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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- March 16, 2021
Featured
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Homicides
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Suspects
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Victims
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On March 15, District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Heide Herrmann released 31 defendants and held seven in the DC Jail during their initial hearings.
There were a total of ten domestic violence cases, one homicide case and one sex abuse case presented before Judge Herrmann. Of these cases, she held three of the defendants.
Judge Herrmann held 22-year-old Keshawn Taylor who is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the death of 25-year-old Tyree Brox on Dec. 21, 2020. Taylor is also charged with attempted threats to do bodily harm in a domestic violence case and being a fugitive from justice in connection to another homicide matter in Maryland.
Taylor’s attorney, Elizabeth Weller, argued there was nothing to tie him to the shooting, only that there was communication between him and the victim through Instagram. Weller also noted that evidence didn’t match up in reference to clothing descriptions and surveillance video time stamps.
The prosecution argued there was enough evidence for probable cause because there was Instagram communication that proves a drug transaction was planned prior to the shooting and that the two met at the victim’s car.
The prosecutor also said the time stamps were mismatched because they were screen grabbed images to show zoomed in footage of the suspect.
Judge Herrmann agreed with the prosecution, finding probable cause, and decided to hold Taylor based on the nature of crime and his criminal history.
She also ordered Taylor not to harass, assault, threaten or stalk (HATS) the alleged victim in his domestic violence case. Taylor is held in all of his cases and his next hearings are scheduled for April.
A male defendant is being held on charges for assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction. The defendant had just completed a 20-year sentence and was on GPS monitoring when he allegedly committed the new offense.
Judge Herrmann found probable cause to hold him based on the nature of the offense, given that he was on parole for an armed kidnapping conviction. His next hearing is scheduled for April 5.
Another defendant was held on an assault with a dangerous weapon charge in a domestic violence case. He is also charged in a traffic matter with a DUI and operating a vehicle while impaired. It is alleged the defendant was under the influence of PCP and assaulted the victim by driving into their car.
Judge Herrmann noted the defendant had been under supervision in the high intensity supervision ptogram (HISP) and GPS monitoring prior to the crime. She said she decided to hold him based on the defendant’s criminal history, prior possession of firearms, domestic violence convictions and prior probation revocations.
Judge Herrmann released seven domestic violence defendants. Their charges include simple assault, destruction of property, attempted threats to do bodily harm and attempted possession of a prohibited weapon.
Five of the defendants were given stay-away orders and two were given no HATS orders.
One defendant charged with sex abuse and unlawful entry onto private property was released with a stay-away order.