Murder suspect allegedly threatened to kill David Norwood weeks before murder, documents say

By D.C. Witness Staff - April 21, 2017
Homicides | Suspects |

Malcolm Cunningham picked up a knife and threatened to kill 79-year-old David Norwood weeks before he alleged stabbed Norwood to death over the weekend, according to charging documents.

According to police, Sunday afternoon officers responded to 619 block of C St., NE and found Norwood lying on the dining room floor with apparent stab wounds to the torso and extremities.

However, officers previously received a tip that a “suspicious” person placed a knife in a recycling bin in the rear alley of the same block Norwood was killed. Police were able to locate the knife and according to the responding officer the tip of the knife was bent and blood was on the blade of the knife.

The witness who saw the act told police, the “suspicious person” was a black male with a fit build, dreads or plats tied into a bun on top of his head wearing a yellow or olive colored camouflage long sleeve shirt.

Another witness from the area told police they saw a man matching the description mentioned previously arguing with an older man with white hair, who was late identified as Norwood. The witness told police they heard the old man yell, “I saw you trying to break in the back door. I’m going to call the police.” To which the black male responded, “I want my clothes.”

A short while later Norwood was found stabbed to death.

According to witness testimony, Cunningham, 21, has pulled a knife on more than one blood relative in weeks prior to the incident. One relative told police, Cunningham pulled a knife on him during a fight. The relative also told police, Cunningham told him he had a dream that he killed Norwood.

In a more recent incident, Cunningham produced a knife during an argument with another family member and it was then that Cunningham’s great-grandmother told him he had to stop threatening people, to which Cunningham retorted he would kill everyone in the house. The witness gave him three weeks to move out of the house.

The family identified the suspect as Cunningham.

Police arrested and charged Cunningham with second-degree murder while armed.

Cunningham is being held without bond and is expected in court May 2 for a preliminary hearing.