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Trial date set in murder case against Michael ‘Melvin’ Lee

The two week trial for the case against Michael “Melvin” Lee has been scheduled for November.

Lee was arrested on Nov. 20 of last year and has been charged with second-degree murder while armed for the fatal shooting of Kevontae Jones, which occurred on Nov. 19 in the 100 block of Danbury Street, SW.

In court, U.S. Attorney Charles Willoughby said the investigation is ongoing and the government will be able to set an indictment date by the Aug. 2016 deadline. He suggested that the trial be scheduled for late December.

Judge Ryan denied the request because there will not be any jurors available during those weeks.

Instead, pre-trial motion hearings are scheduled for Nov. 8 and Nov. 9.

Maurice Bellamy held without bail in what prosecutor and police call ‘senseless’ murder


A judge ordered the 17-year-old charged with the murder of Davonte Washington held without bail in an emotionally charged courtroom Tuesday.

Maurice Bellamy, will be tried as an adult is charged with second-degree murder while armed while allegedly shooting Washington, 15, when he stood on a metro platform with his mother and two young sisters Saturday.

There were no empty seats in the emotional courtroom, packed with both the Washington and Bellamy families for Bellamy’s first appearance.

When Bellamy was brought forward in court, Bellamy’s mother jumped out of her seat and shouted “my son,” and was soon restrained by family and friends.

U.S. Attorney Glenn Kirschner said Bellamy’s case “gives new meaning” to the word “senseless” and requested him held without bail.

The judge said there was probable cause for Bellamy’s arrest and had not heard anything sufficient to rebut the arrest. His next court date is April 22.

According to an affidavit for Bellamy’s arrest, police reviewed surveillance footage at the Deanwood metro station following the shooting that left Washington dead, at around 4 p.m. According to the document, Washington, his mother and two younger sisters are seen sitting on a bench enclosed in glass. The document says it appears as though one of the sisters looks at Bellamy, who walks onto the platform with friends. The man police identified as Bellamy is seen pulling a gun from his waistband, and shooting at Washington, who stood up from the bench.

Police created a photo of Bellamy from the video, and compared it to a list of juvenile offenders, which matched with Bellamy, according to the document.
Bellamy is seen in the footage running out of the metro station.

Police also identified Bellamy as the suspect using Facebook. According to the affidavit, police found photos of Bellamy on his Facebook identifying himself as “SHOOTA MOE, AKA, MOE CITY” and “KENTLANDMO.” According to the document police reviewed other arrest paperwork for Bellamy where his nickname is “Moe” and had a prior address in the Kentland neighborhood of Maryland.

Witnesses included in the document told police Bellamy and Washington had a short dialogue before Washington was shot.

The first witness, presumed to be Washington’s mother, said they were sitting on the bench when Bellamy got Washington’s attention. Washington had been preoccupied on his cell phone, and the suspect allegedly rapped on the glass to get his attention. The witness couldn’t hear what began the conversation, but said Washington walked away from the enclosed bench, and Bellamy said “What’s up?,” to which Washington also replied, “What’s up?” The witness said they believed Bellamy was about to begin a fight when he pulled a gun out and shot Washington. The witness said feathers came out of the back of Washington’s jacket when he was shot. The witness said Bellamy was armed with a revolver.

According to the medical examiner’s report quoted in the document, Washington was shot twice in the torso which lead to his death. Police could not find any casings at the scene of the homicide, which also led them to believe the murder weapon was a revolver.

A second witness who had accompanied Bellamy to the metro station identified the shooter as “Mikey B” or “Moe.” This witness told police the alleged shooter engaged Washington, asking “What the [sic] you keep looking at me for, you know me from somewhere?,” with his hand in his pocket. The alleged shooter then again said “What?” When Washington got off the bench and said “What?” he was shot by “Mikey B,” according to the witness. Throughout the interview, police reportedly pushed the witness to find out the suspect’s “real name” and were later told his real name is “Moe.”

A third witness also interviewed told police that “Moe” had been living with him and another witness, a second companion at the metro station for a while. This witness also confirmed Bellamy’s photo and identity as “Moe.”

Outside the courthouse, Victor Leonard, Washington’s grandfather, said he couldn’t believe the shooter was a “kid” around the same age as his grandson.

Leonard said Washington’s mother recognized Bellamy as the shooter when he took the stand and said, “Yeah, that’s who killed my baby,” during the presentment.

