Judge Finds Probable Cause, Orders Detention in Stabbing Case

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On Oct. 8, DC Superior Court Judge Heidi Herrmann found probable cause during a stabbing defendant’s preliminary hearing.

Ethan Cunningham, 20, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a stabbing incident that occurred on July 10 at the Central Treatment Facility (CTF) on the 1900 block of E Street, SE. One individual was stabbed, and sustained an injury to the neck and lower back.

The incident occurred as Cunningham was detained and charged with three counts of felony murder while armed, burglary while armed, seven counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, kidnapping while armed, attempted robbery while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, and carrying a pistol without a license for his alleged involvement in the death of 38-year-old James Curtis on May 10, 2022, on the 2600 block of Stanton Road, SE.

Prosecutors called an investigator with the DC Department of Corrections (DOC) as a witness, who testified that his superiors notified him of an altercation between two inmates at CTF on July 10.

The witness said he later reviewed surveillance footage of the incident, and prosecutors played the footage for the courtroom. The footage showed an individual, later identified as Cunningham, running up a set of stairs and appearing to make stabbing motions at another individual, who fell to the ground. The suspect was then detained by two officers on the scene.

The witness testified that there was no weapon found at the scene, but the victim was transported to a local hospital for stab wounds to the neck and back.

The witness also testified that a lieutenant with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) later told him that the suspect was identified as Cunningham by the officers who detained him.

Thomas Healy, Cunningham’s attorney, asked for the court not to find probable cause because no weapon was found so there is no way of knowing if the victim was actually stabbed. Healey also said there is no way to know the suspect in the video is Cunningham.

Judge Herrmann ruled that the video shows the suspect making stabbing motions and since the victim sustained stab wounds, there is probable cause that he was stabbed. She ordered the defendant be held with a cash bond of $100.

Parties will reconvene on Oct. 29.