Judge Finds Probable Cause in Teenage Homicide Case

By Katie Gallagher [former] - July 28, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun found probable cause July 27 in a homicide case that occurred earlier this month.

Alphonso Oliver, 33, is charged with second degree murder for the death of 16-year-old Levoire Simmons. The shooting occurred the night of July 5 around 1:10 a.m. on the 700 block of Kenilworth Terrace, NE. Oliver turned himself in to the police on July 11. 

Oliver, who was on supervised release at the time of the murder, left prison after serving a 12-year sentence for aggravated assault in March, according to the Bureau of Prisons. He was on parole.

A detective from the Metropolitan Police Department homicide branch testified in court on the details of the investigation.

The prosecution argued that Oliver was neither afraid of the victim nor did he act in self-defense but with malicious intent and asked Judge Okun to find probable cause. 

“It’s not an issue of identity because he turned himself in and has been forthcoming,” said defense attorney David Richter. Richter asked Judge Okun not to find probable cause. 

“According to the probable cause standard, I do find that the government has shown that the defendant didn’t act in self defense and I do find probable cause,” said Judge Okun, granting the prosecution’s request. 

Oliver will remain at the DC Jail as Judge Okun could not find “any condition or combination of conditions that would protect the community.” 

Judge Okun scheduled the next hearing for Oct. 20.