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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- August 11, 2020
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Suspects
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Victims
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On Aug. 10, DC Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna scheduled a preliminary hearing for Sept. 15 to determine if an assault case has enough evidence to go to trial.
Rakeem Willis, 28, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed for allegedly stabbing another inmate at DC Jail with an unknown sharp object.
The defendant’s July 27 preliminary hearing was canceled because he refused to take a test for the coronavirus. Defense attorney Michael Bruckheim said his client no longer objects to being tested.
On July 3, a corrections officer escorted the victim, who was handcuffed, from the shower to his cell.
According to court documents, Willis rushed past the officer and entered the cell.
The officer said he saw the defendant punching the suspect but did not see a weapon in his hand.
The victim told another corrections officer that he was injured. The victim was taken to the jail infirmary for initial treatment. He had stab wounds to the forehead, left arm, back and right shoulder. The victim was taken to a local hospital where he was treated for his injuries.
The victim declined to provide a statement about the incident to detectives.
No weapon was recovered.
Willis is also charged with first-degree murder, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for the shooting of Tyrik Hagood, Jason abney and Sean Shuler on the 1500 block of Fort Davis Place, SE on Jan. 26, 2019.