Judge Vacates Murder Defendant’s Hearing

By D.C. Witness Staff - November 20, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A DC Superior Court judge vacated a murder defendant’s Nov. 20 felony status conference. 

Melvin Simmons, 27, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting of 28-year-old  Robert Brown. 

Another hearing date has not been set as of Nov. 20.

On the night of Aug. 22, 2019, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to the 1700 block of Trenton Place, SE for the report of gunshots. There, they found Brown suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

Around 20 minutes later, the MPD received another call for a shooting on the 1400 block of 18 Place, SE. Once they arrived, they saw Simmons suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to the hospital.

With the help of eyewitness accounts and surveillance footage, the police were able to identify Simmons, a resident of Temple Hills, Md., as their alleged suspect. After Simmons recovered from his injuries, he was arrested on Nov. 18, 2019.

Judge Neal Kravitz vacated Simmon’s hearing after a notice of discovery was issued.  

Simmons is also being charged with the first-degree murder of William Roland on the 1500 Block of 18th Street, SE on Aug. 17, 2019. He is scheduled for a hearing in this case on Jan. 15, 2021.

Simmons is being held without bail in both cases.

Emily Pengelly wrote this article