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Judge denies self defense argument for Mario Alfaro

In a hearing on Wednesday, the judge found probable cause exists to hold Mario Alfaro without bail for the murder of Jonathan Vilchez.

Vilchez was fatally shot outside of the Lucky corner market in the 5400 block of Georgia Ave. NW, on Nov. 8. Upon arrival, police found Vilchez inside of the store with multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead shortly after. Alfaro was located later and transported to a hospital where he was treated for non-life threatening wounds.

During Alfaro’s preliminary hearing, the prosecution submitted three videos along with the affidavit for their evidence to find probable cause. The first video showed a doorside surveillance camera view of the incident. In the video, Vilchez walks into the convenience store and starts looking at the drinks in the back. Shortly after, Alfaro enters with two companions and buys a pack of cigarettes before approaching Vilchez. The prosecution argued that when Alfaro approached Vilchez he made a gesture to “show his gun” and started the armed combat. The second video shows the same scene from a viewpoint of the back of the store, but in this video, the viewer can see that Alfaro maintained a “mean glare” at Vilchez as soon as he entered the store.

After Alfaro allegedly shows his gun, Vilchez pulled his gun out and fired the first shot. Alfaro and his companions immediately run out of the convenience store, while Vilchez pursues them. The third video shows Alfaro stop outside of the convenience store, load his gun and fire shots at Vilchez who was in the doorway. The defense argued that this act was of self defense because Vilchez was pursuing Alfaro. According to Alfaro’s attorneys, Alfaro was not the “first aggressor” and even if he was, his running away was his sign of ending the dispute. Judge Zoe Bush mentioned that it “takes more than just running” to signal one’s submission in a dispute.

Detective Gabriel Truby testified in court and revealed that the two appear to police to be in the same street gang. He also mentioned that there had been no prior conflicts between the two before the incident. Judge Bush denied the argument that Alfaro’s act was self defense due to the way he had looked at Vilchez in the convenience store and his other actions in the videos. She ruled that he be held without bail due to his criminal past and because he had committed this murder while he was on supervised release for another case.

Alfaro is currently being charged with second-degree murder while armed and is set for a felony status conference on April 6, 2018.

Martell Hall ordered held without bail

A judge found probable cause exists to hold Martell Antonio Hall for allegedly fatally stabbing David Thomas Neal.

Police say Hall fatally stabbed the 31-year-old outside of a 7-Eleven in the 3900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., on Sept. 11. According to evidence gathered by the government, a “man in a blue suit,” allegedly Hall, had offered Neal free marijuana outside of the convenience store. After Neal stepped out of store, the two got into a fight where they were “throwing punches” and it led to his death.

Judge Zoe Bush agreed that it was “not a mutually armed fight” and found probable cause to hold Hall without bail.

He is scheduled for a felony status conference in February 2018.

Defense argues incompetency in David Norwood killing

During what was supposed to be his felony arraignment on Friday, the attorneys for Malcolm Cunningham argued the murder suspect is incompetent.

On April 16, police officers found 79-year-old David Norwood, in the 619 block of C St., NE with apparent stab wounds. He was pronounced dead on the scene and taken to a medical examiner shortly after.

A witness gave a tip to an officer that a “suspicious” person with Cunningham’s description had placed in a knife in a recycling bin in the rear ally of the same block. According to charging documents, Cunningham allegedly used a knife to threaten to kill Norwood weeks before the fatal stabbing. According to another witness, Cunningham had allegedly threatened others, including family members, with a knife in the weeks before the incident. Cunningham was arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed, after the family turned him in.

According to his defense, Cunningham’s “intellectual functioning is extremely low and he is incompetent in not just his mental health, but also in his cognitive ability.” The prosecution asked for the arraignment to continue regardless of his competency in question.

Judge Jose Lopez decided to set the arraignment for a later date after getting a report from defense on his competency. Cunningham is set for another hearing on Jan. 5, 2018.

16-year-old pleads guilty to the murder of Malachi Yisrael

In a hearing on Friday, Lamont Mcdonald pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for the fatal shooting of Malachi Yisrael.

On July 5, Malachi Yisrael and one other man were found by police with apparent gunshot wounds in the 300 block of 50th St., NE. Both were transported to a nearby hospital, where Yisrael succumbed to his injuries shortly after.

