Judge Orders Defense Receive Witness Statements

By D.C. Witness Staff - July 2, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman ordered that witness statements be provided to the defense by July 10.

Eldred Watts was charged with first-degree murder while armed in the death of Zenus Epps on April 25. 

On March 25, Metropolitan Police Department officers heard gunshots and arrived on the 3500 block of A Street, SE, which is located in the Greenway neighborhood of DC. There, they found Epps, a 31-year-old resident of Southeast DC, unconscious and unresponsive.

Officers heard multiple witnesses screaming inside the building, court documents said.  

Watts is accused of shooting Epps at close range outside of his girlfriend’s apartment. An autopsy report revealed that the victim died from a gunshot wound to the head.

Earlier that night, Epps got into a verbal altercation with Watts’ girlfriend because he would not give her cigarettes. Witnesses said there were issues between the defendant and victim, but offered differing reasons as to why.

When shown a photo array, a witness identified the defendant as the shooter, “100%.” 

Watts’ next hearing is scheduled for July 17.