DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson ruled to continue holding a homicide defendant as he awaits trial in a hearing on Feb. 13. The prosecution claims the suspect had a personal animus toward the victim based on her transgender identity.
38-year-old Edgar Arrington is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Daquane Johnson, who sustained four gunshot wounds to the chest and the right shoulder. The incident occurred on the 2000 block of Benning Road, NE, on July 5, 2025.
The nature of this case, the charges against him, and his past history are all reasons why Arrington will remain in custody, Judge Dayson said.
During the hearing, Rachel Cicurel, Arrington’s attorney, argued for his release to 24-hour home confinement. According to Cicurel, Arrington has a large and very supportive family, many of whom were present via webex.
They are shocked to see their “loving and genuine” family member involved in an incident like this, she asserted.
Cicurel stated that Arrington had many ties to the community– he is a stable force for his long-term partner’s children, a church-goer, and he has a large network of family and friends in both DC and North Carolina. There are multiple people more than willing to house Arrington while he is on home confinement, Cicurel said.
Contrary to Cicurel, the prosecutor argued for Judge Dayson to continue holding Arrington. He is accused of murdering an unarmed person solely out of personal animosity, the prosecutor said.
Arrington is “charged with the most serious crime in our society,” the prosecutor emphasized. He is a “loose cannon” and an “absolute danger.”
The prosecutor said Johnson was transgender and that’s why Arrington shot her. The prosecutor maintained that the defendant has an absolute antipathy for those who aren’t like him. According to the prosecutor, the court already found probable cause for the crime and the weight of the evidence cannot be overstated.
Additionally, Arrington’s 20 year criminal history and violent behavior support detention, she argued. Being with his family, said the prosecutor, was “not a deterrent before, and there’s no reason [it] would be a deterrent now.”
According to the prosecutor, Arrington has multiple assaults against family members.
Parties are scheduled to reconvene on June 5.
