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Homicide, Carjacking Defendant Accepts Plea Deal 

A homicide defendant, who killed one and injured another, accepted a plea deal before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein.

Hahqwon Beale, 25, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed, two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a prior convict, and armed carjacking, for his involvement in a carjacking and shooting incident. 

The shooting, which killed 43-year-old George Johnson, and injured another individual occurred on May 7, 2018, on the 800 block of Oglethorpe Street, NE.

Hours later, a pizza delivery man was carjacked and robbed of more than 300 dollars at gunpoint on the 400 block of Farragut Street, NW. 

In October of 2022, DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee granted the defendant’s motion to sever the two incidents from one another, citing that, although the incidents occurred the same day, they were not directly after one another. 

On Feb. 15, a jury convicted Beale of armed carjacking, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm in connection to the carjacking incident. 

On April 23, Beale’s attorney, Julie Swaney, informed the court that the prosecution had extended a plea offer to resolve the murder incident, and Beale accepted it.  

The deal required him to plead guilty to second-degree murder while armed, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges in connection to the murder incident. Through the plea offer, parties agreed to a 21-to-25 years of imprisonment, and will request for the carjacking charges to run concurrently.

He is also waiving his right to appeal the carjacking incident conviction.  

According to the prosecution, they would have proved, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Beale was guilty by connecting him to the evidence collected at the scene. 

Parties are slated to return July 26 for sentencing. 

Help Us Continue to Equip You with Criminal Justice Facts in 2024

Our city’s homicide number says it all – 50 more murders this year than at the same time last year. 

But why? What is happening beyond the headlines? Other media focuses on click-bait content, “if it bleeds it leads,” but that does little to keep us informed.  And, good luck getting information from the city or the courts. 

This is where D.C. Witness steps in to fill the information gap, exposing the statistics behind violent crime in the nation’s capital and humanizing those statistics with the heartbreaking stories from the city’s murderous gun crime culture. 

It’s old-fashioned, but we do that with just the facts. Not opinion. 

This year we added the DC Victim Notification System, which sends direct updates on cases without the frustrating, and usually unsuccessful, search for information. It would seem something the city should do. But it doesn’t. So we did. 

We are committed to being your source for violent crime information in DC, so you can understand what’s going on in your community and hold Mayor Bowser, the new police chief and our courts accountable.  

Since we don’t pepper every post with requests for funding, nor take advertisements, we are asking for your generosity as the year winds down to help us continue keeping the information flowing into 2024. 

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Infographic: A Closer Look at DC Homicides and Violence Interruption Programs

The infographic shows homicides in DC over a two-year span beginning from June 11, 2019-June 11, 2021. There was about a 16% increase in homicides during that period.

The first graphic includes homicides by DC neighborhood, and how those homicides compare to violence interrupter locations.

The second graphic also indicates the sites of the violence interrupter programs that are run out of the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE) and the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), noting homicides in the city by year.

2021 Homicides Outpacing Previous Year, Data Shows

DC’s homicide count for 2020 was higher than it was in 2018, 2017 or 2016, according to D.C. Witness data. But so far, the homicide count for 2021 has outpaced the number of homicides reported at this same time last year.

Video by Andrea Keckley

Judge Won’t Release Shooting Defendant Despite Recanting Victim

DC Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel denied a bond review motion for a shooting defendant in a hearing on April 22.

Paris Wilkerson, 37, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction greater than one year for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting that occurred on the 2300 block of Marion Barry Avenue, SE on Dec. 1, 2025. No injuries were reported.

During the hearing, Wilkerson’s attorney, Adam Harris, stated he filed the motion requesting Wilkerson’s release to home confinement due to the victim’s recanting her statements against him.

According to Harris, the victim told him she regretted calling the police about Wilkerson and wanted to take her statements back. Harris said she told the same thing to the prosecutor and a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective investigating the case.

