Kenneth Eugene Jackson identified as Tuesday morning stabbing victim

Police have identified the adult male that died on Tuesday morning as 27-year old Kenneth Eugene Jackson, of Northwest.

At approximately 1:15 Tuesday morning, police responded to a call for a stabbing and found Jackson suffering from a stab wound. Jackson was found in the 1200 block of N. Capitol Street, NW, and was transported to an area hospital where he then died.

Police are investigating the case for any suspects.

Jackson is the city’s 35th homicide victim this year, as compared to 33 victims at this time last year.

Murder suspect pleads for co-defendant, ‘grandson’ to be released

Police arrested a second man for the murder of Matthew Shevlin, who, according to court documents admitted to the murder and pleaded with police to release the first suspect who he raised as his own grandson.

Eugene Sherman was arrested on April 24 in connection to the murder of Shevlin, 37. The first suspect, 18-year old David Davalier Harvey, was arrested on Jan. 23 in what police believed to be a “home-invasion burglary of a targeted residence.”

During Harvey’s interviews with detectives he was permitted to make several phone calls. In one of the calls, Harvey referred to the person on the other line with the nickname “Billy,” a then-unknown alias for Sherman. While on the phone, Harvey and Sherman talked about being with one of the case’s witnesses. Following this, witness identified “Billy” as Eugene Sherman.

When police went to Sherman’s address they brought him in for interviews and investigation. According to the charging documents, during an interview on April 8 Sherman told detectives that he committed the murder and orchestrated the entire thing. He concluded the confession pleading the police to release his “grandson,” Harvey. Harvey was found at the scene of Shevlin’s murder with a loaded gun and a mason jar of marijuana, similar to those found inside Shevlin’s apartment.

After reviewing phone Sherman’s cell phone records during the night of the homicide they found no communication between his and Harvey’s cell phone, but there is suspicion that Sherman took part in planning the robbery and could have aided in the entry into a secured building. Those acts led to the first-degree murder charge.

Sherman appeared at court for the first time for his presentment on April 25. He is currently being held without bail and has been scheduled to reappear for a preliminary hearing on May 13.

[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2812307-Eugene-Sherman-charging-docs.html”]

Murder suspect’s release to halfway house delayed

The release of a woman charged with fatally stabbing her tenant in the neck was delayed while more information about the murder is collected.

Tammy Mathis-Lawrence, 41, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed for the death of Ricardo Dasilva, 30. Lawrence was granted release to a halfway house three weeks ago by D.C. superior court Judge Milton C. Lee, but it has been delayed indefinitely.

“How much time do you need to get the train in the station?” said Judge Lee to prosecuting attorney Chris Bruckmann, regarding the pending evidence in this case.

Bruckmann requested that D.C. courts give the prosecution 45 days to get that information in.

Lawrence’s defense attorney, Judith Pipe, requested the courts release her client to a halfway house as soon as possible, considering she has been a “victim of the community.” Judge Lee said he was not prepared to release Lawrence yet, based on the information he has so far. Judge Lee stated he wanted the defendant to answer the questions the government asked regarding the case before releasing her.

The next hearing is scheduled for May 9.

Tavon Pickney pleads guilty to murder of Rico Myers

As part of a plea deal, Tavon Pickney pleaded guilty to the murder of Rico Myers last February and could serve 17 years in prison if a judge accepts the arrangement.

The murder was a result of a robbery gone awry, in which the three defendants tried to rob Myers and his friend during a drug deal.

Pickney’s accomplices, William Bass, 18, and Kalif Brown, 22, also pleaded guilty to lesser charges.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Pickney, 20, Bass, 18, and Brown, 22, drove to the 300 block of 61st Street, NE to buy PCP from Myers and Myers’ friend in an alley. When the three arrived Pickney allegedly pointed a gun at Myers and his friend, demanding that they give him their “possessions.” Then, Bass allegedly robbed Myers and Brown robbed Myers’ friend. Myers attempted to defend himself, and was shot by Pickney four times.

According to court documents, the three defendants were offered a plea deal on April 22, and pleaded guilty Friday. The U.S Attorney’s Office suggested Pickney serve 17 years in prison for second-degree murder while armed and Brown serve five years in prison for robbery. Bass’ sentencing will be determined by the judge and the sentencing guidelines, a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

The final sentencing will be decided by the judge on July 8.

Dimas Fuentes-Lazo identified as Saturday’s stabbing victim

At approximately 10:23 p.m. on Saturday, police responded to a call for a stabbing and found Dimas Fuentes-Lazo suffering from multiple stab wounds. Fuentes-Lazo was found in the 800 block of Kennedy Street, NW, and transported to a local hospital, where he then died.

Police are investigating the case for any suspects.

Second person arrested for murder of Matthew Shevlin

Police have made a second arrest for Matthew Shevlin’s murder in January.

