Prosecutors Present Evidence of Alleged Cover-Up of Triple-Homicide, Mass Shooting

The prosecution presented evidence they allege proves two among six co-defendants acted to cover-up a mass shooting during a trial before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on May 13.

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 while armed and tampering with physical evidence for their alleged involvement in assisting the other defendants discard evidence and avoid arrests.

Prosecutors allege Johnson rented a black Honda Accord used to execute the shooting and then falsely reported the vehicle stolen to cover-up the crime.

The prosecution played nine 911 calls between Sept. 4 and Sept. 7 in which Johnson repeatedly reported a stolen black Honda Accord she had rented. Prosecutors informed the jury that parties agreed upon the dates and times of the 911 calls with the first call on Sept. 4, 2021 at 8:40 p. m.

Following the 911 calls, prosecutors called a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer who responded to the stolen vehicle call and met with Johnson to file a report on Sept. 7. The prosecution played the officer’s body-worn camera footage of his interaction with Johnson.

In the video, the officer informed Johnson a black Honda was involved in homicides a few days prior and Johnson told the officer she parked the car the evening of Sept. 2 and reported it stolen the morning of Sept. 4. The officer is heard telling Johnson that’s good. He said that if Johnson reported the car missing Saturday morning it would have been before the homicides.

The officer also told Johnson in the video that if she had proof of her efforts to report the stolen vehicle then she can’t be implicated in the homicides. “I don’t think you had anything to do with it,” said the officer in the footage.

An expert in the field of fingerprint comparison and identification testified that the Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) sent him fingerprints linked to the case. The expert said he identified the prints from DFS as Rezene’s through comparison to known prints from the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFES).

Prosecutors claim the fingerprints link Rezene to a gray Nissan Maxima he allegedly used to burn the Honda.

During cross-examination, Rezene’s attorney, Kevin Robertson, noted that the expert has no knowledge of when the prints were left or the circumstances they were left in.

The fingerprint expert also said he compared the prints to Dubose’s known prints, but during cross-examination from Dubose’s attorney, Michael Bruckheim, the witness confirmed there were no identifications regarding Dubose.

The trial is scheduled to resume on May 14.

‘This is No Accident, This is No Mistake,’ Prosecutors Say in Homicide Trial’s Opening Statements

A jury in DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt’s courtroom heard opening statements and multiple witnesses testify on May 14.

Myron Hickson, 36, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 38-year-old Maurice Frazier on Oct. 28, 2022. The incident occurred in an apartment building on the 900 block of Bellevue Street, SE.

“Myron Hickson shot and killed Maurice Frazier… this was personal,” prosecutors said in their opening statements. According to the prosecution, Frazier, who was in a relationship with Hickson’s baby mama, sustained gunshot wounds to the chest, genitals, arm and head.

Prosecutors claimed that Hickson arrived at Frazier’s girlfriend’s home at 2:40 a. m. on the morning of the incident, banging on the door while the woman’s four kids slept in the apartment. When Frazier told Hickson “you can see your son tomorrow,” prosecutors argued, Hickson wouldn’t take no for an answer.

“This is no accident, this is no mistake,” the prosecution insisted, adding “Myron Hickson is the man that killed Maurice Frazier for no reason.” Prosecutors claimed Hickson was fixated on a love triangle that did not necessarily include Frazier, but rather any man Frazier’s girlfriend would date.

However, Matthew Besman, Hickson’s attorney, disagreed with the prosecution. “When Maurice Frazier pulled his gun, Myron Hickson had no choice. He feared for his life” Besman said, adding Hickson “acted in lawful self-defense.”

According to Besman, Hickson was trying to drop off money for his child, whose mother Hickson was trying to have a better co-parenting relationship with, when Frazier “came out angry, irritated, and armed.”

“Even though it was three in the morning, [Hickson] decided to drop [the money] off to fulfill his responsibilities,” Besman argued, adding “He couldn’t have known what was waiting for him on the other side of the door.”

According to Besman, Hickson saw a version of Frazier “he had never seen,” which allegedly prompted Hickson to tell Frazier to calm down.

“Myron Hickson had no choice. He fired because he thought he was going to die. This isn’t personal, it’s survival,” Besman insisted.

Following opening statements, prosecutors called on Frazier’s girlfriend and Hickson’s baby mama to testify. She testified that her and Hickson’s baby was born in January of 2021, but they broke up because “it was too much for me.”

