DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman found probable cause in a courtyard murder case after a detective testified during a preliminary hearing on April 10.
Royale McGlenn, 19, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Christopher Riles on the 100 block of Irvington Street, SW on May 17, 2025. According to court documents, the shooting happened in a residential courtyard.
During the preliminary hearing, the prosecution called the case’s lead detective from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to testify, and he identified McGlenn in open court.
The detective testified that surveillance footage near the scene of the crime connected McGlenn to the shooting. According to the detective, Riles left a market with one of the witnesses and headed towards the courtyard. Then the detective said McGlenn followed Riles towards the courtyard, where he allegedly shot Riles.
The detective said that although there was no surveillance footage that captured the shooting, surveillance cameras from the market and the surrounding residential buildings were used to track McGlenn and Riles’ movements through the neighborhood.
Additionally, the detective testified that multiple witnesses identified the shooter wearing all black. McGlenn, who identified himself in the footage during an interview with police, was allegedly wearing all black on the day of the incident.
Based on the timing and tracking of the surveillance cameras, McGlenn’s all black clothing, and his self-identification in the surveillance video, the detective said he determined McGlenn was the shooter.
During cross-examination, Carrie Weletz, McGlenn’s attorney, pointed out that there was no motive established for the murder. The detective confirmed there was no evidence the two had met before.
Weletz also asked the detective about the witness identifications of the shooter, and the inconsistencies throughout. The detective confirmed that one witness didn’t even see the shooting and only identified the shooter as “someone in black with a mask.”
Another witness described the shooter as a “skinny and tall” black man wearing a black sweater, black ski mask, and black hat. The detective admitted that he wouldn’t call McGlenn skinny, but said that skinniness was subjective and he couldn’t speak on whether someone else thought McGlenn was skinny.
In the video surveillance, the detective admitted that he didn’t see a visible firearm, bulge, or bag where McGlenn could’ve had a weapon. He also said he didn’t see McGlenn holding a black ski mask or black hat.
Weletz argued that the evidence against McGlenn lacked probable cause, noting the case relied heavily on circumstantial evidence. She highlighted inconsistent witness testimony, the absence of a firearm and surveillance footage, no established link between McGlenn and Riles, and no apparent motive.
The detective decided McGlenn was the shooter by saying “this must be the person [who did it] by process of elimination, but there was no one else to eliminate,” Weletz said.
Judge Edelman found probable cause based on the identification in surveillance footage and McGlenn’s distinct clothing. “Is it definitive of guilt, of course not,” Judge Edelman said, but it’s enough for the low standard of probable cause in this case.
The prosecutor argued that based on McGlenn’s past criminal history and his alleged involvement in an unrelated homicide, he should continue to be held.
Weletz stated it was moot to argue because McGlenn is held for the other case.
Judge Edelman said there were no conditions he could impose that could guarantee the safety of the community. He ruled that McGlenn should be held without bond.
Parties are scheduled to reconvene on July 8.
