Jury Selection for Parking Lot Murder Includes Questions About Police Involvement

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During jury selection on Feb. 12, a DC Superior Court judge interviewed potential jurors on a case where a man was shot and killed in a community center parking lot. 

Herman Lee Cook, Jr., 49 , is charged with with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and unlawful possession of a firearm. The charges are in connection with the alleged shooting of Donald Johnson Jr., 45, on the 5700 block of Georgia Avenue, NW. 

During jury selection, questions were asked pertaining to the jury’s view of police enforcement due to the prosecution’s use of law enforcement within the case. 

On several occasions jurors were dismissed if they showed any signs of police enforcement mistrust. 

Once all of the jurors were selected there were a total of 14. Six men and eight women.

Additional questions included: “what is your current job or profession?” “How long have you lived in DC,” and “Do you practice at all in criminal law?”. 

This article was written by Jailynn Caraballo.

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