DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan denied a homicide defendant’s request for release on Sept. 2.
Morris Ray, 53, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of 29-year-old Keon Jones on the 400 block of I Street, SW, on April 29.
During the hearing, parties discussed Andrew Ain, Rays’ attorney’s, motion for release. Ain requested Ray be released to 24 hour home confinement in order to continue mental health treatment, with which he claimed Ray complied leading up to the incident.
The prosecution objected to the request, stating this was an “unprovoked attack,” and that the incident occurred because Ray allegedly tried to confront a person Jones was with and Jones attempted to calm the defendant down, before Ray stabbed Jones.
“We don’t know why he engaged in this conduct,” the prosecutor told Judge Ryan, adding she’s concerned about his access to knives given that he was arrested in possession of three, and two additional ones were recovered during the execution of a search warrant at his home.
“This is essentially not a one time offense,” the prosecutor continued, stating the defendant had been arrested more than a decade ago in connection to multiple assaultive incidents, including a vehicular homicide and two other stabbings.
Judge Ryan agreed with the prosecution, stating his concern is “really [the] dangerousness to the community.”
“The facts of the case, I have to say, are bizarre,” Judge Ryan stated, adding the defendant tested positive for phencyclidine (PCP) at the time of his arrest. He also highlighted Jones’ relationship with Ray, stating they were well known to each other.
Judge Ryan added Jones was “somewhat defenseless to start with,” and claimed “there is no explanation for the behavior that resulted in a very violent and gruesome attack on Mr. Jones.”
“There’s practically no explanation for what occurred in this case. It could be intoxication, I don’t know, I’d be speculating,” Judge Ryan continued. “I’m at a loss on how I can protect the community.”
“The peculiar and bizarre nature of this killing in my mind is one of the big factors that makes it difficult for me to say I can protect the community if I were to release Mr. Ray,” Judge Ryan told the parties.
Parties are slated to reconvene Nov. 23.
