Judge Holds Murder Defendant Charged with Triple Homicide During Initial Hearings

By D.C. Witness Staff - February 26, 2021
Featured | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

During initial hearings on Feb. 25, DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe held a defendant charged with second-degree murder.

In total, there were 25 defendants presented before the court. There were six domestic violence defendants, one sex abuse defendant and one homicide defendant.

Jibri Qayyum is charged with second-degree murder while armed for the deaths of three victims. Qayyum, 44, is alleged to have shot 56-year-old Claudette Williams, 29-year-old Marquise Lewis and 20-year-old Juwan Wade on the 5000 block of Bass Place, SE on July 7, 2020.

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers previously arrested 33-year-old Dale Benjamin and charged him with second-degree murder while armed. Benjamin and Qayyum are co-defendants.

Qayyum is alleged to have shot at the decedents after they allegedly attempted to rob him, Benjamin and another person.

Qayyum’s defense counsel, Kristin McGough, asked the judge to not find probable cause, saying there is a question of the strength of the identification of Qayyum.

One of the witnesses identified Qayyum from a video, but McGough said how close the shot is or the quality of the video is unknown. She also said that on the second watch, the witness said “I think that’s Jibri,” which, she said, does not instill confidence.

Despite the defense attorney’s argument, Judge Pipe found probable cause. She said she even found substantial probability that Qayyum committed the offense.

McGough also asked Judge Pipe to release her client, saying his criminal history is dated and only involves non-violent misdemeanor offenses. She asked for Qayyum to be placed into the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP).

Judge Pipe said that since there are three people dead and that she believes Qayyum was one of the shooters, she was not going to release him.

Qayyum will be held at the DC Jail until his next hearing, which is scheduled for March 5.

Judge Pipe also held a defendant who is charged with simple assault in a domestic violence case. The defendant, a 31-year-old male, is also charged with carrying a pistol without a license and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine while armed in a felony case.

Judge Pipe held the defendant in his felony case and, for his domestic violence case, she placed a $50 cash bond in order to give him credit for time served.

The defendant was also given a stay-away order from the victim for whenever he may be released. His next hearing, in the domestic violence case, is scheduled for July 29. The next hearing in the felony case is scheduled for March 17.

Five other domestic violence defendants were presented before the judge. Their charges include simple assault, destruction of property, unlawful entry, attempted possession of a prohibited weapon and violation of a Civil Protective Order (CPO).

Four of the defendants were given stay-away orders, and one defendant was given an order not to harass, assault, threaten or stalk (HATS) the alleged victim.

A defendant , who is charged with sex abuse, was released with a stay-away order from the complainant.

All released defendants were ordered to return to court on July 29.