Judge Resets Trial Date for Nearly 6-Year-Old Murder Case

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On Jan. 20, DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein met with co-defendants Gabriel Brown and Antonio Upshaw to set a date for trial in their murder case.

Brown, 34, and Upshaw, 33, were both arrested for allegedly murdering Tyrone Johnson on March 10, 2017, on the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue SE. Upshaw, also known as Jamie Richardson, was released on home confinement under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) in November 2022. Brown is still being held.

The two are charged with first-degree murder while armed, first-degree murder while armed while committing or attempting to commit a robbery, possession of a firearm during a violent crime, robbery while armed, armed carjacking and unauthorized use of a vehicle. Brown is also charged with conspiracy while armed. Upshaw is also charged with carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business.

Due to Judge Epstein being newly assigned to the case, both the defense and prosecution reviewed motions that were previously filed, mainly for cellphone data and Instagram data. Judge Epstein spoke to the prosecution about what specific pieces of evidence they planned on using. 

The defense also requested unredacted police reports from the prosecution sometime in the future. The deadline to receive these documents is scheduled for the next status hearing. 

The trial date was set for Sept. 9, 2024, which would take place about seven years after Upshaw’s arrest on Dec. 29, 2017. Brown was arrested on March 19, 2019.

The parties are scheduled to return on July 12, 2024 for a status hearing.