Crucial Witness Testimony Debated in Homicide Case

Parties in a homicide case discussed the admissibility of crucial witness testimony in a motions hearing on Feb. 23 before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz.

Jaime Macedo, 24, is charged with first-degree felony murder while armed, robbery while armed, two 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 fatal shooting of then 25-year-old Maxwell Emerson. The incident occurred on the 600 block of Alumni Lane, NE, on July 5, 2023.

In February, the defense filed several motions –the first regarding witness testimony concerning the victim’s father.

The prosecution said they plan to call both the victim’s parents as witnesses in the upcoming trial. Emerson’s father, however, requested to attend parts of the trial and the pre-trial hearings, during which he could hear information that could influence his or his wife’s testimony.

The prosecutors argued that it was necessary to call Emerson’s father as a witness due to “the facts of the case.” The defense stated they felt that prosecutors were in a “precarious situation.”

The parties agreed that Emerson’s father would be allowed to attend pre-trial hearings and parts of the trial as long as his testimony would not contain information about the incident itself. Additionally, he can not share information regarding the hearings with his wife, the victim’s mother.

Parties discussed another defense motion regarding Macedo’s prior conviction, which involved the testimony of a Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) officer whom prosecutors plan to call at trial. The officer said Macedo’s probation was under his supervision at the time.

According to the CSOSA officer, he first met Macedo the morning of the murder and briefly entered the defendant’s home during a scheduled check-in meeting. As the witness is likely to testify during the trial, defense attorneys Rachel Cicurel and Jessica Willis were concerned that telling the jury the witness’s occupation would reveal prejudicial information about the defendant’s criminal history.

While parties couldn’t agree on a way to describe the witness accurately and in a non-prejudicial manner in front of the jury, they agreed to continue the discussion at a later time, closer to trial.

Prosecutors also called a detective at the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) regarding their opposition to a defense motion to exclude other witness testimony.

The defense argued the witnesses should not be allowed to testify at trial because they did not witness the actual events of the incident, but identified Macedo.

According to the detective during testimony, days after the incident, a “seeking to identify” flyer was distributed throughout the MPD, and the department was taking tips from civilians regarding the murder.

The prosecutors questioned the detective about two witnesses who provided tips regarding Macedo’s identity over the phone, claiming to have connections to Macedo through family or friends.

One witness, who called in, told the detective their sister attended school with Macedo’s girlfriend, and would see him hanging around the school often. The second witness, who texted, told the detective they had known Macedo and his family for two years, providing what they knew to be Macedo’s Instagram handle and a nickname.

Due to time constraints, parties are scheduled to resume questioning her on Feb. 24.

Document: MPD Investigating Southeast Homicide

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced they are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on Feb. 21 on the 4400 block of 3rd Street, SE. The victim, identified as 40-year-old Travis Fears of Southeast, DC, was found with gunshot wounds and pronounced dead at the scene.

Judge Frustrated Over Evidence Delays in 16-Year-Old Shooting Case

DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman didn’t rule on probable cause in a shooting after criticizing the prosecution for introducing long-delayed evidence in a hearing on Feb. 20.

Terry Greene, 35, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting that occurred on June 7, 2010, on the 5800 block of Fields Place, NE. One person suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the body.

The lead detective testified that two witnesses were referenced in court documents, but that the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) later identified two additional witnesses who were not listed in the material turned over to the prosecutor.

According to the court documents, the first witness observed Greene walking with two other males and noticed what appeared to be the imprint of a firearm under Greene’s shirt. According to the record, the witness stated that after the group walked out of view, several gunshots were heard coming from that direction. Shortly after, they reported seeing Greene run from the alleyway holding a gun.

The second witness similarly stated that they saw Greene walking with two other males. After the trio moved out of sight, the witness heard gunshots and then observed Greene running from the alleyway with a gun in his hand, according to court records.

According to the detective, the third witness was present with both Greene and the victim at the time of the shooting. The witness reported walking slightly ahead of Greene and the victim in the alleyway when gunshots were heard. The detective stated that the witness immediately turned around and observed Greene with his arm extended, holding a firearm, while the victim fell to the ground.

The detective further testified that a fourth witness had a separate conversation with Greene. During that conversation, the witness said Greene admitted to taking a gun and shooting the victim.

