harrison felt disrespected by Peyton ignoring him and started to assault him at his doorstep. In the midst of the tussle, Peyton’s gun went off accidentally.

Davies also said the prosecution had not proven their case and that “Ray Harrison died in a tragic accident.”

At the end of his closing statement, Davies played a video of Peyton’s girlfriend talking to an officer after the shooting in which she said “he didn’t mean to” shoot Harrison. He also showed a video of her speaking to detectives in which she says “it was an accident.”

The prosecution is scheduled to give their rebuttal on Feb. 15.