Murder Defendant Requests Trial

By D.C. Witness Staff - August 14, 2018
Court | Homicides | Suspects |

On Aug. 9, a murder defendant insisted that he was innocent and chose to proceed to trial. 

Mario Alfaro is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Jonathan Vilchez on the 5400 block of Georgia Avenue, NW in Nov. 8, 2017.

During a felony arraignment, Alfaro, 23, pled not guilty to first-degree murder while armed and unlawful possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. He rejected a plea deal for  second-degree murder while armed on Aug. 2.

According to court documents, surveillance footage shows Vilchez, 22, fire the first shot at Alfaro. However,  DC Superior Court Judge Zoe Bush initially denied the defendant’s self defense claim on Nov. 29, 2017.

As of Aug. 13, a trial date has not been set. But, a status hearing is scheduled on Aug. 30.