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Mark Beasley’s case scheduled for trial this summer

The man charged with the murder of Darryn Conte is scheduled to have his case go to trial over two years after he was first arrested.

Mark Beasley has been held since last May on charges he shot and killed Conte. His case was originally set to go to trial last summer, but was pushed after delays in DNA testing. When the case was discussed last June, prosecutors said they expect the trial to last two weeks.

Conte was killed April 26, 2015 in the 400 block of Butternut St., NW. A trial readiness hearing has been scheduled for May 12, with a trial start date of June 26.

Steven Stewart murder suspect ordered held

The man charged with the fatal shooting of Steven Stewart in March was ordered held without bond Tuesday as his case heads to a grand jury.

Antoine Kingwood was arrested and charged last month with Stewart’s murder.

According to court records, a judge ruled enough probable cause and evidence existed to maintain the murder charge, as well as the likelihood that Antione Kingwood was illegally carrying a firearm at the time of the alleged murder.

Kingwood’s case is scheduled for another hearing on June 16.

Perez Green pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter


The man who admitted to fatally beating James Harling with a metal chair pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and will be sentenced next month.

According to charging documents, Perez Green admitted to beating Harling because victim teased him about a haircut. Green was initially charged with murder, but pled to a lesser charge in exchange for a plea deal.

In the interim, Green has been released on high-intensity supervision. He is scheduled to be sentenced June 9.

Documents: Lamar Young sentencing documents

Lamar Young was charged with the murder of Bobby Ellis.

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Documents: David Blakeney arrest warrant

David Blakeney Jr. was charged with the murder of his father.

[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3700890-David-Blakeney-Jr-arrest-warrant.html” responsive=true]

Police searching for two people of interest in Christopher Heard murder


Police are hoping the public can help them find two people of interest wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of Christopher Heard last month.

In the video below, police identify two people and a car they want to find as it relates to Heard’s murder. Heard was found suffering from gunshot wounds in the 2300 block of Ainger Pl. SE.

Documents: Andrew Miller plea document

Andrew Miller was charged with the murder of Richard Dudley.

[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3700328-Richard-Dudley-Proffer.html” responsive=true]

Police investigating after man shot in April dies from injuries

Police are investigating after two men were shot in April.

According to police, Michael Derricote, 26, and another man were shot on April 14. Both men were found at around 8 p.m. in the 3500 block of Stanton Rd., SE. Derricote died from his injuries on April 30. The other man has survived.

Police have not yet released any suspect information.

Police investigating Southeast shooting

Police are investigating the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Christopher Heard.

According to police, on April 27 around 4 a.m. officers found Heard lying unconscious in a parking lot on 2307 Ainger Pl., SE. Heard was pronounced dead on the scene with multiple apparent gunshot wounds.

Police have not released any suspect information.

Trial against Clifton Johnson continues with forensic evidence


Clifton Johnson’s Defense Attorney Harry Tun told the court his client carried a gun the night Dwayne Grandson was killed because he was afraid of getting robbed.

In court Wednesday, Tun argued that someone broke into his client’s home before and that’s why he carried a gun and suggested the same fear led him to kill Grandson.

The government and defense spent a prolonged amount of time speaking to the judge about what they would present to the jury. The information shared with the judge was not disclosed.

During trial, the government brought forth Stephanie Williams to testify. Williams, a forensic scientist at a crime unit, told the court that she examined a handgun as well as a magazine that were in Johnson’ possession at the time of the shooting. After her examination, she found no cartridges in the gun.
Johnson was arrested in connection with Grandson’s murder and charged with first-degree murder while armed. He is being held without bond and his trial resumes Thursday.

Detective details murder suspect Jose Rodriguez’s history of alleged violence


At a preliminary hearing Tuesday, Detective Michael Fulton gave a detailed narrative on Jose Rodriguez’s alleged violent history with women.

Rodriguez is facing charges of killing his girlfriend Pamela Butler several years ago. Police have never found Butler’s body.

According to Fulton, in January of 2004, a woman told police Rodriguez-Cruz was acting strange, held her at gunpoint and “forced” her to have sex with him. Rodriguez-Cruz told the woman he could “make a body disappear” and that he could “kill you” tomorrow morning and “no one [will] ever find out.”

In one incident detailed by Fulton, the woman told police Rodriguez-Cruz placed tape around her arms so she could not move. When she told him to let her go pick up her daughter from daycare, Rodriguez-Cruz put the woman in the back of her car with her hands taped together, in her hands while he drove.

Rodriguez-Cruz then took both the child and the woman to his home where he demanded the woman have sex with him.  When she declined, Rodriguez-Cruz threatened to sleep with her daughter or “kill them both.”

When the woman tried to escape, Rodriguez-Cruz fought with her, until a landlord was awoken by sounds of her screaming. The woman stabbed Rodriguez-Cruz, and when the landlord found them, Rodriguez-Cruz was holding the woman at gunpoint.

Fulton said the woman was charged with “malicious wounding” but the case was eventually “dropped.”

Fulton told the court Rodriguez-Cruz told the police it was a “domestic dispute.” Police found tape and gun in Rodriguez-Cruz’s home.

During cross examination,Rodriguez-Cruz’s attorney said they did not understand why the government was talking about a different person when the case was about Rodriguez-Cruz’s connection with Butler’s murder. The government said the suspect’s record of violence with other women was important in this case because it “speaks volumes” about the type of individual he is.

Police arrested Rodriguez-Cruz on April 10th in connection with Butler’s death, and charged him with first-degree murder.  Butler had been missing since February of 2009 and was officially declared dead last July. Rodriguez-Cruz is being held without bond, and expected back in court for a felony status hearing on July 28th.