According to Frazier’s girlfriend, she and Hickson attempted to co-parent, but had a few issues. She recalled a specific issue on Dec. 25, 2021, when Hickson allegedly showed up at her house unannounced and under the influence. According to the witness, Hickson was “belligerent, talking trash.”

She added they ended up “getting into it,” and Hickson pushed her to the ground while she carried their 11-month-old baby. Her older children, she testified, were petrified as Hickson kept pulling his shirt up. However, she testified, she didn’t see a weapon that day.

According to the witness, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) responded to the scene on Christmas morning, but it is unclear if Hickson was arrested.

Frazier’s girlfriend also testified that in the early hours of Oct. 28, 2022, she and Frazier were at her apartment folding laundry, preparing themselves for her graduation later that morning.

She testified that Frazier was “actively involved,” in her and her children’s lives, so it wasn’t rare for him to spend the night at her apartment.

According to Frazier’s girlfriend, they dozed off in the living room, and were awakened by banging at the door. She testified she got up, looked out the peep hole of her door, and realized Hickson was the one knocking. “I eased back so he didn’t hear me,” she recalled.

She testified she woke Frazier up, and he went to speak with Hickson outside the door. “He made sure I was okay,” she recalled, adding Frazier told Hickson “Your son is sleeping, you can see him tomorrow.”

She added the door closed, and she was unable to hear anything else. “I felt that they were talking too long,” she stated, remembering she went to the door and heard gunshots.

Frazier’s girlfriend stated she waited to open the door for a few seconds out of fear. “It was just silent,” she recalled, adding, “[Maurice] was just laying lifeless right there… I was trying to talk to him.”

Prosecutors played her 911 call, where she could be heard begging “Please, help me. Oh my god, Maurice.”

Prosecutors also played body-worn camera from the first responding officer, where Frazier’s girlfriend could be heard telling him “my son’s father killed him.”

Due to time constraints, Frazier’s girlfriend will conclude her testimony May 15.

Prosecutors also called on the first responding officer, who testified he responded to the scene after being dispatched for a shooting. According to the officer, he was met by an “upset and crying,” woman who told her “my son’s father did it.”

According to the officer, he located Frazier face down in front of the door to an apartment. He testified he provided CPR to Frazier, requested an ambulance, and notified MPD’s Violent Crime Branch (VCB), which includes the homicide branch. He added Frazier was pronounced dead at the scene, despite life saving efforts.

Parties are slated to reconvene May 15.

Document: MPD Arrests Suspect in Fatal Assault

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of 48-year-old Walter Parker, who was charged with first-degree murder in connection with a fatal assault that occurred on April 23 on the 400 block of M Street, SE. The victim, 77-year-old Bernard Williams, succumbed to his injuries on April 28 after being assaulted in an apartment complex. Parker was initially charged with aggravated assault, but charges were upgraded following the victim’s death.

Witness Testifies About Two Vehicles Linked to Triple Homicide, Mass Shooting

An analyst testified about what she did and didn’t find in two vehicles prosecutors say are linked to a mass shooting involving six-codefendants. The evidence was presented before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on May 12.

According to the prosecution, the defendants committed the mass shooting as retaliation for another shooting, which occurred two hours earlier, during which Queen and a group of friends were allegedly targeted, with one individual injured. The shooting occurred at Queen’s godmother’s house on the 800 block of Oglethorpe Road, NE.

The prosecution called a former forensic scientist with the Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) who testified that she processed two vehicles connected to the incident. The first vehicle, a black Honda Accord, prosecutors claim Johnson rented and Thompson drove as the getaway driver during the shooting. Prosecutors allege the second vehicle, a gray Nissan Maxima, connects Rezene to burning the Honda in an alleyway to destroy evidence.

The forensic scientist said she collected latent fingerprints in the Nissan from two windows and plastic water bottles, in addition to DNA swabs from a charging cord. Prosecutors displayed a photo of a black balaclava, or ski mask, the witness said she located on the floor of the Nissan.

Regarding the Honda, the witness said she was asked to search for firearms evidence, but discovered none.

Johnson-Lee’s attorney, Peter Fayne, questioned the witness’ handling of the Honda and pointed out an error in her report, the processing date listed incorrectly on one page.

Fayne also asked the witness why she only searched for firearms evidence in the Honda when the search warrant she received said to collect various types of evidence. She responded that a detective informed her they were only looking for firearms evidence so she did not perform the other examinations.

