Co-Defendants Plead Not Guilty in Homicide Case

Avery Taylor, Rayon Davis, and Quintin Reed pleaded not guilty to all charges before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on June 6.

Taylor, 20, Davis, 19, and Reed, 18, are charged with first-degree murder while armed, robbery while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business for their alleged involvement in the December 20, 2023, fatal shooting of 39-year-old Dwayne Barbour on the 2900 block of Knox Place, SE.

Reed and Davis, who were 17 at the time of the incident, are being prosecuted as adults under the Title 16 execption in the DC Code which enables juveniles to be charged as adults for certain serious offenses.

According to court documents, Davis, Reed, and Taylor, all affiliated with the “On the Clock” gang, allegedly planned to rob Barbour of his Rolex watch in the hallway of Davis’ apartment building. During the robbery, one of the perpetrators allegedly fired a weapon, fatally injuring Barbour.

Court documents state that an individual identified as Avery could be seen in social media after the incident, posting photos wearing a watch resembling Barbour’s.

During the hearing, Taylor’s attorney, Andrew Ain, requested his client’s release but acknowledged needing additional time to prepare his argument. Judge Brandt scheduled a detention hearing for Taylor to address this request.

Daniel Dorsey, the attorney for Reed, stood in at the hearing for Megan Allburn, who represents Davis. Speaking for both Reed and Davis, Dorsey asked Judge Brandt to allow them to attend Taylor’s detention hearing.

Judge Brandt gave permission for Dorsey to observe but said defendants cannot be released from jail to attend court proceedings that don’t involve them.

Ultimately, all parties scheduled the next hearings in their cases for July 1.

Defendant Waives DNA Testing in Southeast Shooting

A shooting defendant waived his right to independently test DNA evidence on June 6 before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz.

Demarco Bates, 28, is charged with four counts of assault with intent to kill, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, two counts of destruction of property less than $1000, and possession of a controlled substance. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting that occurred on April 10, 2024, on the 2700 block of Langston Place, SE.

According to court documents, officers responded to a Shotspotter alert, a gunshot detection system, and discovered multiple shell casings on and around the scene. A woman was struck by a bullet through her bedroom window, sustaining a graze wound to her right foot, and a nearby Metrobus was struck by gunfire.

The prosecution confirmed that DNA testing had occurred and the results had been shared with the defense. It is unclear what evidence the prosecution tested for DNA.

Alvin Thomas, Bates’ attorney, alerted Judge Kravitz of his intent to waive his right to independently test the evidence.

Parties are slated to reconvene Sept. 12.

Defense Says Stabbing Was Part of DC’s Food Delivery War

DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro sentenced a stabbing defendant on June 5 for his involvement in a food delivery incident.

Jhoandry Blanco Canelon, 20, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his involvement in the stabbing of a food delivery driver on June 19, 2024 on the 1500 block of 20th Street, NW.

According to court documents, the attack stemmed from a verbal dispute among multiple food delivery drivers.

During the hearing, the prosecution alerted Judge Di Toro they extended a plea deal which would require Blanco Canelon to plead guilty to simple assault and possession of a prohibited weapon, in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment.

The plea deal reduced Blanco Canelon’s charges from a felony to misdemeanor.

Joseph Molina, Blanco Canelon’s attorney, told Judge Di Toro he intended to accept the deal.

The prosecution requested Judge Di Toro impose a 180 day sentence for each charge, based on the seriousness of the offense. They felt that the randomness of the crime and the defendant’s over reaction warranted the sentence.

“There was nothing random about this,” said Molina.

He said the incident was part of a much bigger territorial dispute among food delivery companies in DC, citing popular delivery apps including Grubhub and Ubereats for their involvement.

“There seems to be some big war going on in the food delivery business,” he concluded.

Molina suggested this situation may also be connected to disputes between Venezuelans and other ethnic minorities, including DC’s Colombian population, including Canelon.

“It’s fine,” said Canelon to the Judge as she asked if he had any final words before she delivered her sentence.

Di Toro sentenced Canelon to 30 days for the simple assault charge and 30 days for possession of a prohibited weapon, which will be served consecutively in addition to a payment of $100 to the Victims of Violent Crime Fund.

