Judge Finds Probable Cause in Homicide Case

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On Jan. 5, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun found probable cause that a defendant was the perpetrator in a fatal shooting.

Jeremiah Evans, 20, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Khalliqo Ford on June 15, 2023, on the 200 block of K Street, SW.

Prosecutors called a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sergeant, who was the co-lead detective of the case, to testify about his involvement in the investigation.

According to the sergeant, footage, shown in open court, depicts a blue Dodge Charger arriving at the location’s rear parking lot and two individuals, who he identified as Ford and Evans exit the back passenger seats of the vehicle. The individuals are seen going their separate ways as they exit the vehicle.

In another clip of surveillance footage shown in court, an individual, who the sergeant identified as Evans, is seen entering the camera’s view with a bag, dropping the bag in front of the Charger while removing an item from the bag, and going off camera view to meet another individual.

The two individuals, identified as Ford and Evans, return to the camera’s view, and approach the Charger. As they get to the car, the individual identified as Evans goes to Ford’s side of the vehicle and allegedly begins to push and shove the victim. Ford is seen attempting to walk away from the dispute, as the suspect begins to fire several gunshots at him in close range.

Following the gunshots, an individual seated in the front passenger seat of the vehicle gets out, and Evans gets into the back passenger seat as the vehicle drives away.

In his testimony, the sergeant explained that MPD responded to the location for the report of one shooting victim, and Ford was pronounced deceased at the scene. He explained that MPD spoke to four witnesses on the scene, none of whom saw the shooting. Two of them, he said, stated they heard shots fired, but didn’t see the shooting or anyone leave the scene.

The other two had been in an altercation with Ford moments before the shooting, when an unnamed individual pulled Ford away from the argument. They were unable to tell MPD where Ford and his companion went following their altercation.

MPD was able to identify Evans as the shooter due to a law enforcement officer, who had been conducting an “extensive investigation” into the neighborhood, recognized Evans. According to the sergeant, the officer had been monitoring Evan’s social media and Youtube for more than six months, and reviewing surveillance footage in the area.

During cross examination, Stephen LoGerfo, Evans’ defense attorney, questioned the sergeant about Ford being a suspect in the Nov. 19, 2022 homicide of 18-year-old Akira Wilson.

LoGerfo also stated that one of the witnesses who was involved in the altercation with Ford prior to his shooting was a witness in the Akira Wilson homicide in 2022 and is known to have made false statements to MPD.

LoGerfo went on to argue that a murder weapon for Ford’s death has not been recovered, and the Dodge Charger was never located, identified, or processed for evidence and DNA.

He argued that, because of the lack of physical and biological evidence, Judge Okun should not find probable cause that Evans was the perpetrator. He also argued that it is unknown whether Ford was armed at the time of his death–about which the sergeant testified prior no weapon was recovered from the body.

Prosecutors insisted Judge Okun find probable cause, arguing that a judge had already signed an arrest warrant which ensured the low standard of probable cause was met. They also argued the evidence and testimony establishes that Evans caused Ford’s death, intended to kill him by shooting him multiple times at close range, and the killing was premeditated.

Judge Okun stated he found probable cause, and that there was “no doubt that [Evans] acted with intent to kill.” He added that there’s no evidence of self-defense, and that “the [prosecution] has easily established probable cause”.

Judge Okun ordered Evans continue to be held as he awaits further proceedings, stating there are no conditions of release that would ensure the safety of the community.

Parties are slated to return March 15.

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