The death of Sheldon Scott Gordy in January was ruled a homicide by the medical examiner last month.
According to police, Gordy, 55, was killed in the 1300 block of Nicholson Street, NW, on Jan. 5. His death was ruled a homicide by the office of the Chief Medical Examiner on March 31. The cause of death was “blunt force trauma with compression to the neck.”
Police have not yet arrested any suspects.
Police are asking for the public’s help in searching for Leon Stewart, 24, a suspect wanted for allegedly shooting 29-year old Darnell Lee Richardson last month.
When found, police plan to charge Stewart with first-degree murder while armed for the death of Richardson in the 3400 block of Benning Road, NE on March 16.
Stewart is described by the police as a black male, weighing 190 pounds, and 5 feet 7 inches tall.
Anyone with information about Stewart’s whereabouts can call the Metropolitan Police Department at (202) 727-9099.
The man charged with squeezing his five-week old son to death in August will be sentenced to a maximum of 30 years in prison Friday.
Robert Smith Sr., 28, was initially charged with first-degree felony murder for the death of his five-week-old son Robert Smith Jr. In exchange for pleading guilty to a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter, prosecutors offered a 30-year maximum sentence.
According to court documents, Smith Sr. initially denied causing his son’s death, but later told police “I did it.” He told the detective that he squeezed the child to stop him from crying and that he has done this multiple times before.
“Like you squeeze a roll of toothpaste,” Smith Sr. said.
According to Smith, he “compressed the child’s body” at around 7:30 a.m. the morning the child died, and bent his body backwards “like a whiplash” when he was frustrated and running out of options to calm the child. Smith said he had squeezed the child times before.
Smith also told the detective that his son’s mother “has this idea that ‘I’m a great guy,” but described himself as “a monster.”
The Chief Medical Examiner for the District of Columbia conducted an autopsy that found multiple old injuries on the baby’s body, as well as fractures to the child’s ribs and hyperextensions of his spine. Deputy Medical Examiner Dr. Mehdee Koolaee, said that these types of injuries are “inflicted injuries” and could not be caused by CPR.
[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2781756-Charging-docs-Robert-Smith.html”]
Delonte Javon Wynn, 34, charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly planning the murder of Darlene Marie Bryant, 46, pleaded not guilty in court Thursday.
Wynn allegedly shot and killed Bryant in the 4300 block of Wheeler Road, SE, on May 13, 2015. He was arrested on June 30 and initially charged with second-degree murder while armed. The charge was then upgraded to first-degree murder while armed.
In court, U.S. Government attorney Chris Bruckmann said the government was done with DNA testing and had submitted reports to the defense and D.C. courts.
Wynn’s defense attorneys, Murad Hussain and Mary Kennedy, requested discovery from D.C. courts, as well as a scheduled trial date for their client.
A jury trial is scheduled for Dec. 5.
A judge granted permission for the government to do DNA testing of blood drops found at the scene of Dwayne Dillard’s homicide.
The three men charged with Dillard’s death appeared in court this week in a preliminary hearing.
Shakim Lyons, 26, Jonathan Taylor, 24, and Harry Herbert, 27 were arrested in Aug. 2015 and charged with second-degree murder while armed for the fatal shooting of Dwayne Dillard on July 4 in the 2600 block of Douglass Place, SE. Their next court is April 22.
The prosecuting attorney in this case, Channing Phillips, requested that D.C. courts grant permission for additional DNA testing of blood drops from the scene. Phillips said he would let the defense know the results from the lab, as long as the defense allows the government to do the testing without the defense present. Defense attorneys, Natalie Lawson, Gene Johnson, and Frances D’Antuono agreed to the terms.
One of three men charged with the alleged murder of Antonio Ayala a year ago was ordered by a judge to continue psychiatric treatment and testing at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital.
Ammaad Chase-El was arrested April 9, 2015 and charged with the murder of 34-year-old Antonio Ayala. According to police, Ayala was killed in a robbery gone wrong.
Chase-El has been going through mental examinations and competency retention programs at St. Elizabeth’s, and a previous mental observation hearing was also focused on his declining mental health.
