Defendant’s Girlfriend Testifies in Shooting Case

A shooting defendant’s girlfriend was called by the defense to testify about the incident before DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro on June 16.

Shaqunda Reed, 32, is charged with carrying a pistol without a license and carrying a dangerous weapon for her alleged involvement in a shooting that occurred on the 800 block of Florida Avenue, NW on March 2, 2024. No injuries were reported.

According to court documents, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to the scene for the report of a shooting, where they located evidence including cartridge casings inside a parking garage on Florida Avenue.

Defense attorney Sara Kopecki called Reed’s girlfriend to testify. She stated that she was present the day of the shooting. According to the witness, they had gone to a club, Unity Lounge, to celebrate a friend’s birthday. The witness noted that the club had extensive security before getting in, including physical patdowns and metal detectors.

Prior to the shooting, the witness alleged that they had decided to leave the club due to large crowds and chaos. She said that she was with Reed when they heard gunshots coming from a parking garage they had left their cars at prior to entering. Reed’s girlfriend said she had driven Reed’s Toyota Camry to the club that night because hers did not have air conditioning.

After hearing the gunshots, Reed’s girlfriend said, everyone that was with them ran into the garage to get their cars and leave because they could not tell where the shots were coming from. When she was able to make it back to the Camry, the witness stated, she noticed Reed being frisked by police. Shortly after, the witness said she was with Reed when a different officer searched her again.

After some of the chaos settled, the witness said, Reed allegedly left the scene while the witness could not because they blocked the parking garage off to secure the crime scene. Eventually all parties were able to leave the scene in the vehicles they arrived in.

The prosecution kept their cross examination brief, asking Reed’s girlfriend if she loved Reed and if she would, “do anything for her”. After the witness answered yes to both questions and clarified some of her testimony, the prosecution rested.

Parties are slated to reconvene on June 17.

Judge Finds Probable Cause in Metro Shooting Case, Denies Release

DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson denied a shooting defendant’s request for release following a probable cause finding during a June 16 hearing.

Daquan Toland, 25, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in a shooting incident on June 2 on the 1100 block of 4th Street, SW.

According to court documents, the incident involved three suspects firing near the Waterfront Metro station, resulting in one adult male victim with a graze wound.

During the hearing, the prosecution called on a detective from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), who confirmed he reported to the incident site about five minutes after the shooting, prepared the affidavit, and identified Toland as the suspect in surveillance footage wearing a white shirt and riding a bike.

According to the detective, Toland fled the scene into the Metro station but was arrested three stops later at the Gallery Place station within minutes allegedly in possession of an unregistered firearm.

The detective said two men in black were involved in the shooting as well as Toland, who also appeared in white clothing. The detective interviewed several witnesses, all of whom mentioned the two individuals in all black but none of whom mentioned a third person involved in the shooting. Surveillance footage showed two men in all black shooting at a Metro station and an individual wearing white, later identified as Toland,shooting back at them.

Henry Druschel, Toland’s attorney, submitted to probable cause on carrying a pistol without a license outside home or business, and the prosecution elected to dismiss the assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence charges.

Druschel argued that Toland’s shooting was clearly self-defense as he was not the one to initiate the shooting. The defense requested Toland be released and stressed his family support.

According to Druschel, they worry about his epilepsy treatment at the DC Jail. They stated he has a significant employment history, and claimed they could ensure the community’s safety.

The prosecution argued there are no conditions of release that would ensure the safety of the community. They stated the allegations of shooting recklessly at a crowded area during the day are serious and show the defendant had no regard for public safety, especially because the shooting resulted in a disabled victim being injured with a grazed bullet wound. The prosecution also noted that the surveillance video allegedly shows the defendant clutching his firearm first even if he did not shoot first.

Judge Dayson granted the prosecution’s request for a hold given the nature of the charges and Toland’s apparent disregard for public safety. She noted that Toland had described a previous interaction with the two individuals during which they had pulled a gun on him.

Toland was allegedly able to get home but he failed to tell anyone of the incident or call the police. Instead he armed himself and set out to find the other two people who had pulled a gun on him which showed intent.

The parties are slated to reconvene June 26.

Shooting Defendant Accepts Plea Deal

A defendant involved in a non-fatal shooting accepted a plea deal before DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe on June 16.

