Judge to Release Coley While Awaiting 2013 Homicide Retrial

By Rosie Rohrer [former] , Sylvie Sussman [former] - July 10, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On July 10, DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan indicated he intends to release murder suspect Victor Coley, pending a new trial.

Coley, 60, was found guilty in 2015 for his involvement in a shooting that injured four on Nov. 6, 2013 on the 3900 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE. He was accused then of assault with intent to kill, possession of a firearm, along with eleven other charges.

In 2021, one of Coley’s victims, 65-year-old Dennis Foster, allegedly died from gunshot wounds sustained in the 2013 shooting.  As a result, new murder charges were filed against Coley.

On June 23, the murder trial resulted in a hung jury.

In court, Judge Ryan revealed that the jury was split 10-to-2 in favor of acquittal. Jurors were reportedly convinced that Foster’s death was a homicide, but not convinced Coley was the perpetrator. 

Parties met to discuss how the case would move forward. The prosecution restated its intention to retry Coley’s case.  They also asked Judge Ryan to continue holding Coley in the DC Jail until the new trial due to his dangerousness, but Judge Ryan denied the request. He told the defendant that he needed to succeed in the community upon release, to which Coley replied, “without a doubt.”

Coley’s defense attorneys Carrie Weletz and Jesse Winograd are currently trying to place Coley at a residential recovery facility. 

The next hearing is scheduled for July 12, during which Judge Ryan said he plans to issue a release order for Coley taking effect on July 19.