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Derryck Decuir case ends in mistrial


After two weeks of emotional testimony, the murder case against Derryck Decuir for the alleged murder of Malek Mercer ended in a mistrial Monday.

The jury could not come to a decision on the charges of manslaughter and second-degree murder. Decuir, indicted on ten charges, was found not guilty attempt to commit robbery while armed, possession of a firearm during crime of violence and murder while armed with the intent to kill a minor. The jury found him guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm based on a prior conviction, obstruction of justice, carrying a pistol without a license and tampering with physical evidence.

The defense has claimed Decuir “acted in self-defense” and had no intention of killing Mercer.

Prosecutors will discuss the next steps with defense attorneys.

Decuir is still being held without bond, and a status hearing regarding the case is scheduled for April 3rd.

Key witnesses in Dujuan Garris trial ‘don’t remember’ events that led to murder of James Anderson

Among the several people that testified in court Monday, in the murder trial against Dujuan Garris, Hassan Graves or “Nugget” was called to the stand to testify about his alleged involvement in the murder.

According to the prosecution’s opening statements, Graves, 14, was one of three people involved in the botched robbery that took the life of 27-year-old James Anderson.

However, when asked about his alleged role in the murder Graves said he wasn’t involved.

After recalling Graves grand jury testimony in which Graves said he didn’t allow for anyone to use his phone the night of the murder, prosecution attorney Chris Bruckmann brought up Graves’ telephone location. According to Graves’ telephone records, he received a phone call and left a house at 1337 1st St., SW minutes before the murder.

Following the murder, Graves’ cell phone location placed him in a neighborhood just off the green metro line where “Smooth” and “Fat Fat,” the two other people allegedly involved in the botched robbery, were located.

During a line of questioning involving Graves’ location before and after the murder, Bruckmann asked Graves if he remembered being the places discussed previously in which Graves repeatedly said “I don’t know” and “I don’t remember.”

Graves consistently couldn’t recall information so much so that Bruckmann retrieved Graves previous grand jury testimony and gave Graves a copy. Even after reviewing his testimony, at times Graves still struggled to recall information. At one point in his line of questioning, Bruckmann stopped to ask if Graves was having issues with his memory to which Graves said “no.”

Graves wasn’t the only person struggling to recall details surrounding Anderson’s murder. Darnell Gibson, an alleged eyewitness, couldn’t recall details of the murder to which the prosecution suggested was because of the “no snitch rule.”

In the prosecution’s opening statements, they mentioned community members in the Southwest Waterfront neighborhood weren’t forthcoming with information about the murder to the police because they don’t want to be deemed “hot” or a “snitch.”

However, Gibson said the reason he wasn’t of much help to police is that he doesn’t have any concrete information about the murder. The defense brought up instances of Gibson’s past interactions with the police and his cooperation in a neighborhood stabbing that eventually lead to the charging of a suspect.

During a break, Juan Coats, another alleged eyewitness to the murder was arraigned after his arrest on Sunday based on a warrant the prosecution issued on Saturday after Coats met with them and stated they would be unable to locate him come Monday.

Judge Milton Lee ordered Coats to be held without bond until he testifies in the case.

Garris continues to be held without bond as he faces first-degree murder.

Garris is expected in court Tuesday for his continued trial.

Man found dead in Washington Highlands

Police are investigating a fatal shooting in Washington Highlands, where police say they found 43-year-old Bernard Coleman’s lifeless body.

While responding to reports of an unconscious person, around 9 a.m. Friday, police found Coleman suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Coleman was pronounced dead on the scene, in the 4000 block of Cole Blvd., SE.

Police have not released any suspect information at this time.

Southeast shooting takes the life of a 33-year-old man

Police are investigating a fatal shooting that left 33-year-old Steven Edward Stewart Jr. dead in front of a convenience store, in the area of an elementary school.

According to the incident report, police responded to 2233 Minnesota Ave., SE Friday morning around 9 a.m. Upon their arrival, police found Stewart on his back suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest.

Stewart was brought to a nearby hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

According to a police spokesperson, police are looking for a black man wearing a black skully who was last seen running toward 19th Street.

Decuir found not guilty of murder charges in partial verdict


In court on Wednesday, the jury found Derryck Decuir not guilty of the first-degree murder charges against him.

In a partial verdict, Decuir was found guilty of carrying a pistol without a license in the shooting that led to the death of Malek Mercer.

During the two week trial, defense attorneys argued that Decuir acted in self-defense when he shot Mercer on the night of June 15, 2015.

Decuir claimed he had no intentions of robbing and killing Mercer that night and only did what the “law permitted him to do’’ according to his lawyer, when he allegedly saw Mercer try to pull out a shotgun.

The government argued that Decuir did not act in self-defense and instead had planned to rob and kill Mercer that night. During the trial a witness came forward and alleged Mercer had a shotgun in his bag before they left the house.

According to police there was no evidence of a gun when they arrived at the scene.

Other charges against Decuir are still pending, and the jury is due back in court Monday to continue deliberating.

Jury begins deliberations in Derryck Decuir trial


The government and defense attorneys presented closing arguments in the trial of Derryck Decuir.

“[A] 15-year-old kid never got to graduate high school,” Prosecutor David Misler said. “Never had the opportunity to make a difference in the world.”

According to the government’s narrative, Mercer was paralyzed and laid on the ground “helpless” gasping for his last breaths after he was shot by Decuir. According to the government, the moment Decuir saw Mercer on the bus, he knew Mercer had something he wanted.

