Judge Releases One Defendant in 2022 Homicide to BoP

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During a hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe decided to release one defendant while holding another. Both defendants are charged with the 2022 murder of Brian Buxton.

Aaron Walker, 19, and Dasani Dawson, 19, are charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 20-year-old Buxton on Aug. 9, 2022, on the 100 block of Irvington Street, SW. Braxton sustained, what a physician termed as as “unsurvivable brain injury” after being shot in the head.

During the May 23 hearing, Dawson’s defense attorney, Elisabeth Sapirstein, requested her client’s release after the prosecution requested a 30-day extension to produce an indictment in the case.

According to the prosecution, an extra 30 days was needed to secure one last witness, who is “essential” to present to the Grand Jury.

Walker’s attorney, Brandi Harden, debated the indictment extension, saying the requested time was over the 20-days allowed according to the statute. She also moved to dismiss the case against her client.

The prosecutor told Judge O’Keefe that a 20-day extension was enough time to secure the indictment. The prosecutor expects to have an indictment by June 12.

D.C. Witness previously reported that Judge O’Keefe found probable cause that Walker and Dawson were the perpetrators in Buxton’s death, and the prosecution has enough evidence to move the case to trial.

The judge refused to dismiss the case, saying he was prepared to release the defendants. Harden withdrew her request for Walker’s release.

Judge O’Keefe released Dawson, who is slated to transfer to the Bureau of Prison’s (BOP) custody to begin an eight-year prison sentence, for an unrelated crime. She pleaded guilty in April of 2023 to aggravated assault knowingly while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for a shooting that occurred on Aug. 4, 2022, on the 800 block of Chesapeake Street, SE.

Walker is also being held in another case for his alleged involvement in a domestic violence-related shooting on August 2, 2022, on the 1600 block of Fort Dupont Street, SE. According to court documents, Walker allegedly shot an ex-romantic partner’s boyfriend.

In the domestic violence case, Walker has been indicted on seven charges, including possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, aggravated assault knowingly against a minor while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed against a minor, threat to kidnap or injure a person and assault with a dangerous weapon.

A felony status conference is scheduled for Dawson and Walker on June 13.

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