During cross-examination, Greene’s attorney, Todd Baldwin, asked the detective if filing the court documents to include the two missing witnesses took a lot of time. The detective responded yes and Baldwin pointed out that the detective had 15 years to file new documents.

Baldwin also pointed out that the detective did not witness the shooting and his entire knowledge of the case comes from the witnesses, two of them unconfirmed.

Baldwin further questioned the detective about the intent of the shooting. The first two witnesses never saw the shooting, so they could not speak about intent, Baldwin argued. He stated that since the third witness was not facing Greene and the victim, the witness can’t say what they were doing right before the shots were fired. The fourth witness wasn’t even there, Baldwin asserted, so they could not speak about the intent behind the shooting either.

Then, Baldwin addressed the gun used in the shooting. The first witness never saw the gun being fired but identified the defendant as the shooter because he thought he saw a gun in Greene’s shirt. According to Baldwin, the detective never questioned the witness on how he knew it was a gun, what kind of shirt Greene was wearing, how tight it was, or whether he was wearing a jacket that could’ve obstructed the witness’ view.

Additionally, Baldwin questioned the detective about other evidence that was available to connect Greene to the crime scene. The detective confirmed there was no DNA, no fingerprints, no gunshot residue, or no video surveillance linking Greene to the shooting. The detective told Baldwin he did not know where the four witnesses were now.

Judge Edelman asked the parties “how in the world am I supposed to rule on probable cause now?” The defense had not received the supplemental arrest warrant that mentioned the two additional witnesses, in addition, the incident took place 16 years ago, said the judge. The judge acknowledged how difficult it was for Baldwin to cross-examine the detective without seeing all of the evidence.

The prosecutor asked Judge Edelman to hold Greene without bond, but the judge stated that he didn’t see how he could rule on that until he knew this case was going to move forward. He told the prosecutor he was going to give him another week to “hold this together.”

If more evidence didn’t come to light, Judge Edelman said he would have to rule without it.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on Feb. 27.

Judge Grants Mistrial in Fatal Shooting Case

DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman granted the defense’s request for mistrial in a homicide case on Feb. 13, due to lead counsel’s unavailability mid-trial because of a personal emergency.

Jakiem Miller, 27, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon while armed, five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with prior crime of violence, and obstructing justice for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Avon Perkins, 30, on the 2400 block of 18th Street, NW, on Dec. 17, 2022.

On Feb. 9, during the fourth day of the trial, Judge Edelman informed parties and jurors that the trial would be delayed due to a personal emergency for lead defense attorney Steven Kiersh.

On Feb. 12, defense attorney Megan Allburn filed a motion for mistrial. Allburn argued that moving forward with the trial would deprive Miller of his lead counsel with whom he has built a lengthy relationship. Allburn clarified to Judge Edelman that she has only known the defendant since November of 2025.

That same day, the prosecution filed an opposition to the motion. They argued that a mistrial would impose further burdens on the prosecution, witnesses, victims, and Perkins’ family. The prosecution emphasized that 21 witnesses have already taken the time to testify, and some of them had to travel to do so.

They further argued that Miller has competent counsel in Allburn, who is an established homicide trial attorney, and could conclude the trial.

Prior to making his decision, Judge Edelman noted an aspect of this case that makes it unique from other mistrial cases is that Miller had previously raised concerns about his counsel not aligning with his goals.

During an inquiry to discuss the issue in 2025, Judge Edelman told the defendant that there are not many attorneys with the same level of experience and expertise as Kiersh. Miller decided to withdraw his motion to change counsel, and told Judge Edelman it was because of what was said during the inquiry.

Due to the nature of Miller’s relationship with his lead counsel, Judge Edelman determined that it would not be fair to continue the trial with a replacement counsel.

Judge Edelman told the court that Miller is not an object attorneys can just pass around, rather he is a person with significant interest in the case and has to continue to play a role in his own defense.

He granted the motion for mistrial.

Parties are slated to reconvene May 6.

Judge Scolds Teen Carjacking Defendant Following Release Noncompliance

DC Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean admonished an armed carjacking defendant to improve his compliance with release conditions on Feb. 13.

Richard Bates, 19, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, armed carjacking, robbery while armed, and three counts of possession of firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in a carjacking on Sept. 13, 2023 on the 1600 block of Frankford Street, SE.