“I can’t say how I feel,” he said. “It is a new meaning to a senseless act. That’s what everybody wants to know – ‘For what reason would you do this?’ I can’t find a reason.”

Leonard said he is relieved Bellamy is off the street and that somebody is in custody and will be held accountable for the murder of his grandson. He said he hopes Bellamy receives some type of penalty or “what ever it is he needs.”

Leonard said the Washington family was “tight-knit” with both the mother and father’s side of the family there along with nieces, cousins, uncles and many more. He said his daughter is “very distraught” about Washington’s death.

Leonard said he would tell the Bellamy family to pray and wished to Bellamy to understand why he killed Washington.

“It is shocking and scary to see that somebody would look at another person and think their life is meaningless,” he said. “This could really happen.”

[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2779590-Charging-docs-Maurice-Bellamy.html”]

17-year old suspect charged with murder of 15-year old Davonte Washington

Police on Tuesday announced the arrest of a 17-year old for the murder of a 15-year old Davonte Washington, who was killed in front of his mother and younger sisters at the Deanwood metro station platform Saturday.

Police Chief Cathy Lanier said at a press conference Tuesday morning that the suspect is being charged with second-degree murder while armed and will be tried as an adult.

Though police did not release the name of the suspect, and said more information would be provided at the 2 p.m. arraignment, court documents show 17-year-old Maurice Bellamy was charged with Washington’s murder.

Police said video surveillance was “critical” in finding and identifying the suspect.

Metropolitan Police Department spokesman Dustin Sternbeck said Washington was on his way to get a haircut for Easter Sunday with his mother and two sisters when there was a “brief exchange” between the suspect around 4 p.m. at the Deanwood metro platform. The suspect shot Washington after the conversation turned into an argument.

“It was a senseless act that happened in a matter of moments,” Sternbeck said.

Police Chief Cathy Lanier speaking at Tuesday's press conference
Police Chief Cathy Lanier speaking at Tuesday’s press conference

Washington was taken to Prince George’s County Hospital where he then died.

At the press conference, Lanier said there was no information about whether or not the suspect and Washington knew each other, but she could not say if the shooting was completely random.

“Of all the tragic things that we see when it comes to violence, nothing is more senseless than this case, in my opinion,” Lanier said. “There’s no reason for it.”

Over the weekend, Washington’s grandfather told reporters that his grandson’s mother had never seen the suspect before and has no reason to believe her son was a part of anything that would get him killed.

Washington’s grandfather told reporters that the family had a “very somber Easter.”

18-year-old girl fatally stabbed at a bus stop


An 18-year-old girl was fatally stabbed at a bus stop on the 4800 block of Benning Road, SE.

According to the Metropolitan Police Department press release, a patrol officer witnessed a fight between two girls at the bus stop on March 22. The officer stopped the fight, but not before one girl stabbed the other.

The victim, later identified as Amanjanea La-Shell Whitley, was transported to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

Police looking for suspect after man fatally shot


Police are investigating the fatal shooting of Gabriel Carlos Turner.

Turner, of Southeast, was found on the 2600 block of Birney Place, SE, on March 24 with a gunshot wound.

Turner was taken to the hospital where he later died.

Five suspects arrested for homicides

Police have announced the arrest of several suspects in five homicide cases, including one case that dated back to 2013.

Last week, Ronald Bruce Thomas, 29, was charged with first-degree murder while armed for the alleged fatal shooting Dontell Price, 21, on the Unit block of M Street, NE, in May 2013.

All other arrests announced by the police last week were made in homicides in Southeast, D.C. this month.

A juvenile female was arrested on March 22 and charged with second-degree murder while armed for fatally stabbing Amanjanea La-Shell Whitley, 18, on the 4800 block of Benning Road, SE. According to the Metropolitan Police Department’s press release, a patrol officer in the neighborhood witnessed the fight between the suspect and Whitley at the bus stop, before the suspect stabbed Whitley.

Also on March 22, police announced the arrest of Anthony Wade, 29. Wade was charged with second-degree murder while armed for the fatal shooting Aubrey Dansbury, 27, on the 800 block of Chesapeake Street, SE on March 9.

On March 24, police arrested Alphonso Roberts, 32, for fatally shooting Maurico Walker, 23.

Tavon Stewart, 24, was also arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed, for fatally shooting Rudolph Garris, 25, on the 4600 block of 6th street, SE.

 

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.