Another former DFS forensic scientist testified that on Sept. 9, 2021 he recovered a bullet from a window-frame at the scene and sent it back to the office as evidence.

Queen’s godmother resumed her testimony with cross-examination from Queen’s attorney, Brian McDaniel. McDaniel showed the witness Ring camera footage from the front porch of her house on Oglethorpe of Queen and his friends the day of the shooting. McDaniel pointed out that Queen and one of his friends looked similar and both wore jeans, a white t-shirt, and a black headpiece.

McDaniel alleged that prosecutors showed Queen’s godmother photos, said “This is Kamar,” and subsequently asked her to identify him in videos the photos were taken from. During redirect questioning, prosecutors read the witness’ grand jury transcript in which she identified Queen in video footage before she was shown a photo. Queen’s godmother confirmed she identified Queen from her own personal knowledge, not influenced by prosecutors.

The trial is scheduled to resume on May 13.

Officer Who Knows Homicide Defendant ID’s Him in Testimony

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer who identified Alonzo Brown in a homicide investigation was familiar with Brown and his alleged victim for many years, according to testimony given before DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park on May 12.

Brown, 28, and Naquel Henderson, 27, are charged with first-degree murder while armed, conspiracy to commit a crime of violence, five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and four counts of assault with intent to kill while armed. The charges stem from their alleged involvement in the shooting that killed 21-year-old Michael Taylor and injured two additional victims on Jan. 12, 2019, on the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE.

Brown and Henderson are two of five men charged with Taylor’s death. Stephon Evans, 24, and Tavist Alston, 31, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed in 2022, while Carlos Turner, 27, is scheduled for sentencing May 16.

According to Steven Kiersh, Brown’s attorney, Turner accepted a deal that required him to plead guilty to second-degree murder. However, D.C. Witness has beeen unable to confirm the terms of Turner’s plea agreement, as they are under seal.

At trial, the prosecution called as a witness an MPD officer who has worked in the area where the shootings occurred since 2004.

“We took pride in knowing the kids and all the residents,” the officer said about himself and the partner he patrolled with. “I played football in high school and took an interest in some of the kids that way.”

The officer said he also helped set up a boxing program at the Rosedale Recreation Center, two blocks from the apartment complex where Taylor was murdered.

The officer said he knew many of the local residents’ nicknames. The prosecutor asked him if they had given him a nickname, and the officer said yes, his nickname was “Cheesecake.”

When the prosecutor began asking the officer whether there was conflict between Taylor’s apartment complex and another close by, Kiersh objected on the grounds of relevancy.

Judge Park sustained the objection but commented that the officer’s long personal involvement with the neighborhood was very relevant to his ability to identify the defendants.

“He was given this colorful nickname–or the opposite, indicating an absence of color,” Judge Park said, citing the nickname as an indication of the officer’s closeness to the community.

The officer said he knew Taylor since the age of 13 or 14, when Taylor introduced himself to the officer using his father’s name instead of his own. The officer only learned it was the name of Taylor’s father at a memorial service for Taylor.

The officer also knew Shamar Marbury, the 19-year-old whose murder the prosecution is arguing was the motive for Taylor’s killing.

The officer testified to seeing Brown and Henderson at Marbury’s funeral, serving as pall bearers. Evans was another pallbearer, while Alston and Turner were also present, the officer said.

Taylor was murdered the day following Marbury’s funeral. Soon after, a homicide detective asked the officer to identify a man in a still photo taken from surveillance footage.

The officer identified the man as Brown, or “Zo,” as he knew him. The officer identified Evans from another still.

The officer’s testimony is scheduled to continue on May 13.

The prosecution called an MPD sergeant who collected surveillance video footage of the area around the shooting between 1:00 p.m. and 2:30 p. m. on the day of the incident. The shooting occurred a few minutes after 2:00.

The footage played in court showed four men in dark clothing, with hats or hoods partially obscuring their faces, who gathered to approach the building where the shooting occurred. They rushed inside together, then a few seconds later ran away.

The prosecution also displayed a still photo that gave a closeup view of one man. The sergeant testified that the photo was taken from the surveillance footage he collected.

This was the still that the other officer identified as a photo of Brown.

On cross examination, Kiersh, questioning the identification, confirmed with the sergeant that it wasn’t clear from the still photo that the man’s clothes were dark-colored, so he might have been dressed differently than the four men at the shooting.

