Judge Schedules Hearings in Several Murder Cases

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

On Nov. 13, a DC Superior Court judge scheduled hearings for four murder defendants.

Judge Michael Ryan vacated a status hearing for Mark Beasley’s re-opened murder case. In 2017, the 48-year-old was sentenced to 30 years for first-degree murder while armed in the death of 39 year-old Darryn Conte, who was fatally shot on April 26, 2015 on the 400 block of Butternut Street, NW. 

Beasley was also given concurrent sentences of five years for possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, 10 years of assault with intent to kill while armed, and three years for unlawful possession of a firearm.

His case was reopened in December of last year. His next status hearing is now scheduled for Dec. 1.

Judge Ryan rescheduled a hearing for Alonzo Lewis, who is charged with first-degree murder while armed. The 35-year-old is accused of fatally shooting Jaquon Helm, 40, and Venius Badgett, 35, on May 26, 2018 on the Unit block of Galveston Street, SW.

His hearing was rescheduled to Dec. 11.

Judge Michael Ryan also scheduled a status hearing for April 7 for a murder case involving two co-defendants.

Stephon Evans, 20, is charged with conspiracy, first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and carrying a pistol without a license for allegedly shooting 21 year-old Dion DeMarco Boyd on July 30, 2018 on the 1400 block of Maryland Avenue.

His co-defendant, 21 year-old Kewon Hunter, was initially charged with second-degree murder in connection with this homicide. However, he was later indicted on the same charges as Evans.

Evans and Alonzo Brown are also charged with with first-degree murder while armed, conspiracy to commit a crime of violence while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and assault with the intent to kill while armed in the death of Michael Taylor, a 22 year-old who was fatally shot on Jan. 12, 2019 on the 1700 block of Benning Road NE. That case is scheduled for a hearing on Dec. 15.

Naquel Henderson and Tavist Alston are also charged with first-degree murder in connection with this homicide.

This article was written by Yasmeen McGettrick.