On Saturday, police arrested 53-year old Eugene Ledex Sherman of Southeast, and charged him with first-degree murder.

Matthew Shevlin, 37, was found on Jan. 22 at approximately 9:52 a.m. in the 400 block of M Street, NW. When police arrived they found Shevlin suffering from a gunshot wound.

Police had been searching for the second suspect for months, who they said was seen entering Shevlin’s apartment on security cameras.

The first suspect, 18-year old David Davalier Harvey was arrested on Jan. 28. He was charged with first-degree murder while armed and will next appear in court on June 16. Upon searching Harvey at the scene of Shevlin’s death, police found a loaded handgun in his pants, multiple rounds of ammunition and a mason jar filled with a “green weed substance.” Harvey was arrested for carrying a pistol without a license, but the charge was later upgraded to first-degree murder while armed.

Sherman will appear in court on April 25.

One man dead and another wounded after being shot

Police say a man was shot and killed on the 2500 block of 17^th Street, Northwest in D.C. on Sunday.

Just after 3 a.m., police responded to a call for the sound of gunshots and found 35-year-old Jayvon Marshman, of Southeast, D.C., with gunshot wounds.

Police said a second man was found with a non-life threatening gunshot wound and was taken to the hospital.

Police are investigating for any suspects involved in the shooting.

Man charged with murder of Gabriel Turner last month

Police have announced the arrest of Kelby Ronald Gordon of Southeast, D.C. for the murder of 46-year-old Gabriel Carlos Turner last month.

Gordon, 29, who also goes by “Mill” and “Milly,” was arrested Sunday, April 17 at 9:45 p.m. and has been charged with second-degree murder while armed.

MPD Police Chief Cathy Lanier said at a press conference Monday afternoon that this was yet another “senseless, tragic murder that should have never happened.”

Turner, who worked as a janitor FBI, was an unintended target. Lanier said although there are multiple versions of the story, it appeared two other people were arguing and Turner was shot as an innocent bystander.

“The community is tired of these random acts of violence,” she said. “There is a real change in the community and gun firing is happening at all times during the day. People are working with police. If you commit a crime in the city you will be arrested.”

Gordon is expected to be arraigned in court later today.

Defense attorney withdraws in the case against Jamil Betts

The defense attorney in the case against Jamil Betts, Matthew Rist, withdrew from the case in court Monday.

Betts, charged with second-degree murder while armed, was appointed a new attorney, Chantey Redmon-Reid, by D.C. Courts following his former attorney’s motion to withdraw the defense’s guilty plea.

The defendant allegedly shot and killed Andre McConnell in the 3100 block of Buena Vista Terrace, SE, on April 27 of last year. Betts was scheduled to be sentenced in February 2016, but withdrew his guilty plea two months before.

His motion hearing is scheduled for June 3 with his new attorney.

Police investigating Glover Park homicide as a domestic incident

Police have charged a man with murder after a woman’s body was found in her Glover Park apartment following a bomb threat in the building.

According to police, they received a call for a suspicious package in the apartment building in the 4000 block of Tunlaw Road, NW at around 6:10 a.m. Police later tweeted that the homicide was a domestic incident, and a person of interest had been detained.

When responding to the building, police found a female with stab wounds, who was pronounced dead at the hospital. Charles Elvis Sykes was arrested for her alleged murder, and charged with second-degree murder while armed. Police have not yet identified the deceased female, nor disclosed how the victim and suspect knew each other.

Man arrested for Gabriel Turner’s death being held without bail

Kelby Ronald Gordon, 29, also known as “Milly,” charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly fatally shooting Gabriel Turner, 46, on March 24 was ordered held without bail.

During Gordon’s presentment in D.C. Superior Court Monday, his attorney, Monica Douglas, requested that the courts do not find probable cause in the case against her client because the investigation did not have an actual eyewitness that identifies Gordon as the shooter. She said the arrest warrant only provides information of an officer who said Gordon “looks like” a man he knows as “Milly.”

According to the arrest warrant, there were three surveillance videos that led to the arrest of the defendant. One the videos shows Turner walking on the sidewalk of 2642 Birney Place, SE, and an unidentified “subject” walking behind him. Then, the suspect, later identified as “Milly” by a police officer, shoots in the direction of the “subject” and continues to shoot as he runs past Turner. Turner collapses to the ground, then both “Milly” and the subject run off. The warrant suggests Turner was not the intended target.

According to the warrant, Detective Thomas O’Donnell contacted a Metropolitan Police Department member, who watched the video and identified the suspects as “Milly.” The detective received an anonymous tip that the suspects name was Kelby Ronald Gordon. The MPD member received a photo of Gordon via email from Det. O’Donnell and identified the man in the photo as “Milly.”