Judge McLean said she saw few curfew violations and asked the defense to provide an explanation.

Bates’ defense attorney, Madhuri Swarna, said his family is currently unhoused resulting in missed curfews because he was staying at a family friend’s house to keep warm.

Judge McLean also noted that Bates went to a tobacco store around midnight on Feb. 3. Swarna said the store sells food alongside cigarettes and drugs. The reason was was Bates was hungry and went to the closest food store near him.

A representative from the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) said that Bates has not reported for mental health screening from Dec. 8 to Feb. 2, making him a lost contact. Bates was recently placed with a caseworker to begin a drug program.

Christen Philips, Bates’ other attorney, said he was still meeting with a social worker and therapist that provided substance abuse counseling.

Judge McLean raised concerns about Bates’ attendance at Youth Build, an educational program to re-engage his learning, since he only participated a few times. Philips said that Bates’ family lives very far from Youth Build and must take two connecting buses to get there.

Judge McLean said the only reason why she won’t detain Bates is because he has not reoffended. According to Judge McLean, it doesn’t seem like Bates is putting in effort, and she demanded better results, especially with his trial approaching.

Parties are slated to reconvene on April 10.

Judge Denies Shooting Defendant’s Release For Victim’s Changing Statements

DC Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean denied a shooting defendant’s motion for release on Feb. 13.

Anthony McKoy, 33, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a domestic violence related shooting on the 5000 block of E Street, NW on Jan. 1. No injuries were reported.

According to court documents, McKoy and the victim were reportedly involved romantically on-and-off for nine years prior to the incident.

At the hearing, McKoy’s attorney, Antoini Jones, asked Judge McLean to reconsider releasing his client. Jones said the victim changed her story about what she witnessed during the incident hours after she first spoke with Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers.

The prosecutor opposed McKoy’s release and raised concerns about jail messages and call logs that show frequent communication between McKoy and the victim. They claimed this called the honesty of the victim’s recantation into question.

Judge McLean agreed with the prosecution and also expressed concern with the reliability of the victim’s testimony. Therefore, the judge denied the motion to reconsider McKoy’s release.

The prosecutor also requested that Judge McLean issue a stay-away order from the victim, which was granted.

Parties are slated to reconvene on April 17.

Judge Orders Full Mental Exam for Stabbing Defendant

DC Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean ordered a full mental examination for a stabbing defendant on Feb. 19 after reviewing a report from the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH).

Sarita Middleton, 45, is charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon for her alleged involvement in a stabbing on the 1700 block of Columbia Road, NW, on Feb. 11.

According to court documents, the incident occurred while Middleton waited for food at a restaurant. An employee sustained minor lacerations to their arm.

The records say, an order for a preliminary screening to determine Middleton’s competency was filed on Feb 13.

During the hearing, Middleton’s presence was waived due to a delay at the DC Jail. Judge McLean determined that the defendant was deemed mentally incompetent by DBH, and ordered a full mental examination be done at the jail. To stand trial a defendant must understand the charges and help in his defense.

Parties are slated to reconvene on April 1.

Fatal Stabbing Defendant Pleads Not Guilty at Arraignment

A homicide defendant pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on Feb. 13.

Donald Shields, 47, is charged with second-degree murder while armed and possession of a prohibited weapon for his alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of 36-year-old Dominique Ratiff at the intersection of Dupont Circle and the 1900 block of Massachusetts Avenue, NW on Dec. 30, 2024.

The court formally arraigned Shields on the indictment charges against him and his attorney, Bernadette Armand, entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf. Armand asserted Shields’ right to a jury trial.

Armand also asked to remove Shields from his GPS monitoring, a condition of his release. Judge Kravitz instructed Armand to file a written motion for prosecutors’ response.

Parties are set to reconvene on April 24.

DNA Evidence Missing in Shooting Case

DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz heard testimony from the prosecution about lost DNA evidence in a shooting case involving two suspects on Feb. 13.

Eric Latney, 29, and James Crossland, 29, are both being charged with one count of assault with intent to kill, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, and one count of conspiracy to commit a violent crime. All charges stem from their alleged involvement in a drive-by shooting that occurred on the 200 block of 56th Street, NE and the 5600 block of Blaine Street, NE on July 8, 2021.