On redirect examination, the prosecutor confirmed with the sergeant that, as far as the sergeant knew, the man in the still photo could have changed his clothing between the time of the photo and the time of the shooting, since the photo didn’t have a time stamp on it.

The prosecution also called as a witness an MPD officer who visited the two surviving victims at the hospital after the shooting. While there, he determined the locations of their injuries and inspected their clothing for bullet holes.

The witness said one surviving victim was taken to Howard University Hospital. That victim suffered from two bullet wounds to the center of his back and one to his right elbow, according to the witness.

The witness said the other surviving victim was taken to MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

“He had a gunshot wound to the head, a gunshot wound to the left eye, to the left arm, and, I believe, to the left ankle,” the witness said.

Parties are set to reconvene on May 13.

Document: Police ID Person of Interest in H Street Shooting

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced they are investigating a shooting that occurred on May 11 on the 600 block of H Street, NW, which resulted in non-life-threatening injuries to two women.

A person of interest has been identified through surveillance footage, and the investigation is ongoing.

Document: Police Arrest Man for January Murder on M Street

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of 23-year-old Derrick Stokes-Seegars on May 12.

He is allegedly shot Nico Rector, 36, on Jan 30 on the 900 block of M Street, SE. Stokes-Seegars was charged with second-degree murder while armed.

Jury Acquits Woman of Shooting Ex-Girlfriend’s Former Lover

A jury in DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson’s courtroom acquitted a defendant of a shooting in a complex domestice dispute on May 2.

Tyshay Moore, 27, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, simple assault, and four counts of possession of a firearm during crime of violence for her alleged involvement in a shooting that injured one individual. The incident occurred on May 10, 2023, on the 700 block of 7th Street, NW.

Javonee Jackson was severed as a co-defendant after taking a plea deal with the prosecutors, which required her to testify against Moore and plead guilty to simple assault.

The prosecution argued that Moore shot the victim following a dispute rooted in a “complicated web of relationships” involving Moore, her ex-girlfriend–Jackson–and the victim. He was also in a previous relationship with Jackson, from which they share a son. Prosecutors allege Moore was driven by jealousy and anger after the victim commented on her deceased cousin.

According to prosecutors, a masked individual, who they claimed was Moore, showed up at the Gallery Place shopping mall, found Jackson and the victim and shot him four times.

Hannah Claudio and Varsha Govindaraju, Moore’s attorneys, claimed the prosecution presented “assumptions, not evidence,” and insisted a proper investigation was lacking, citing the absence of physical evidence, like DNA testing of the bullet casings.

Claudio challenged the credibility of key witnesses, focusing in particular on Jackson, who initially told police she didn’t know who the shooter was. According to the defense, Jackson only implicated Moore after entering a plea agreement in March 2025, under which her own charges were dropped in exchange for cooperation.

Following multiple days of deliberation, the jury acquitted Moore of all charges. Judge Dayson signed a release order for the DC Jail.

No further dates were set.

Document: Police Arrest 2 Juveniles for Armed Carjacking

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of two juveniles in connection with an armed carjacking that occurred on May 9 in the Navy Yard area located on the 1200 block of 4th Street SE.

A 15-year-old male from Southeast, DC, was charged with armed carjacking, and a 14-year-old male from Glenarden, MD, was charged with carrying a pistol without a license and unauthorized use of a vehicle.

Two additional suspects remain at large.

Tempers Flare Between Opposing Lawyers After Murder Mistrial

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt admonished argumentative attorneys and obstreperous defendants after a jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict in a homicide case on May 7.

Demonte Gibson, 27, and Asani Forte, 27, are charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, conspiracy, assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and destruction of property for their alleged involvement in the murder of Delonte King, 34, on Nov. 3, 2021, on the 2800 block of 14th Street, NW.

Following eight days of deliberation, Gibson was convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, but the jury was unable to reach a verdict for the other charges. Consequently, Judge Brandt declared a mistrial.

Prior to the verdict, Judge Brandt told Gibson and Forte “let [their decision] wash over you,” adding the Marshals would remove them ,“if you wanna choose this point in time to act a fool in front of the jury.” The judge was responding to the defendants’ actions for the last few days.

As Judge Brandt thanked the jury in their deliberation room, the prosecutor and one of Gibson’s defense attorneys got into a heated argument. Although the gallery was unable to hear the nature of the dispute, Judge Brandt’s law clerk advised the parties they would have to be separated if they kept arguing. At that point US Marshals intervened, telling them to stop.

