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15-year old boy fatally shot at Deanwood Metro


Davonte Washington, 15, was fatally shot on the Deanwood metro station platform Saturday.

According to NBC Washington,the 15-year-old was on his way to get a haircut with his mother and two sisters on Saturday when a man approached and shot him.

Police arrived at the scene around 4 p.m. and Washington was transported to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Washington’s grandfather, Victor Leonard, told reporters that Washington’s mother said that she had never seen the shooter before this incident. Davonte was a freshman Air Force Junior ROTC at Largo High School in Prince George’s County. A Washington Post article said that the victim lived in Maryland and came to D.C. to visit his mother that weekend.

“Just doesn’t make sense,” said Washington’s grandfather, Leonard to the Washington Post reporters.

Police have not yet arrested any suspects for Washington’s death.

 

Paul Swann charged with murder of Adam Barker


Police have announced the arrest of Paul Swann for the alleged murder of Adam Edwin Barker earlier this month.

Swann, 24, was charged with second-degree murder while armed. According to police, Barker of Southwest was found with injuries at around 4:20 p.m. on February 29. Barker died from his injuries on March 1, and later charged Swann with his murder.

Community members call for attention on murders in Southeast

After the second murder at the same bus stop in less than a year, community leaders in the area are calling for more attention to be paid to the violence in that area.

Trantham holding the press conference in SE.
Trantham holding the press conference in SE.

Paul Trantham, a member of the advisory neighborhood commission, said he wants to raise awareness on the growing issue of violence in Ward 7 and 8 of Southeast DC.

“We know violence is an unpreventable disease,” said Ward 8 candidate, Anthony Muhammad.

Muhammad said he has a book containing 250 unsolved murders, all of which occurred in Ward 8, that date back to 2010.

“The police cannot solve the problem. We have to solve the problem ourselves,” he said.

Out of the more than 20 homicides that have happened so far this year, six happened in Southeast. Last week, Ivy Tonett Smith, 39, was fatally shot when she was sitting at the bus stop on Naylor Road, between Good Hope Road. and Alabama Avenue.

Last year reporter Charnice Milton, 27, was also killed when transferring buses at the same location.

Both cases remain unsolved.

Bullethole from Smith's homicide at the bus stop in SE
Bullethole from Smith’s homicide at the Naylor Road bus stop

“There is a war downtown and it seems like everyone has forgotten – it’s time now for prosecution,” said Milton’s father, Ken McClenton.

Police suspect that Milton was not the intended victim, and was instead used as a human shield in the shooting.

“While we were here, how many police cars have you seen patrol this area?” Trantham asked.

“Everyone should be outraged,” he said. Trantham hopes the conference encourages the Southeast community to “evangelize” and get more involved in reducing the acts of violence in Ward 7 and 8.

Darnell Lee Richardson found dead inside car in Southeast


Police are investigating after a man was found dead in the driver’s seat of a car with gunshot wounds.

The man was identified by police as 29-year-old Darnell Lee Richardson. Richardson was found in the 3400 block of Benning Road, NE a little before 9 p.m. on March 16.

Jasper Spires given more time to consider plea deal


The man charged with killing Kevin Sutherland onboard a red-line metro train was given an extension to contemplate a plea deal in exchange for a guilty plea.

Jasper Spires, 18, was charged with first-degree murder after he allegedly stabbed Sutherland, 24, on July 4. According to details of an autopsy made public in Spires’ charging documents, Sutherland suffered from several stab wounds to his chest and heart, as well as other trauma.

In court, Spires entered with a big smile on his face and chuckled. After a full mental observation and medical attention, Spires was found competent to stand trial in October.

Details of the plea deal were not made publicly available. Spires’ attorney declined to comment.

Christopher Proctor request to be released on high intensity supervision denied


A judge denied a request for the third man charged with the alleged murder of Matthew Shlonsky to be released to a halfway house or placed under high intensity supervision.

During Christopher Proctor’s March 15 court appearance, a judge ruled there was enough evidence to hold Proctor without bail and move the case forward.

Proctor is being charged with second-degree murder while armed, along with co-defendants Andre Dudley and Marcus King.