The prosecution opposed Wilkerson’s release due to a firearm found in Wilkerson’s apartment, allegedly under his mattress on a separate occasion.

Judge Israel said she was concerned about releasing Wilkerson to his apartment because of his criminal history with firearms, citing a conviction in 2016.

Wilkerson’s girlfriend offered her apartment to fulfill Wilkerson’s home confinement, but Judge Israel denied her offer because she is not the lease holder.

As a result, Judge Israel denied the bond motion, but stated she was willing to consider home confinement if Harris filed a new motion with new information.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on July 9.

Judge Revokes Probation For Shooting Defendant 

DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe revoked probation for a shooting defendant after he was arrested in a new case in a hearing on April 22.

Sean Sharps, 23, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business. These charges stem from his involvement in a shooting that took place on the 2500 block of Marion Barry Avenue, SE on Oct. 19, 2024. The victim sustained pistol whip injuries to the head and witnesses reported the sound of gunshots.  

Sharps accepted a deal on June 10, 2025 in which he pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon for his involvement in the incident. On Aug. 29, 2025, Sharps was sentenced to a three year suspended sentence in favor of one year’s probation.  

During the hearing, Sharps accepted a plea deal for an unrelated case in which he was charged with assault with significant bodily injury. Judge Pipe stated that Sharps was on probation for the shooting incident when he was charged with the new case. She said she will take that into consideration when  sentencing. She revoked Sharps’ probation for the shooting case and scheduled a sentencing date.

Parties are slated to reconvene on June 26.

Defense Seeks to Exclude GPS Expert in Homicide Case

DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan heard testimony from an expert witness, who the defense in a fatal shooting case seeks to exclude, during a motions hearing on April 21. 

D’Andre Montgomery, 20, is charged with conspiracy, felony murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, premeditated first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, attempt to commit robbery while armed, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol without a license outside of a home or business, and unauthorized use of a vehicle during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in a Dec. 16, 2023 shooting that fatally injured 28-year-old Kenneth Barksdale on the 1200 block of 44th Place, SE. 

Montgomery’s co-defendant, Eric Sheffield, 21, faces the same charges as Montgomery for his alleged involvement in the same incident and Kevin Hider, 20, is also charged with first-degree murder while armed.

Montgomery’s attorney, Sylvia Smith, filed a number of motions in advance of the trial, including a Daubert motion which seeks to exclude the testimony of a GPS technology expert on various technical grounds. DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson was originally assigned the case and continues to evaluate many of the motions.

Before Judge Ryan, prosecutors called the expert, vice president of Sentinel Offender Services, the company that manufactured the GPS monitor worn by Montgomery at the time of the incident. The vice president testified that the GPS technology is 98 percent accurate within the accuracy range. Accuracy is determined by comparing the “actual location” to the “location reported.”

On cross-examination, Smith questioned the vice president on the source of the 98 percent figure. The vice president testified that this is an estimate based on his experience and “various unpublished studies,” adding that the 98 percent figure is not published.

The witness also testified about a March 2026 report testing the accuracy of the GPS technology in the ankle monitors that his company manufactures. In order to conduct the test, he placed two ankle monitors in an open field during “optimal conditions.” He concluded that both monitors fell within the accuracy range provided by the chipset, or electronic components, in the monitor. Smith questioned the expert’s methodology and the technology’s lack of third-party review.

The vice president also testified that he is familiar with the process to determine accuracy but is not aware of “specific algorithms” that are used to determine the accuracy range. The chipset is manufactured by a different company that has not shared their “secret formula” with the public.

In addition to Smith’s Daubert motion, Judge Ryan also reviewed three other motions filed by the defense including one regarding the use of body worn camera and autopsy photos by the prosecution. Another motion pertained to whether statements in an evidence document will be admissible during trial. 

Parties are slated to reconvene April 22 for Judge Ryan to rule on the motions.

Judge Finds Homicide Defendant Back in Compliance With Release Conditions

DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park determined a homicide defendant was back in compliance with pre-trial release conditions on April 21.