Detectives found two cell phone numbers that are associated with Gordon. One of the numbers is under the address 2716 Wade Road, SE, a building one of the three videos showed “Milly” entering after the shooting. Officers of the homicide branch searched the apartment associated with the cell phone and found one 50-count box of PPU ammunition in the living room and a gun box under the apartment’s only bed.

Police officers found gold shell casings with the head stamp “Win .40 S&W” at the scene. “The location of the recovered shell casings is consistent with the shooter’s location on video,” the warrant says.

Detectives interviewed the leaseholder of the apartment, who admitted to be dating Gordon on and off, said the defendant sent a text two to three days after the shooting. In the text, the defendant said he tried to rob someone and “thought the intended victim was pulling something and that he felt bad because he hit an innocent person.” The witness also said the defendant’s nickname is “Mill.”

Judge Renee Raymond found probable cause in the case against Kelby R. Gordon based on all of the information in the arrest warrant. Gordon is next due in court April 29.

Judge finds cause to hold Maurice Bellamy in second murder case

D.C. Superior Court Judge Renee Raymond found probable cause to hold the 17-year-old accused of fatally shooting Arthur Baldwin in December of last year without bail.

Maurice Bellamy, 17, also charged with fatally shooting Davonte Washington in a separate case, is being charged with first-degree murder while armed alongside his co-defendant Charles Sims.

According to the arrest warrant, Bellamy used a .38 caliber pistol, consistent with the gun allegedly used to shoot Washington in Deanwood metro station last month. The autopsy in this case, as well as witness reports, eventually led to the 17-year-old being charged for Baldwin’s murder as well.

During Bellamy’s arraignment, his attorney asked the court not to find probable cause in this case because the government had “no physical evidence that connects this felon to this particular offense…none of the unbiased witnesses point out that Bellamy was involved in shooting.”

Judge Raymond ordered Bellamy held without bail, saying “[T]here is no condition or combination of conditions that assure the community’s safety.”

The defendant’s preliminary hearing is set for May 24.

[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2809059-Maurice-Bellamy-docs-for-Arthur-Baldwin-murder.html”]

Alphonso Roberts’ request to attend mother’s funeral denied

In court Tuesday morning, a judge denied Alphonso Roberts’ request to be transported from jail to his mother’s funeral without more information about the jail’s process of releasing and transporting inmates.

Alphonso Roberts, 32, is being charged with second-degree murder while armed of 23-year old Maurico Walker, who was found shot on Feb. 10. Roberts was arrested March 24.

Roberts’ lawyer said in court that Roberts’ sister submitted a request to the jail for his transport and thought the jail needed a release request from the court. Judge Morin said even if the court granted the request, it would not guarantee Roberts’ release.

“Based on the information now, I wouldn’t order the release,” he said. “The court’s sole power is to order the release, but the jail has administrative power to do so or not.”

Roberts’ mother’s funeral is this Friday and he is expected to appear in court again on May 9.

Kevin Lee’s case heads to trial after he rejects plea deal

Kevin Lee, the man charged with the shooting death of 31-year old Tenika Fontanelle, rejected the plea deal offered to him in court in Thursday morning morning and instead requested a trial.

Lee, 17, has been charged with second-degree murder while armed, carrying a pistol without a license outside home or business, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, two counts of possessing a firearm during a crime of violence and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The prosecutor said the plea deal offered a sentence ranging from 12 to 29 years, if Lee pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon. When Judge Liebovitz asked the prosecutor if they could offer a more “narrowed down” sentence, the prosector said no, but this would not be the end of the conversation regarding a plea deal.

Fontanelle was killed on 1300 block of Congress Street in SE on Aug. 18 in her apartment. When police arrived, they found Fontanelle, a male juvenile and Lee with gunshot wounds. According to charging documents, the Fontanelle’s 12-year-old son and Lee two males were engaged in an argument when Fontanelle was shot, allegedly by Lee, inside her home. Lee and the son were also shot during the fight. All three were taken to the hospital. After further investigation, Lee was arrested and police found multiple other guns and ammunition in his room, leading to the additional charges.

Lee told police that he and Fontanelle were fighting and she may have shot herself. He also said the 12-year-old and his group of friends had been taunting him, throwing rocks and sticks while he and another friend were walking which caused him to confront the boy at his house.

Lee’s trial is expected to start in November and he will appear in court on May 24.

Fontanelle’s family has set up a Go Fund Me fundraiser for Fontanelle’s two surviving children, who witnessed her murder.

[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2809048-Kevin-Lee-charging-docs.html”]

Police investigating shooting death of Matthew Smith

Police are investigating the shooting death of 34-year-old Matthew Edward Smith early Thursday morning.

According to police, Smith was found at around 1:20 a.m. in the 1600 block of 16th Street, SE, by police responding to a call about the sound of gunshots.

Smith was taken to the hospital in critical condition where he died.

Smith is D.C.’s 32nd homicide this year, as compared to 31 at the same time last year.

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