A report relayed to the court from the hospital said Chase-El was experiencing a decline in competency and that the option of psychotropic medication (anti-depressants) was made voluntary. Doctors working with Chase-El urged the judge to make the medication mandatory because Chase El “will not regain mental state without it.”
Chase-El’s lawyer argued against the implementing of mandatory drugs until he received a definitive report that stated the drugs would ensure the recovery of Chase-El. The lawyer continued and stated that depression and cognitive function are two separate issues. The judge agreed and declined to make the drugs mandatory, and preferred to wait to see if Chase-El made any improvement in the next testing.
Due to Chase-El’s mental state, his mother and father came up from the audience to speak on his behalf. Chase El’s parents said they visit him at St. Elizabeth on a weekly basis and have seen first hand how the tests are being done. Both expressed dissatisfaction with the tests. Chase-El’s mother told about an instance she witnessed where one of the examiners raising their voice to Chase-El saying “Ammaad, why don’t you understand?”
The court decided to meet in another 30 days to allow Chase-El another month of mental tests. The judge urged Chase-El to put in his best effort when being tested at St. Elizabeth so the doctors can report accurate findings and the trial can progress past the mental observation hearings. Chase-El responded with his only words of the hearing and replied, “I do…my best.”
In addition to Chase-El, Javonte Odom and Herman Odom have also been charged in the case. Javonte Odom is due next in court on May 19, and Herman Odom is due back in court July 29.
The two week trial for the case against Michael “Melvin” Lee has been scheduled for November.
Lee was arrested on Nov. 20 of last year and has been charged with second-degree murder while armed for the fatal shooting of Kevontae Jones, which occurred on Nov. 19 in the 100 block of Danbury Street, SW.
In court, U.S. Attorney Charles Willoughby said the investigation is ongoing and the government will be able to set an indictment date by the Aug. 2016 deadline. He suggested that the trial be scheduled for late December.
Judge Ryan denied the request because there will not be any jurors available during those weeks.
Instead, pre-trial motion hearings are scheduled for Nov. 8 and Nov. 9.
A judge ordered the 17-year-old charged with the murder of Davonte Washington held without bail in an emotionally charged courtroom Tuesday.
Maurice Bellamy, will be tried as an adult is charged with second-degree murder while armed while allegedly shooting Washington, 15, when he stood on a metro platform with his mother and two young sisters Saturday.
There were no empty seats in the emotional courtroom, packed with both the Washington and Bellamy families for Bellamy’s first appearance.
When Bellamy was brought forward in court, Bellamy’s mother jumped out of her seat and shouted “my son,” and was soon restrained by family and friends.
U.S. Attorney Glenn Kirschner said Bellamy’s case “gives new meaning” to the word “senseless” and requested him held without bail.
The judge said there was probable cause for Bellamy’s arrest and had not heard anything sufficient to rebut the arrest. His next court date is April 22.
According to an affidavit for Bellamy’s arrest, police reviewed surveillance footage at the Deanwood metro station following the shooting that left Washington dead, at around 4 p.m. According to the document, Washington, his mother and two younger sisters are seen sitting on a bench enclosed in glass. The document says it appears as though one of the sisters looks at Bellamy, who walks onto the platform with friends. The man police identified as Bellamy is seen pulling a gun from his waistband, and shooting at Washington, who stood up from the bench.
Police created a photo of Bellamy from the video, and compared it to a list of juvenile offenders, which matched with Bellamy, according to the document.
Bellamy is seen in the footage running out of the metro station.
Police also identified Bellamy as the suspect using Facebook. According to the affidavit, police found photos of Bellamy on his Facebook identifying himself as “SHOOTA MOE, AKA, MOE CITY” and “KENTLANDMO.” According to the document police reviewed other arrest paperwork for Bellamy where his nickname is “Moe” and had a prior address in the Kentland neighborhood of Maryland.
Witnesses included in the document told police Bellamy and Washington had a short dialogue before Washington was shot.
