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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- February 22, 2019
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Suspects
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On Feb. 21, a murder defendant requested to independently test evidence in his case in preparation for his trial.
Mario Alfaro is charged with first-degree murder while armed and two gun related charges for his alleged role in the shooting death of of 22-year-old Jonathan Vilchez on the 5400 block of Georgia Avenue, NW in 2017.
Defense attorney James King said his client wishes to test all of the evidence in his case, including DNA from multiple blood trails and two guns. The prosecution does not intend to test any case evidence.
Alfaro, 24, is scheduled to go to trial on Aug. 19.
According to court documents, officers found a blood trail leading to a dumpster, which contained a firearm. Apparently, Alfaro was found suffering from gunshot wounds near the dumpster.
Surveillance footage shows Alfaro in a convenience store mouthing something to Vilchez, documents state. Later, the video shows both men pull out firearms and Vilchez shooting Alfaro, who was shooting at Vilchez while running away.
D.C. Witness previously reported that a detective on the case testified that Alfaro appeared to be in the same gang as Vilchez.
Alfaro is scheduled for a status hearing on May 21.