Judge Finds Probable Cause in Double Homicide Case

By D.C. Witness Staff - May 7, 2021
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A DC Superior Court judge ruled there was evidence against a double homicide defendant to bring his case  to trial.  

Antoine Turner, 27, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder while armed in connection with the shootings of Demetrius Benson and Demeitri Anderson. On Nov. 3, 2020, Benson, 24, was shot in the armpit on 4500 block of Dix Street, NE. Then, on Nov. 29, 2020, Anderson, 23, was shot 13 times on the 4500 block of Benning Road, SE. 

During the May 5 hearing, the prosecution argued video surveillance footage and cellphone tower pings place Turner at the  scene of Benson’s death. 

The prosecution also noted that the shooter’s car, which was caught in video surveillance, was later identified by license plate recognition software and linked to Turner. The car was determined to be an Enterprise rental registered under Turner’s relative’s name with Turner’s number used as the contact number. 

The prosecution said, based on forensic evidence, it was determined the shooter was in the driver’s seat and DNA evidence suggests Turner’s DNA was all over the gear shift, steering wheel and driver door panel. She ended by emphasizing that, although Turner’s relative was also in the car at the time of the shooting, video surveillance points to Turner as the shooter based on their distinctive haircut differences. 

Defense attorney Matthew Davies argued, based on the prosecution’s case, one would have to assume Turner was the shooter. Davies pointed out that the DNA evidence did not definitely place Turner in the driver’s seat and could not distinguish Turner from his relative. Davies said the DNA expert’s actual opinion was that he could not exclude Turner from the DNA profile, which also included three other people’s DNA profiles.

Davies ended by saying the prosecution’s evidence was scant in this case and that the evidence only roughly pinpoints where the gunshots came from but cannot definitively rule out that the shots did not come from another car. He also said the only fingerprints lifted from the vehicle were on the driver’s side and belonged to Turner’s relative.

In the arguments regarding Anderson’s death, the prosecution said the distinctive red car identified in the shooting was discovered to be another Enterprise rental again linked to Turner. The prosecution played over 26 surveillance clips that showed the clothes Turner wore the day of the shooting and a rough time frame of his “comings and goings.” The prosecution said these clips were important because they establish that he consistently wore the same black shoes, white socks and black pants, which differentiates him from another subject in this case and fits the description of the shooter. 

The prosecution said cell phone tower pings again placed Turner near the shooting at the time it occurred. She also said the firearm found discarded at the scene has DNA evidence that strongly supports Turner to be the biggest DNA contributor out of four other people’s DNA found on the gun. 

The prosecution ended by noting that, closely after the shooting, Turner changed his phone number, which was the number used on record for the Enterprise rental. She also said that when the rental was returned, it was cleaned out with many chemicals but that experts were still able to get forensics that could not exclude Turner. 

Davies again argued the court would have to make an assumption that Turner was the shooter in this case. He pointed out that a second subject could also be a major contributor to the DNA found on the firearm because the expert could not definitively say that the DNA was Turner’s over the other subject. 

After hearing both sides, Judge Marisa Demeo agreed with the prosecution’s arguments and found probable cause. She ruled that Turner is to remain held at DC Jail.

The next hearing is scheduled for June 6.