DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson found probable cause that a defendant was involved in a murder stemming from a mass shooting at a nightclub during a hearing on Feb. 25.
Frank Johnson, 44, is charged with first-degree felony murder for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Blake Bozeman, 31, at CRU Lounge, on the 1300 block of H Street, NE, on Sept. 23, 2023. Bozeman sustained two gunshot wounds to his chest and three surviving victims also sustained gunshot wounds.
Johnson’s co-defendant, 44-year-old Cotey Wynn, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the same shooting.
A Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective identified Wynn, Johnson, and Bozeman in surveillance videos from the night of the incident.
According to the detective’s testimony, the video footage showed one of the suspects arriving at the lounge and getting out of a black car. The suspects met up in the nightclub, left, then returned together, bypassing club security before re-entering the club. The detective narrated that in the video, as Bozeman moved to leave, he was shot two times at point-blank range.
According to the detective, Johnson was the person who fired the shots.
Security footage showed Bozeman, and other bystanders, running out of the nightclub before Bozeman collapsed by a nearby vehicle and the shooter ran to the black car and drove away.
The detective stated that during the investigation, MPD found the lease for the suspected vehicle was under Johnson’s name. Prosecutors acknowledged that Johnson’s name was common, adding that a parking ticket charged to Johnson’s credit card also linked him to the suspected vehicle. The detective could confirm the vehicle’s make and model.
In additional security footage from a nearby smoke shop, the detective identified Johnson wearing a white shirt, baseball hat, Timberland boots, and a necklace with a medallion. The detective identified Johnson in court, saying he was the same person shown in the nightclub and smoke shop footage because of physical similarities.
The prosecution also played surveillance footage from November 2025 that the detective said was from outside Johnson’s residence, showing him wearing a similar necklace to the shooter in the nightclub footage.
The prosecution asked Judge Dayson to find probable cause based on Johnson’s previous criminal history, the suspected vehicle linked to Johnson through a parking ticket, Johnson’s necklace matching the one the suspect wore in the video, the shooter and Johnson having earrings on the same side, and Johnson’s phone being reset two days after the incident.
David Akulian, Johnson’s attorney, questioned how the detective determined it was the same necklace. The detective said during his investigation, he found out that the medallion was custom made for Johnson and cost roughly $15,000.
Akulian also pointed out his client’s baldness, stating that there was no way to confirm Johnson was the shooter in the video because the suspect wore a hat the entire time. Akulian also stated that no witnesses identified Johnson as the shooter in the video.
The detective testified that during an MPD search of Johnson’s home, they did not locate the necklace, white shirt, or baseball hat shown in the nightclub footage. MPD did locate similar pants and boots, a jacket, and a cell phone.
The detective agreed there were no text messages, but said there was one phone call between Johnson and Wynn in Spring 2023, prior to the murder. Although, the detective said the call was brief, might not be connected, and he did not know what the substance was.
Akulian argued there was no probable cause because there was a lack of evidence that Johnson was the shooter in the videos. There was no similarity between their clothes, no way to identify if the shooter had hair on his head, they could not guarantee the necklace was the same, and could not confirm the model and license plate number of the suspected vehicle.
Additionally, Akulian noted there were no texts between Wynn and Johnson, no texts from Johnson’s phone admitting guilt or involvement, and the only phone call between Wynn and Johnson was brief.
Judge Dayson found probable cause, citing similarities in dress and appearance between the suspect in the nightclub and smoke shop footage. The judge also noted that Johnson’s phone was wiped.
Judge Dayson determined Johnson would remain in custody, stating he put numerous people at risk and no conditions would ensure the safety of the community.
Akulian indicated he planned to file a motion requesting Johnson’s release, to be discussed at a later date before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt.
Parties are slated to reconvene on March 9.