Steven Washington, 26, is charged with conspiracy, first-degree felony murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol outside a home or business, and attempt to commit robbery while armed. These charges stem from Washington’s alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 30-year-old Nurudeen Thomas on the 4100 block of 14th Street, NW on July 21, 2020. Thomas sustained a gunshot wound to his thigh.

During the hearing, an officer from the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) confirmed that Washington was back in compliance with the terms of his release, stating Washington had reported for his check-in via telephone on April 20. 

The prosecution reviewed the PSA report and requested that the show cause order should remain to monitor compliance for 30 days. There was no objection from Washington’s attorney, Veronice Holt.

Judge Park accepted the terms and permitted Washington to attend future hearings remotely, as long as he remains in compliance with the terms of his release. 

Parties are slated to reconvene on May 27. 

Homicide Defendant ‘Suffering’ in Jail While Attorneys Discuss New Trial Date

DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park denied defense’s motion to withdraw as counsel, and cautioned a homicide defendant to not make a rash decision regarding his trial date on April 21. 

Deonte Spicer, 39, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction greater than a year for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Tyvez Monroe, 27, at the L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station on the 600 block of Maryland Avenue, SW on Dec. 26, 2023. Monroe sustained a gunshot to the head. 

During the hearing, Spicer’s attorney, Daniel Dorsey, filed a motion to withdraw from the case. Judge Park stated if Dorsey withdrew, it would be the sixth attorney that has pulled out of Spicer’s case. 

The prosecution said they were ready for the trial scheduled on July 6 and if Judge Park rescheduled it, they would not be able to commit to another date in 2026.

Dorsey, Spicer, and Judge Park spoke privately before Judge Park denied the defense’s motion without prejudice, meaning Dorsey can refile at a later date. Dorsey then indicated that his client wished to assert his rights under the Innocence Protection Act (IPA), allowing defendants to independently test DNA evidence before trial. 

The prosecution stated that they needed to go through correspondence regarding the IPA hearing with the previous defense council, but had no objection. Judge Park granted the defense’s request and stated he would look into appointing a second chair defense attorney to the case. 

Judge Park suggested vacating the original trial date in July, offering to reschedule for March 29, 2027. Spicer objected, claiming he no longer needs the independent DNA test, and would rather have his trial in July. 

“I’m the one in jail suffering and y’all are picking dates like I’m not in jail,” Spicer said.

Judge Park reminded Spicer that the July trial was no longer an option and a co-counsel would not be prepared for the March trial date. Spicer then inquired about one of his previous defense attorneys, Marnitta King, stating that she was involved in the case from the start. 

Judge Park replied that King was temporarily suspended from the practice of law, and would not be able to contribute to his defense. Judge Park cautioned Spicer  about making an impulsive decision, urging him to discuss the matter with Dorsey. 

Parties are slated to reconvene on April 24.

Judge Says Fatal Stabbing Defendant Has ‘Peculiar’ Mental Health Situation

DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan said he plans to release a murder defendant to a halfway house given concerns about her mental status on April 23.

Anna Hyman, 23, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for her alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of 63-year-old Robert Dent who sustained 55 sharp force injuries. The incident occurred on July 26, 2025 in an apartment complex at the unit block of Galveston Street, SW while Hyman’s two children were in the apartment.

According to court documents, Hyman claimed the victim was trying to rape her and she suffered lacerations to her hands and arms.

A report from the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) filed on Sept. 9, 2025 shows Hyman has a history of paranoia and potential delusional thinking. However, the report said social work documentation from Sept. 6, 2025 described Hyman as “stable and absent of any symptoms of psychosis, mood disturbance, or behavioral management concerns.”

The report found Hyman mentally competent to stand to trial, meaning she understands the charges against her and can assist her attorney in her defense.

