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Attorneys argue Rashad Allen’s innocence days before trial begins

The day before the murder trial against Rashad Lamont Allen began, Allen’s attorneys continued to argue their client’s innocence.

Allen is charged with allegedly murdering David Simmons on March 15, 2015. The defendant has been held on charges for second-degree murder since April 27, 2015 when police allege Allen killed Simmons.

However, during a full-day of court where Judge Lynn Leibovitz decided motions for how the case would continue, Allen’s defense attorney April Downs and Quo Mieko Judkins continued to argue Allen was innocent.

According to Downs, witness testimony alleges the shooter involved in the murder went by the name “Hype.”

Downs argued that while Allen might answer to the name “Hype,” there are others who also go by that name. The government will call numerous witnesses to testify that Allen is “Hype,” she said.

The government countered that when someone agreed to let Allen stay in their house Allen introduced himself as “Hype” and then as “John.”

In a list of other motions, the defense and prosecutor also argued about Allen missing a court appearance.

Allen failed to show up to an unrelated court appearance after the shooting, which the government used to allege Allen’s guilt. However, the defense argued that it was not uncommon for people to not come to court appearances, especially if they’re homeless — which is why Allen was “couch surfing” after the shooting.

Judge Leibovitz said that Allen’s disappearance immediately after the murder, staying with someone and introducing himself under a different name, and failure to appear in court after the shooting is all admissible in the trial.

A jury was selected for the trial which is set to begin Tuesday and expected to end next Friday.

Eugene Burns sentenced for the murder of his best friend

A fight between two friends ended in murder and now a conviction.

Eugene Burns was sentenced by Judge Hiram Puig-Lugo to 31 years in prison for killing Onyekachi Osuchukwu III in 2015.

Burns was found guilty in July 2017 of first-degree murder while armed and other weapon offenses. According to a witness at his trial, Osuchukwu was living in California but had travelled to D.C. on Nov. 14, 2015. Another witness mentioned that he and Burns had been selling drugs and were having disputes. Prosecution’s evidence showed that Burns started planning his friend’s murder after their dispute.
A government cell phone expert examined Burns’ phone and found searches including “How to kill your best friend” and “Does God forgive murderers”. He also had searched for information about cocaine, marijuana, and how it feels to murder.
On the day of his murder, Osuchukwu was lured by Burns to stay at Burns’ mother’s apartment in the 2900 block of Second Street and was shot multiple times on the living room floor. The next day, Eugene Burns, along with two relatives, returned to the apartment and supposedly “discovered” that his best friend had been killed. Burns testified at his trial that he had shot Osuchukwu out of self defense.
An investigation led to Burns’ arrest in Dec. 2015, and he has been in custody ever since. His verdict followed a trial, and he will be placed on 5 years of supervised release.

Jerome C. Lewis found guilty of four-year-old child’s murder

A jury has found the man charged with the 2013 murder of 4-year-old Samurai Jenkins guilty.

Jerome C. Lewis, 50, was convicted of first-degree murder with aggravating circumstances, second-degree murder, and first-degree cruelty to children on October 25. He will be sentenced on January 26, 2018 and faces a possible sentence of life without parole.

According to charging documents, Jerome Lewis watched as flames engulfed the house on the 2600 block of 33rd Street, SE with a “calm demeanor”. The government argued that Lewis set fire to his mattress in the early morning of Feb. 17 and watched as the fire spread through the house. Everyone one but little Jenkins escaped uninjured. She was rescued by fire fighters from the second floor of the house but died from her injuries two days later.

Weekend homicide by asphyxiation

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the weekend homicide of an adult male by asphyxiation.

Police found the man unconscious at around 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 after responding to a call to the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE. The victim was announced dead at the scene. An autopsy the next day ruled the death a homicide by asphyxiation.

Police are withholding the name of the victim until they can inform the next of kin. No other details have been released.

Infographic: Average time between arrest to resolution

The graph below shows the 81 homicide cases in DC between 2015-17 that were resolved. The average times between death to arrest was 53 days and that time of arrest to resolution was 334 days with the maximum time being 1005 days.

Police charge man with murder of Carl Hardy

Police have announced the arrest of a man, charged with the murder of Carl Hardy.

