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By
Carly Silverman
, Raina Bonifacio - February 14, 2025
Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Suspects
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Victims
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A defense attorney questioned the lead detective in a homicide investigation about messages he exchanged with the prosecution suggesting the trial’s outcome was a foregone conclusion. The case, now in jury deliberations, is being heard before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan.
Terrance Stoney, 31, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Donte Tiller, 43, at the intersection of Naylor Road and Southern Avenue, SE, on March 17, 2023.
On Feb. 10, Stoney’s defense attorney, Nikki Lotze, suggesting an implicit bias in the case, asked the detective, “Is this a game to you?” referring to a text message he sent to the prosecution saying, “Checkmate on Mr. Stoney, game over” and an email saying, “CHECK AND MATE.”
For his part, the lead detective testified that he filed several subpoenas for surveillance footage from the company where Stoney was employed to see if he was working the day of the crime but the effort has been frustrating.
In other evidence, a 911 caller reporting the shooting at first said a man was dead in his car and then later that he was still moving. The individual stayed on the phone until police arrived.
Surveillance footage was shown following a silver Infiniti, the identified as the suspect vehicle, and at one point the driver’s side window is visibly open and an arm extended outside.
Prosecutors also called a special agent from the FBI who tracked the defendant’s cell phone chronologically based on information for communication towers. He testified Stoney’s phone was in the general area of the crime, but was unable to pinpoint exactly where.
Parties are slated to reconvene Feb. 11.