The first witness, presumed to be Washington’s mother, said they were sitting on the bench when Bellamy got Washington’s attention. Washington had been preoccupied on his cell phone, and the suspect allegedly rapped on the glass to get his attention. The witness couldn’t hear what began the conversation, but said Washington walked away from the enclosed bench, and Bellamy said “What’s up?,” to which Washington also replied, “What’s up?” The witness said they believed Bellamy was about to begin a fight when he pulled a gun out and shot Washington. The witness said feathers came out of the back of Washington’s jacket when he was shot. The witness said Bellamy was armed with a revolver.
According to the medical examiner’s report quoted in the document, Washington was shot twice in the torso which lead to his death. Police could not find any casings at the scene of the homicide, which also led them to believe the murder weapon was a revolver.
A second witness who had accompanied Bellamy to the metro station identified the shooter as “Mikey B” or “Moe.” This witness told police the alleged shooter engaged Washington, asking “What the [sic] you keep looking at me for, you know me from somewhere?,” with his hand in his pocket. The alleged shooter then again said “What?” When Washington got off the bench and said “What?” he was shot by “Mikey B,” according to the witness. Throughout the interview, police reportedly pushed the witness to find out the suspect’s “real name” and were later told his real name is “Moe.”
A third witness also interviewed told police that “Moe” had been living with him and another witness, a second companion at the metro station for a while. This witness also confirmed Bellamy’s photo and identity as “Moe.”
Outside the courthouse, Victor Leonard, Washington’s grandfather, said he couldn’t believe the shooter was a “kid” around the same age as his grandson.
Leonard said Washington’s mother recognized Bellamy as the shooter when he took the stand and said, “Yeah, that’s who killed my baby,” during the presentment.
“I can’t say how I feel,” he said. “It is a new meaning to a senseless act. That’s what everybody wants to know – ‘For what reason would you do this?’ I can’t find a reason.”
Leonard said he is relieved Bellamy is off the street and that somebody is in custody and will be held accountable for the murder of his grandson. He said he hopes Bellamy receives some type of penalty or “what ever it is he needs.”
Leonard said the Washington family was “tight-knit” with both the mother and father’s side of the family there along with nieces, cousins, uncles and many more. He said his daughter is “very distraught” about Washington’s death.
Leonard said he would tell the Bellamy family to pray and wished to Bellamy to understand why he killed Washington.
“It is shocking and scary to see that somebody would look at another person and think their life is meaningless,” he said. “This could really happen.”
[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2779590-Charging-docs-Maurice-Bellamy.html”]
Police on Tuesday announced the arrest of a 17-year old for the murder of a 15-year old Davonte Washington, who was killed in front of his mother and younger sisters at the Deanwood metro station platform Saturday.
Police Chief Cathy Lanier said at a press conference Tuesday morning that the suspect is being charged with second-degree murder while armed and will be tried as an adult.
Though police did not release the name of the suspect, and said more information would be provided at the 2 p.m. arraignment, court documents show 17-year-old Maurice Bellamy was charged with Washington’s murder.
Police said video surveillance was “critical” in finding and identifying the suspect.
Metropolitan Police Department spokesman Dustin Sternbeck said Washington was on his way to get a haircut for Easter Sunday with his mother and two sisters when there was a “brief exchange” between the suspect around 4 p.m. at the Deanwood metro platform. The suspect shot Washington after the conversation turned into an argument.
“It was a senseless act that happened in a matter of moments,” Sternbeck said.
Washington was taken to Prince George’s County Hospital where he then died.
At the press conference, Lanier said there was no information about whether or not the suspect and Washington knew each other, but she could not say if the shooting was completely random.
“Of all the tragic things that we see when it comes to violence, nothing is more senseless than this case, in my opinion,” Lanier said. “There’s no reason for it.”
Over the weekend, Washington’s grandfather told reporters that his grandson’s mother had never seen the suspect before and has no reason to believe her son was a part of anything that would get him killed.
Washington’s grandfather told reporters that the family had a “very somber Easter.”
