Missing Witness Arrested in Teen Homicide Trial

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DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman issued a warrant for a witness who failed to appear in court to finish his testimony in a homicide trial on March 3.

Daquan Gray, 23, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business for his alleged involvement in the murder of 15-year-old Jaylyn Wheeler, on the 600 block of Alabama Avenue, SE, on May 16, 2018.

Prosecutors informed the court of a voicemail they received from the witness that morning informing them, “I’m not going to be able to make it today, stuff came up in my life.” The witness previously requested a lawyer and refused to identify students at Ballou High School on security camera stills during his testimony on Feb. 27.

The court was later informed the missing witness was arrested under a warrant. The prosecutors requested a hold, which Judge Edelman granted, The witness will remain detained until he concludes his testimony.

Meanwhile, a ballistics expert testified a tested firearm could not be excluded as the source of the bullets and casings recovered from the scene.

An analyst from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) reported that Wheeler’s death was a homicide caused by multiple gunshot wounds to his back, side, abdomen, and neck.

In other testimony, a retired police officer said the tape cordoning off the scene did not initially cover the entire area.

During cross examination, Hanna Perry, Gray’s defense attorney, presented video footage from the witness’ body-worn camera. It showed him shouting, “Move the tape back, 50 feet back” to other officers on the scene, and that he found a cellphone on the ground. The video further revealed someone’s car briefly entering the alleyway where the shooting took place, before being told to back out.

A person who lived near the incident said police officers knocked on his door to see his surveillance footage. The video provided showed two men running through the witness’ backyard, then stashing an object underneath a tarp. The witness testified that it was a gun, which police recovered.

Additional video captured the two men walking out of the witness’ front yard and putting their hands up as a police car drove by.

Parties are slated to reconvene March 4.