Judge Finds Probable Cause in Preliminary Hearing for Homicide Case

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On March 7, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun found probable cause for second-degree murder in a preliminary hearing.

Dayshawn Nolan, 21, is charged with second-degree murder for his alleged involvement in the death of Antoinette Davis on July 3, 2022. The incident occurred on the 400 block of Condon Terrace, SE.

According to court documents, on the night of the incident, an apartment at the listed location caught on fire. Davis, who inside, sustained multiple first, second, and third-degree burns and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. On July 17, 2022, Davis succumbed to her injuries.

During the hearing, the prosecution called a detective from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to testify about Nolan’s alleged involvement in the fire that caused Davis’ death.

The detective interviewed Nolan multiple times throughout the investigation. According to the prosecution, Nolan relayed different information at these interviews.

According to the detective, at the last interview, Nolan gave a different recollection of what happened during the night of the incident.

During the interview, Nolan explained to the detective how he and a friend were playing with roman candles inside the apartment building where Davis and her partner lived. According to Nolan, his friend shot a roman candle in his direction, near the Davis’ apartment. Afterwards, they left the building.

According to the detective, this was different than past interviews where Nolan stated he and a friend were outside playing with roman candles.

The detective concluded that the incident was not premeditated.

During cross examination, Nolan’s defense attorney, Pierce Suen, played snippets of his interview with the detective, where Nolan explained that he was standing at the top of the staircase leading up to Davis’ apartment and was facing down towards his friend, opposite direction of Davis’ apartment, when Nolan shot the roman candles.

Suen also mentioned that none of the witnesses identified Nolan as shooting fireworks at the night of the incident.

Judge Okun alerted the parties that, after reviewing the evidence and testimony, he found probable cause that Nolan’s actions caused the death of Davis.

Judge Okun described the incident as a “tragic accident,” and added that Nolan acted in conscious disregard of human life, but he did not intend to kill or hurt anyone.

Parties did not argue for Nolan’s release, due to his detention in another matter.

Parties are slated to return May 30.

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