Judge Finds Probable Cause for November Homicide

By D.C. Witness Staff - December 6, 2018
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

A District of Columbia magistrate judge found probable cause Dec. 4 that a murder defendant was allegedly involved in a November homicide. 

Robert Theodore Smith is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 19-year-old Nya Howard-Reynolds in a townhouse on the unit block of 57th Place, SE.

“Two witnesses identified two people in the same room and one ended up being dead,” the prosecutor said. He also said Smith was the first person to leave the crime scene. 

Smith is being held without bond. 

According to court documents, ten people, including the decedent, were present in the residence at the time of the shooting. Multiple witnesses told police they heard a gunshot from Smith’s bedroom and went to investigate. Upon entering his bedroom, residents found Howard-Reynolds lying on the floor. Witnesses told police that Smith, 22, said the victim shot herself.

Defense attorney, Kevin McCants,  said his client had no motive to kill Howard-Reynolds because Smith and Howard-Reynolds didn’t know one another. McCants said Smith’s lack of criminal history should weigh heavily in his case.

Smith is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 7, 2019.