Judge Denies Murder Defendant’s Release, Delays Ruling for Co-Defendants

By Elizabeth Bernstein [former] - October 29, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan denied a murder defendant’s request for release on Oct. 25, and delayed the ruling for two of his co-defendants. 

Steven Metts, 19, Keondre Carroll, 21, and Jovontae Wallace, 19, are charged with first-degree murder while armed, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, robbery while armed and two counts of kidnapping while armed for their alleged involvement in shooting of 59-year-old Raymond Ballard on Jan. 23. The incident occurred on the 3000 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE.

Metts also faces charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a rifle or shotgun outside a home or place of business, possession of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device and an additional count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.

Carroll also faces charges of carrying a pistol outside a home or business, assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device.

According to court Marshals, Carroll refused to come to court. His lawyer, Gemma Stevens, asked the court to refrain from ruling on his request for release until he is present. Judge Raffinan granted this request.

Metts’ lawyer, Kevin Irving, asked that Metts be released under home confinement with GPS monitoring, citing that he is a 19-year-old with no criminal history and has a supportive family he could stay with.

The prosecution countered Irving’s request, arguing the nature and circumstance of the crime favor detention as an innocent bystander was killed. The prosecution added that Metts’ family previously helped him evade police and there is strong evidence against Metts, including social media evidence and surveillance footage. 

Judge Raffinan agreed with the prosecution that the nature and circumstance of the crime and weight of the evidence favor detention, citing that 24 shots were fired, an innocent bystander is dead, and surveillance footage and witnesses corroborate that Metts was one of the shooters.

Judge Rafinnan ruled that Metts will remain detained while awaiting trial.

Wallace’s lawyer, Megan Allburn, argued that Wallace be released under home confinement, citing that there is no evidence Wallace was a shooter.

Allburn stated that the prosecution is arguing that Wallace did not prevent the shooting but that not preventing a shooting is completely different from committing murder. She said the prosecution is treating the three co-defendants interchangeably.

Allburn referenced that Wallace has no criminal history, a supportive family, and a stable home to stay at while under confinement.

The prosecution responded to Allburn’s claims by arguing that Wallace’s support system did nothing to stop him from the alleged 28-day reign of terror he and his co-defendants were allegedly involved in. 

According to the prosecution, one witness saw Wallace with a gun and it is possible Wallace was a shooter. The prosecution also argued that even if Wallace was not a shooter, he was the driver and part of the conspiracy.

Judge Raffinan requested more time to consider counsels’ arguments and to evaluate the weight of the evidence against Wallace.

She ruled that Wallace will remain held until she rules on his motion for release at his next hearing scheduled for Oct. 30.

Parties for Carroll, Wallace, and Mets are slated to reconvene on April 25.