No further dates have been set.

Judge Denies Bond For Defendant In Armed Carjacking

In a ruling by DC Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean, Rashid Woods was denied release during a June 6 status hearing.

Woods, is charged with conspiracy, armed carjacking while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in an incident that occurred on the 2100 block of Mississipi Avenue, SE. According to court documents, he was taken into custody on May 20 under a bench warrant. He is being tried alongside co-defendants Travis Morris, 32 and James Matheny, 31.

He has since requested a jury trial, however a trial date has not yet been set.

Defense attorney Omar Bissiso requested Wood’s release on the grounds that he did not represent a danger to the community and would obey court conditions; however Woods’ bond was denied.

Judge McLean said the defense had failed to satisfy the conditions for his release that would keep rthe community safe.

Co-defendants in the incident James Matheny and Travis Morris were also present in the hearing. Matheny’s attorney, Albert Amissah was not present at court pending trial. Morris is held without bond, with his arraignment scheduled for July 17.

The next status hearing for all three men is set for July 16 for pre-trial motions and to set a trial date for Woods.

Surveillance Video, Fingerprints Link Homicide Suspect to The Crime Scene

The prosecution showed surveillance footage said to capture a homicide defendant on route to the Ogden Market, A local food store, prior to a homicide there during a hearing on June 4.

Alvin-Alexis Cruz-Garcia, 24, is charged with second-degree murder while armed with a shod foot for his alleged involvement in the murder of 38-year-old Ramon Gomez-Yanez on March 23, 2021 on the 1500 block of Ogden Street, NW.

According to a release from the DC US Attorneys Office, “[T]he defendant was standing on the sidewalk and urinating much too close to the back of Mr. Gomez’s car.” That, says the release, triggered an altercation that led to a fatal beating.

The trial continued, before DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman, with testimony from prosecution witnesses.

A detective from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) identified the defendant in the courtroom as the suspect, and described his arrest process on June 7, 2022. According to the detective, he obtained the suspect’s phone number from Cruz-Garcia’s mother and collected surveillance footage from the Ogden Market.

The detective highlighted that the suspect was seen wearing a red Washington Nationals baseball cap, red and white shoes, and holding a black bag which was used to identify him throughout the various surveillance videos.

Prosecutors also called on the Deputy Chief Medical Examiner for the District of Columbia at time of the incident, who performed the autopsy on Gomez-Yanez on March 24, 2021.

According to the medical examiner, cause of death was recorded as blunt force trauma to the head and neck. Injury findings included external damage to the face and head including bleeding in his left eye and a laceration of his lip, bruising of the scalp, fractures on the head, and a torn vessel at the victim’s neck.

The most significant injury suffered by the victim was noted as the torn vessel at the victim’s neck. The medical examiner stated that with scalp and head injuries, the victim was likely rendered unconscious and his death would have followed within minutes.

Manner of death was ruled a homicide given the number of blows, scraps, and fractures seen on the victim’s body.

Cause of death was not recorded until June 2021, about three months after the autopsy. Cruz-Garcia’s defense attorney, Julie Swaney, questioned why it took so long to which the witness explained that the time-frame for determining cause of death varies. In this case, a backlog of remaining Covid cases caused some delay in the office.

Swaney also noted the witness’ consultation with a forensic anthropologist at the Department of Forensic Sciences the day after the autopsy. The witness stated her colleague’s findings on the victim’s upper jaw and nasal bones confirmed the cause of death and the witness’s understanding that this blunt force trauma was not caused by a fist.

Swaney reviewed the toxicology report, which came back at 0.29 blood alcohol concentration (BAC), as potentially contributing to the severity of injury leading to death. The legal limit BAC limit in DC is .08.

The victim’s intoxication was not noted as contributing to his cause of death. The witness clarified that she cannot speak to the effect that alcohol would have had on Gomez-Yanez as response differs by the individual.

The witness further clarified that the concentration of significant injuries to the head and neck indicates a fall was unlikely, instead suggesting kicking or a use of an instrument as more likely.

