Judge Grants Delay in Grand Jury Indictments for 2 Murder Suspects

By Jeff Levine - March 16, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

In spite of defense lawyer objections,  DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe granted a prosecution request for more time to prepare Grand Jury indictments against two murder suspects. 

Seaun McDowney and Maurice Williams are both charged with murder while armed for their alleged connection to the murder of Marquette White. On Jan. 21, 2022, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) responded to a call for a shooting on the 3800 block of Commodore Joshua Barney Drive, NE. Upon arrival, police found White, 20, suffering from a gunshot wound. He succumbed to his injuries later that night. 

Roderick Thompson, a lawyer for McDowney, said prosecutors already had enough time to meet the nine month filing deadline. Thompson said the prosecution needed good cause to extend beyond a broken sprinkler and subsequent flooding that hindered Grand Jury proceedings. 

He argued the prosecution should get its “ducks in a row” rather than “waiting until the last minute.”

In ruling for the prosecution, Judge O’Keefe noted the flooding did shut down the Grand Jury proceedings and that the prosecution  has been “diligently pursuing” the case.

Given the circumstances, Judge O’Keefe granted a 30-day continuance with the caveat that he would be disinclined to extend the deadline further.  

The judge also denied a defense request to release McDowney before the trial on the grounds he could pose a danger to the community and is a potential flight risk. 

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for April 14 at 9:00 a.m.