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Police looking for two people of interest related to Algernon Jones murder


Police are looking for two people and vehicles of interest related to the murder of 32-year-old Algernon Harvey Jones.

Jones was killed by multiple gunshot wounds in the 100 block of Q St., NW last month.

After conducting a further investigation D.C. Police learned that seven additional people were also shot and sustained non-life threatening injuries.

Both people of interest are described as black males wearing dark clothing. They were last seen in the video below fleeing the scene in a black car with tinted windows heading eastbound on Q Street, NW.

Matthew Roth’s father asks for his murder trial not to be held on the anniversary of his death

Dave Roth will never forget the day his 24-year-old son was killed–but he had to remind those involved in trying the two men charged with his son’s death of the date.

Roth leaves at 4 a.m. from his home in New Jersey to attend every hearing for Ryan Thompson and Rasheed Murray. The two men were charged with murder after they were allegedly racing at 3 a.m. on July 19, 2015 near the intersection of 16th and Madison Streets, NW. Murray lost control of the car and his car landed atop Matthew Roth’s, according to his father.

Minutes after a hearing where he had to ask that the trial for his son’s murder not be held on the third anniversary of his son’s death, Roth smiled, boasting of his son’s accomplishments.

“He had a great 24 years, but it was cut short,” Roth said, scrolling through photos of his son in a graduation cap and gown.

Roth said his son was handsome, smart and kind. Never one to break the rules or to hurt a fly.

“Everything that happened just goes against who he was,” Dave Roth said.

Matthew Roth had come to the DC-area to pave his own way. Though his dad has his own CPA firm, Roth still decided to get a job on his own at Pricewaterhouse Coopers. He graduated in 2013 from the University of Maryland and passed the CPA test on the first try. Not on his resume was his love for traveling and sports.

The Roth family has set up a foundation at the University of Maryland’s Robert Smith School of Business to give scholarships to students wishing to attend the school from New Jersey.

Matthew Roth’s younger brother Zach has started an organ donor club at his school in the wake of his brother’s death.

Dave Roth sat in the courtroom last week wearing a jersey with his son’s name embroidered on the back as the prosecutor, judge and attorneys went back and forth, checking calendars, holiday schedules and vacation schedules to find a time to fit in his son’s murder trial.

While other people are on vacation and celebrating holidays, Dave Roth said he’s visiting his son’s grave. In the meantime, he will keep trudging along, waiting for the trial.

A trial date was eventually set for Sept. 5, 2018–more than three years after the crash that killed Matthew Roth.

“It’s just senseless. This didn’t have to happen,” Roth said. “That is the part that just kills me. And that’s why these guys need to go to jail.”

 

Rasheed Murray and Ryan Thompson trial set for September 2018

The trial date for two men who were allegedly drag racing when they struck and killed another driver was scheduled for September of next year, more than three years after the incident.

Ryan Thompson and Rasheed Murray have been charged with second-degree murder for the death of Matthew Jeffrey Roth in July 2015.

With Roth’s father in the courtroom, Judge Milton Lee, attorneys and the prosecutor went back and forth trying to find a date that would allow all parties to make the two-week trial.

After flipping through several months, the parties reached a trial start date of July 19, 2018. But after a prosecutor spoke to Roth’s father, donning a sports jersey with his son’s name embroidered on the back, the prosecutor relayed to the court that this trial date would coincide with the anniversary of Roth’s death and said it would be “traumatic for the family” for the trial to proceed on that date.

All parties then agreed that the soonest available date for a trial is September 2018.

Both Thompson and Murray have been released on bail as the case continues. Thompson arrived late and Murray did not make an appearance.

During the hearing, the attorneys for both defendants notified the judge of their intention to file motions to “sever”– to argue for the two men to be tried separately.

The motions will be discussed at a hearing this September.

Thompson’s attorney also asked that his client’s driving restrictions be removed, as it takes hours for him to get to and from work on the bus and metro systems. Milton swiftly denied this request and kept the driving restrictions in place.

Both men are due back in court September 29.

 

Chad Hawthorne charged with murder of Antonio Bassett

Chad Everett Hawthorne was arrested by the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force and charged with murder.

The 36-year-old is being charged with the murder of Antonio Bassett, who was fatally shot May 22.

