Jury Convicts Uncle and Nephew in Homicide Trial

By Maria Andrea Morales [former] - February 2, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On Feb. 1, following a multi-week trial, a 12-person jury delivered verdicts for two defendants charged in connection to a homicide, in DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo‘s courtroom. 

Vorreze Thomas, 25, and his uncle Delonta Stevenson, 28, are charged with conspiracy, first-degree murder while armed, and two counts of assault with intent to kill, among other charges, for their alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Terrance Allen. The incident occurred on Jan. 18, 2021, on the 3000 block of Stanton Road, SE, and left two other individuals suffering from gunshot wounds. 

Thomas and Stevenson were found guilty of all charges for their involvement in the incident. 

Through trial, prosecutors presented evidence that linked the defendants to the attack and used witness testimony to place defendants at the scene. 

One witness said that he was picked up by Allen and another individual, and they drove to the other victim’s mom’s house, who lived at the apartments where “we got shot at.” Allen and the two individuals drove the mother to a grocery store down the street, and dropped her back off at Stanton Glenn Apartments. 

As they were leaving the complex, the witness said, he got in the passenger seat, Allen in the driver’s seat, and “lil youngin” in the back seat.  “If it wasn’t for the lil youngin, Terrance would still be here,” he claimed, adding that “motherf*****g sh*t started hitting the car,” referencing the bullets. He stated he didn’t see where the shots were coming from, but was shot three times on his shoulder as he was ducked in the vehicle. 

According to the witness, he still has bullet fragments in his shoulder from the incident. Prosecutors displayed images of the witness at the hospital, one portraying his shoulder injuries with a bloody bandage.

When discussing who sustained injuries in the vehicle, the witness stated “I was right there beside [Allen]… [and again] “if it wasn’t for the lil youngin in the car, he’d still be here”. All three individuals were shot, he added, saying he tried to help his best friend before Emergency Medical Services (EMS) arrived. He added that neither he or Allen had any beefs with anyone

The other witness said he met Stevenson while they were both locked up for past, unrelated crimes and described their relationship as being “cool with each other” for a while.

However, following a shooting incident a few months earlier severely injuring Stevenson, the victim felt he was being treated “differently” by Stevenson and others around him because they thought the victim “set up” Stevenson. 

Prosecutors then questioned the victim about his recollection of the fatal shooting incident including a review of a large aerial image of the crime scene. He identified Stevenson as allegedly being present during the incident, adding that he knew the suspect’s vehicle, a Volvo SUV, belonged to Thomas.

Stevenson’s defense attorney, Elizabeth Weller, stated that the victim knew if he offered substantial assistance in this case, his lawyer could ask for a reduced sentence for his other charges, or ask for concurrent sentencing rather than multiple consecutive terms. 

The prosecution also presented evidence by using social media posts, shooting victims and surveillance footage from the scene. The jury was asked to look at witness testimony in relation to the other evidence. 

Parties will reconvene April 19 for sentencing.