Murder Defendant Still on Release

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On Jan. 27, an individual charged with first-degree murder is still on release after being unaware of a plea agreement that was offered to him on Dec. 14.

Raymond Jones, 29, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of Antoine Jenkins 22, and Antwan Brown, 62. Both Brown and Jenkins were found unconscious and unresponsive with gunshot wounds on the 700 block of 13th Street, NE on March 14, 2022.

During Friday’s court hearing, the prosecutor mentioned to DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun that he extended a plea agreement offer to Jones on Dec. 14, but that he was unaware if the defendant took it as a rejection to the plea deal.

Defense attorneys, Pierce Suen and Jonathan Armstrong, explained that due to a timing issue, they did not have the time to offer Jones information about the plea offer. They also said they would talk to the defendant by next week about the plea agreement to respond if Jones would like to accept or reject the offer.

The prosecutor explained that he was fine with the plea agreement being responded to on a later date, however, he motioned for the judge to delay the indictment deadline from Dec. 14 to the next scheduled hearing date.

Judge Okun, prosecutor, and defense attorney agreed to the terms.

The indictment deadline is scheduled in March due to the defendant’s release terms. Jones was released to the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) on May 24 with an ankle monitor.

The next status hearing is scheduled for March 17, in which an indictment date will be decided.

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