Bassett was found inside a residence on the 3900 block of Pennsylvania Ave., SE. Emergency workers determined that he had died from his injuries by the time of their arrival to the residence.

Hawthorne is being charged with second-degree murder while armed.

George Joyner sentenced to 11 years

The man who pleaded guilty to the fatal stabbing of Keon Parker last August was sentenced to 11 years in prison last week.

George Joyner pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter as part of a plea deal.

According to charging documents, Joyner and Parker were engaged in a physical altercation on August 8. Joyner told detectives that he and Parker knew each other, and the fight began when Parker “bumped him.” Joyner also told police Parker said he was going to rob him.

Police were able to find Joyner after following a trail of blood to a shelter near the intersection of 2nd and E Streets, NW. Joyner suffered a cut to his arm during the fight. Parker was killed after being stabbed in the stomach.

Algernon Harvey Jones fatally shot Saturday morning


Police say a 32-year-old man, Algernon Harvey Jones, was fatally shot early Saturday morning, along with 7 other people who sustained non-life threatening gunshot wounds.

Jones was found in the 100 block of Q St. around 1:00 a.m.

When emergency workers arrived they determined Jones had already died from his injuries, and he was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

The remaining 7 victims were treated at area hospitals.

Two suspects are being sought by the police, both of which were described as black males wearing dark clothing.

They were last seen fleeing the scene in a black vehicle with tinted windows, heading eastbound on Q Street, NW.

Wayne Joaquin fatally shot Sunday afternoon


A 24-year-old man was fatally shot Sunday afternoon.

Wayne Joaquin was found in the 5200 block of Dix St., NE around 2:30 p.m.

When emergency workers arrived, they transported Wayne to an area hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Police have not yet released any suspect information.

Second suspect arrested in Christopher Heard’s murder case

Police on Tuesday arrested 37-year-old Malik Hewitt for the suspected shooting of 37-year-old Christopher Heard.

Hewitt was charged with first-degree-murder while armed.

Heard was shot on April 27, 2017 in the Woodland area of D.C. by 2307 Ainger Pl., SE.

Hewitt is the second suspect arrested in this case. On May 12, 31-year-old Nyekemia Everett was arrested and charged with first-degree-murder while armed. Everett is currently being held without bail and his next court date is June 16, 2017.

DeAndre Riley fatally shot Tuesday evening


A 25-year-old man, DeAndre Riley, was fatally shot Tuesday evening.

He was found on the 700 block of 18th St., NE at approximately 7:24 p.m.

When emergency workers arrived, they transported DeAndre to an area hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Police have not yet released any suspect information.

Man charged with killing his father to undergo mental evaluation


The man charged with killing his father will again undergo a mental evaluation before both sides proceed with his preliminary hearing.

David Blakeney Jr. was charged with murder after officers found his father, David Blakeney, lying unresponsive and unconscious with multiple stab wounds in a bathtub.

According to charging documents, Blakeney Jr. told a relative “He alright, he in a better place, he is good now,” regarding his father.

When Blakeney Jr. was brought by police in the interrogation room, police reported that Blakeney “appeared to drink his own urine” and talk to himself as if he were having an “imaginary conversation with his mother” during which he said his mother killed his father.

He is next due to appear in court on May 30.

 

Darryn Conte murder trail set to begin next month


A trial for the man charged with the murder of Darryn Conte will go ahead as planned next month.

Mark Beasley, 42, has been charged with first-degree murder for allegedly fatally shooting Conte.

Previously the prosecution said they foresee the trial lasting close to two weeks with cross examinations.

The trial is scheduled to begin June 26. Conte is being held without bail in the interim.

Plea offer extended to a suspect in Marcellus Green murder


The prosecution extended a plea offer to Dominique Williams, the third man charged in the murder of Marcellus Green.

The plea offer will stay on the table for four weeks, while Williams is held without bail.

Stephen Pugh and Maricco Knight, both 22, have been charged with first-degree murder while armed. The US attorney’s office declined to file charges against Knight in this case and he has been released. Pugh has pled guilty and will be in court again on Sept. 9 for a felony status hearing.

Green, 35, was killed in the 3200 block of 28th St., SE on Sept. 19, 2015. Metropolitan Police heard the sounds of gunshots in the area and found Green suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he later died.