Medical Examiner Testifies Homicide Victim’s ‘Frontal Lobe Was Pretty Much Destroyed’

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A wound damage expert explained the severity of a gunshot wound to a homicide victim before a jury in DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan’s courtroom, on Feb. 5.

Terrance Stoney, 31, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Donte Tiller, 43. The shooting occurred at the intersection of Naylor Road and Southern Avenue, SE, on March 17, 2023.

The analyst, who conducted Tiller’s autopsy for the DC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), said “the frontal lobe was pretty much destroyed,” describing what the bullet did to Tiller’s brain.

The expert testified that Tiller suffered one gunshot entrance wound on the left side of his forehead with no exit wound. The cause of death was ruled a complication to the gun shot wound and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.

Meanwhile, Stoney’s boss at a tow truck company, testified a tow slip that Stoney filled out on the day of the incident had missing information. However, he said that was not unusual given the stresses of the work.

Nikki Lotze, Stoney’s attorney, also questioned the behavior of a detective who allegedly tried to get Stoney’s boss in trouble with his probation officer if he didn’t cooperate.. The prosecution stated that the witness refused to meet with them at all before the trial and did not provide towing records to the detective, but did comply with the defense’s investigation.

A witness who specializes in firearm tool mark examination identification and analysis, examined bullet and cartridge evidence in this case. Due to similar characteristics on the cartridge casings collected, the witness said all of the bullets found at the scene were likely fired from the same gun. He was also able to conclude that the markings on one of the cartridges was consistent with the marks left by a Glock firearm.

A DNA expert testified that there was not enough DNA left on the cartridges to accurately produce a comparison between the DNA lifted from the cartridges and the buccal swab done of Stoney. The only conclusion the expert could make was that there was at least one male contributor of DNA on one group of the cartridges.

Parties are slated to reconvene on Feb. 6.