The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced they are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on June 10 in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. The victim, identified as 25-year-old Marcellus Smith of Southeast, DC, was found with a gunshot wound in the 1200 block of East Capitol Street, Southeast, and was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
A defendant in a six-defendant trial demanded a mistrial based on fears the jury would be unfair in a trial before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on June 24.
Erwin Dubose, 31, Kamar Queen, 28, Damonta Thompson, 28, and William Johnson-Lee, 22, are charged with conspiracy, premeditated first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, among other charges, for their alleged involvement in the mass shooting that killed 31-year-old Donnetta Dyson, 24-year-old Keenan Braxton, and 37-year-old Johnny Joyner. The incident occurred on the 600 block of Longfellow Street, NW, on Sept. 4, 2021, and injured three additional individuals.
Mussay Rezene, 32, and Toyia Johnson, 53, are charged with accessory after the fact and tampering with physical evidence for their alleged involvement in assisting the other defendants discard evidence and avoid arrests.
The trial was delayed for five hours due to Queen’s being hospitalized for unspecified reasons. Judge Kravitz stated he could not allow the trial to proceed without Queen.
Meanwhile, Rezene raised concerns the jury was biased against him. “I just feel discriminated against,” he stated, adding “I want a mistrial.”
During a recess, Rezene elaborated specifically that the prosecution attempted to connect his phone number to another homicide. “I feel the way [the jury] be looking at me,” Rezene said. “There’s no way I can be heard and feel validated,” he added, stating the prosecution’s actions may have adversely impacted the jury’s ability to make a fair decision.
Judge Kravitz denied the motion for a mistrial and alerted the jury of prior convictions for Johnson-Lee, Queen, and Rezene. He added that two of the surviving victims had convictions and were connected to the Kennedy Street Crew, which prosecutors say is a street gang responsible for committing violent crimes throughout the city.
Parties are slated to reconvene on June 25.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of 26-year-old Marquise Jones, who was charged with Second Degree Murder while Armed in connection with a fatal stabbing at the DC Jail on May 12. The victim, identified as 29-year-old Carlos Shelley of Southeast, D.C., was found deceased at the Central Detention Facility in the 1900 block of D Street, Southeast.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of 20-year-old Mercury Ford III, who is alleged to be involved in the homicide of 32-year-old Tequila Parker. The incident occurred on May 27 on the 2300 block of Pitts Place, Southeast, where Parker was found with a fatal gunshot wound. Ford has been charged with First Degree Murder While Armed.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced they are investigating a shooting on June 9 in the 1200 block of Mount Olivet Road, Northeast, which resulted in the death of 31-year-old Breon Quick and injuries to three others. Of the injured two adult men were found with non-life-threatening injuries and an adult female who also sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound was found.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of 18-year-old Jose Hernandez, who is alleged to be involved in a fatal shooting in the Petworth neighborhood on April 29. The incident resulted in the death of 19-year-old Zephaniah Wright and left a 15-year-old juvenile as a surviving victim with serious injuries. Hernandez was charged with First Degree Murder while Armed.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced they are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on June 8 in the 1400 block of S Street, Northwest. D.C. Officers responded to a shooting and found 21-year-old Brandon Tolson of Northeast, D.C., deceased from a gunshot wound.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced an investigation into a double homicide that occurred on June 22 in the Kingman Park neighborhood of Northeast D.C. Officers discovered two deceased male victims, identified as 30-year-old Quonzay Lynch and 41-year-old Cortney Burley, after responding to gunshots near the 1800 block of D Street, Northeast.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced an arrest in a fatal stabbing that occurred on June 8 inside a home in the 4100 block of 7th Street, Northwest. The victim, identified as 27-year-old Jonathan Fuentes-Ferrufino, was found with stab wounds and pronounced dead at the scene. Leslie Flores, 25, was arrested and charged with Second Degree Murder while Armed, with the incident determined to be domestic in nature.