Judge Sets Trial in Gang-Related Homicide Case

By D.C. Witness Staff - April 18, 2019
Court | Homicides | Policy | Suspects |

During a status hearing April 17,  a DC Superior Court judge set a trial date for a murder case that the prosecution says may be gang-related.

Joshua Artis is charged with first-degree murder while armed, conspiracy and obstruction of justice, among other charges, for his alleged role in the death of 28-year-old Ryan Addison on the 200 block of Elmira Street, SW in 2015.

Judge Ronna Beck scheduled Artis, 29, to go to trial on June 3. Her ruling was based on the Interstate Act on Detainers, an agreement entered by the United States and the District of Columbia that sets limitations on the timespan of cases brought to trial.

The act solely applies to prisoners sentenced for unrelated trials that are transferred between two states. The act states that if the prisoner’s trial doesn’t occur within 120 days of the prisoner’s arrival in the state, then the case is dismissed with prejudice.

According to the prosecution, Artis was transferred from Virginia, where he was carrying out a sentence for a gun charge. Apparently, Artis is scheduled to be released in December 2021.

The defense and the prosecution agreed Artis’ 120 day clock would end on June 7.

During the hearing, the prosecutor also said he does not plan on conducting DNA testing. In response, the judge ordered the prosecution to hand over any remaining case evidence to the defense so the defendant can decide whether or not he would conduct DNA testing.

According to a grand jury indictment, Artis is a member of the Imperial Gangsta Bloods also known as IGB, “a criminal organization operating in the United States, including in Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia.”

The indictment states that a regional IGB leader “authorized” Artis to travel from Virginia to Washington, DC to kill Addison, who they believed killed Rodney Davis, a friend of theirs. Davis was fatally shot on the Unit block of Galveston Place, SW in 2015.

Artis is scheduled for a trial readiness hearing on May 17.