After five days of deliberation, a jury found a murder defendant guilty of first-degree murder while armed.
Kenneth ‘Kendawg’ Adams was convicted Nov. 19 of shooting and killing 21-year-old Dante “Te” Kinard on the 1800 block of Benning Road, NE in 2016. Adams, 20, was also found guilty of robbery and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.
According to court documents, Adams walked toward a group of people on Benning Road, pulled out a gun and started shooting. Kinard was not the intended target.
The multi-week trial began on Oct. 22.
Closing statements for the prosecution and defense centered on witness statements.
The prosecution said witnesses changed their statements for “self-preservation,” referencing one witness who identified Adams during the trial, but not initially to police. The prosecutor said the witness didn’t initially identify Adams because he was scared Adams was still on the streets.
Adam’s defense attorney, Nikki Lotze, dismissed the prosecution’s explanation, saying the witness’s statement changed because the prosecution offered a deal. Lotze also said multiple witnesses testified that officers from the Metropolitan Police Department made them identify Adams as the shooter.
Adams is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 28, 2019.