Demarco Young, 33, was originally charged with endangerment with a firearm in a public space and carrying a pistol without a license outside of the home or business for his involvement in a non-fatal shooting between him and another suspect that occurred on Jan. 21 on the 1600 block of Galen Street, SE. No injuries were reported.

Young’s attorney, Alvin Thomas, notified Judge Pipe that Young intended to accept a plea deal extended by the prosecution, which required him to plead guilty to carrying a pistol without a license outside of the home or business in exchange for the prosecution not seeking indictment charges.

The prosecution told Young that although he may have been shot at first, his behavior was not excusable. Further, the prosecution claimed there was proof beyond a reasonable doubt to prove Young’s involvement, pointing out that officers found two groupings of casings at the crime scene.

Judge Pipe deemed that there was a factual basis for the plea and ordered a pre-sentence investigation report for Young.

Further, Judge Pipe ordered that Young be removed from home-confinement due to his compliance with his release conditions but be placed on electronic monitoring to ensure he abides by his stay-away order.

Parties are slated to reconvene on Aug. 22 for sentencing.

‘Love you, Bruh,’ Says Mass Shooting Suspect in Evidence of Intimate Instagram Exchange

Prosecutors continued to question an investigative analyst from the US Attorney’s Office who compiled a dataset of six co-defendants’ Instagram accounts and messages before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on June 17.

Erwin Dubose, 31, Kamar Queen, 28, Damonta Thompson, 28, and William Johnson-Lee, 22, are charged with conspiracy, premeditated first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, among other charges, for their alleged involvement in the mass shooting that killed 31-year-old Donnetta Dyson, 24-year-old Keenan Braxton, and 37-year-old Johnny Joyner. The incident occurred on the 600 block of Longfellow Street, NW on Sept. 4, 2021, and injured three additional individuals.

Mussay Rezene, 32, and Toyia Johnson, 53, are charged with accessory after the fact while armed and tampering with physical evidence for their alleged involvement in assisting the defendants in discarding evidence and avoiding arrest.

The analyst walked the jury through Instagram messages among the defendants from the months leading up to the incident that showed a very close relationship in particular, and a particularly intimate relationship between Dubose and Johnson.

“Love you bruh,” and “love you more,” messages were sent between the defendants on multiple occasions and shown to the jurors.

On Aug. 28, 2021, Dubose allegedly sent multiple messages confirming his possession of a rental car given to him by his then-partner Johnson.

In cross examination the witness clarified the investigation of the Instagram messages was conducted solely with guidance from the prosecution. He was provided with key word search terms from the prosecution and did not do any searches beyond them.

Some of the provided key words included “drake,” “master plan,” “rental(s),” and “phone numbers.” Elizabeth Weller, Thompson’s defense attorney, pointed out that the prosecution did not include the phrase “I love you” in their key word searches despite it showing up on 587 pages of the more than 40,000 page document.

In their redirect, the prosecution clarified that the witness was not involved in any other part of the investigation and was only able to conduct his analysis by being provided the key words to search for.

Parties are slated to reconvene on June 18.

Judge Finds No Conflict For Lawyers Representing Murder Defendant

A potential conflict regarding a homicide defendant’s lawyers was resolved in a status hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on June 12.

Demonte Gibson, 27, is charged with conspiracy, first-degree premeditated murder while armed, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, and destruction of property for his alleged involvement in the murder of Delonte King, 34, on Nov. 3, 2021, on the 2800 block of 14th Street, NW.

Defense attorney Andrew Ain was appointed as conflict council to research the matter following a status hearing on June 6, when Judge Brandt said Gibson’s representation by defense attorneys Kevann Gardner and Elizabeth White could pose a conflict of interest.

She stated that the previous appointment of Lisbeth Sapirstein as Gibson’s defense attorney by DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld in another case meant that Sapirstein was to represent Gibson in both proceedings. Thus, a potential violation of the “single representation rule” aimed at preventing situations where lawyers could face mixed loyalties. In other words, by offereing evidence in one case, they could present information that would undermine the other.

For their part, Gardner and White argued under the Sixth Amendment guarantee of legal representation Gibson had the right to continuity of counsel.

Ain concluded that the conflict, if it existed, is waivable, also noting Gibson’s request he wants Gardner and White to stay on the case.