The government presented evidence alleging the shooting was the result of a robbery.

The prosecutors refuted the argument of self-defense.

“If you’re going to rob someone, you can’t claim self-defense if the person tries to fight back. Misler said.

In their closing arguments, the defense reminded the jury it “took an oath” and it had to be fair.

“We picked you to be in this jury because we knew you’d be fair,” Defense Attorney Dana Page said.

Page maintained the narrative that Decuir shot Mercer in self-defense.

“He shot Mr. Mercer, before Mr. Mercer could shoot him,” Page said.

According to the defense, Decuir did what the law allowed him to do. They also argued that Decuir did not see an innocent boy that night, but instead, a “big shotgun coming to take his life.”  

Decuir has been charged with first-degree murder while armed committed against a minor, attempted robbery while armed committed against a minor, possession of firearm during commission of a crime violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Decuir is still being held without bond and the jury has been deliberating since Tuesday.

 

Documents: Eugene Sherman plea deal

Eugene Sherman accepted a plea deal for the murder of Matthew Shevlin.

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Eugene Sherman offered plea deal for the murder of Matthew Shevlin

The man police say arranged the botched robbery that led to the death of 37-year-old Matthew Shevlin has accepted a plea deal.

Eugene Sherman, 53, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in Shevlin’s murder. Sherman has now agreed to a plea agreement downgrading his charges to second-degree murder.

If the judge accepts the terms of the agreement, Sherman will be sentenced to 14-20 years in prison, a steep decline from the potential 40 years he would have served under a the usual parameters of a second-degree murder charge.

According to police, Sherman enlisted 18-year-old David Harvey and 35-year-old Joseph Jennings to break into an apartment in Mt. Vernon Square in order to steal marijuana.

According to documents detailing the event, the trio arrived at the apartment on 400 Block of M St., NW around 10 p.m. Jan. 22, 2016. Shevlin fled the apartment and after a struggle raced out into the courtyard where he was shot twice.

Shevlin was brought to a nearby hospital and succumbed to his injuries later that night. His cause of death was ruled multiple gunshot wounds and his murder was deemed a homicide.

In January, Jennings was sentenced to 24 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder, per the terms of his plea agreement.

Harvey’s case is still pending, though Sherman previously pleaded in his defense in court, saying he alone orchestrated the robbery.

Sherman is being held without bond and is expected in court April 14 for sentencing.

Charges against Paul Hagans upgraded to murder

The man who told police he punched 41-year-old Desmond Joseph has now been charged with murder, after the victim died from his injuries.

Paul Hagans was initially charged with aggravated assault after he allegedly punched Desmond once, killing him.

According to police, Hagans allegedly delivered the fatal punch at around 4 p.m. on March 2 on 200 Block of Rhode Island Ave., NE. Unconscious and unresponsive, Joseph was transferred to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead the following day.

The decedent’s cause of death was ruled blunt force trauma to the head. His death was deemed a homicide.

According to charging documents, Hagans turned himself in to police the night of the altercation, and was originally charged with aggravated assault. After Joseph’s death, Hagans’ charges were upgraded to a felony murder charge, police announced on Monday.

Hagans is being held without bond and is expected in court April 14 for a preliminary hearing.

Prosecution calls key witnesses to the stand in Dujuan Garris trial

Three days into the James Anderson murder trial, the prosecution spent the day hammering out the details of the night that police say Dujuan Garris, 21, fatally shot and killed the 27-year-old.

The medical examiner who performed the autopsy on Anderson testified Anderson suffered three gunshot wounds, in addition to abrasions consistent with falling down a flight of stairs after he was shot.

Eyewitness Danelle Scott, 19, testified and said repeatedly she couldn’t remember specifics about the suspect who shot and killed Anderson, after testifying that her location in the room that night gave her visibility of the attacker. On several occasions the prosecution presented Scott with her grand jury testimony, taken two years ago, in an effort to “refresh her memory.”

After a quick break, Scott was supposed to be called back on the stand. However, she didn’t appear in the courtroom and the both the defense and prosecution approached the judge.

After ushering the jury out on an early lunch break, the judge and attorneys spoke relating to issuing a warrant and putting court marshals on the matter.

Upon the jury’s return from break, Scott was placed back on the stand and upon her cross examination Scott told the defense she “didn’t want to be involved in this case.”

Garris is expected in court Monday for his continued trial.

Man found fatally stabbed in Bellevue

Police are investigating a the fatal stabbing of 26-year-old Leonte Butler.

According to police, at around 11 p.m. on March 11 police arrived to 4000 block of South Capitol St., SE and found Butler’s body body. Butler was found unresponsive and had multiple stab wounds.

Butler was pronounced dead at the scene and was later transported to the medical examiner’s office.

Police have not released any suspect information.

51-year-old man found stabbed to death

Police are investigating the fatal stabbing of 51-year-old Dennis Lee Wise.

According to police, Wise’s lifeless body was found early Saturday morning on the 1800 block of Bruce Place, SE. Wise was pronounced dead on the scene and later transported to the medical examiner’s office.

Police have not released any suspect information at this time.

Tyrone Johnson fatally shot Friday morning


Police are investigating after a 24-year-old man was killed Friday morning.

Tyrone Johnson was found in the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Ave. SE, at around 11:15 Friday morning with apparent gunshot wounds. Johnson was taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries.

Police have not released any suspect information at this time.