Juvenile Kicked Murder Victim’s Head,’Like it Was A Soccer Ball,’ Prosecutor Says in Closing

By Jeff Levine - October 30, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Juveniles | Suspects | Victims |

During closing arguments in a trial of two-of-five juveniles accused of stomping an elderly, disabled man to death, the prosecutor said the crime was “a premeditated, deliberate attempt to end his life.”

The group of co-defendants, girls aged 12-to-15 at the time of the attack, are charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy and assault with a dangerous weapon for their alleged involvement in the fatal beating of 64-year-old Reggie Brown. 

The incident occurred late at night on Oct. 17, 2023, on the 6200 block of Georgia Avenue, NW. 

During the proceeding before DC Superior Court Judge Kendra Briggs on Oct. 29, the prosecutor reviewed evidence in the case including a 55-second cell phone video purportedly taken by one of the suspects showing them celebrating the beating. 

“This is glee,” said the prosecutor. 

“These are the girls that were all together in Mr. Brown’s homicide,” said the prosecutor as she argued for a first-degree murder and conspiracy conviction.  

While the prosecution summarized “a mountain of video evidence” in the form of surveillance footage of the darkened alley off of Georgia Avenue where Brown’s, bloodied, lifeless body was found and gruesome autopsy pictures depicting holes in Brown’s skull, the core of the case against a 14-year-old defendant was four devastating blows to the victim’s head.

“You kicked his head like it was a soccer ball,” said the prosecutor, noting that the defendant lingered on a fence in the alley for some 20 seconds before allegedly jumping on Brown then landing the blows

“She was choosing.  She was premeditating,” said the prosecutor.  Regarding the other suspect who was 12-years-old at the time, the prosecutor said,”She wanted to make sure she hit him as much as possible,” pulling a hood off Brown’s head. 

Brown was said to be five feet, five inches tall, weighing only 110 pounds and suffering from numerous medical issues.  

“How scared Mr. Brown felt when he saw six people running after him,” said the prosecutor.  

Surveillance video shows a man in a blue coat who committed the initial assault on Brown and encouraged the five girls to help in the beating.  The individual has never been identified. 

During the trial, which started in August, the prosecution introduced binders full of social media messages, in particular from Instagram accounts, suggesting that the juveniles were aware that they allegedly committed murder and conspired to get rid of incriminating evidence on a cell phone.

Earlier in the hearing, attorneys for the two defendants in the courtroom filed motions for a judgment of acquittal.  

“None of the girls brought a weapon to the scene,” said Geofffrey Harris on behalf of his 13-year-old client.   “We would turn every garden variety assault into an attempted murder,” if the court accepted the prosecution’s argument, said Harris. He said his client had no intention of killing anyone, even though the group was looking for a fight.

“They cannot prove there was a conspiracy to commit first and second-degree murder. They have to prove there was a specific intent to kill,” argued Charlotte Gilliland, attorney for the 14-year-old.  

”The last four strong stomps.  I can make that intent,” said Judge Briggs.  “The court can make a finding of deliberation,” said the Judge in denying the acquittal motions.

In her closing for the 14-year-old accused of the stomping, co-counsel Victoria Clark argued it was a case of mistaken identity.  She cited flaws in the photo ID of the suspects saying that a  Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective prompted a witness to identify her client.

Further, Clark claimed the detective didn’t initially identify himself as a police officer when he met the girl for what turned out to be a recorded interview. 

“[The fourteen-year-old] was not there the night of the murder.” She questioned the lack of DNA evidence in the case.   Clark further observed that a key witness for the prosecution, a 15-year-old juvenile, contradicted some of her statements, and was incentivized with a plea deal in return for her testimony. 

“She had a motive to lie,” said Clark, who called the evidence “unreliable, untrustworthy and frankly unacceptable.”

“[The juvenile] was not given a deal for her testimony.  “There’s no additional benefit,” said the prosecutor.

Judge Briggs said she would review the evidence and deliver her verdict from the bench on Nov. 18.