Thank you for reading D.C. Witness. Help us continue our mission into 2024.
Donate NowBy
D.C. Witness Staff
- August 7, 2020
Court
|
Daily Stories
|
Homicides
|
Suspects
|
Victims
|
On Aug. 6, a DC Superior Court judge decided that an assault with a dangerous weapon case has enough evidence to go to trial.
Eldred Watts, 26, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for allegedly beating a victim with a firearm on Jan. 30 on the 3400 block of C Street, SE. He also has a separate case open, in which he is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly killing 33-year-old Zenus Epps.
The prosecution presented surveillance footage from the place of the attack, which they say shows Watts as the suspect in question. Dana Page, Watts’ attorney, said the identification is not adequate.
One of the detectives who handled Watts’ arrest in this case testified in court, discussing how he went about identifying Watts.
Judge Judith Smith decided there was enough evidence to bring the assault case to trial.
Page asked for Watts to be released from DC Jail, where he is being held on the murder charge. Judge Smith denied the release, saying the assault was serious and the victim ended up in the hospital.
Watts is also being held in the murder case.
Watts will appear in court again on Sept. 11 to evaluate the status of his murder case.
Case Number: 2020 CF1 004283, 2020 CF3 004270