Motion Hearing Continued for Murder Defendant in Quarantine

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A defendant accused of shooting his ex-girlfriend’s partner was unable to appear in court for a Aug. 17 motion hearing due to being in COVID-19 quarantine.

Christian Johnson, 31, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Lavonte McCloud on the 1600 block of Kenilworth Avenue, NE on Nov. 25, 2021. McCloud suffered multiple gunshot wounds and succumbed to his injuries later that day.

During Wednesday’s hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun told all parties that he was going to continue the hearing because Johnson, along with many other defendants, are quarantining at the DC jail.

Defense attorneys Dominique Winters and Ashley Whidby said that Johnson has been in quarantine for a long time and are optimistic he will be out soon.

According to court documents, a witness called Johnson to bring a child, whom they shared, to McCloud’s apartment. Johnson and the witness met at the front of the apartment building and got into a verbal altercation about washing their child’s coat. McCloud told the witness to stop arguing with Johnson and go back inside the building. However, once she entered the apartment, she heard gunshots fire.

The hearing is scheduled to continue on Sept. 15.

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