Metro Murder Suspect Elects Not to Proceed With DNA Testing

By Carolyn Flammini - April 12, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On April 12, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan heard a homicide defendant waive his right to independently test DNA evidence. 

Isaiah Trotman, 32, is charged with first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, 25 counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, 13 counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and 13 counts of kidnapping while armed, for his alleged involvement in shooting incidents that occurred on Feb. 1 at the intersection of 38th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, and the 1400 block of Potomac Avenue, SE, inside the Potomac Avenue Metro Station.

The shootings killed 64-year-old Robert Cunningham, and left three other individuals suffering from non-life-threatening injuries. 

Trotman’s defense attorney, Joseph Yarbough, notified the court that the defendant was waiving his right to proceed with DNA testing of biological evidence recovered from the scene. 

The prosecution listed the biological evidence eligible for testing, which included wet and dry swabs of a firearm, fingernail clippings belonging to Cunningham, blood stained pants, and a buccal swab from an individual for the purpose of elimination or inclusion of the suspect’s DNA on the recovered items. 

Judge Raffinan found that Trotman knowingly and willingly waived his right to independent DNA testing. 

Parties are set to reconvene Sept. 13.