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of 30-year-old Delonte Brown in connection with a shooting that occurred on June 7 in Northwest D.C. Officers responded to gunshots near 10th and U Streets and found an adult male with non-life-threatening injuries. Brown, who was found with an unregistered firearm, is charged with Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Carrying a Pistol without a License.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of 20-year-old Antoine Lowery, who is alleged to be involved in a fatal shooting on May 13 on the 4500 block of Benning Road, Southeast. The incident resulted in the death of 21-year-old Jacquise Zanders and left one surviving victim with non-life-threatening injuries. Lowery has been charged with First Degree Murder while Armed.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced a third arrest in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred in Southeast in December 2023. The victim, 39-year-old Dwayne Barbour, succumbed to his injuries on Dec. 31, 2023. Avery Taylor, 20, was arrested on Jun. 5, 2025, and charged with First Degree Murder while Armed-Felony Murder, joining previous arrestees Rayon Davis Jr. and Quintin Reed, both 17 at the time of their arrest, who were charged as adults.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced they are seeking assistance in identifying a suspect and two people of interest involved in a shooting on May 30 in the 400 block of M Street, Southwest. An 18-year-old man was shot multiple times and transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. Surveillance footage captured the suspect on a scooter and the two individuals of interest.
“On behalf of Mr. Chapman, I ask that your last two words be not guilty,” a homicide defendant’s attorney told the jury in DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman’s courtroom on June 17.
Daniel Chapman, 37, is charged with second-degree murder while armed and carrying a dangerous weapon outside a home or business for his alleged involvement in the stabbing of 43-year-old Antoine Ealey. The incident occurred on July 22, 2023, on the 2300 block of L’Enfant Square, SE.
According to court documents, Chapman claimed he was acting in self-defense against Ealey, who allegedly threatened him in an alley. The risk was heightened in that Ealey was said to be using PCP and K2, a synthetic cannabinoid made to mimic the effects of marijuans. PCP has linked to outbursts of violent behavior.
Prosecutors claimed Chapman was the aggressor in the incident. “Self defense is not a license to pursue trouble,” they said. They say Chapman was hanging out with three friends in an alley near his apartment when Ealey approached the group. They argued that “Ealey was the outsider,” since the group appears to be arguing and kicking him. Ealey eventually collected his bags and walked away, but Chapman followed him, knife in hand, fatally stabbing him four times.
The prosecution claimed that Chapman’s choice to follow Ealey as well as his choice to flee the scene without calling EMT or police suggested Chapman was not acting in self defense.
“Chapman was the architect of his own peril” the prosecution declared.
In the defense’s closing argument, David Knight stressed that Chapman is not guilty from viewing the security footage of the group interactions during the incident. Knight further claimed that because of Ealey’s being under the influence of PCP and K2, he was acting erratically and dangerously unpredictable.
Knight asked the jury to recall the defendant’s previous testimony about his own relationship with Ealey before the incident. “He didn’t want him to die, he didn’t expect him to die,” Knight said.
“On behalf of Mr. Chapman, I ask that your last two words be not guilty,” Knight said.
Parties will reconvene once the jury reaches a verdict.
DC Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno granted a non-fatal shooting and carjacking defendant more time to review a plea offer during a hearing on June 13.
Elijah Hernandez, 20, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, armed carjacking, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unauthorized use of a vehicle during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in an armed carjacking and non-fatal shooting on June 21, 2024 at the Falcon Gas Station on the 1300 block of 13th Street, NW. One victim sustained a gunshot wound on the buttocks.
During the hearing, prosecutors offered Hernandez a plea deal in which he pleads guilty to charges from a separate non-fatal shooting incident in exchange for prosecutors dismissing all other charges. The deal would require Hernandez to plead guilty to aggravated assault while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and armed robbery.
Joseph Fay, Hernandez’s attorney, requested additional time to review the offer with his client.
“If probable cause is found, he is unlikely to be released in other cases,” noted Judge Salerno and urged Hernandez to carefully consider the offer.
Parties are slated to reconvene on Aug. 28.
