Judge grants government’s request to continue to hold Herman Lee Cook Jr.

By D.C. Witness Staff - March 21, 2017
Court | Homicides | Suspects |

A judge on Friday approved the government’s request to continue to hold Herman Lee Cook Jr. without bail for the alleged murder of Donald Stephen Johnson Jr.

The government argued that Cook Jr is a “threat” to the community, due to his prior criminal records.

Cook’s attorney argued that their client has a family and he should be released. According to the judge, Cook’s record includes unlawful possession of a gun without a license.

In court on Friday, Detective Stephanie Gardner to testified to the events that led to Cook’s arrest.

When asked to describe what happened in related surveillance video, Gardner said it appeared as if the victim was “running away.” The surveillance video allegedly showed Cook walking toward Johnson’s Range Rover, shooting Johnson and walking away.

During cross examination, Gardner said it appeared that the two men “looked at each other” but “couldn’t tell” if there were words exchanged.

When asked, Gardner said the men “knew each other, being some type of associates.”

According to Gardner, Cook’s prior arrest took place in Baltimore, where police were doing a search warrant and Cook, happened to be on the site.

Cook was charged with second-degree murder while armed in February and is scheduled back in court on June 16, 2017.