Kevin Chase says he shot Marcus Manor in self-defense

By D.C. Witness Staff - March 1, 2018
Court | Homicides | Suspects |

One of the defendants in a 2015 homicide trial testified Feb. 28 that he shot 38-year-old Marcus Manor as an act of self-defense.

According to Kevin Chase, his decision to shoot Manor on Oct. 20, 2015, was not premeditated and his friend, Demetrius Brandon, just happened to stop by at the time of the shooting.

Chase and Brandon, both 30, have been charged with first-degree murder while armed for the alleged fatal shooting that occurred on the 2900 block of Sherman Avenue, NW.

Chase told the jury that he did get into an altercation with Manor on Oct. 16, 2015, in his sister’s apartment building. Chase’s sister and Manor allegedly had a rocky relationship, and she kicked him out of her apartment that night prior. Chase apparently broke Manor’s cheekbones and nose. He told the jury that Manor swung at him first in the apartment hallway after his sister refused to let him into their room.

Chase said that on the morning of the shooting, he had plans to hang out with Brandon, who drove to Chase’s sister’s apartment to pick him up. When he went outside, he was summoned by Manor, who was sitting in a black Ford Explorer across the street.

When Chase told Manor to leave his sister alone, Chase said Manor became angry and said “I’m going to kill you.” Chase said Manor looked like he was reaching for a gun, so he fired his gun in self-defense. Chase said he was scared he would’ve been killed and that “everything happened so fast.”

The Metropolitan Police Department never found a gun on Manor or in his vehicle, however a knife was discovered in a door compartment on the passenger side.

The prosecution is expected to cross-examine Chase on March 1.