Judge Brandt granted his request.

Meanwhile, White stated her intention to file a motion for release. On June 12, Gardner requested only that Gibson be transferred to the lower security Central Treatment Facility (CTF) due to safety concerns following an attack on the defendant in the jail last week. It is unclear what happened.

Judge Brandt agreed to send a recommendation for the transfer.

Parties are slated to reconvene Jan. 23.

Document: MPD Investigating Fairmont Street Shooting

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced they are investigating a shooting that occurred on Jun 1 in the 1400 block of Fairmont Street, Northwest. An adult male victim was shot and sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect, who fled the scene, was captured on surveillance video, and the MPD is seeking the community’s assistance in identifying the individual involved.

Judge Grants Teen Stabbing Defendant a Partially Suspended Sentence

DC Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel granted a teen stabbing defendant a partially-suspended sentence on June 12.

On March 26, Lukas Nawrocki, 19, pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a prohibited weapon for his involvement in the stabbing of an individual on Feb. 1 on the 1100 block of 23rd Street, NW.

According to court documents, Nawrocki stabbed a victim who was biking on his way to work with a pair of scissors telling him, “You’re going to hell tonight.”

Nawrocki’s attorney, Pleasant Broadnax, told Judge Israel that Nawrocki has a good criminal record. Further, as a teenager,Broadnax explained that Nawrocki’s brain and his decision making capability were still developing.

He said that Nawrocki was also qualified for sentencing under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA), which generally seals a young defendant’s conviction if they successfully complete all sentencing requirements.

Many of Nawrocki’s friends and family showed up for the hearing. Broadnax explained that Nawrocki would have signficiant support as he rehabilitates back to the community. Meanwhile, Nawrocki told Judge Israel that he was sorry for his actions and had grown during his time in detention

“He is not the same person today as he was when he was incarcerated,” Broadnax argued.

However, Judge Israel countered that there was a prior incident where Nawrocki assaulted his mother, and that could have been a “wake up call” to change his behavior. Nor did Nawrocki take responsibility when he stabbed the victim in his most recent incident, Judge Israel stated.

Judge Israel sentenced Nawrocki to 48 months, with 30 suspended, for assault with a dangerous weapon, and 12 months for possessing the weapon. The sentences are set to run concurrently.

In addition, Judge Israel imposed additional requirements for Nawrocki including screening for drug abuse, cognitive and mental health assessments, education and vocational training.

No further dates were set.

Murder Defendant Violates Home Confinement Order, Warned by Judge

DC Superior Court Judge Neil Kravitz admonished a homicide defendant who continuously violated his home confinement order in a hearing on June 13.

Dwayne Fountain, 45, is charged with first-degree murder premeditated while armed, carrying a dangerous weapon outside a home or place of business with a prior felony conviction, and possession of a prohibited weapon. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in the fatal beating of 47-year-old Marcus Carey on May 4, 2023, on the 3500 block of Hayes Street, NE.

A representative from the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) confirmed that the defendant has violated his home confinement order multiple times. The defendant was reported to be outside his home for significant periods of time.

Fountain’s defense attorney, Jason Tulley, explained that the defendant violated his order trying to find employment, which is required with the program he is currently completing.

The prosecution requested the court revoke his release conditions and detain him at the DC Jail.

Judge Kravitz ruled that no action will be taken regarding the home confinement order however, he reminded the defendant must get approval before leaving his residency.

Parties are slated to reconvene July 11.

Non-Fatal Stabbing Defendant Denied Release, Won’t Get New Attorney

DC Superior Court Judge Renee Raymond told a non-fatal stabbing defendant that his case must move forward during a June 13 hearing after nearly two months of continuances and attorney changes.

Ovid Gabriel, 20, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault with significant bodily injury for his alleged role in an inmate stabbing inside the DC Jail, on the 1900 block of D Street, SE, on March 28.

Rashid Shabazz, 35, is charged with tampering with physical evidence for allegedly hiding the shank used in the incident.

Shabazz was not present during the hearing.

Gabriel’s attorney, Anthony Dimillo, asked the court to release him pending further hearings. Judge Raymond denied release because Gabriel has other cases against him. According to court records, Gabriel is also charged with a misdemeanor assault on a police officer for an incident from 2024.

