Judge Finds Juvenile Involved in Murder of 23 Year Old

By D.C. Witness Staff - July 19, 2019
Court | Featured | Homicides | Juveniles | Suspects |

On July 17, a DC Superior Court judge found a juvenile involved in a murder earlier this year. 

Judge Lynn Leibovitz found the juvenile was responsible for the charges of second-degree murder while armed, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition for the murder of 23-year-old Jamal Kwame Crump on the 1300 block of Monroe Avenue, NW on Feb. 27. 

Judge Leibovitz determined that the juvenile and two friends attacked Crump.

According to the prosecution, the attack was to rob Crump of a firearm that he was carrying. 

However, Judge Leibovitz could not establish that Crump was robbed beyond a reasonable doubt on the grounds that video footage does not clearly show anyone removing a gun from Crump’s person during the attack. She said she did not want to rely on the testimony of the two individuals who conspired with the juvenile since they had been unreliable in the past.

Although the defense suggested that the friend that Crump grabbed may have been the real shooter, Judge Leibovitz said she was certain the juvenile was the shooter from video footage of the attack.

She said the juvenile’s distinctive clothing set the defendant apart from the other suspects during moments when his face was not entirely clear.

During closing statements, the prosecution said there was a pause after the second shot, which was followed by six additional shots. The pause between the second and third shot, meant the juvenile decided to kill Crump.

But, Judge Leibovitz said the shots occurred in “rapid fire.” She said there was no evidence that suggested that the juvenile met Crump with a plan to murder him. 

The defense requested that Judge Leibovitz consider the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter instead of first or second-degree murder. The defense lawyer said the juvenile saw a friend was under attack and acted out of passion and fear for the friend’s life. 

The lawyer also said Crump had a reputation for owning two guns, and there was no way for the juvenile to know if Crump was still armed. However, a second gun was not found on Crump. 

The juvenile is scheduled for a status hearing on Aug. 7. A disposition hearing is set to occur on Sept. 23.

Paul Mulholland wrote this story.