Judge Finds Probable Cause for Double Homicide Case

By D.C. Witness Staff - January 18, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

Keanan Turner is charged with two counts of first-degree murder while armed and one count of assault with intent to kill while armed in reference to a shooting that killed a mother and daughter and injured a third victim. On Jan. 13, a DC Superior Court judge ruled that his case has enough evidence to go to trial.

The 32-year-old defendant allegedly shot and killed Wanda Wright and her daughter Ebony Wright on the 2300 block of Good Hope Court, SE, on April 10, 2021. He is also accused of shooting a third victim, who ultimately survived.

Turner rejected a plea offer for two counts of second-degree murder while armed along with one count of assault with intent to kill. 

The prosecutor asked Judge Maribeth Raffinan to find a substantial probability that if Truner went to trial, he would be found guilty of the offenses. Substantial probability is a higher standard than probable cause.

One witness testified- the lead detective in the case. 

The prosecutor showed surveillance footage from a Ring door camera of the three victims and the defendant entering the apartment at separate times. The camera was placed above the door and activates when it senses movement. 

The defendant was allegedly at the location because he had received child support paperwork from Ebony Wright. The two had a child together, but Turner was also married. The detective testified that the surviving witness said Turner did not want to be in the child’s life. The surviving victim told detectives that they had planned to meet at that location to discuss the infant and for Turner to meet him for the first time. 

The surviving victim said she had heard gunshots in the home and then ran to hide in a closet. The shooter, who she later identified to detectives as Turner, allegedly shot her in her hiding place. She was shot in the face but managed to get out. She noticed that a computer was on fire and her mother, Wanda Wright and sister Ebony Wright were on the ground with gunshot wounds. She grabbed the infant and ran outside.

The surviving victim attempted to talk to officers while in an ambulance but could not speak due to her injuries. However, she wrote Turner’s name down on a piece of paper when they asked who did it.

The detective said they attempted to speak with her again a few days later but she was still unable to talk. They tried a third time, and she was finally able to. 

Cell phone evidence was also shown. The detective testified about information found, showing Turner nearby the scene of the crime. 

Turner was at his father’s house when he was arrested. The father said Turner had not been to his house in three months and showed up abruptly. He asked about getting money for an attorney. At the time of the shooting, Ebony and Turner had a custody case in the DC Superior Court. 

At the time of the arrest, the detective testified that officers located 300 guns in the household. Court documents state that eight of these matched the 9mm bullet casings found at the scene but the detective corrected the matter and said it was only seven. The detective said officers recovered those guns but did not recover the others because Turner’s father had a license. 

One of the defense attorneys in this case cross-examined the detective and focused on how the suspect was identified. He questioned if there was a narrative created when writing the affidavit.

“I don’t have a motive, sir,” the detective said. 

The detective also testified about a statement Turner allegedly made to an officer at the time of the arrest. Without the officer asking any questions, Turner began talking to the officer. Ber Of the officer could get out a recording device, the detective testified that  he said something similar to “things just went left that’s why I had to do it.” 

Both the prosecutor and the defense asked about this. The prosecutor said this was an admittance, while the defense said this was lacking evidence because it was not recorded. 

Judge Raffinan found substantial probability in the case, noting the security footage and Turner’s alleged statement.

Parties are set to reconvene on March 25.