During the June 13 preliminary hearing, Gabriel asked Judge Raymond to address the court himself, but she instructed him to speak through his attorney. After he once again asked to speak, Judge Raymond reminded Gabriel that anything he says in open court can and will be used against him in the future.

He proceeded to speak, saying he will be “executing [his] constitutional rights,” after which Judge Raymond cut him off.

Gabriel also asked the court for a different attorney. Judge Raymond denied this request because Dimillo is his third court-appointed attorney in this case. She told Gabriel that if he wants a new lawyer, he will need to find and pay for one himself.

Judge Raymond granted one final continuance in Gabriel’s case.

Parties are set to reconvene on June 27.

Prosecution Argues Murder Defendant Should Be Detained Pretrial

The prosecution in a murder case argued before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on June 12 for the detention of a defendant who was initially released by DC Superior Court Judge Anita Josey-Herring last month.

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

Shield was arrested and released on May 8 under the condition of GPS monitoring after Judge Josey-Herring denied the prosecution’s request for a hold.

The prosecution cited Shield’s criminal history, the video evidence and the nature of the crime to argue that he should be detained pretrial, this time before Judge Kravitz.

The Judge told the prosecutor he doesn’t know if he has the authority to detain Shield following his release by Judge Josey-Herring, because Shield didn’t violate the conditions of his release. He requested the prosecutor file a document citing a different statute that shows he has the authority to detain Shield.

Shield’s lawyer, Bernadette Armand, also asked for a continuance for the preliminary hearing to give her more time to look over video evidence before proceeding with the case. Judge Kravitz granted the continuance, but noted that it would not be an “excessive” period of time.

Parties are slated to reconvene on July 3 for a preliminary hearing.

Stabbing Defendant Mentally Competent to Stand Trial

DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park heard testimony from a behavioral specialist on June 12 affirming a stabbing defendant’s mental ability to stand trial.

Devonte Wright, 26, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed against a minor, cruelty to children, assault with a dangerous weapon against a minor, and carrying a dangerous weapon. The charges stem from Wright’s involvement in the stabbing of a two-year-old on May 27, 2020, on the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE.

During the hearing, the prosecution reviwed the psychiatrist’s findings following five interviews and two evaluations with Wright in February and October of 2024, to determine if Wright his the capacity to unerstand his legal situation and work with his attorney.

The psychiatrist testified that Wright was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, pathologically altering his mood and perception of reality. In addition he suffers from speech delays and reduced emotional expression. Still these issues do not impair his ability to understand legal proceedings or consult with his attorney. She also found no substantial cognitive impairments, intellectual disabilities, or psychiatric symptoms that would render him incompetent.

In her February evaluation, Wright showed signs of limited effort, but displayed higher-level cognitive functioning during non-traditional tasks, such as teaching the evaluator how to play chess—a task she said demonstrated memory, reasoning, and attention skills. His presentation varied, appearing withdrawn in interviews but more animated and articulate when engaged in topics of interest.

The psychiatrist also evaluated claims of a traumatic brain injury Wright allegedly sustained around the time of the offense. After reviewing medical records, imaging, and emergency response documentation, she concluded that the injury was mild at most, and there was no evidence it continued to affect his competence five years later. Notably, Wright was recorded with a low score on the Glasgow Coma Scale, a neurological assessment tool used to evaluate consciousness after a head injury, at the scene.

While Wright expressed a desire to be found incompetent and return home, the psychiatrist stated there was no evidence of malingering, but rather waxing and waning effort. She emphasized that Wright had the ability to engage meaningfully with his attorney when motivated and was therefore competent to proceed.

At the conclusion of her testimony, the psychiatrist reiterated her final determination that Wright is competent to stand trial.

The court is scheduled to reconvene for cross-examination of the expert witness and future defense presentations June 13.

Defendant Says, ‘I’m Sorry to the Woman I Stabbed,’ at Sentencing

A stabbing defendant was sentenced to 32 months of incarceration on June 13 by DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe.

On April 3, Isatou Kah, 21, pleaded guilty to assault with significant bodily injury while armed for her involvement in a stabbing incident on Nov. 20, 2024 on the 3000 block of Langley Court, NW. One individual sustained injuries during the incident.

According to court documents, the victim reportedly was a neighbor of the man Kah dated and she asked her to leave multiple times. As the victim reentered her apartment, Kah stabbed her in the back with an ice pick.

