Judge Modifies Stabbing Defendant’s Release Conditions

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DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein modified home confinement and GPS monitoring for an stabbing defendant on Aug. 2.

Wali Shabazz, 50, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of 41-year-old Martin Gross Jr. outside a stadium on the 100 block of T Street, SW. The incident occurred on April 27.

Since Judge Epstein found the prosecution met the requirements of probable cause against Shabazz on May 8, he has been subject to home confinement and GPS monitoring, with permission to leave the house for his job.

At his bond hearing on Aug. 2, Shabazz’s attorney, Michelle Stevens, requested stepping down ome confinement as Shabazz had been fully compliant with his release conditions.

The prosecutor countered that it had only been a few months since Shabazz’s arrest and that it would be premature to alter any of his release conditions.

Judge Epstein granted the defense request citing Shabazz’s very limited criminal history and stating that “the victim was the primary aggressor,” although he did acknowledge that “Shabazz’s [alleged] response was out of proportion.”

Judge Epstein granted a new release order in which Shabazz would no longer have home confinement and his GPS monitor would be removed. The directive only required Shabazz to check in with the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) as directed by his case manager.

Parties are slated to reconvene on Jan. 31, 2025.