In arguing for his client’s release, Proctor’s attorney, Michael Madden said Proctor has been working at the Verizon Center for a month prior to his arrest and has “strong family ties.” The judge denied the request because of two prior violations the defendant had for “not complying with the court.”

In court, Detective Dathan Brown was called to the stand by the prosecuting attorney, Channing Phillips. Brown answered questions about the investigation and his partner, who is the lead detective in this homicide case.

After Brown stepped down from the stand, Proctor’s attorney said that “self-defense could be used to defeat probable cause.” Madden said that his client may be held liable for holding a gun, but not for second-degree murder.

“Just because he entered the building at the time, doesn’t mean he was the shooter,” Madden said.

The attorney was referring to the surveillance video evidence police used to arrest Proctor, who witnesses identified as “the man in the blue polo shirt.”

Madden requested that the government give the defense the video that they have as evidence against his client. He also asked that the court find no probable cause in this case because of the “hole in information that the government owes the court.”

“The individuals were armed and prepared to battle,” said Judge Morin. The court found probable cause for second-degree murder while armed.

Proctor, Dudley and King are scheduled to appear in court together on May. 20 for a felony status conference.

Police charge man with murder of Aubrey Dansbury

Police say a man died from gunshot wounds on March 17.

Aubrey Dansbury, 27, was found by police on March 9 on the 800 block of Chesapeake Street, SE, with gunshot wounds and was transported to the hospital.

According to police, he was transported in critical condition and died eight days later.

Police arrested 29-year old Anthony Wade in connection with the murder. He is being charged with second-degree murder while armed and is scheduled to appear in court April 8.

Defense argues unsuccessfully for drug treatment in lieu of jail in Eric Jones case


A motion made by the attorney for a man charged with fatally stabbing a 19-year-old last October to receive drug treatment in lieu of a jail sentence was swiftly denied by a judge Thursday.

Cimerron Kennedy, 24, is charged with second-degree murder for alleged stabbing 19-year-old Eric Jones in Layla Lounge.

In arguing for the drug treatment, Kennedy’s lawyer said a main factor of the stabbing was PCP in Kennedy’s system the night of the stabbing. She said Kennedy has been detoxing in prison for the last three months and argued that drug therapy should be the next step.

Judge Florence Pan denied the request, and said that due to the severity of the incident, there is “no condition or combination of conditions that will ensure the safety of the community.”

A prosecutor told the judge that the full investigation of the case should be completed after a couple more months, and that an indictment will be ready by the next conference.

The next felony status conference has been scheduled for June 10 at 10 a.m.

James Stewart identified as man shot on Friday

Police say a man was fatally shot on Friday morning.

The victim has been identified as 22-year old James Stewart. Stewart was found unconscious from a gunshot wound in the 1000 block of 44th Street, NE, at approximately 6:49 a.m. on Mar. 11.

On Friday morning, 911 dispatchers received a call from the area about a “man down.” Stewart was found unconscious and unresponsive by police. He was then pronounced dead at the scene.

Police have not yet arrested any suspects for the homicide.

Suspect wanted for the murder of Rudolph Garris

Police are asking for the public’s help in finding Tavon Stewart, identified as a suspect for the fatal shooting of Rudolph Garris earlier this month.

Police are seeking to charge Stewart, also known as “Juice,” with second-degree murder for the fatal shooting of Garris on March 1.

The Washington Post reported that the shooting took place near an elementary school in Southeast. Children were playing outside at the time of the shooting, but were rushed inside the school at the sound of gunfire.

Stewart, 23, is described by police as a black male with a medium complexion, brown eyes, black hair, weighing 150 pounds and five-feet, 9 inches tall. Anyone with information about Garris’ whereabouts can call the Metropolitan Police Department at 202-727-9099.

Garris was found fatally shot in the 4200 block of 6th Street, SE.

Tavon Moore claims killing of Noel Rezene was self-defense

Tavon Moore, arrested for the fatal shooting of Noel Rezene, said that the shots he fired were self-defense.

Moore is being charged with second-degree murder while armed and assault with the intent to kill.