Crossland’s defense attorney, Hannah Claudio, said the prosecution had lost evidence of Crossland’s DNA. Claudio asked for the DNA to be sent over so that the defense can conduct their own testing.

The prosecution responded that the DNA evidence was returned to the office after testing and delivered to the third floor. The evidence was then left by a previous prosecutor who was away at the time and has not returned.

Judge Kravitz asked the defense what they wished to do at this time, due to the DNA evidence being lost.

Claudio responded with the intent to file a motion of dismissal on grounds of failure to preserve evidence by the prosecution. Nikki Lotze, Latney’s defense attorney, responded similarly, with the intent to file a motion in their case due to loss of evidence. Lotze intended to use Crossland’s DNA as evidence in their case.

Judge Kravitz asked the prosecution to clarify how the evidence got lost.

The prosecutors stated they have searched the entire third floor and all designated offices, but the DNA remains missing. Despite being unable to find the evidence, the prosecution insisted the DNA is somewhere on the third floor.

Lotze, also filed a motion to sever his case from Crossland. The defense attorney said she would call Crossland as a witness.

Judge Kravitz responded to the motion by clarifying he will need to examine the scope of Crossland’s testimony before deciding on the motion.

Judge Kravitz set up briefing dates for motions to be filed in the case. Defense must file motions by March 20, and the prosecution has until April 17 to respond.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene for an update on May 1.

Stabbing Defendant With Checkered Record Sentenced to 20 Months

A non-fatal stabbing defendant who struggled with drugs received 20 months jail time during a sentencing before DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro on Feb. 20.

Dennis Christie, 49, pleaded guilty on Dec. 8, 2025 to assault with significant bodily injury while armed and possession of a prohibited weapon in connection to a non-fatal stabbing which occurred on April 22, 2024 at the 4700 block of Benning Road, SE. The victim sustained a stab wound to the abdomen.

At sentencing, the prosecution requested that Christie be sentenced to the top end of the guidelines because he admitted to stabbing the victim while he was on probation for another incident.

The prosecution claimed the support for a high sentence “rest[s] in the papers,” referring to his written sentencing argument.

Lauckland Nicholas, Christie’s attorney, asked Judge Di Toro to consider that Christie changed as a person since the incident.

“He wants to make a change…give him a chance,” Nicholas said.

On behalf of Christie, Nicholas requested a split sentence between jail and probation emphasizing rehabilitation.

“He can’t afford to be back in prison,” Nicholas said referring to his previous convictions.
Christie talked about his history with drug abuse and his rehabilitation efforts. There was a stretch where he was clean for three-to-four years, said Christie.

According to Christie, his decision to quit drugs came after an incident prior to this stabbing. “I made the decision that I never wanted to be in someone’s courtroom,” Christie said, referring to when he was released from prison in 2021.

Christie talked about his desire to change his behavior and stay clean from drugs. “We had all our children in one place. It was the most beautiful thing,” Christie said about his family inspiring him to change his behavior.

“I’m ready to get hold of my life,” concluded Christie.

Judge Di Toro noted that across Christie’s adult life, most of his issues with the law resulted from his addiction to heroin. She considered his history of drug abuse and his period of “relative stability” without drugs.

The judge acknowledged that the “consequences for this must be real” as the victim was significantly injured and treated in the hospital but sentenced Christie to the “lower end of the guidelines.”

Christie was sentenced to 20 months of imprisonment for the assault charge, 12 months for the possession charge, to run concurrently, followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Di Toro did not sentence Christie to probation since he was on probation when the stabbing occurred. As part of his supervised release, Christie must receive drug treatment and refrain from all substances.

No further dates were set.

Prosecution Charges a Stabbing Defendant, Despite Assault Acquittal

Prosecutors alerted DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz that they plan to move forward with a defendant’s charges on Feb. 13, despite a jury acquitting the defendant of all other charges.

Malik Seltzer, 30, is charged with assault with intent to kill for his alleged involvement in a stabbing that occurred on the 3900 block of 1st Street, SE on Sept.15, 2021.

Prosecution argued that Seltzer allegedly stabbed the victim due to him believing the victim was an eyewitness witness to a murder allegedly committed by Seltzer on that same day.

Seltzer was tried on those charges and was acquitted of them by a jury on Jan. 22, 2026.

