Judge Finds Probable Cause in Murder Case, Releases Defendant into Home Confinement

By D.C. Witness Staff - November 23, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects |

A DC Superior Court judge ruled that a murder case has enough evidence to go to trial. The judge also placed the defendant on home confinement under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP).  

Dohn Harmon, 21, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the death of 18-year-old Kelvin Goggins, who was fatally shot on the 1800 block of Q Street, SE on July 1.

On Nov. 23, Judge Robert Okun ruled that the case had probable cause, citing footage from multiple surveillance cameras and Harmon’s admission that he was driving the car that the shots were fired from on the night of the murder. 

“I think this is a very close case, on one hand, I have found substantial probability that the defendant committed the offense, on the other hand, this is a defendant who has no criminal history at all,” Judge Okun said. “The fact that the evidence shows that he was not the shooter is still a factor in his favor.”

Judge Okun also cited a photograph of the car taken moments before the shooting, shows the driver wearing a bright yellow head covering that matched a jacket with a yellow hood found in the defendant’s possession. 

The prosecutor called on a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective who worked on the case to testify about his investigation and findings. The prosecutor also showed multiple videos from surveillance cameras at the scene and from Harmon’s home, along with footage from Harmon’s interview with MPD detectives.

During his testimony, the detective pointed out a grey Honda Pilot driving down 19th Street, SE. The car appeared to slow down at the intersection of 19th and Q Street, then a passenger appeared to shoot in the direction of the victim.

The prosecutor paused the video as the shooting started and the detective pointed out a bright flash coming from the passenger side of the vehicle. 

The prosecutor also showed the detective an image of the vehicle taken moments before the shooting. The detective testified that the driver can be seen wearing a yellow hoodie.

Images also show the defendant walking out of his apartment before the shooting, roughly an hour after the shooting wearing a black hoodie with a bright yellow hood.

The prosecutor went on to show the detective a video of MPD detectives interviewing Harmon, which was taken shortly after his arrest on Oct. 8. In the video, Harmon admits to driving the vehicle but says he didn’t know that a shooting would occur.

Later in the video, Harmon said that Goggins was not the intended target.

“The defendant admitted that he was driving the Honda Pilot from which the bullet was fired, Judge Okun said. “He told the police that Mr. Goggins was not the intended target and he knew who the intended target was and that he and his friends wanted to shoot the intended target.”

Judge Okun said, based on the evidence, Harmon knew about the shooting before it happened.

Defense attorney, Steven Kiersh, questioned the detective about a witness who identified another person as the shooter.

The witness said the shooter was at the top of the stairs of an apartment building on the 1800 block of Q Street, SE.

The detective said he investigated the witness’s report, but found no evidence supporting the claim. 

Kiersh went on to ask for Harmon’s release because he has never been convicted of a crime or even arrested. Harmon has a supportive family and would not be a danger to the community if he were placed on 24-hour home confinement, he said.

The defendant is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 8 for another hearing.