Two days after police made their most recent arrest in connection with a mass shooting that killed three people last September, a DC Superior Court judge scheduled a preliminary hearing to determine if the case against the defendants has enough evidence to go to trial.
On the evening of Sept. 4, 2021, Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to the 600 block of Longfellow Street, NW, after hearing gunfire and found six people suffering from gunshot wounds. Three of the victims succumbed to their injuries- 31-year-old Donetta Dyson, 24-year-old Keenan Braxton and 37-year-old Johnny Joyner.
Two days after the triple homicide, a vehicle matching the description of the one believed to have been used in the shooting was set on fire, according to court documents.
Damonta Thompson, 24, was arrested two days before the Jan. 20 hearing. He is charged with first-degree murder while armed along with 24-year-old Kamar Queen and 27-year-old Erwin Dubose. Toyia Johnson, 49, is also charged with tampering with physical evidence.
The prosecution told Judge Robert Okun they don’t anticipate needing more than an hour or two to present their case, saying they only have ten short clips to show.
Parties agreed to set aside March 18 for the proceedings.
