Judge Issues Extraditable Bench Warrant for Homicide Defendant

By Nick Pallotto [former] - November 27, 2023
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Victims |

On Nov. 21, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan issued an extraditable bench warrant after learning of a homicide defendant’s arrest in another jurisdiction on Nov. 16.

Gerald Thomas, 20, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, second-degree murder while armed, three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, attempted kidnapping while armed, carrying a pistol without a license, and seven counts of possession of a firearm, for his alleged involvement in a mass shooting that resulted in the death of Dasha Cleary, 20, on Jan. 27, 2022, on the 4400 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW. The incident left four others injured. 

According to court documents, five women and six men attended a party at a Days Inn hotel at the location. Thomas’ then-girlfriend had organized the party for one of the witnesses, when Thomas allegedly arrived and fired multiple rounds into the room, striking his girlfriend, three other individuals, and killing Cleary.  

During the hearing, Judge Raffinan said she received a report from the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) stating that Thomas was arrested in November in Prince George’s County, Maryland in a separate matter that is unrelated to the homicide case.

According to prosecutors, Thomas is alleged to have shot into multiple homes in Prince George’s County, MD, with one of the homes believed to have been occupied by a four-month-old child.

Judge Raffinan also said in addition to Thomas’ recent arrest, he is facing three additional cases in Prince George’s County in connection to two separate incidents. No further details were provided. 

Aubrey Dillon, Thomas’ defense attorney, told Judge Raffinan that Thomas’ drug and gun offenses from Prince George’s County were previously dropped. 

Prosecutors, in response to the alleged shooting at the houses, asked Judge Raffinan to consider ordering a bench warrant to extradite Thomas from Prince George’s County and have him detained in DC.

Judge Raffinan, in granting the prosecution’s request to issue an extraditable bench warrant for Thomas, said his arrest in another jurisdiction is the primary reason for issuing the warrant.

Judge Rafinnan stated that once Thomas is extradited to DC, they will have a hearing.