Police are circulating a photo of a person of interested wanted in the homicide of Joel Johnson.
Johnson, a homeless man, was found stabbed in the head and neck under a portico in the courtyard of St. Luke’s Mission Center on June 19 at about 10 p.m. His death was ruled a homicide.
Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying the person in the photo.
Police have identified the body of a man found burning in a trash bin on Northeast D.C. as 19-year-old Heineken McNeil of Southeast.
D.C. police say the remains of McNeil were found at around 5:42 a.m. on June 23 on the 1200 block of Holbrook Terrace. Police were initially alerted to the crime when firefighters found the charred remains after extinguishing a trash bin fire. McNeil’s body was burned beyond recognition, requiring an autopsy by the Chief Medical Examiner to identify him.
On June 24, it was determined that McNeil had died from gunshot wounds before the fire, and his death was ruled a homicide.
Daron Wint, accused in the brutal murders of four members of the Savopoulos family and their housekeeper, is “not a violent man,” and was “heartbroken” at their death, Wint’s former attorney said following court proceedings Thursday.
“I can assure you that he never intended or wanted anybody…them or anyone else to be harmed,” Attorney Sean Hanover, who was removed from the case, said in front of the D.C. Superior courthouse.
Pressed if Hanover was implying Wint’s involvement but unintended consequences, Hanover–noting prior allegations and violent arguments– said, “He has never intended anybody any harm….of course he was upset by their murder.”
Hanover made these comments about Wint– and reaffirmed his belief that Wint was set up, following court proceedings where Hanover was dismissed and replaced with Wint’s original public defenders, Arthur Ago and Natalie Lawson.
Wint, 34, stood at the judge’s desk for a bench conference with his hired attorneys wearing an orange jumpsuit, his hands bound from a chain at his waist and another at his feet. In the courtroom brimming with reporters, Judge Rhonda Reid Winston then announced his current representation would be vacated and replaced with the public defenders.
Asked the reason for the change of representation, Hanover said it was not for financial reasons, but, “It was a difference of opinion that required us to no longer represent him.”
Hanover said the change in counsel decision was made in front of the judge today and is ultimately always up to the defendant.
A preliminary hearing for Wint’s case was again re-scheduled with the new representation. Wint is due again in court on July 20 at 11 a.m.
Wint is charged with first degree murder while armed for the killing of Savvas Savopoulos, 46, his wife, Amy, 47, and Philip, 10, along with their housekeeper Veralicia Figueroa, 57. According to police, Wint allegedly held the family and Figueroa hostage for 18 hours while he beat and tortured them until a $40,000 ransom arrived. Hours after the money was dropped, Wint lit the home on fire. Police began a hunt for Wint after his DNA was found at the scene, which took them to New York where his girlfriend lived. Wint was arrested at a stop light in D.C. after traveling back from New York.
One of the Savopoulos’ daughters, Abigail, 19, attended the proceedings.
Hanover maintained the belief that Wint was set up, according to his investigations of the case, but declined to elaborate by whom– though he said it was not the police. Hanover said he believes there are more suspects, but would not comment who they might be and their connection to either Wint or the Savopoulos’.
Police have not ruled out other suspects, but have not made any other arrests. A spokesperson contacted Thursday said the investigation is ongoing and declined to comment further.
“As I said before, I will not state as to his innocence or guilt. I will only say that justice will be served. I am confident [the Public Defender Service] will bring out the truth of this matter,” Hanover said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKp8aJsEbwo
A sword from Savvas Savopoulos’ martial arts collection may have been used in last month’s murder of Savapoulos, his wife, son, and housekeeper, sources told the Washington Post.
The sword, which was part of Savvas Savopoulos’s martial arts collection, was found at the scene with what appeared to be blood on it, the Washington Post reports. Authorities also reportedly found bits of duct tape that they think was used to subdue the victims. Remnants of tape were found on the body of Amy Savopoulos, and on a chair where their housekeeper, Veralicia Figueroa, was found.
Daron Dylon Wint, 34, a former employee at Savvas Savopoulos’s business, has been charged with the murders. According to the Post’s sources, prosecutors want to compare a fingerprint on a water bottle found in the home to Wint. Investigators are also reported to have found a boot print near the front door next to broken glass, which could indicate forced entry into the Savopoulos home.