According to Lamont McDonald’s arrest warrant, he and Yisrael had been partaking in an illegal drug sale when they got into an argument that led to McDonald being struck in the face. The scuffled continued, and while on the ground, McDonald proceeded to shoot at Yisrael. Another male in the vicinity began shooting at McDonald shortly after. Yisrael was found with eight gunshot wounds.

McDonald was originally charged with second-degree murder while armed and is being tried as an adult. On Friday, he pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter while armed. As part of his agreement, his other charges will be dropped and he will expect a maximum sentence of five years of incarceration.

The defense requested for his release before his sentencing, as his uncle had promised to take care of him. Judge Lopez was not “comfortable” deciding release and denied this request.

McDonald is expected to have a full report and sentencing on Feb. 16 of 2018.

Derek Cook sentenced to 20 years for murdering his mother

The man charged with killing his 81-year-old mother was sentenced to 20 years in jail.

On the evening of Aug. 12, police officers found Anne Alfredia Cook severely injured in her apartment. She was taken to a hospital, where she died later that night. According to court documents, Derek Cook and his mother had been having a conversation when Cook began to repeatedly strike Cook with a closed fist. The 81-year-old yelled for help when Cook began repeatedly beating her with a wooden stick and an iron. At the time of the beating, his mother was unarmed and in bed.

When the police officers arrived at the apartment building, Derek Cook would not let police into the apartment. Police had to ram down the apartment door to gain entry. Derek Cook was arrested that night and has remained in prison ever since.

In September the 52-year-old pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed as part of a plea deal. After the sentenced is fulfilled, he will be placed on five years of supervised release.

Kenneth Rice sentenced for the murder of Dennis Wise

On Friday, Kenneth Rice was sentenced to 9 years for the fatal stabbing of 51-year-old Dennis Wise in March.

At around 2 a.m. on March 11, police found Dennis Wise face down on a bed in a house in the 1800 block of Bruce Pl., SE. A few hours earlier police had arrived at the house to investigate an assault that was called in by Wise. Wise reported that he was assaulted by a man named “Kenneth.” When police arrived at the scene, the homeowner told officers that Kenneth Rice and Wise had gotten into a short fight over food and that it was over. When officers returned a short time later, Wise had stab wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Rice, 31, had been arrested for a burglary on V Street at the same time as the crime scene investigation for Wise’s murder. Once at the police department, Rice immediately asked for a lawyer before responding to any questions. He was arrested three weeks after the murder and charged with second-degree murder while armed.

In September he pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed. After his sentence is fulfilled, he will undergo three years of supervised release.

Man arrested after fatal shooting Saturday morning

A 47-year-old man was arrested in connection to a fatal shooting on Saturday morning.

Kevin Lamont Smith was arrested on Dec. 2 for the alleged murder of Valerie Regina Coleman. He is charged with second-degree murder while armed.

Officers found Coleman, of Southeast, with multiple gunshot wounds in a house on the 1700 Block of 16th Street, SE. She was pronounced dead on the scene and taken to the Chief Medical Examiner.

Smith is due back in court on Dec. 4.

42-year-old man arrested for alleged murder

Gregory Williams, 42, was arrested on Dec. 4 for the alleged murder of Andrew Alphonso Cook, III, of NE.

Officers arrived on the 1700 block of North Capitol Street, NE, on Sept. 23 and found Cook with a stab wound. He was taken to an area hospital where he died from his injuries two days later.

Williams was charged with first-degree murder while armed.

Witness testifies he was robbed near shooting

A witness who was nearby when a 38-year-old man was fatally shot was called to testify during trial.

Antwon Green is charged with second-degree murder for allegedly murdering Breond Keys, who was shot while getting a haircut at a barbershop in Southeast DC.

The witness on the stand was robbed in an alleyway near the barber shop and a book bag was taken from him. Inside the bag were 18 dollars, some knives and personal documents — one knife and a personal document from the book bag were identified by the witness during the trial.

The witness testified he was in the alleyway the previous night to hand out samples of drugs he had purchased and returned the next morning to see people’s reactions, when he was robbed by someone he didn’t recognize in a mask.

The robber assaulted and threatened to shoot the witness, before taking his belongings.

The witness returned to his stepdad’s house nearby, where he stayed for the rest of the day.

The government played video recordings from various stores, including the front of the barber shop, and asked the witness if he was in any of the recordings.

The witness said he was not recorded in any of the videos played for the jury. He testified he had never been inside that barber shop and did not murder Breond Keys.