Judge Finds Probable Cause in Assault Case, Holds Defendant

By D.C. Witness Staff - August 28, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A DC Superior Court judge ruled that an assault case has enough evidence to go to trial and held the defendant at DC Jail. 

Alphonso Johnson is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for allegedly shooting a victim on Feb 16 between the 3400 and 3500 block of Wheeler Road, SE. He has been detained since March. 

Judge Sherry Trafford ruled that the case has probable cause. 

The prosecutor extended a plea deal to Johnson. However, defense attorney Azhar Khan formally redetected it on his client’s behalf. 

According to court documents, the victim was meeting up with a subject referenced as “B” to buy a large quantity of marijuana.

Two men allegedly pulled guns on the victim when they got into the victim’s car. The victim told police that he began to fight with the men when one began shooting.

The victim jumped out of the car as it was moving. He sustained injuries including multiple fractures, a gunshot wound to the left thigh, abrasions on the right leg and buttocks, a laceration on the top of the head that needed staples, a gunshot to the right inner arm and chest area, lacerations to the right inner arm and chest area, a partial dislocation of the hip, according to court documents.

Surveillance footage shows a car driving onto the opposite lane of traffic and then onto a sidewalk. Two officers walk towards the incident as a man appears in the frame running away from the scene.

The detective said that one of the officers recognized that man as Johnson. 

The detective said shell casings from the vehicle matched the handgun recovered from the defendant’s possession. The detective also confirmed that one of the three phones found in the vehicle had Johnson’s fingerprints on them.

The defense questioned the detective about the suspect known as “B,” but the detective said he never identified anyone by that name.

According to the detective’s testimony, the handgun wasn’t recovered from Johnson when he was arrested, but rather, around a week later. The defense also pointed out that other cell phones were found in the car.

Khan asked Judge Trafford to release Johnson with heightened supervision and GPS monitoring. He said his client is willing to comply with all release conditions the court may impose.

But, the prosecution objected to the release request, citing Johnson’s previous firearms charges, multiple bench warrants and a history of failing to appear in court. 

Johnson’s next court hearing is scheduled for Oct. 27.