Judge Ryan noted his “concerns about Hyman” regarding her “peculiar” health situation. He thinks the best course of action is sending her to a new, all women’s halfway house that will require the “significant restrictions on liberty” he plans to place on Hyman.

The prosecution asked to be heard, and Judge Ryan said they would discuss the matter further at the arraignment.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene for arraignment on April 28.

Judge Sets Trial Date For Homicide of Special Police Officer 

DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park set a trial date for a homicide defendant, a separate trial from his brother and co-defendant, on April 23.   

Jayden Bracey, 24, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, two counts of assault with attempt to kill while armed, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for his alleged involvement in the death of Special Police Officer, 42-year-old Angela Washington. The incident occurred on the 3300 block of 10th Place, SE on Sept. 21, 2021. Washington died from one gunshot wound to her head. 

His brother Jadohn Bracey, 26, is also charged in the case. Judge Park granted severance for the brothers to have separate trials on Feb. 17.

Prosecutors said surveillance footage captured a man matching Jadohn’s description in a black mask and distinctive attire allegedly shooting Washington. His associate, whom prosecutors argue is Jayden, was also wearing a mask but wore no recognizable clothing. 

Judge Park scheduled Jayden’s trial to begin on Sept. 27, 2027. Jadohn’s trial is scheduled to begin on April 12, 2027. 

Parties for Jayden are scheduled to reconvene on Oct. 1.

Defense Claims There are Evidence Gaps in a Homicide Trial

A defense attorney claimed the prosecution conducted a flawed investigation, leaving gaps in the evidence in a homicide trial before DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson on April 22.

Jamil Whitley, 38, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction. These counts stem from his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Kevin Redd on June 11, 2020 on the 4700 block of Jay Street, NE.

Before the jury returned for the proceeding, Whitley’s attorney, Madalyn Harvey claimed there were gaps in the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) investigation of the shooting. Harvey noted there were no arrest warrants issued despite requests from Redd’s mother about three other suspects.

When the jury entered, the prosecution cross-examined the lead MPD detective for the case who was in close contact with Redd’s mother throughout the investigation and communicated with her frequently via text message.

In redirect, Harvey asked the detective about “Be On the Look Out” (BOLO) reports the detective filled out with information about a wanted suspect in a case. The detective was unclear regarding how many BOLO’s she filled out. She claimed to remember creating one for a suspect car present at the crime scene, and believed she created another but was unsure for what or whom.

Harvey asked the prosecution for the other BOLO to refresh the detective’s memory, which they didn’t have. The prosecutors claimed it was not their job to have the other BOLO on hand and that it was included in the evidence they turned over to the defense prior to trial.

Harvey insisted that it was not in the evidence and the prosecution has a duty to correct the record if a “witness testified to something inaccurate” or admit if they failed to turn the BOLO over to the defense.

Judge Dayson agreed to have the detective review her notes during the lunch break to refresh her memory.

Following the break, the detective claimed she made a BOLO for Whitley, but that another BOLO had already been distributed online. According to the detective, MPD will only post a second BOLO for the same individual if the first posting doesn’t garner many leads, which was not the case for Whitley’s BOLO.

The detective stated that she doesn’t believe the second BOLO was ever posted, but isn’t sure, as BOLO postings are handled by someone else in MPD.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on April 23.

‘I Just Wish it Didn’t Happen,’ Says Middle-Aged Assault Defendant at Sentencing

DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld sentenced a stabbing defendant in his late fifties to probation only in an assault case on April 17.

Rayton Carry, 58, was originally charged with aggravated knowingly assault while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon while armed for his involvement in an incident that occurred on Oct. 12, 2022 on the 900 block of Alabama Avenue, SE.

At the hearing, Carry pleaded guilty to simple assault in exchange for dismissal of the other charges. The prosecution also agreed to limit their sentencing request to a fully suspended sentence except for time already served. Judge Hertzfeld accepted the agreement and proceeded directly to disposition.