Seltzer is currently serving a sentence for an unrelated case, and is expected to be released in April 2027. Defense attorneys Kevann Gardner and Bernadette Armand asked that the defendant be released from custody if his sentence is up in the previous case before the trial date for this case.

Judge Kravitz denied the motion for now as the defendant is still serving his sentence. Judge Kravitz asked defense attorneys to file a motion closer to Seltzer’s release date in 2027 if the trial, which is scheduled for June 2027, is still planned.

Judge Kravitz asked the prosecution if the stabbing victim would still be in the jurisdiction for the trial date. The prosecutor responded by saying the complainant may leave before then to serve a sentence in the Bureau of Prisons (BoP), but will be able to return for the trial to testify if needed.

Parties are slated to reconvene Aug. 14.

Judge Denies Domestic Stabbing Defendant’s Release After Finding Her Mentally Competent

DC Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno denied the release of a defendant in a domestic violence stabbing case after finding her mentally competent to stand trial on Feb. 20.

Tonya Elliott, 30, is charged in connection with stabbing her romantic partner at the time, who sustained four wounds. During the hearing, the court determined Elliott was mentally competent, distinguishing between her ability to understand the charges as opposed to any underlying mental health issues.

Elliott requested a jury trial, which was scheduled for May 28, with a trial readiness hearing set for May 15. The incident occurred on Dec. 6, 2025, on the 5400 block of Connecticut Avenue NW.

Judge Salerno said he was not convinced Elliott had sufficiently managed her mental health issues to ensure community safety even though Elliott’s defense attorney, Matthew Rist said her problems were controlled through medication she received while incarcerated.

Rist emphasized Elliott’s lack of prior convictions, strong family and community support as reasons for her release. He said she is not dangerous to the community and would return to court as required.

However, the prosecutor opposed release, citing the violence and serious nature of the offense. The prosecution argued that the domestic violence allegations and the severity of the victim’s injuries weighed against her release and the judge agreed.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene for a trial readiness hearing on May 15.

Judge Releases Stabbing Defendant For Mental Health Treatment Because, ‘I Believe Her’

A Judge said “I believe her,” as defendant stated she was receiving mental health treatment during her sentencing before DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld on Feb. 12.

On Oct. 17, 2025, Devyn Cyphers, 28, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon for her involvement in a stabbing on July 31, 2025 on the 300 block of Maryland Avenue, NE. The victim, a close friend of Cyphers, sustained a puncture wound to her neck but survived the attack.

According to court documents, the victim allegedly received a phone call from Cyphers. The victim invited her over to her apartment thinking Cyphers was “in need” of a friend.

When the victim opened the door, Cyphers allegedly stabbed her in the neck and proceeded to threaten her with a gun. The victim managed to break away from Cyphers and ran to the bedroom where she and her boyfriend hid and called the police.

In a victim impact statement read by the prosecution on Feb. 12, the victim recalled “crawling on the floor screaming at [Cyphers] not to shoot.”

“Regardless of the lock and doors, I was the one who invited a friend in need over,” the victim wrote, “why did she show up and choose to hurt me?”

Cyphers’ defense attorney, Peter Odom, argued that Cyphers had suffered a psychotic break at the time of the incident. He presented surveillance footage of Cyphers being taken away from the interview room, she resisted and was tackled to the ground by four officers. He noted her behavior in the footage was out of character for Cyphers, given her mental turmoil.

Odom brought forward Cyphers’ family to give statements on her character and advocate for her release.

“My sister is a good person,” Cypher’s sister said, “what has already happened to her will punish her for the rest of her life.”

The prosecutor claimed there have been no recent reports of Cyphers’ compliance with medical treatment since Dec. 15, 2025. He was concerned for the safety of the community and validity of Cyphers’ attempt at recovery.

At the time of the incident and immediately after, the prosecution said that Cyphers may not have been aware nor could she recollect what happened. However, now that she remembers, she must be held accountable.

It is not “about what is best for Devyn Cyphers” but what is “appropriate for this case,” the prosecution said when talking about Cyphers’ sentence. He requested the court confine Cyphers’ for 60 months.

Judge Hertzfeld called the prosecution’s proposal solely “retribution.”

“[The] only real reason for her to serve time is to punish her,” Judge Hertzfeld said.