A fingerprint analyst received 18 prints for examination, this involving comparison of prints from the crime scene to known prints of the defendant and victim on record. The analyst determined that three prints allegedly belonged to the defendant and four prints belonged to the victim.

The witness emphasized the importance of both the quality and quantity of prints for making and verifying matches. While responding to Swaney’s questioning, he noted that the prints found on scene were highly-detailed.

Swaney pressed the witness about the identification of a smeared print and commented that the witness was not present during the print collection process.

The witness was additionally questioned about the potential for print misidentification due to the presence of shared pattern types among individuals and no standard criteria for an identification to be verified.

In her questioning of a crime scene investigator, Swaney made it clear that the witness, to her knowledge, did not see the victim in his initial position after the homicide. The witness confirmed that EMT and several police officers were at the scene prior to her arrival.

The mother of the defendant was also called to the stand. She recounted speaking with police and detectives on separate occasions in May 2021 where she was shown Metro surveillance footage of Cruz-Garcia on the day of the incident. At the prosecution’s request, the witness verified the identity of the defendant in this footage in her testimony. The witness also testified that at the time of the conversations in May 2021, the defendant was not in the DC area.

The witness indicated she was familiar with the location where Gomez-Yanez was killed, noting she once lived near the address.

Parties are slated to reconvene June 5.

Judge Denies Homicide Defendant’s Request for Release

DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman ruled to keep a homicide defendant in custody before his trial on June 6 because of safety concerns for the community.

Derek Turrentine, 42, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 44-year-old James Price on Sept. 15, 2024 on the 400 block 50th Street, NW.

According to court documents, members of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) located the victim in an alleyway suffering multiple gunshot wounds to the head and neck.

Shawn Sukumar, Turrentine’s attorney, requested to release Turrentine into a residential treatment program and then be placed into 24 hour surveillance home release as the least restrictive means of detention. Sukumar argued that Turrentine has important ties to the community and has every incentive to follow the conditions.

“The weight of the evidence is quite strong,” countered the prosecution. He claimed that Turrentine has support for release but his release can’t ensure the safety of the community.

The prosecution also brought up Turrentine’s past charges of possession of PCP and carrying a firearm without a license. According to the prosecution, Turrentine was determined under the influence of PCP during the crime which enhanced its violent nature.

Judge Edelman agreed that there are no conditions of release for ensuring the safety of the community and concluded that Turrentine should be put in detention before his trial.

Parties are slated to reconvene on July 11.

Judge Reschedules Murder Trial

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt set a new trial date for Karlos Bibb after the previous trial date of June 9 was cancelled to allow continuing investigation for undisclosed reasons.

Karlos Bibb, 25, is charged with second-degree murder for his alleged involvement in deliberately inflicting fatal injuries in a vehicle collision on July 3rd, 2021, on the 900 block of 14th Street, N.W. Jamya Williams was found unconscious in the driver’s seat after she was struck by Bibb’s vehicle.

DNA testing results from the vehicle involved in the incident are anticipated at the next status hearing. Both the prosecutor and Bibb’s defense counsel, Jason Clark and Shawn Sukumar, agreed to a new trial date in January of 2026.

The next status hearing date will be held on September 15.

Defendant Who Menaced Elderly Carjack Victim Gets 90 Months

DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro sentenced Donovan Adams to almost 90 months in prison for his involvement in a carjacking during a hearing on June 5.

On April 3, Adams, 31, pleaded guilty to unarmed carjacking, robbery and unauthorized use of a vehicle for his involvement in a Sept. 27, 2024 incident, which occurred on the 3700 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE.

During the hearing, the prosecution asked for a sentence at the top of the guidelines, pointing to the seriousness of the crimes and Adams’ prior convictions – which included robbery convictions in 2017 and 2018.

They identified the victim in this case as a 66-year-old woman who Adams repeatedly threatened with a gun, aiming at her stomach and face. According to the prosecution, the victim waived her right to provide a victim impact statement due to the ongoing trauma and difficulty speaking about the incident.

Alvin Thomas, Adams’ attorney, focused on Adams’ difficult circumstances and efforts to control his drug use. Thomas requested leniency in the ruling.

“I apologise for my actions,” said Adams, as Judge Di Toro asked him if he had any words before she delivered his sentence.

