Judge Detains Two Homicide Defendants During Initial Presentment Proceeding

By Grace Nardei - March 28, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Presentments | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On March 27, DC Superior Court Judge Heide Herrmann found probable cause for two homicide defendants making their initial court appearance and ordered them detained.

Tyree Bratcher, 17, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the death of 18-year-old Tyreek Moore on Jan 22, 2024 on the 4600 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE. 

According to court documents, Moore was shot after picking up a friend from school. Court records also show images of individuals exiting a Black BMW and entering a vehicle identified as the defendant’s car, and images of the defendant’s car approaching the victim’s car minutes before the murder.

At the hearing, Aubrey Dillon, Bratcher’s defense attorney, argued that he was not a knowing or willing participant in the murder and that his client was under duress from gunmen from the black SUV who entered his car.

The prosecution argued the defendant was not coerced, stating that there was footage of Bratcher conversing with the individuals in the black BMW minutes before the murder.

The judge reasoned that the timeline of events leading up to the murder did not suggest that the individuals who entered the defendant’s car from the BMW was a random event and that there was some familiarity between Bratcher and the BMW driver.

“I find the nature of the offense is extremely concerning, it was in an area where many people could have been hurt,” said Judge Herrmann.

Bratcher will return to court April 25, in front of DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan. 

Judge Herrmann also suspended the public from a presentment hearing for 32-year-old Lashawn Washington, who is charged with first-degree murder while armed – felony murder, and kidnapping, among other charges, for her alleged involvement in the fatal disappearance of 25-year-old Chyna Crawford. The incident occurred on Oct. 23, on the 4000 block of South Capitol Street, SW. 

Judge Herrmann suspended the public from the Webex meeting due to safety concerns over members of the public recording and live streaming court proceedings.

Parties are slated to return on April 5, before DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe.