At a presentment hearing on Oct 2, DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe detained a homicide defendant based on the evidence
Desmond Thurston, 46, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in shooting 52-year-old Patricia Johnson in a townhouse on the 400 block of 13th Street, SE on Oct. 1.
According to court documents, two nine millimeter shell casings were recovered from the second floor hallway of the building along with one cartridge casing and a firearm.
Steven Kiersh, Thurston’s defense attorney, argued Thurston acted in self-defense.
Judge Pipe found probable cause that Thurston was the perpetrator and said the weight of the evidence was “strong,” so Thurston will be held in custody.
Thurston is scheduled to appear in front of DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 16.
