Judge Arraigns Defendants in Murder Case

By D.C. Witness Staff - November 20, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On Nov. 19, a DC Superior Court judge arraigned two murder defendants.

Malik Coles and Duan Garmany are charged with first-degree murder while armed in the death of 28 year-old Christopher Payne Jr., who was shot on June 30, 2019, on the 2100 block of 15th Street, NW. 

Coles, 24, and Garmany, 23, allegedly each pulled a handgun on Payne in an attempt to rob him after he drove up to them in an alleyway. According to court documents, Payne began physically resisting the suspects and as he did so, a passenger in his vehicle got out and was also armed.

Payne attempted to flee the scene and Coles allegedly followed him and shot him. The passenger also allegedly shot Garmany in the leg before driving away.    

The two are also charged with possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, conspiracy to commit a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction of less than one year. 

Both defendants entered a plea of not guilty. 

Their attorneys, Kevin Mosley and Dominique Winters asked for more  time to go through the evidence found in discovery. 

Judge Todd Edelman scheduled a status hearing for April 12.