According to court records, the victim initially reported a stab wound in the butt, but prosecutors never determined a weapon for the offense and the related charge was dismissed in the deal.

According to prosecutors, the victim went to Carry’s home, where an argument began regarding his being there. The dispute turned physical, causing the victim to fall to the ground and into the street, where Carry continued to assault him. Prosecutors argued Carry used excessive force and had no legal justification for his actions. 

Carry’s attorney, Brandon Burrell, said this incident was a case of “imperfect self-defense.” Burrell claimed the victim was a trespasser on Carry’s property and was told earlier in the day to not come back to Carry’s house. 

Burrell highlighted Carry’s compliance with his pre-trial release, his stable job, and his limited criminal history. He agreed with the sentence proposed by the prosecution but asked for the probation to be unsupervised because he is confident Carry won’t re-offend. 

When asked by Judge Hertzfeld whether he had anything to say, Carry replied, “I just wish it didn’t happen.”

Judge Hertzfeld said other than previous minor traffic violations, this incident is an “aberration” for Carry. She noted that someone of Carry’s age rarely makes their first contact with the criminal justice system this late in their life.

Judge Hertzfeld sentenced Carry to a suspended sentence of 180 days and six months of unsupervised probation. She noted that he is on unsupervised probation because he was unsupervised on pre-trial release and had no issues. 

No further dates were set.

‘Have Mercy On Me,’ Pleads Defendant in Postal Worker Stabbing

DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld sentenced a stabbing defendant to 39 months in prison on April 17.

Michael Bennett, 42, pleaded guilty on Feb. 13 to assault with a dangerous weapon for his involvement in a non-fatal stabbing on Nov. 12, 2025 on the unit block of Webster Street, NE. The victim, a United States Postal Service (USPS) worker, sustained a back wound. 

During the hearing, the prosecutor said the “violent attack” occurred when postal worker was doing his job and the victim had “taken a while to get back on his feet.” The prosecutor asked Judge Hertzfeld to impose a sentence of 39 months followed by three years of supervised release. 

Additionally, the prosecutor highlighted that Bennett committed the offense  while on release for a separate case. They cited Bennett’s pattern of criminal history including prior assaults, firearm offenses, and various probation and contempt violations as well as his history of substance abuse. They asked for a “strict sentence.” 

Angela Ramsey, Bennett’s attorney, asked Judge Hertzfeld to sentence Bennett between 16-to-18 months of imprisonment. She explained that the USPS worker was a relative of Bennett’s fiancee’s ex-husband. Ramsey described the incident as a domestic situation that “got out of control.” 

According to Ramsey, Bennett expressed deep remorse for his actions and “really overreacted.” She told Judge Hertzfeld that Bennett suffers from mental health issues, which contributed to his extreme reaction.

“I am so sorry for what I’ve done,” Bennett said, expressing remorse.

He asked Judge Hertzfeld for leniency and said he was under significant stress at the time of the incident and was not in a clear state of mind. 

“I ask the court to have mercy on me,” Bennett pleaded. He told Judge Herzfeld he wanted to remain with his children and fiancée, promising not to repeat the behavior. 

Judge Hertzfeld said Bennett’s criminal history was a primary concern when  determining the sentence. She noted that the victim was “just doing his job” and was walking away when Bennett stabbed him in the back. 

As a result, Judge Herzfeld, sentenced Bennett to 39 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. She also imposed a no-contact order with the victim. Judge Hertzfeld recommended that Bennett be placed in a Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facility that offers mental health treatment. 

“Good luck to you,” Judge Hertzfeld said. 

No further dates were set.

Judge Denies Release for Domestic Stabbing Defendant After Probation Violations

DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe denied a stabbing defendant’s request for release after repeated probation violations in a ruling on April 20.

Manuel Yeager, 41, was sentenced on Jan. 9 to three years imprisonment, all suspended, in favor of one year of probation for assault with a dangerous weapon. The charge stemmed from his involvement in a stabbing that occurred on the 2300 block of Q Street, SE on June 3, 2025. The victim, Yeager’s brother, sustained a stab wound to his right shin. 

