Murder Defendant Denied Release For The Second Time 

By Bridget Smith [former] - August 5, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan denied a murder defendant’s request for release on Aug 2, after initially being denied by DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun in April.

Lavar Hunter, 19 and his co-defendant Jayvon Thomas, 20, are charged with first-degree murder while armed for their alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Anwar Wingate, 24. The shooting took place on the 2100 block of 8th Street, NW on Nov. 19, 2021.

According to court documents, surveillance footage showed Wingate in a “vulnerable” state, highly intoxicated and stumbling. Two individuals, later identified as Thomas and Hunter, allegedly planned to rob Wingate to steal his gun. 

Thomas and Wingate fought briefly and Hunter was the one to fatally shoot Wingate, according to court documents.

At the hearing, Hunter’s defense attorney, Lisbeth Saperstein, requested that Judge Raffinan reconsider Judge Okun’s decision to hold the defendant. Saperstein argued that Hunter is currently enrolled in a college program and has a supportive family, as well as no criminal record. 

Members of Hunter’s family appeared in court and provided Judge Raffinan with a letter asking for his release. 

“There would be no danger to the community,” said Saperstein, adding Hunter would agree to be placed on home detention with a GPS monitor. 

The prosecution argued that nothing had changed from the last court date. They insisted that Hunter’s family and college education pursuits were not new, and he remains a danger to the community. 

“Both of those things were true before the crime occurred,” the prosecution said.

Judge Raffinan found that the nature of the offense and the weight of the evidence “favors detention.” 

Parties are slated to meet again on Oct. 24.