Judge Finds Probable Cause in Homicide Case

By Chloe Wayne [former] - July 7, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

After reviewing evidence, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan has found probable cause July 5 in a homicide case. 

Johnwann Elliot, 28, is charged with first degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 37-year-old Nikia Young. On March 15, Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to a report of a shooting on the 2200 block of Minnesota Avenue, SE. When officers arrived at the scene, Young was found with multiple lethal gunshot wounds to the face and body. 

Prosecutors presented multiple exhibits of evidence, including surveillance footage of the shooting, items that were obtained from Elliot’s multiple residences, and aerial maps of the crime scene marked with the suspect’s flight path.  

Surveillance footage extracted from MPD crime cameras, storefront businesses, and Metrobus security cameras show the suspect boarding a bus and exiting the same bus to shoot Young. The suspect is then seen fleeing the scene. 

On the day of the crime, the suspect adorned ripped blue jeans, goggles, a ski mask, a watch with a red band, and multiple chains, including a “Jesus piece” and a Black Lives Matter medallion, according to testimony from an MPD detective on the case. 

When MPD officers arrested Elliot in a hotel, they found a ballistic vest, a black and red bag, and multiple chains resembling the ones the suspect wore on the day of Young’s death, the detective said. 

In addition to the hotel, MPD officers tracked Elliot’s phone to a residence on the 1200 block of 18th Place. Within a bedroom in the residence, officers recovered a watch with a red band and ski goggles similar the suspect’s outfit on the day of the murder.

“There is a good deal of corroboration in this case,” prosecutors said, highlighting the unique clothing articles retrieved from Elliot’s residence, the cell phone data, and surveillance footage. 

Defense attorney Roderick Thompson said Elliot has never been seen entering or exiting the 18th Place residence.

A friend of Young identified the suspect as Elliot. According to the detective’s testimony, the witness overheard a conversation between Elliot and another witness, in which Elliot said, “I had to kill that b***h.” 

Thompson cited multiple inconsistencies with the witness’s recollection of events, questioning the witness’s credibility.

According to multiple witnesses, the motive stemmed from an incident where Young stole Elliot’s gun while he was unconscious. 

However, Thompson says the motive is based off of unsubstantiated rumors, claiming the witnesses was “parroting innuendo and rumor that has been put forth by other folks.”

Thompson argued that there was no raw data to confirm that the path of the phone is consistent with Elliot’s movements. Furthermore, he notes that prosecution originally asked for substantial probability, but midway through the hearing moved down to probable cause, which is a lower burden of proof.

Judge Raffinan concluded that prosecutors have met the burden of proof for probable cause, citing the close up security footage, multiple witnesses’ identification of Elliot, and the items retrieved in the search warrant. 

The prosecution requested that Elliot be held citing his prior criminal history, including two counts of robbery and unlawful possession of an unregistered weapon with a prior conviction. Additionally, Elliot struggled with compliance in his previous cases, neglecting to charge his GPS device and to check in with pretrial services. 

Thompson emphasized the fact that Elliot’s last crime of violence occurred over 10 years ago. Thompson also argued that Elliot was compliant with probation requirements, and was on track to get a job at a grocery store. 

Judge Raffinan deemed that the circumstances of Elliot’s charges, along with his prior convictions, render detention the best solution for the community.

Elliot is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 13 for a felony status conference.