Judge Holds Defendant for Decade-old Murder

By D.C. Witness Staff - November 6, 2018
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

During a murder defendant’s first appearance in DC Courts Nov. 1, a judge found probable cause that he was involved in a murder that occurred nearly a decade ago. He is being held without bond.

Victor Carvajal is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the shooting death of 21-year-old Michael Francis Taylor on the 600 block of Farragut Street, NW in 2008.

Mason Binion, 31, and Joshua Massaquoi, 31, are also charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to Taylor’s death.

According to court documents, a witness told police that Taylor helped “broker a deal” between a drug dealer and a group of individuals, including Binion, Carvajal and Massaquoi. The witness said the group gave Taylor between $3,000 and $4,000 for marijuana. According to the witness, the dealer took the money but never provided the marijuana.

Multiple witnesses told police that Taylor gave Binion his car as collateral for the botched drug deal. Apparently, Binion, along with the other individuals that were attempting to buy marijuana, later picked Taylor up in that same car, documents said. 

Binion told police he supplied the gun and set up the murder. However, Massaquoi told police Binion shot Taylor. Massaquoi also told police Carvajal hit Taylor in the head with a rock.

Carvajal’s defense attorney argued against the probable cause finding, saying that most of the information that implicates his client is from a defendant who was already charged in the case.

Furthermore, the attorney said Massaquoi was diagnosed with a mental health disorder and told multiple stories throughout various interviews with the police. He is “not a credible witness,” Carvajal’s attorney said.

However, the prosecution said Massaquoi told police key information that couldn’t have been made up, including where the victim’s body was located. The prosecution also said the facts Massaquoi provided were corroborated by evidence.

Judge Errol Arthur found probable cause based on what Massaquoi told police as well as other witnesses who corroborated that Carvajal was in the car and threw a rock at the victim. 

Carvajal is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 19.