Police on Tuesday arrested Delonta Jovon Wynn, 34, of Southeast with the murder of a 46-year-old Southeast woman in May.
Darlene Marie Bryant was found suffering from “multiple sharp force injuries,” according to police, who responded to the 4300 block of Wheeler Road, SE on the evening of May 13. Bryant was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy after fire and emergency personnel responded and could not revive her.
Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced an arrest has been made in the homicide that occurred in the 4300 block of Wheeler Road, SE.
Wynn was charged with second-degree murder while armed for Bryant’s death.
Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier lauded the efforts of detectives in making an arrest in the case.
“Every homicide in our City impacts our community equally. The same is true when we make arrests and bring closure to a family,” Lanier said in a statement. “These investigations may take time, but our detectives remain fully committed to solving every case. The arrest in this case provides yet another example of diligent investigative work, and our continued resolve to providing closure to the loved ones of homicide victims.”
A suspect charged in the stabbing death of Kenneth Fogle, 54, was Fogle’s girlfriend and had smoked synthetic marijuana prior to Fogle’s death, according to news reports.
Loretta Hall, told police she and Fogle were in a relationship and had drank and smoked synthetic the morning of the stabbing, according to NBC Washington.
Fogle was found in the basement of an apartment building on the 3200 block of 23rd Street, Southeast, suffering from stab wounds to his arms, chest and abdomen. According to NBC Washington, a bloody knife was later found in a cat litter box in Hall’s home, and that police also found drops of blood on the walls and in the kitchen.
Hall has been charged with second degree murder while armed and is awaiting a preliminary hearing set for June 30, 2015 at 9:30 am.
Detectives are investigating after a 33-year-old man died after he was shot Sunday afternoon.
According to police, despite efforts at the hospital to revive Darrell Michael Grays, of Northeast, Grays died after he was found suffering from gunshot wounds on the 1600 block of E Street, NE.
Police have identified a man found by police suffering from fatal gunshot wounds Sunday morning as 25-year-old Rodney Delonte Davis of Manassas, Virginia.
According to police, Davis was found on the unit block of Galveston Place in Southwest at around 9 a.m. June 28 after police were alerted to a sighting of an unconscious male.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is performing an autopsy.
UPDATE: Police have identified the man killed as Joel Johnson.
Police are investigating the homicide of a homeless man, who was found fatally injured Friday night under a portico in a courtyard of the St. Luke’s Mission Center in Washington’s Glover Park neighborhood.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, on June 19, at approximately 10:00 pm, police received a call for an unconscious person in the 3600 block of Calvert Street, NW. Upon arrival, they found Johnson unconscious. Despite lifesaving attempts at the scene, Johnson succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. According to the Washington Post, D.C. police initially described the incident as a stabbing but in a statement issued later Saturday said only that Johnson was found unconscious and “suffering from visible injuries.”
Police are investigating the shooting death of 23-year-old Kevin Cortez Johnson of Southeast, D.C.
Police say Johnson was found by police before midnight Friday suffering from gunshot wounds on the 1200 block of Raum Street in Northeast.
Johnson later died at a local hospital.
Police are investigating after a 21-year-old Maryland man was found fatally shot last Thursday June 25, 2015.
According to police, Stephon Marquis Perkins was found near the intersection of 16th and Galen streets in Southeast D.C. around 3:44 a.m. suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Perkins was transported to the MEDSTAR Unit of Washington Hospital Center where he later died from his injuries.
Police found Perkins while patrolling the area and are still searching for more information.
The body of a black male was found burning in a trash bin on the morning of June 23 and police are still investigating the circumstances.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the male was fatally shot before he was burned in the trash can in the 1200 block of Holbrook Terrace, NE.
According to the Washington Post, Officer Sean Hickman, a D.C. police spokesman, said the body was found about 5:40 a.m., about a block from West Virginia Avenue and the campus of Gallaudet University.
Police were initially alerted to the crime when firefighters—called to the scene by neighbors complaining about a trash can fire—found the body after extinguishing the flames. The body had been burned beyond recognition, initially preventing police from determining the sex and cause of death of the victim, according to the article. In an interview with ABC7 News, Police Chief Cathy Lanier stated that the crime is “unusual” as the area has been extremely quiet.
