Judge Schedules Hearings in 9 Murder Cases, Including One for 6-Year-Old’s Death

By D.C. Witness Staff - December 8, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | stabbing | Suspects |

Amid the suspension of jury trials due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a DC Superior Court judge scheduled hearings for nine murder defendants on Dec. 7. 

The hearings include a defendant whose case has been open since 2014.

Mark Bowser is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 39-year-old Tracy Womack on the 4600 block of Benning Road, SE on Sept. 20, 2014.

 The 41-year-old defendant is also charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a dangerous weapon outside a home or place of business and obstructing justice in this case. 

He was scheduled to have a trial in July, but it was delayed due to the pandemic.

Judge Michael Ryan scheduled Bowser for a trial readiness hearing on March 3, 2021. 

Judge Ryan also scheduled trial readiness hearings for Kaevon Sutton, David Hahqwon Beale, Brandon Randall and Steven Maye. 

Sutton, 19, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and carrying a pistol without a license in connection with the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Aujee Tyler on the 3500 block of Stanton Road, SE on March 19, 2018.

Sutton’s trial readiness hearing is scheduled for March 10, 2021. 

Beale, 22, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm, armed carjacking and assault with intent to kill for allegedly shooting 43-year-old George Johnson, Jr. on the 800 block of Oglethorpe Street, NE on May 7, 2018.

According to court documents, Beale allegedly stole a car from a pizza delivery driver after the shooting. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers found Beale and his girlfriend in the stolen car several hours later.  

Beale’s attorney, Betty Ballester, said they were ready to move forward with the case, after Beale turned down a global plea deal to resolve his four open cases.

In his other cases, Beale is charged with simple assault, carrying a pistol without a license, possession of an unregistered firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device and bail violation. 

Beale’s trial readiness hearing is scheduled for March 8, 2021. 

Randall, 33, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting death of 30-year-old David Elijah Brandon on the 4300 block of Georgia Avenue, NW on Feb. 24, 2019. 

Randall also had a jury trial scheduled for October, but it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

His trial readiness hearing is scheduled for March 17, 2021.

Maye, 51, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the death of Derek Anthony Walcott on Dec. 22, 2018. Walcott, 46, was found with multiple stab wounds on the 5100 block of B Street, SE. 

Judge Ryan scheduled Maye’s trial readiness hearing for March 9, 2021. 

Judge Ryan also scheduled hearings for Eldred Watts, Kavon Young and Terrance Prue. 

Watts, 27, is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly shooting 33-year-old Zenus Epps to death on the 3500 block of A Street, SE on March 25.

Watts’ felony status conference is scheduled for May 27, 2021.

Young, 30, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting death of 66-year-old John Pernell on the 3000 block of Nelson Place, SE on July 3, 2010. Young was arrested on August 22, 2019 and has been held at DC Jail since his arrest. 

Judge Ryan scheduled Young’s status hearing for April 22, 2021. 

Prue, 20, is also charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 39-year-old Bruce Gilmore on the 3500 block of 22nd Street, SE on June 5, 2019. 

Prue’s status hearing is scheduled for March 15, 2021.

Judge Ryan also continued a status hearing for 26-year-old Mark Price after the prosecutor did not show up to the hearing.

Price is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill while armed, first-degree burglary while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, threats to kidnap or injure a person and unlawful possession of a firearm for allegedly shooting 47-year-old Andre Hakim Young on the 1500 block of 19th Street, SE on July 30, 2018.

Price’s status hearing is scheduled for Dec. 18.