According to court records, Yeager is currently charged with threatening to kidnap or injure a person in an unrelated matter, which led to his probation violation and revocation in this case on March 26.

During the hearing, Yeager’s attorney, Daniel Kovler, requested Judge Pipe consider releasing Yeagar with GPS monitoring. He cited his limited criminal history and noted that he is currently being held on a separate case involving alleged threats.

Judge Pipe denied the request, stating that after a prior release, Yeager violated a stay-away order by returning to the address where the stabbing occurred. She also noted that Yeager has since incurred an another charge–this one involving threats at a retail store.

According to a representative from Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA),  Yeager failed to report to probation after receiving a fully suspended sentence. 

As a result, Judge Pipe emphasized that based on these factors, there were no conditions she could impose that would ensure the safety of the community.

Parties are slated to reconvene on May 12.

Defense Requests Missing Security Footage in 16-Year-Old Murder

A defense attorney requested prosecutors disclose missing security footage and information about a witness before DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman on April 22.

Randolph Thomas, 43, is charged with first-degree felony murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, armed robbery, first-degree burglary while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, and five counts of possession of a firearm with a crime of violence. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Emmanuel Durant Jr. on Dec. 31, 2009, on the 200 block of Webster Street, NE. Thomas was arrested in 2023 and charged for the incident.

Pierce Suen, one of Thomas’ attorneys, asked prosecutors to provide security footage from a 7-Eleven store around the time of the incident. 

The prosecutor said the footage showed a person showing interest when an individual took out a “wad” of cash to pay, though the person with the cash said he was certain the aforementioned individual wasn’t the killer. The parties did not specify how the 7-Eleven footage relates to the homicide but according to a defense filing on Feb. 24, the footage is from Dec. 30, 2009–the day before the murder.

The prosecutor said the footage is missing and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), United States Attorney’s Office (USAO), and the US Secret Service all unsuccessfully searched for the video.

Suen also asked prosecutors to disclose whether they offered benefits to a witness and his family in exchange for testifying because it could point to bias. He said the witness failed a polygraph test when asked if he was testifying in the case about threats or harming other witnesses. 

The prosecutor said the witness repeatedly requested protection from threats over multiple years, and prosecutors didn’t request the witness be relocated until recently. They said threats toward the witness escalated when he came forward with information in Thomas’ case and said the witness previously requested to be put “in the hole” due to threats.

Suen said he assumed National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) tests did not indicate a connection between the December 2009 homicide and previous incidents because when cartridge casings are entered into NIBIN, they are analyzed and compared to prior entries, and there was no “hit” for the NIBIN testing in this case.

Judge Edelman said NIBIN testing would likely not prove Thomas’ innocence because it is considered less accurate than a human analyzing cartridge casings, and he has never seen a prosecutor’s case rely on NIBIN testing.

The prosecutor said the NIBIN algorithm may have changed since the testing was performed and said they would attempt to obtain and disclose to the defense records comparing the NIBIN entries in this and prior cases.

Suen requested an evidentiary hearing where he would call the lead detective on the case to testify, which he said would be helpful to clarify the timeline of the prosecutors’ investigation.

Parties are slated to reconvene on May 1.

Judge Denies Defendant’s Release in a Shooting During a Fight Among Groups

DC Superior Court Judge Lloyd Nolan denied release in a shooting case on April 21 because of the defendant’s prior criminal history and violent nature of the offense. 

James Payne, 44, is charged with aggravated assault knowingly grave risk, assault with a dangerous weapon, and two counts of possession firearm during crime of violence for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting on the corner of 2nd Street and Chillum Place, NE on Nov. 23, 2025. The incident left a victim with two gunshot wounds to the abdomen. 

According to court documents, the incident began as a planned fight between two groups, but a third group joined later. The victim reportedly deployed pepper spray in the crowd before Payne allegedly fired a handgun at the victim. 

