Judge Finds Probable Cause, Holds Defendant in Homicide Case

By Hunter Fernandez [former] , Rachel Benck [former] - February 6, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

During a preliminary hearing on Feb. 6, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan found probable cause and held a defendant in a 2022 homicide case. 

Jerome Israel is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting ChaQuan Barbett on Aug. 23, 2022, on the 2300 block of Minnesota Avenue, SE. 

The prosecution offered a plea deal for two cases Israel, 19, is currently being tried for, including Barbett’s murder and a carjacking case. The plea deal would have lowered Israel’s charges for both cases to two counts of unarmed carjacking, aggravated assault, and second-degree murder resulting in a minimum sentence of 25 years. Despite his family urging him to take the deal from the audience, Israel rejected the offer.

Israel’s defense attorney, Janai Reed, questioned the lead detective on the case about the surveillance footage of the incident and eye-witness interviews. The detective said the complexion, hairstyle, or particular clothing details of the suspect could not be determined by the surveillance footage. Reed also pointed out that the eyewitnesses’ interviews had different descriptions of the suspect.

The eyewitness that identified Israel as the suspect was parked near the scene of the crime when the alleged shooting occurred.

The prosecution said that while the witness’s description was vague, Israel matched it and was later identified as the suspect when the witness was shown a photo of him.

Seven days after the alleged shooting, Israel was arrested for an armed carjacking incident in which a stolen car crashed and Israel allegedly fled the scene, according to court documents. 

From the crash, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers recovered a firearm and an open container of juice. Both items were tested for DNA as well as the deployed airbag of the car from the crash. Israel’s DNA was found on all three items.

The firearm recovered from the car crash also linked Israel to Barbett’s murder through evidence recovered at the scene of the shooting.

The defense said there were no grounds to find probable cause as testing of evidence showed signs of other individuals’ DNA. The defense also questioned Barbett’s identification as the suspect because the witness who identified him had previously been arrested for intent to distribute and sell cocaine. The witness’ connection to the incident is unclear.

However, after arguments from the prosecution and defense, Judge Raffinan said the surveillance footage, ballistics evidence, and witness testimonies sufficient enough to find probable cause.   

Reed requested that Israel be released under certain conditions due to his lack of a violent history and drug use. 

However, the defense’s request for Israel’s release under the high-intensity supervision program (HISP) with house arrest and a curfew was rejected.

Judge Raffinan agreed with the prosecution that the defendant was a danger to society due to approximately seven previous carjacking incidents. 

All parties are scheduled to return for a status hearing on April 27.