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By
Brigette Bagley
- February 28, 2025
Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Shooting
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A jury in DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman heard more testimony about a teen-age homicide from on Feb. 27.
Daquan Gray, 23, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license outside of his home or business for his alleged involvement in the murder of 15-year-old Jaylyn Wheeler, on the 600 block of Alabama Avenue, SE, on May 16, 2018. Gray was 16 years old at the time of the incident.
Throughout the trial, prosecutors have attempted to prove that Gray allegedly shot Wheeler as a result of a fight that occurred at their high school on the day of the incident.
A witness, an in-school suspension coordinator from Ballou High School, claimed not to recognize any student from school security camera stills during his testimony. Another witness, a former high school student, also refused to identify the students and later stopped his testimony, stating, “I want a court-appointed lawyer,” after the prosecutor handed the witness his grand jury testimony transcript.
Judge Edelman dismissed him for the day and, after discussing the next steps for the witness with the parties, said, “This [witness name] testimony will be like pulling teeth.”
The prosecution also called on the former lead security officer at the high school, who confidently identified the students from the same school surveillance cameras. She identified Gray and another former student from surveillance taken near the alleyway of the incident that shows the two walking from the school towards the alley where Wheeler was fatally shot.
A forensic scientist was called to testify virtually, about her crime scene photos and the physical evidence she was able to collect. One key piece of evidence was a firearm, which was recovered near the incident, in the backyard of a home under tarps and leaves. The firearm was presented in court for the jury to see, after being rendered safe by a US Marshal.
During a cross-examination by Hanna Perry, it was noted the forensics expert was given a bad review by superiors in a moot court in San Diego, CA. In an effort to impeach the witness, Perry said, reading the review, that the witness, “Gave misleading and untruthful testimony.”
In a brief redirect, the prosecutor was able to emphasize it was a moot court and the witness has given numerous truthful testimonies both in moot courts and in real trials.
The prosecution also called a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer from the K-9 unit, who responded to the crime scene intending to locate a firearm. Instead, the dog and officer found multiple bullet casings, which were flagged for forensics to collect.
Parties are slated to reconvene on March 3.