Murder Victim’s Girlfriend Says Suspect Comforted Her After Shooting

By Elizabeth Bernstein - October 11, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Uncategorized |

The long-time high school girlfriend of a murder victim, who also knew the defendant, broke down in tears as she recalled messages when the defendant comforted her after she learned of the victim’s death. The testimony came during a jury trial before DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo on Oct. 9.

Eugene Burns, 32, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, carrying a pistol without a license, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in the Nov. 14, 2015, fatal shooting of 24-year-old Onyekachi Emmanuel Osuchukwu III on the 2900 block of Second Street, SE.

The victim’s girlfriend and Burns exchanged emotional messages about Osuchukwu, according to the witness. 

She testified Burns sent her a message saying, “I still feel like this is my fault,” adding “I rushed him and stepped out and left the door unlocked for him.”

The witness responded, “What you mean somebody shot him in your house?” Burns replied, “Well that’s what he says when I come home the next day.”

Burns wrote, “It had to be for me and him,” adding, “O dies in my spot.”

Burns was convicted of the original charges in 2017, but the DC Court of Appeals overturned the verdict in 2020. The court ruled that investigators had searched beyond what was legally allowed.

Burns and Tyre Allen, 24, are also charged with conspiracy, obstructing justice by influencing or delaying a witness or officer, and obstruction of justice for their alleged attempts to persuade a witness to redact testimony from Burns’ first trial. 

Osuchukwu’s girlfriend who knew him and Burns since high school was called as a witness. She stated that she and Osuchukwu started dating when they were 14-years-old. During that time, the witness testified, she was introduced to Burns and also became friends with him. She stated that Osuchukwu and Burns referred to each other as “best friends.”

She explained that she and Osuchukwu broke up when he went to college but then reconnected. She stated that she was close to him until the day he passed and would talk to him almost everyday.

She testified that in 2015 Osuchukwu was living in California but would come to DC once-or-twice a month. When Osuchukwu was in DC, he would either stay with her, Burns, or cousins, the witness testified.

The witness told the jury she assumed Osuchukwu was selling drugs because he didn’t have a job but had previously sold drugs in high school.

On Nov. 14, 2015, she picked Osuchukwu up at the airport in the morning, and spent the day with him at her house in Maryland. That night, around 7:30 p.m., she and Osuchukwu left for DC. 

She testified she was dropping Osuchukwu off at Burns’s mother’s house, and she was heading to her cousin’s place in Virginia. Before they arrived, the witness testified, Osuchukwu was on the phone with Burns.

She told the jury that she dropped him off around 8:50 p.m. and never heard from him again that weekend, despite trying to contact him.

A few days later, she learned of Osuchukwu’s murder from his cousin and her friend.

The witness testified she contacted Burns over Instagram direct message because they were both close to Osuchukwu and she had dropped him off with Burns the last time she saw him.

The witness told the jury she and Burns agreed to rely on one another during that time.

She added she and Burns remained in occasional contact, but Burns failed to appear at Osuchukwu’s funeral. According to the witness, Burns left town and bought a new car.  

Trial will resume on Oct. 10.