Judge Finds Probable Cause of Homicide at a Party

By Sam Chodorow - March 14, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On March 13, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan found probable cause that a defendant was the perpetrator in a homicide. 

Charles D. Best, 25, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 35-year-old Darius Robinson, which occurred on Feb. 18, 2023, on the 1600 block of Rosedale Street, NE.

The prosecutor called the lead Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective to the stand to detail evidence in the case.

The prosecutor began by submitting original and supplemental affidavits, written by the detective, which detail officers arriving on scene around three a.m. There, a homeowner explained that the suspect, who was later identified as Best, “killed a man for nothing,” before fleeing the crime scene.

The detective then explained that according to a witness, before the shooting occurred, the individual had invited Robinson, Best, and others to a house party, noting that there were multiple tequila and wine bottles found at the scene, and were “having a fun time.”

A witness present at the party earlier in the evening also noted that they had not been happy with the homeowner inviting Best. According to the witness and the detective, there had been a physical altercation with the host’s sister at an earlier date, in which Best allegedly broke her jaw.

The prosecutor then presented five minutes of body-worn camera footage, which showed an officer knocking on the door of the residence, as well as depicting Robinson who was found unresponsive.

According to the detective, through the investigation, MPD was able to find a flight path for the suspect, and located a firearm from a trash can in the path the following morning.

During cross-examination, Megan Allburn, defense counsel for Best, walked the lead detective through the events of the shooting, challenging him to confirm the timeline and the validity of statements made by an allegedly intoxicated witness.

When asked whether there was any “beef” present at the house party which had ended hours before the shooting, the detective informed the court that he hadn’t talked to witnesses who had left before the shooting, as it didn’t seem relevant at the time.

Allburn questioned the detective about what was happening at the party before the shooting, noting the liquor and wine bottles found in the kitchen, and whether alcohol had played a role. The detective said that the homeowner had consumed alcohol, but had “sobered up quickly after the shooting.”

Additionally, Allburn asked him how he knew a discarded jacket, which was collected by MPD from the suspect’s flight path, belonged to Best. She also reminded the court that the alleged murder weapon was recovered the following day, at a separate location.

The detective noted that the main witness of the shooting had described to MPD the clothing that Best was allegedly wearing. It was also noted that it was mid-twenty degrees on the morning of the investigation, and the defendant was found walking without a jacket, and ran away upon seeing the patrol car.

Given the evidence presented, Judge Raffinan found probable cause in the case.

Judge Raffinan denied the defense’s request for Best to be released, citing the circumstances and the nature of the offense. 

Parties are set to reconvene June 28.