The judge admitted that Adams had faced hardship and that this could have influenced his criminal behavior and drug use. She was sorry to hear about the death of his daughter and expressed sympathy for his ongoing mental health issues and struggle to support his mother.

“You’ve clearly had a difficult road,” she said.

Di Toro gave Adams 70 months for the robbery charge with a $300 contribution to the Victim’s of Violent Crime Fund. This was followed by a current 70 months for possession of a firearm during a crime of violence with a donation of the same amount. Adams also has to serve 3 years supervised probation for each charge.

For the unauthorized use of a vehicle while under the influence of PCP, the judge added a further 20 months to be served concurrently to the other sentences.

No further dates were set.

Murder Defendant Released After Expressing Remorse For Crime in 2019

DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman pronounced murder defendant Carlos Turner’s, 27, sentence on June 5, suspending all but time served, effectively releasing him.

Turner pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of Michael Taylor, 21, in a shooting that took Taylor’s life and injured two additional victims on the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE, on Jan. 12, 2019.

According to court documents, Turner was spotted on apartment surveillance, armed with a black hand gun and an extended clip. At 2:02 p. m. Turner approached the building, standing at the base of the stairs, aiming up, and firing into the building.

Family members of Taylor, as well as another victim, attended the hearing remotely. They have followed through with the case since its inception, and are unhappy with how long they’ve waited for resolution. Turner’s arresting officer also appeared in person in support of the victims.

In their allocution recommendation, the prosecution claimed that the incident “is a tragedy,” however, Turner “appears to have taken responsibility for his actions.” Prosecution recommended Turner receive 132 months incarceration with five years of supervised release.

Turner’s defense, Michael Bruckheim, provided evidence in favor of the defendant, in the form of a letter from the Hope Foundation re-entry network. Bruckheim agreed with the prosecution’s sentence recommendation.

“I accept full responsibility for my actions” and “I want to show you that I will continue to learn and grow from my mistakes,” Turner said.

Judge Edelman sentenced Turner to eleven years of confinement, five years of supervised release and three years of probation for second-degree murder while armed. Additionally, Turner was sentenced to three years of confinement, three years of supervised release and three years of probation for conspiracy to commit a crime of violence.

However, all but the time already served by Turner has been suspended by the court, effectively freeing Turner, and condensing his sentence to three years of probation.

No further dates were set.

Stabbing Defendant Pleads Guilty

A stabbing defendant accepted a plea deal extended by prosecutors before DC Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean on June 9.

Daniel Brache, 39, was originally charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon for his involvement in a stabbing incident that occurred on April 13 on the 1900 block of C Street, SE, leaving two individuals injured. One individual sustained stab wounds.

According to court documents, Brache allegedly struck the victim after the two had an argument inside an apartment. When the victim asked Brache to leave and he attempted to re-enter, Brache assaulted her again outside the apartment when a security officer attempted to intervene. Attempting to separate Brache from the victim, the security officer was also allegedly assaulted by Brache with a knife and received multiple injuries on his hands.

Defense attorney Joseph Molina alerted Judge McLean of Brache’s intent to accept the plea deal. As part of the plea deal, Brache pleaded guilty to assault with significant bodily injury and misdemeanor simple assault. In exchange, the prosecution agreed to not seek an indictment.

Judge McLean said that the maximum sentence for the plea was three years of incarceration.

Sentencing is slated for August 22.

Assault Defendant Gets Second Chance at Probation

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt decided not to revoke William Johnson’s probation on June 6, after a probation officer reported that Johnson failed a drug test upon release and missed a court hearing due to being hospitalized at the Psychiatric Institute of Washington (PIW).

Johnson, 41, pleaded guilty to assault with intent to kill on Feb. 23, 2022, for his involvement in a stabbing on Dec. 23, 2021, on the 2700 block of Langston Place, SE. He was sentenced to 66 months’ imprisonment, with 18 months suspended and credit for time served, followed by two years of probation.

According to the probation officer, Johnson contacted his case manager after being discharged from PIW. The probation officer requested that Johnson undergo a spot drug test on the day of the hearing and appear for drug tests weekly.

