Month in Review: June

By D.C. Witness Staff - July 26, 2017
Court | Featured | Homicides |

The month of June tallied eight homicides and four cases were put to rest as suspects were either found guilty or pleaded guilty.

June of 2016 saw a total of nine homicides, one more than June of 2017. From the beginning of 2017 to the end of June this year there have been fifty-seven homicides compared to sixty-two that took place from the beginning of 2016 to the end of June 2016.

Here is our monthly wrap-up of cases covered in June.

Homicides

Of the eight murders, five were shootings, two were stabbings and one resulted from unknown causes. Of the homicides that occurred during the month, two arrests were made.

Half of the murders occurred in the Northeast quadrant of the city while the other half occurred in the Southeast quadrant of the city.

The first homicide victim was Dominic Brooks, 29, who was found suffering from stab wounds by police, on June 9 on the 800 block of Chesapeake St., SE.

William Edward Smith, 32, was charged with second-degree murder on June 15. At the arraignment, the government noted that Smith had fled from and assaulted the police along with this charge being his third murder charge.

A few days after the fatal stabbing of Brooks, police discovered Jason Dale, 23, suffering from gunshot wounds, around 9:30 pm June 12, on the 500 block of Parkland Place, SE. He was then taken to a hospital where he died from his injuries. Police are currently investigating this shooting.

Later in the month, Malik Hill, 25, was fatally shot around 10:30 p.m. on June 16, on the 2700 block of Langston Place, SE. He was then transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. This homicide is currently under investigation.

Another homicide occurred on June 19 shortly after 10:00 am on the 300 block of 54th St. NE. Reginald Parks, 51, was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and was declared dead. Police have not yet released any suspect information.

Police have made an arrest for the fatal stabbing of Leonte Cox, 23, who was discovered on June 17 in the 1600 block of R St., SE. and died from his injuries on June 26.

Police are currently investigating the death of Michael Vest, 29, who was found by police on June 28, in the 1300 block of Trinidad Ave., NE. suffering from head trauma. He was pronounced dead on the scene and then transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Kimberly Shaw was charged with second-degree murder while armed, in court on June 28. Her attorney argued that she was trying to defend herself from the victim who had a history of abusing her and requested that she should be released. The judge denied the request and she is being held without bail.

Near the end of the month, on June 29. Jeffery Lawrence King was found by police with multiple gunshot wounds in the 800 block of 46th Street, NE, at approximately 12:00 am.  The police are still investigating the homicide.

Court

Three suspects pleaded guilty this month. Trishelle Jabore, 26, and Jay Crowder, 33, killed their seven-week old daughter Trinity Jabore when they failed to provide adequate food and nutrition for her, sold food stamps for cash and never took her to the hospital. They both pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, first-degree child cruelty, and welfare fraud. Crowder also pled guilty to a charge of attempted distribution of a controlled substance. They are set to be sentenced on Sept 8.

Paul Hagans also pleaded guilty to the murder of Desmond Joseph. Police reported that Hagans fatally punched Joseph during an altercation about parking. Joseph was then transferred to a hospital where he died from blunt force trauma to the head. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 8.

There were two trials that took place in the month of June which is a rare instance. In the two-and-a-half years of D.C. witness, there have only been three trials. The trials of Delonte Wynn and Jonathan Taylor both resulted in guilty verdicts.

Delonte Wynn was found guilty of the murder of Darlene Bryant. Wynn shot and killed Bryant in the 4300 block of Wheeler Road, SE, on May 13, 2015. Many witnesses testified, DNA evidence was shown, along with text messages and phone calls which led the jury to their guilty verdict.  Wynn is set to be sentenced on Sept 11.

Jonathan Taylor was found guilty of the murder of Dexter Motley. Taylor killed Motley near the Benning Road and East Capital Street area on Aug 13, 2014. The trial of Taylor saw many witness testimonies, expert testimonies, the defendant testifying, and firearm evidence which was also used to help determine the verdict. He is set to be sentenced on Aug 25.