During the hearing, the prosecution stated that Kah has has committed past offenses. In 2023, Kah allegedly vandalized the home of a man’s mother after he stopped responding to her messages online. She took a taxi from Maryland to New Jersey to commit the act, according to prosecutors.

Kah’s defense attorney, Andrew Ain, asked Judge Pipe to sentence Kay to probation. Ain said Kah has admitted she was in the wrong but pointed out her loneliness and reliance on internet dating as an explanation. Ain stated that Kah does not want to commit violent acts and needs mental health treatment.

”I am sorry to the woman I stabbed,” Kah said holding back tears, adding “I do need mental health [treatment]”.

Siding with the prosecution, Judge Pipe cited Kah’s criminal history, the violent outburst that led to the victim’s stabbing, and the premeditation needed to commit the vandalism back in 2023 that she would not be fit for parole–hence the 32 month sentence.

No further dates were set.

Judge Grants Request for Competency Screening

DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz granted a stabbing defendant attorneys request for a competency screening during a hearing on June 17.

Tiffany Taylor-Gray, 22, is one of three individuals charged with first-degree murder while for her alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of Fasil Teklemariam, 53. The incident occurred on the 1300 block of Peabody Street, NW on April 4, 2024.

According to court documents, Metropolitan Police Officers (MPD) responding to reports of an unconscious person, discovered Teklemariam, who was pronounced dead at the scene due to multiple blunt force and sharp force injuries.

Officers were also able to identify Taylor-Gray, Audrey Miller, 20, and Tommy Whack, 36, from CCTV footage from the Peabody St residence as well as through witness testimonies from other residents, allegedly connecting them to the homicide.

Eduardo Balarezo, Taylor-Gray’s attorney, requested the screening due to the defendant’s “apparent low intellectual functioning” and “problems understanding or following procedures or cooperating with attorney.” Judge Kravitz granted the screening request to be completed at the DC jail.

Parties are slated to reconvene for a mental observation hearing on June 24.

Pizza Parlor Shooting Defendant Pleads Guilty

A shooting defendant pled guilty before DC Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur on June 17.

Jadad Harris, 41, was originally charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, possessing a firearm during a crime of violence, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a license, possession of an unregistered firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition, for his involvement in a non-fatal shooting on the 700 block of Florida Avenue, NW, outside of a pizza parlor on Nov. 1, 2019. Two victims suffered from non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.

During his hearing, Harris’ attorney, Molly Bunke, informed the judge that Harris intended to accept a plea deal offered by the prosecution. In the plea offer, Harris pled guilty to aggravated assault and carrying a pistol without a license, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges.

The prosecution proposed 66 months of incarceration for the aggravated assault charge and 28 months of incarceration for carrying a pistol without a license. These counts would run concurrent with two years of supervised probation. Harris would also be required to register as a gun offender.

The defendant remains on release.

Sentencing is slated for Aug. 22.

Suspect’s Mental Competency Unresolved in Child Stabbing

A defendant’s mental competence is still in question after a specialist from St. Elizabeths mental hospital testified about a ‘lack of effort’ in his evaluation before DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park on June 13.

Devonte Wright, 26, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed against a minor, cruelty to children, assault with a dangerous weapon against a minor, and carrying a dangerous weapon. The charges stem from Wright’s alleged involvement in the stabbing of a two-year-old on May 27, 2020, on the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE.

During cross examination by defense attorneys Madalyn Harvey, Christen Philips, and Laura Rose, the analyst provided information from her October 2024 psychiatric report, observing that Wright exhibited schizophrenic and other psychiatric symptoms.

The witness cited Wright’s hesitate speech and problems with original thought. Audio recordings from Wright’s October 2024 interview showed an inability to answer open-ended questions. He would pause for an extended period after a question was asked before responding, “I don’t know.”

While the behavioral specialist conceded that these symptoms are signs of schizophrenia, inconsistencies in Wright’s presentation led her to conclude that Wright was exhibiting a “lack of effort” when pressed about competency–in other words it’s not clear whether he understand his legal predicament. She noted his performance improved when asked direct questions and was more engaged with discussions unrelated to his competency case.

Parties are slated to reconvene on June 20 to continue the competence discussion.

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