An 18-year-old girl was fatally stabbed at a bus stop on the 4800 block of Benning Road, SE.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department press release, a patrol officer witnessed a fight between two girls at the bus stop on March 22. The officer stopped the fight, but not before one girl stabbed the other.
The victim, later identified as Amanjanea La-Shell Whitley, was transported to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Police are investigating the fatal shooting of Gabriel Carlos Turner.
Turner, of Southeast, was found on the 2600 block of Birney Place, SE, on March 24 with a gunshot wound.
Turner was taken to the hospital where he later died.
Police have announced the arrest of several suspects in five homicide cases, including one case that dated back to 2013.
Last week, Ronald Bruce Thomas, 29, was charged with first-degree murder while armed for the alleged fatal shooting Dontell Price, 21, on the Unit block of M Street, NE, in May 2013.
All other arrests announced by the police last week were made in homicides in Southeast, D.C. this month.
A juvenile female was arrested on March 22 and charged with second-degree murder while armed for fatally stabbing Amanjanea La-Shell Whitley, 18, on the 4800 block of Benning Road, SE. According to the Metropolitan Police Department’s press release, a patrol officer in the neighborhood witnessed the fight between the suspect and Whitley at the bus stop, before the suspect stabbed Whitley.
Also on March 22, police announced the arrest of Anthony Wade, 29. Wade was charged with second-degree murder while armed for the fatal shooting Aubrey Dansbury, 27, on the 800 block of Chesapeake Street, SE on March 9.
On March 24, police arrested Alphonso Roberts, 32, for fatally shooting Maurico Walker, 23.
Tavon Stewart, 24, was also arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed, for fatally shooting Rudolph Garris, 25, on the 4600 block of 6th street, SE.
Davonte Washington, 15, was fatally shot on the Deanwood metro station platform Saturday.
According to NBC Washington,the 15-year-old was on his way to get a haircut with his mother and two sisters on Saturday when a man approached and shot him.
Police arrived at the scene around 4 p.m. and Washington was transported to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Washington’s grandfather, Victor Leonard, told reporters that Washington’s mother said that she had never seen the shooter before this incident. Davonte was a freshman Air Force Junior ROTC at Largo High School in Prince George’s County. A Washington Post article said that the victim lived in Maryland and came to D.C. to visit his mother that weekend.
“Just doesn’t make sense,” said Washington’s grandfather, Leonard to the Washington Post reporters.
Police have not yet arrested any suspects for Washington’s death.
Police have announced the arrest of Paul Swann for the alleged murder of Adam Edwin Barker earlier this month.
Swann, 24, was charged with second-degree murder while armed. According to police, Barker of Southwest was found with injuries at around 4:20 p.m. on February 29. Barker died from his injuries on March 1, and later charged Swann with his murder.
After the second murder at the same bus stop in less than a year, community leaders in the area are calling for more attention to be paid to the violence in that area.
Paul Trantham, a member of the advisory neighborhood commission, said he wants to raise awareness on the growing issue of violence in Ward 7 and 8 of Southeast DC.
“We know violence is an unpreventable disease,” said Ward 8 candidate, Anthony Muhammad.
Muhammad said he has a book containing 250 unsolved murders, all of which occurred in Ward 8, that date back to 2010.
“The police cannot solve the problem. We have to solve the problem ourselves,” he said.
Out of the more than 20 homicides that have happened so far this year, six happened in Southeast. Last week, Ivy Tonett Smith, 39, was fatally shot when she was sitting at the bus stop on Naylor Road, between Good Hope Road. and Alabama Avenue.
Last year reporter Charnice Milton, 27, was also killed when transferring buses at the same location.
Both cases remain unsolved.
“There is a war downtown and it seems like everyone has forgotten – it’s time now for prosecution,” said Milton’s father, Ken McClenton.
Police suspect that Milton was not the intended victim, and was instead used as a human shield in the shooting.
“While we were here, how many police cars have you seen patrol this area?” Trantham asked.
“Everyone should be outraged,” he said. Trantham hopes the conference encourages the Southeast community to “evangelize” and get more involved in reducing the acts of violence in Ward 7 and 8.
