Judge Schedules Trial Readiness Hearings for 4 Murder Defendants

By D.C. Witness Staff - November 19, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Victims |

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled hearings to move forward with four murder cases.

Judge Danya Dayson scheduled trial readiness hearings for Alphonso Walker and Saeve Evans.

Walker, 42, is charged with first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, first-degree murder while armed while committing or attempting to commit a robbery, attempted armed robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction. 

Walker is accused of fatally shooting 23-year-old Dalonte Wilson and 44-year-old Anton Brown on April 25, 2018, on the 400 block of 61 Street, NE.   

His jury trial was scheduled to start in June, but was delayed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Walker’s trial readiness hearing is scheduled for March 23. 

Evans, 34, is charged with armed kidnapping, armed robbery and first-degree murder while armed in the death of Kareem Ware. On May 2, 2009, Ware was killed in a shoot-out between two cars on May 2, 2009. Evans was charged in Ware’s death in May of last year. 

Evans’ trial readiness hearing is scheduled for March 15. 

On May 17, 2019, Evans was sentenced to 4.6 years in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction during a shootout that killed Breyona McMillian on the 1200 block of I St., SE in 2016. The judge also applied good time served to Evans’ sentence, reducing it by 8.4 months. He was acquitted on murder charges in the case.

A trial readiness hearing for Jaykell Mason may be set at a later date. But during his Nov. 18 hearing, Judge Dayson scheduled him for a status hearing.

Mason, 21, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and assault on a police officer while armed. He is accused of shooting 29-year-old Terence Dantzler on Feb. 13 on the 700 block of 8th Street, NW, and then shooting at Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers when they pursued him. 

Judge Dayson scheduled Mason’s status hearing for April 5, 2021. She also said the defendant will continue to be held in DC Jail without bail until his next hearing. 

Mason is also scheduled for a mental observation hearing on Dec. 17.

Judge Dayson also scheduled Demetrious Void for a status hearing on April 12, 2021.

Demetrious Void is charged with first-degree murder while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, armed carjacking and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction. 

The 33-year-old defendant is accused of fatally shooting Anthony Lawson, 24, on the 6200 block of Eastern Avenue, NE, on Sept. 25, 2018. 

Sierra Robbins wrote this story.