Multiple Witnesses Provide Background for Prosecution in Homicide Trial

By Natalie Note - November 6, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

On day two of a murder trial, the prosecution built its argument with surveillance footage of the incident and offering testimony from four witnesses before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein on Nov. 6. 

Rafeal Stevens, 39, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree premeditated murder while armed, five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict. These charges stem from his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 50-year-old Aniekobo Umoh that occurred on Dec. 29, 2022 on the 2000 block of 7th Street, NE. 

Jermall Johnson, 40, is also charged in connection to Umoh’s death. On Oct. 28, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan granted the defendants’ request to sever their cases, which allowed them to be tried separately. 

According to court documents, the shooting happened outside of the Franklin Market Liquor Store. When Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to the scene they found Umoh suffering from a single gunshot wound to the chest. Umoh succumbed to his injuries later that night. 

The prosecution called its witnesses, beginning with an MPD officer who was involved in executing a search warrant in this case on Jan. 3, 2023 . The officer located the Franklin Market Liquor Store on a map and oriented the jury as to the location of the crime. 

Prosecutors also called an MPD investigator, testified that he was involved in retrieving the surveillance footage from the cameras both in and outside the liquor store. Surveillance footage leading up to and after the incident were admitted into evidence. 

The footage showed the shooting and reactions from witnesses outside and inside the liquor store. 

The mother of Stevens’ only daughter testified that her house was searched as part of a warrant and Stevens was arrested from her home. She said Stevens and her had been in a “back and forth” relationship since 2018 but they were on a break in December 2022 when the crime occurred. 

According to the witness, Stevens texted her “I might go to jail,” the day after the murder. 

After the jury was dismissed, parties argued over whether parts of text message evidence should be redacted before it can be viewed by the jury. The prosecution argued that the texts were important in identifying Stevens as the suspect but the defense argued that they are not contesting Stevens identity and that some of the messages were prejudicial toward Stevens. 

Judge Epstein allowed half of the messages to be shown to the jury and the other half redacted citing that the second half of the messages were not relevant to the case. 

One of the jurors failed to show up for trial and was called three times before Judge Epstein decided to go ahead with the trial and call in an alternate. 

The trial is slated to continue Nov. 7.