At the hearing Payne’s attorney, Lauren Morehouse, informed Judge Nolan her client waived his right to a preliminary hearing thus acknowledging a finding of probable cause. After reviewing the waiver with Payne, Judge Nolan accepted it.

Morehouse asked Judge Nolan to release Payne under supervision from the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA). She stated he has strong support from family, cares for his stepchildren and grandchildren, and is employed. “[Payne’s] entire community is here and [he] has no reason to flee,” said Morehouse. 

Morehouse cited Payne’s probation records from a separate case in Maryland saying it “shows exemplary compliance,” with no violations. Morehouse said that Payne’s record shows “he can be supervised successfully.” 

The prosecutor noted that Payne’s  Maryland case was a homicide where he pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. 

The prosecutor argued Payne should remain held because of the violent nature of the offense. According to the prosecutor, the fight was planned prior to the shooting and Payne chose to bring a firearm. In addition, the victim’s injuries were so severe, they required emergency surgery and blood transfusions, said the prosecutor. 

As a result, Judge Nolan ruled to keep Payne detained. 

The parties are scheduled to reconvene on May 12. 

‘I Want You to Work Hard on This Probation,’ Judge Says to Teen Carjacking Defendant

DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro encouraged a teen carjacking defendant to maintain his release and probation conditions on April 22.

Denhym Boykins, 17, was sentenced on Jan. 16 to two years in prison, all suspended, in favor or 18 months of probation for robbery, carrying a pistol outside of a home or business, and unauthorized use of a vehicle for his involvement in a carjacking that occurred on the 1000 block of Mississippi Avenue, SE on Aug. 7, 2025. 

Boykins was charged under Title 16, which allows juveniles to be tried as adults for certain serious offenses. 

However, he was sentenced under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA), a policy that gives judges leniency when sentencing a defendant younger than 25 at the time of the incident. The YRA also grants the defendant the possibility to have their convictions sealed upon successful completion of requirements. 

In the hearing, Boykins’ attorney Carrie Weletz confirmed that Boykins was attending regular check-ins with his probation officer and has not run into any issues meeting release requirements. 

Boykins’ probation officer was not present at the hearing, but the courtroom clerk said that she was informed that Boykins was doing well.

Judge Di Toro told Boykins, “I want you to work hard on this probation.” She encouraged him to continue on the right path so that his conviction can be sealed. 

No further dates were set.

Judge Denies Acquittal Motion in Homicide Case

DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson denied defense motion to acquit a homicide defendant of first-degree premeditated murder while armed on April 17. 

Jamil Whitley, 38, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Kevin Redd on the 4700 block of Jay Street, NE on June 11, 2020. Redd sustained gunshot wounds to his left shoulder, left forearm, and chest. 

In a hearing on April 14, James Brockway, Whitley’s attorney, motioned for a judgement of acquittal arguing that there was insufficient evidence. Judge Dayson denied the motion to acquit on all charges except for consideration of premeditated first-degree murder while armed. 

At the hearing, several pieces of evidence were mentioned by Judge Dayson, including the Shell gas station surveillance video, in which prosecutors claimed that Whitley was holding a gun. However, Judge Dayson noted that the footage was unclear to definitively identify the object, and therefore said the claim has little value. 

Judge Dayson also reviewed video footage that showed Whitley leaving the Shell not wearing a mask, then returning masked while picking up Redd. 

Ultimately, the judge said the timing of Whitley’s movements aligned with Redd’s death. Thw act of concealing identity and transporting Redd to a more secluded location could reasonably support an inference of premeditation, according to Judge Dayson. 

Considering the evidence, Judge Dayson denied Brockway’s motion for acquittal of premeditated first-degree murder while armed, finding that the prosecutors had presented enough evidence for a reasonable juror to find Whitley guilty. 

Parties are slated to reconvene on April 21 to resume the trial.