Judge Schedules Hearings in Homicide Cases for Next Year

By D.C. Witness Staff - December 16, 2020
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | stabbing | Suspects | Victims |

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled hearings for four homicide cases, including two that have been open since 2017. 

Judge Danya Dayson scheduled Chad Hawthorne for a trial readiness hearing on March 2. The 39-year-old defendant is charged with second-degree murder while armed in the 2017 shooting of Antonio Bassett. Bassett was killed on the 3900 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. 

Hawthorne is also charged with possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction in this case.

His other case, in which he is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, will be heard on March 2 as well. 

Dennis Whitaker is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of Ronzay Green on Dec. 28, 2017, on the 900 block of Eastern Avenu, NE. 

During the Dec. 15 hearing, the prosecution told Judge Dayson that Whitaker, 26, had agreed to enter into a guilty plea. 

Judge Dayson scheduled a hearing for July 19, 2021, in this case. 

Judge Dayson also set a May 13, 2021, date for a hearing for a felony domestic violence defendant charged with murder.

Daniel Fleetwood is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the death of Shana Donahue, who was 26 years old when she was stabbed to death May 28 on the 2900 block of N Street, SE.

Defense attorney Roderick Thompson told Judge Dayson that he was planning on requesting DNA testing. Judge Dayson advised him to submit the transfer of evidence paperwork as soon as possible. 

Finally, Judge Dayson scheduled a preliminary hearing for D’Aundrey Scott for Feb. 8.

Scott, 25, is charged with first-degree murder in the May 13 homicide that killed 62 year-old Darryl Finney on the 900 block of H Street, NE. The homicide was deemed an arson.

Judge Dayson also scheduled a hearing for May 13, 2021. 

Maria Marzullo wrote this article