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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- January 24, 2018
Court
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Homicides
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Suspects
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A Southeast D.C. man continues to fight against a 2006 second-degree murder conviction.
Johnel McQueen is currently serving a 41 year sentence for a 2004 murder.
When McQueen was 17-years-old he was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in a March 22, 2004 shooting on the 1300 block of Congress Street, SE.
According to court documents, McQueen was seen talking to KaRon Barksdale, 22, near a burning car. Witnesses said Barksdale began to run toward his apartment when McQueen shot him in the back of the head. Both men lived on the block where the shooting occurred.
McQueen was eventually found guilty of second-degree murder while armed and related weapons offenses in connection with the murder.
Shortly after the result, the defense petitioned for the disclosure of Grand Jury proceedings and filed a motion to vacate convictions or grant a new trial on the grounds of actual innocence.
At a hearing on Jan. 24, Chief Judge Robert Morin appointed Attorney Janai Reed to represent McQueen as his new attorney. The decision was supported by both McQueen’s attorney, Leroy Giles Jr. and Attorney Tony Quinn, who appeared on behalf of the government.
Giles Jr. stated that the defense plans to only call one witness to the stand and stressed that McQueen would prefer that the case continue on a “fast track” while he remains incarcerated at Federal prison FCI Butner, a medium security correctional institution in Butner, N.C.
McQueen’s next hearing is scheduled for March 9, 2018, where witnesses are expected to take the stand. A status hearing is scheduled a week prior to confirm that all witnesses will be present.