Judge Brandt admonished the parties when she returned, specifically telling the prosecutor “sometimes you’re just downright rude… you wear it like a badge of honor, that is not a good look.”

Judge Brandt added the parties had been acting “immature, uncivil, and rude” throughout the trial.

“I don’t want any rash decisions made today,” Judge Brandt told parties, stating they would reconvene another day to decide next steps

Parties are slated to reconvene June 6.

Document: Police Arrest 21-Year-Old for Shooting in Columbia Heights

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of 21-year-old Kyiel Kearny in connection with a shooting that occurred on May 10 in Columbia Heights.

Officers responded to the 1300 block of Columbia Road, NW, where they found an adult male victim with serious injuries, who was then transported to a hospital.

Kearny was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon (Gun), and a firearm was recovered at the scene.

Document: Police Seek Multiple Suspects for Armed Carjacking

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced they are seeking multiple suspects involved in an armed carjacking that occurred on May 9 on the 1200 block of 4th Street, SE.

The suspects approached the victim, brandished a handgun, and stole a gray 2017 Mazda CX-5.

Surveillance cameras captured images of the suspects, and the MPD is requesting public assistance in identifying them.

Jury Convicts Defendant of Killing Co-Worker

A jury in DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park’s courtroom convicted a homicide defendant of all charges on May 5.

Ranje Reynolds, 28, was charged with first-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 27-year-old Tarek Boothe on Jan. 31, 2022, on the 3200 block of M Street, NW.

During the trial, prosecutors provided evidence that Reynolds shot and killed Boothe following a verbal dispute during work.

According to the prosecution, Reynolds and Boothe were involved in a fight on Jan. 31, 2022. After Boothe won the altercation, Reynolds felt “disrespected” and later sought Boothe out again, after acquiring a firearm.

Prosecutors demonstrated that Reynolds escaped to Jamaica following the homicide.

Cheryl Stein, Reynolds’ attorney, urged the jury to set aside their sympathy for Boothe, and requested they remain impartial when reaching a verdict.

Following three days of deliberations, the jury reached a unanimous guilty verdict.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 25.

Document: Police Arrest Suspect for 1 year old’s Death

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of 24-year-old Wayne Blake, who is alleged to have been involved in the homicide of 1-year-old Journee Moore from Upper Marlboro, MD.

The incident occurred on Sept. 28, 2024, on the 3700 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW, where the child was found in cardiac arrest and later pronounced dead due to multiple blunt force injuries.

Blake has been charged with first-degree murder – felony murder and cruelty to children, with the offense determined to be domestic in nature.

Eyewitness Describes Murder Victim’s Futile Plea for Help

The trial in a fatal shooting case continued on May 7 before DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park with a witness recounting how the bloody victim pleaded for help.

Naquel Henderson, 27, and Alonzo Brown, 28, are charged with first degree murder while armed, conspiracy to commit a crime of violence, five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and four counts of assault with intent to kill while armed. These charges stem from their alleged involvement in a shooting that killed Michael Taylor, 21, and injured two others on Jan. 12, 2019, on the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE.

In addition to Henderson and Brown, three other men are charged with the death of Taylor. Tavist Alston, 31, and Stephon Evans, 24, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed, and Carlos Turner, 27, is set for sentencing on May 16.

As the trial resumed, an eyewitness to the shooting testified that she saw two men dressed in all black and wearing ski masks in the courtyard outside her apartment building while she was with her children, getting ready to go grocery shopping.

She testified that when shots rang out, she quickly brought her children back into her apartment, before calling 911 to report the incident. She said she saw two individuals injured, one who sustained a gunshot wound to the face and another who sustained one to the chest.

An additional eyewitness testified that she tried to assist Taylor with his injuries. She said that she was inside her apartment when she heard shots ring out, and instinctively got down on the floor.

Afterwards, she went into the hallway to see what happened and Taylor was outside her door, with a gunshot wound to the face and pleading for help. She didn’t know Taylor, but attempted to administer first aid by applying pressure with sheets gathered from her apartment.

Additionally, a detective sergeant from the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) electronic surveillance unit testified to receiving a request a few days after the shooting to download CCTV footage from the area where the shooting took place. However, the sergeant testified that he had no additional involvement in the investigation.

Trial is slated to resume May 12.

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