In arraignment court on Mar. 7, Moore’s defense attorney Katerina Semyonova requested that the court find probable cause for both charges against her client. She said the government did not have evidence that the descendent was not the aggressor in the shooting, and detectives failed to review the idea that Moore shot at the car in self-defense.

D.C. superior court Judge Arthur found probable cause for both charges. Moore is being held without bond.

Moore will next appear in court on Mar. 18 for his preliminary hearing.

Ivy Tonett Smith identified as woman shot on Sunday

Police say a woman died from multiple gunshot wounds Sunday afternoon.

The victim has been identified as 39-year old Ivy Tonett Smith, of NE. Smith was found suffering from gunshot wounds in the 2800 block of Alabama Avenue, SE at approximately 1:16 p.m. on Mar. 6. Smith was rushed to a local hospital where she then died.

Along with Smith, two other victims were found by police. Victim 2 suffered from gunshot wounds, while Victim 3 sustained minor injuries from shattered glass. Both are now in stable condition.

Police are investigating the case for any suspects.

Joseph Barbour and Willie Glover robbed and killed Lenard Wills

Joseph Barbour, 35, and Willie Glover Jr., 37, are being charged with first-degree murder while armed for the fatal stabbing of Lenard Wills, 50.

According to the arrest warrant, the victim, Lenard Wills, had deep cuts in his head and face, had fractured bones in his face, and sustained four stab wounds to his chest and one stab wound to his arm. He was later pronounced dead after he was transported to the Washington Hospital Center.

“The cause of death was determined to be multiple stab wounds to the torso,” according to the D.C. chief medical examiner.

When police arrived at the scene, there was a significant amount of blood on the floor in the living room, a pool of blood in the corner and a blood trail that lead out of the apartment.

The blood trail lead detectives down the stairs of the apartment building, across the street, through a basketball court, and to an apartment inside of 2210 H Street, NE.

While following the blood trail, detectives found a knife covered in blood inside of a trash can and a cell phone in a blue case.

Police spoke to Witness 5 at the apartment and learned that Barbour came into that apartment, but left a few minutes before they arrived. Detectives continued to follow the blood trail, all the way to the front of 2100 block of H street, NE, where they found Suspect 1, Joseph Barbour.

Barbour was transported to the Washington Hospital Center to be treated for his stab wounds. He told police that when he left Witness 5 at his girlfriend’s apartment, “unknown individuals pulled him into a building and stated ‘give that shit up’,” according to the warrant.

Suspect 1 was re-interviewed that same day, and added that he was with Suspect 2, “Willie”, when he was allegedly assaulted.

“Willie” had checked himself into Prince George’s County Hospital Center a few hours after the reported homicide. Suspect 2 reported to the Prince George’s County detectives that he had been stabbed by a man who tried to rob him in Seat Pleasant, MD.

After two interviews with MPD detectives in the hospital, Glover admitted that he went inside of 701 24th Street, NE with his friend “Shorty”, Barbour and “Black” also known as “Old Timer” to confront an unknown male.

Willie Glover requested to be released on bail

Willie Glover Jr., 37, charged in the murder of Lenard Wills, 50, made his second appearance in DC Superior court on Mar. 3 for a preliminary hearing.

Glover is being charged with first-degree murder while armed. Joseph Barbour, 35, is also facing first-degree murder while armed in the case.

Glover’s attorney, Michael Madden, said Glover has no criminal record and is a father of five children with another one on the way. He asked that his client be released on bail to take care of his family. DC Superior Court Judge Ryan rejected the request, suggesting Madden file a motion for bail instead.

In court, the two defendants entered the courtroom together and sat beside their attorneys. Barbour’s attorney, Katerina Semyonova, requested that the bailiff free one of Barbour’s hands so that he could write.

During a break in the hearing, Glover leaned back on his chair and playfully stuck his tongue out at a pregnant woman in the courtroom and the two of them exchanged laughter.

One witness was called during the hearing; Detective Jeffrey Weber. He answered questions about the investigation and went over the credentials of the arrest warrant for the two suspects, which he wrote and signed.

The two accused are scheduled to appear in court next on Apr. 29 for a felony status conference.