Judges Finds Probable Cause Teenager Committed October Homicide

By D.C. Witness Staff - November 2, 2018
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

On Nov. 1, a DC Magistrate judge found probable cause that an 18-year-old murdered a man in Southeast DC in October. 

DeAndre Houston is charged with first-degree murder while armed for the shooting death of 27-year-old Roderick Thomas on the 3200 block of 12th Street, SE. The judge held Houston without bond. 

According to court documents, witnesses told police they saw a black individual wearing a black backpack arguing with Thomas near a black Audi. Apparently, the individual was holding a gun. The witness said they heard three gunshots, but did not see the shooting.

During the investigation, police found a black backpack that contained a book from a nearby elementary school. Officers were then able to trace the book to Houston. Officers also pulled Houston’s fingerprints from the book on the scene of the murder.

Houston’s attorney, Pierce Suen, unsuccessfully argued against probable cause, saying that detectives did not find any witnesses who identified his client as the shooter. Furthermore, Suen said the only thing that links his client to the crime is the book, referencing that there are a lot of people that come into contact with elementary school books.

Houston is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 15.