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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- December 5, 2018
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Suspects
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During a preliminary hearing Dec. 4, a D.C. Superior Court judge found probable cause and ordered a murder defendant held without bond for his alleged role in his cousin’s death.
William Gallardo is charged with second-degree murder in connection to the death of 22-year-old Noe Alberto Gallardo Ponce, who was found strangled, in a rowhouse on the 1600 block of New Jersey Avenue, NW on Nov. 26. Apparently, the two men were roommates.
During the hearing, a detective on the case testified that, on the night of the murder, multiple witnesses in the house heard Gallardo, 24, and Ponce arguing. One witness said that when he went to check on them, Ponce opened the door and said they were okay.
The same witness heard loud footsteps in the hall, the detective said. Apparently, when the witness went to investigate who was leaving he saw one person running out the backdoor and into an alley.
After speaking with the residents in the rowhouse, police began searching for Gallardo and ultimately found him in a park on I Street, NW.
According to the detective, Gallardo punched and scratched the arresting officer. Police also discovered that Gallardo’s hands were swollen and there was blood underneath his fingernails.
Judge Craig Iscoe found probable cause based on the severity of the crime. Judge Iscoe said the defendant had to have used extreme force for 2-3 minutes in order to strangle Ponce to death.
The judge said Gallardo is a “significant” flight risk because he lacks community ties and his attempt to evade arrest. Ponce was Gallardo’s only known relative in the area.
Gallardo is scheduled for a felony status conference on March 8, 2019.