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By
Michelle Roldan [former]
- April 17, 2025
Daily Stories
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Shooting
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Suspects
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Victims
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DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park determined probable cause in a teen homicide, detaining the defendant based on evidence his actions were premeditated.
Navar Rogers, 17, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in a shooting on the 4200 block of 4th Street, SE, that resulted in the death of 15-year-old Zyion Turner.
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to reports of a shooting on Sept. 2, 2023, locating Turner unconscious and not breathing, with several gunshot wounds. Despite life-saving efforts, Turner was pronounced dead at the scene.
During the hearing on April 15, Judge Park determined there was substantial evidence for probable cause that Rogers committed the crime, including the clear friendship between Rogers and Turner, as well as surveillance footage and a witness’s testimony.
The prosecution argued that the defendant should be held because of the severe circumstances of the crime–namely, the victim was shot in his sleep.
The prosecutor also said, when the defendant was arrested, 18 months after the incident, a gun was found under the couch where he was staying. The prosecution allegedly recovered pictures of Rogers holding other firearms on his phone, which indicated his access to multiple firearms.
In response, Terrence Austin, Rogers’ attorney, said the prosecution’s arguments were based on circumstantial evidence, and there were unresolved questions left to investigate
Judge Park acknowledged that while the defense wasn’t wrong about this being a clear circumstantial case, this was not a weak case, either–thus the detention ruling.
Parties are slated to reconvene May 28.