Hardy, 24, was shot on Sept. 10 and died on Oct.1.

Saquan Williams, 16, was arrested and charged as an adult with first-degree murder while armed.

Police arrived at the scene at approximately 5:56 p.m. on Sept. 10 and found Hardy, of Northeast, in the 1200 block of I St., SE. Hardy was transported to an area hospital with life threatening injuries where he later died.

Motion to exclude defense expert addressed in Rashad Allen case

A judge in the Rashad Allen case is considering blocking a defense expert from testifying when the trial starts Monday.

Judge Lynn Leibovitz is weighing the government’s concerns about the qualifications of a crime scene expert expected to testify.

Allen is charged with the fatal shooting of David Simmons in 2015.

The government questioned the experience of the expert and whether they are qualified enough to give testimony on gunshot residue, tool mark analysis and blood patterns.

The judge has yet to make a decision and jury selection in the case is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 30 at 9:30 a.m.

Charles Sykes offered another plea deal

The man charged with the fatal stabbing of Cheryl Schafer in April, 2016, was offered another plea deal Thursday.

Charles Sykes was charged with second-degree murder while armed when police found Schafer with stab wounds in an apartment building in the 4000 block of Tunlaw Road, NW. She was pronounced dead at the hospital. Police classified the homicide as a domestic incident.

At Thursday’s hearing, Sykes gave no response to the offer, and his attorney told Judge Puig-Lugo that she would have to discuss it further with him before he made any decision. The details of the plea offer were not made public.

Earlier this year, prosecutors offered Sykes a plea deal of not guilt by reason of insanity. He rejected that offer. rejected by reason of insanity. Sykes’ attorney on Thursday mentioned that her expert disagreed with the government’s opinion regarding Sykes’ competency.

A status hearing has been set for Nov. 28 of this year to discuss the plea offer.

Co-Defendants appointed new attorney in Robinson Pal murder case

The two defendants in the 2016 stabbing death of Robinson Pal have a new public defender, who is asking for more time to prepare for their previously scheduled July 2018 trial.

Co-defendants Devonte Johnson, 27, and Antonio Byrd, 35, face second degree murder charges for a stabbing at the Barcode nightclub on January 31, 2016.

The attorney requested additional time to review the case material, and said that she “hope[ed] in the next few months can make it through files.”

According to documents, a security guard at Barcode allegedly saw Pal and Byrd fighting, and allegedly heard Byrd tell Pal that he was “going to kill [him].” Pal was stabbed in the chest and fell to the floor.

A second victim was found just outside the nightclub suffering from a stab wound to the back.

Johnson and Byrd are both charged with second-degree murder while armed, and are being held without bond.

A status hearing has been scheduled for Dec. 22 at 9:30 a.m.

Second arrest made in Omar Earl Rogers killing

The police have made a second arrest in the October killing of Omar Earl Rogers.

Khalil Davis, 22, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed on Oct. 25. Police had previously arrested and charged Michael Leonard Jones, 21, with first-degree murder while armed.

Rogers, 25, was found fatally shot in a car in the 1300 block of Good Hope Rd., SE and died later at hospital.

Jones, who is being held without bail, is next scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 31.

2018 trial date in murder of Breyona McMillian


Saeve Evans’ trial for the murder of Breyona McMillian is set to begin in a year, on Aug. 20, 2018.

The date was set Wednesday at a status hearing before Judge Hiram Puig-Lugo during which he also signed an order limiting the evidence the defense gets to see at this point.

16 year-old Breyona McMillian was found shot outside the Potomac Gardens housing complex after someone fired multiple shots into a crowd the day after Thanksgiving 2016. She was pronounced dead after being taken to a nearby hospital.

A few weeks later, Saeve Evans surrendered himself at and was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm. Evans’ charge was upgraded to second-degree murder while armed in December after he was seen on surveillance video at the scene.

At Wednesday’s hearing, Judge Puig-Lugo issued an order allowing the defense counsel but not the defendant to review some of the media that will be used in the trial. Previously, the defense had been denied access to any of the media. Another status hearing to revisit the issue was set for Nov. 20.

Month in Review: September

September 2017 saw the number of homicides in DC reduced by half from the year before – from 20 in 2016 to 10 this year. There have been arrests in four of the September 2017 cases.