In her statement to the court, Cyphers’ mother was upset by the possible confinement, believing that her daughter should not be punished for a medical emergency.

“Psychosis happened to her, not by her,” Cyphers’ mother said.

In an apology to the victim on behalf of the family, the mother said “I am so sorry she needed a medical bed, [but] I will never forgive myself for not knowing my daughter needed one too.”

Cyphers was given the chance to speak about the incident and her actions since Dec. 15. “I still love her,” she said about the victim. “She would not want an apology but action,” Cyphers said about the victim. “She would want me to be a woman of action.”

Cyphers asserted that she has been in treatment and “working everyday to understand” what happened.

The prosecution continued to press that Cyphers may not be taking the prescribed anti-psychotics because of medical reports are lacking.

Judge Hertzfeld pushed back, stating “I believe her.”

Judge Hertzfeld imposed a 30 months sentence, suspended, with three years of supervised release, suspended, and required Cyphers to be on supervised probation for two years, with requirements to undergo mental health treatment and stay away from the victim.

Judge Hertzfeld noted the strong support from Cyphers’ family, who had been present throughout the proceedings as a reason to release Cyphers.

“Your honor has saved her life,” Cyphers’ mother said.

No further dates were set.

Judge Grants Defense Motion for Shooting Acquittal Over Alleged Witness Threat

DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe granted a defense motion to acquit a defendant on his obstruction of justice charge related to a shooting on Feb. 13.

Dominick Jackson, 41, was convicted by a jury on Oct. 8, 2025 of obstruction of justice for his alleged involvement in a shooting that occurred on Nov. 20, 2022, on the 700 block of 12th Street, NE. A victim sustained gunshot wounds to his right thigh.

On Dec. 31, 2025, Kevin Robertson, Jackson’s attorney filed a motion asking for acquittal for the obstruction of justice charge against Jackson. Robertson argued in the motion that the prosecution failed to meet the burden of proof for this charge during the trial.

According to the motion, the victim’s girlfriend, who was also reportedly romantically involved with Jackson, testified during the trial. Robertson wrote that prosecutors asked the victim, “Have you ever been threatened in relation to your involvement in this case?”

Robertson argued in the motion that the terms “relation,” “involvement,” and “case” were not defined by prosecutors or the victim during her testimony. Therefore, the charges should be dismissed because it was unclear if the statements were during the “official proceeding” of the case.

At the hearing, Robertson asked when the alleged threat of the obstruction charge was made. Prosecutors did not respond.

Judge Pipe questioned whether or not the information about when the threat occurred was presented to the jury during the trial. The prosecutors responded that they were unsure if it was brought up before the jury.

Without evidence of when the threat originated or if it was clearly presented to the jury, Judge Pipe decided that she could not sentence Jackson for the crime.

Judge Pipe acquitted Jackson of the remaining charge without objection from prosecutors.

The case was dismissed and no further dates were set.

Carjacking Co-Defendants Plead Not Guilty at Arraignment

Two carjacking co-defendants pleaded not guilty at an arraignment before DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro on Feb. 20.

Antonio Lucas, 19, and Devirio Williams, 23, are charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle and receiving stolen property in connection to their alleged involvement in an incident that occurred on Nov. 21, 2025 near Minnesota Ave and Benning Road, NE and a subsequent crash at the intersection of New York and Montana Avenues, NE.

Lucas is additionally charged with unarmed carjacking, three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, robbery, first-degree theft, an additional count of unauthorized use of a vehicle, receiving stolen property, two counts of fleeing a law enforcement officer, two counts of destruction of property more than $1,000, two counts of reckless driving, and two counts of leaving after colliding causing property damage or injury to an animal.

Williams is additionally charged with tampering with physical evidence.

According to court documents, Lucas, with the help of Williams, reportedly stole a Honda and proceeded to flee recklessly from law enforcement then colliding with other vehicles. An off-duty FBI agent joined the pursuit, leaving behind a government vehicle, which Lucas allegedly stole.

At the hearing, the court formally arraigned Lucas and Willaims on the indictment charges against them and Williams’ attorney, Lucas Dansie, and Lucas’ attorney, Theodoore Shaw, entered pleas of not guilty on their behalf.

The parties are slated to reconvene on March 2.

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