Outfitted in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffed, a reluctant witness was asked to identify suspects in a deadly mass shooting before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz during a hearing on June 2.
Erwin Dubose, 31, Kamar Queen, 28, Damonta Thompson, 28, and William Johnson-Lee, 22, are charged with conspiracy, premeditated first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, among other charges, for their alleged involvement in the mass shooting that killed 31-year-old Donnetta Dyson, 24-year-old Keenan Braxton, and 37-year-old Johnny Joyner. The incident occurred on the 600 block of Longfellow Street, NW on Sept. 4, 2021, and injured three additional individuals.
Mussay Rezene, 32, and Toyia Johnson, 53, are charged with accessory after the fact while armed and tampering with physical evidence for their alleged involvement in assisting the other defendants discard evidence and avoid arrests.
The witness was subpoenaed last week but failed to show up, resulting in his arrest over the weekend and appearance on the stand Monday morning. He was given immunity for his testimony in the case, meaning that he cannot be prosecuted for anything said under oath unless he makes a false statement or otherwise refuses to comply.
He confined most answers to single words. When the prosecution asked the witness if he wanted to be present in court that day he responded “absolutely not.”
The witness was questioned about his knowledge of and relationship to Dubose, Queen, and Rezene. He denied close involvement with any of the defendants, but stated he grew up with them in the District. When later questioned about his whereabouts the night of the shooting, he said that he was “getting drunk” and did not remember specifics.
However, when confronted with his previous grand jury testimony he admitted that he was with Rezene that evening. According to the witness, he left a store on Piney Branch Road with Rezene and traveled to an apartment complex on the 400 block of Galloway Street, NE. He confirmed that he had previously identified himself, Rezene, Queen, and Johnson-Lee on a security video from the apartment complex.
The prosecution played surveillance videos, and after initial hesitation, the witness reconsidered identifying himself and others– Dubose, Rezene, and “Baby P”–in the footage, referencing his previous grand jury testimony. Prosecutors have previously identified Baby P as Johnson-Lee.
The defense pressed the witness on memory and credibility. He had invoked the Fifth Amendment in his first grand jury appearance, but later testified after receiving immunity. He also admitted he knew what the prosecution would ask before the second grand jury session, but said no one told him what to say.
Judge Neal Kravitz informed jurors that the witness would be released later that evening.
Parties are slated to reconvene June 3.