After Judge Brandt ordered drug testing for Johnson as requested, the prosecution agreed that Johnson could continue on probation.

No further dates were set.

Stabbing Defendant Rejects Plea Deal, Requests Trial

At a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman, a defendant rejected the terms of the plea deal outlined by the prosecution, instead requesting to move forward with a trial on June 6.

Keimontay Holston, 22, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed and first-degree burglary while armed for his alleged involvement in a stabbing that took place at the DC Jail on the 1900 block of D Street, SE,, on Jan. 2.

According to court documents, Holston was caught with a sharp object by prison surveillance entering the victim’s cell as the door opened. He was identified as the person repeatedly stabbing the victim as two other individuals exited the cell. Afterward, Holston allegedly fled the cell, and took his shirt off before being chased by corrections officers.

During the hearing, Damon Catacalos, Holston’s attorney, alerted the court of his intent to reject a plea deal extended by prosecutors. The deal would have required Holton to plead guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon in exchange for all other charges being dropped.

Instead, Holston asserted his right to a speedy trial.

Parties are slated to reconvene July 11.

Homicide Co-Defendants Accept Plea Deal

Two homicide co-defendants accepted a plea deal extended by prosecutors on June 6 before DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman.

Antonio Hensley, 33, and Darius Robertson, 32, were originally charged with second-degree murder for their involvement in the death by blunt force trauma of Andre Robertson, 33, on the 200 block of 53rd Street, NE, on Oct. 1, 2021.

Hensley also faced simple assault in connection to the incident.

During the hearing, Michael Madden, Robertson’s attorney, and Kevin Robertson, Hensley’s attorney, alerted Judge Edelman of the defendants’ plan to accept a plea offer from the prosecution. According to the parties, the deal required the defendants plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges.

Through the deal, parties agreed Hensley will be sentenced to 72-to-144 months of incarceration. No range was set for Robertson.

Parties are slated to reconvene Sept. 19 for sentencing.

Jury Convicts 2021 Murder Defendant

A jury in DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman’s courtroom convicted a murder defendant on June 5.

Alvin Cruz-Garcia, 27, was found guilty of second-degree murder while armed for his involvement in the fatal beating of Ramon Gomez-Yanez, 38, on March 23, 2021 on the 1500 block of Ogden Street, NW. Throughout the trial, the prosecution provided evidence that showed Cruz-Garcia beat Gomez-Yanez to death by repeatedly kicking him on the head and neck.

Julie Swaney, Cruz-Garcia’s attorney, claimed the prosecution had failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Cruz-Garcia was the perpetrator.

Following a day of deliberations, the jury returned a guilty verdict.

Parties are slated to reconvene for sentencing on Aug. 1.

Judge Orders Mental Evaluation for Carjacking Defendant

DC Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean ordered a carjacking defendant to undergo mental competency evaluations during a hearing on June 2.

Shannara Macku, 37, is charged with unarmed carjacking and assault on a police officer for her alleged involvement in an incident that occurred on Oct. 19, 2024, on the 2400 block of 18th Street, NW.

According to court documents, Macku allegedly crashed a bicycle into an uber car’s rear driver’s side tire, stopping the vehicle, then allegedly screaming angrily, calling for the driver to come out of the car, and proceeded to open the car’s passenger doors.

When the driver stepped out and attempted to talk to Macku, she allegedly got into the driver’s seat, closed the door, and backed into a parked car before driving away, forcing the uber passengers to abandon the vehicle.

Macku allegedly crashed the car into three other vehicles, leaving the scene without stopping or identifying herself. Finally, she was stopped by Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers, and allegedly spit in the face of a sergeant, causing another officer to deploy a so-called spit hood, according to court documents.

During the hearing, Macku’s presence was waived by her attorney, Destiny Fullwood-Singh. She explained that Macku was in urgent care completing a mental health evaluation, which also caused her to miss a court appearance earlier in the morning to install a GPS monitor. That hearing was canceled.

Judge McLean ordered a mental observation hearing to determine competency to stand trial.

The court is currently looking for a facility to place Macku for treatment.

Parties are slated to reconvene June 18.

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