Here is our monthly wrap-up of cases covered in September.

Homicides

Of the ten homicides , eight were the result of r shootings, and two were stabbings.
Three of the murders in Southeast , three in Northeast, two in Northwest, and two in Southwest.

Police found Unique Davis, 19, dead from gunshot wounds on the evening of Sept. 2, on the 1500 block of Tubman Rd., SE. No arrests have been made.

A little over a week later, Antwaun Smith, 41, died from gunshot wounds on the 600 block of Newtown Pl., NW on Sept. 10. Antonio Williams, 36, has been charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly murdering Smith.

The next day David Thomas Neal, 31, was found suffering from stab wounds at 9:30 p.m. on the 3900 block of Martin Luther King. Jr. Ave., SW. Neal died of his injuries hospital. Martell Antonio Hall, 28, has been charged with second-degree murder while armed in the fatal stabbing of Neal.

On Sept. 14 Danielle Williams, 29, was found suffering from gunshot wounds. Two men were also wounded in the shooting. Williams and the two victims were transported to the hospital, where williams died from her injuries the following day. No suspects have been identified.
On Sept. 17, MyAngelo Starnes, 16, was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The teenager was transported to the hospital, where he died from his injuries. Police have yet to identify any suspects.
A few days later, another student was shot and killed. Zaire Kelly, 16, was found unresponsive with a gunshot wound on the 2200 block of 13 St. NE. Kelly had been walking home from a convenience store when he was approached by the Sequan Gillis, 19. Gillis allegedly attempted to rob Kelly, who defended himself with a knife before he was shot. Gillis was found dead at the seen. Police found Gillis, the alleged attacker, down the alley. He was transported to the hospital, where he died.

Another teen was murdered later in the week. Robert Lee Arthur Jr., 18, was found by police suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Arthur was found on the 2800 block of 14th St., NE. and taken to the hospital where he later died from his injuries. Police are still investigating the killing.

The next day Andrew Alphonzo Cook, III., 46, was found suffering from a stab wound. Cook was found on the 1700 block of North Capitol St., NE. and transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Police continue to investigate the murder.

On the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 27, MPD officers found Paula Renee Coles, 31, lying inside of the entrance to her apartment building, o the 3000 block of 30th St., SE., suffering from stab wounds. Her 11-month-old baby was found in the hallway, with a cut to the hand. The mother had suffered multiple stab wounds to her face and upper body.

Larry Fearn, 35, has been charged second-degree murder and is being held without bail. Before her death, Coles had repeatedly called 911 regarding domestic disputes involving Fearn, including the night before her murder. murder. Fearn had been arrested for assaulting Coles, their infant child, and Fearn’s mother in July. and had been arrested the next day for violating a court order to stay away from Coles.

On the final day of September, police found Marcus Anthony Shepherd, 22, dead inside of a car on the 100 block of Atlantic St, SW. He died from an apparent dead from a gunshot wound. Police are investigating.

Anniversary of September homicides from 2015-2017

In September 2015, there were 15 homicides. Of these cases, three suspects have been arrested in connection with these homicides. There were two vehicular homicides, two dismissed cases, and one conviction. Seven homicides have yet to have a suspect identified.

In 2016, there was an increase in the number of homicides, from 15 in 2015 to 20. Of these 20 homicides, 11 are still unsolved with no suspects identified. Four cases have identified suspects and are in the trial process. There were four vehicular homicides, one of which is a police involved shooting.

In 2017, there have been ten homicides, a significant decrease compared to the prior two years. Four of the cases have charged suspects, while six have yet to arrest any suspects.

Of these cases, ranging from 2015 to 2017, three of them have been resolved. The 2015 homicide of Uyer Hooper, 55, went to jury trial this past year, where the case and alleged murderer Dejuan Renardo Etheredge, 27, was dismissed without prejudice.

Deontray Ingram, 22, died in 2015. The suspect Nathaniel Beasley, 24, was charged with second-degree murder while armed. The case went to trial and the charges were dismissed on May 17.

The only case that has ended with a conviction is the murder of Delany Christopher Epps, 29. The convicted murderer Raphael Antonio Roy, 29, who was convicted on Feb 12 2016 to 20 years in prison plus 5 years of supervised release.