The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of 42-year-old Grace Shanita Hilliard in connection with a stabbing incident that occurred on April 28 on the 800 block of Bladensburg Road, NE.
The victim, an adult male, was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Hilliard was charged with Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (knife) after being identified through surveillance footage and apprehended by officers.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced they are investigating a fatal shooting in the Petworth neighborhood on April 29.
Officers responded to the 800 block of Taylor Street, NW and the 3700 block of Georgia Avenue, NW. They found 19-year-old Zephaniah Wright deceased and a 15-year-old male with serious injuries on Georgia Avenue, while another adult male self-transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries from Taylor Street.
A suspect vehicle was recovered unoccupied, and the case remains under investigation.
D.C. Superior Court Judge Jason Park heard prosecution testimony about a shooting defendant’s international travel after his alleged involvement in a homicide on April 24.
Ranje Reynolds, 28, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 27-year-old Tarek Boothe on Jan. 31, 2022, on the 3200 block of M Street, NW.
The prosecution called a manager of security operations of Delta Airlines to testify regarding video surveillance footage and information about a flight to Jamaica from Feb. 3, 2022. The footage shows an individual, who the prosecution claims is Reynolds, walking on the jet ramp to the flight. Reynolds’ name was on the ticket that was purchased just hours before its departure from the United States and subsequent arrival in Jamaica on Feb. 3, 2022.
A detective from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), responsible for apprehending and locating suspects, testified about extraditing Reynolds and bringing him back to the United States from Jamaica. The detective arrived in Jamaica in mid-September of 2022, and after two days was able to make contact with Reynolds and fly him back to Washington, D.C.
An officer responding to the incident talked about finding a shell casing near Boothe as well as learning about a potential blood trail leading up 33rd Street away from the scene.
The prosecution also called several witnesses with businesses in Georgetown near the incident in order to obtain video footage from around the time of the incident.
Parties are slated to reconvene on April 28.
Editor’s Note: Tyshay Moore was acquitted of all charges by a jury on May 2, 2025.
The former co-defendant in a shooting, who was severed from the case and accepted a plea deal, testified before DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson on April 28.
Tyshay Moore, 27, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, four counts of possession of a firearm during crime of violence, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, and simple assault for her alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting on May 10, 2023 at the 700 block of 7th Street, NW. The victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries to the face, arm, and torso.
Javonee Jackson, 25, was initially charged with the same offenses in connection with the incident. However, during the cross-examination, Moore’s defense attorney, Hannah Claudio, pointed out that Jackson signed a plea deal, the terms of which were not disclosed in court, and as a result was severed as a co-defendant. She was called to testify against Moore.
Finishing her testimony, Jackson explained the complicated relationship she has with the victim, her ex-boyfriend and the father of her son. “Every relationship is not perfect,” said Jackson. She said she wasn’t afraid of him, but admitted to the ups and downs they’ve had.
She explained why she had been reluctant to identify Moore as the shooter. Allegedly, there was an Instagram account that posted people’s personal situations such as who was going to jail and who was snitching in court. She was worried that telling the truth would put her and her son at risk.
“I’m used to keeping my mouth closed on a lot of stuff… it was for the safety of my son,” Jackson stated. When asked why she changed her mind and identified Moore as the shooter, Jackson said, “Because she is… I’m tired of hiding.”
The prosecution also called the doctor who treated the victim’s wounds. He walked through his medical report to the jury, explaining the wounds to his teeth, chin, and stomach and the surgeries and other medical treatment he required.
The prosecution also called the victim to the stand. He suffered four gunshot wounds: three to the lower half of his torso and one to the face. He also testified about the complicated relationship between him and Jackson, and how Moore was also an on and off romantic partner with Jackson.
He remembered hanging out at DC’s Gallery Place shopping area and seeing Jackson. According to the victim, she approached him and started yelling. Not wanting to get involved, he backed away and tried to avoid her, according to the victim. He felt someone kick him and then felt a punch to the back of his head. Then, he got hit with gunfire and fell to the ground.
The victim testified he woke up in the hospital confused and unable to talk, and he stayed there for three weeks. He underwent three surgeries and it took him three days before he could walk again.
When questioned by detectives a week after the incident, he told them it was either Javonee or Tyshay who shot him. He was under the impression that they wanted him dead, and believed he had seen them both right before he got shot. However, all he saw of the shooter was the person’s eyes.
On April 29, the victim continued his testimony. Defense attorney Varsha Govindaraju questioned him about what she described as his history of lying under oath to the grand jury, lying to law enforcement, and his prior convictions including robbery and domestic violence charges.
The prosecution also called an FBI supervisory special agent who specializes in legal and policy advice, and is a member of the Cellular Analysis Survey Team (CAST).
According to the witness, the phone number associated with Moore initiated an outgoing call that was consistent with being in the vicinity of Gallery Place at 9:38 p. m. on May 10, 2023. However, she was unable to pinpoint the exact location.
The defense began its case, first calling a professor of psychology who specializes in eyewitness identification accuracy. She testified about forming and holding a memory, and what errors can affect what a person remembers.
In this case specifically, the witness pointed to the partial disguise of the shooter, presence of a weapon, short exposure time, stress levels, and multiple potential perpetrators as potential factors affecting witness identification.
Parties are slated to reconvene for trial continuance April 30.
A repeat offender, who was wounded multiple times in a shootout, was sentenced to 72 months in a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno on April 30.
Charles Brown, 64, was accused of one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of unlawful possession of firearm with a prior crime of violence. The counts stem from a Sept. 7 incident on the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE around 10 p.m. Brown pleaded guilty to the crimes on Jan. 27.
The prosecutor detailed a harrowing surveillance video depicting Brown’s fateful encounter with three unidentified individuals in an alley that night. He is seen approaching the group with what appears to be a gun in his right hand and opens fire. Gunfire was returned and the footage shows the trio fleeing with Brown crumpling to the ground in agony. A member of the group was wounded in the exchange. Brown was the only person arrested in the incident.
As the sequence unfolds, Brown repeatedly tries to stand up but falls to the ground crawling, ultimately reaching into his pocket and calling for assistance. Moments later a car shows up and the driver’s side door opens in an apparent effort to hand off Brown’s gun.
“That reflected the defendant’s awareness that he could not get caught with a gun,” said the prosecutor, given Brown’s extensive criminal background. The prosecutor asked for a total of 17 years imprisonment for the two offenses, giving Brown credit for accepting responsibility for his actions.
Arguing on Brown’s behalf, attorney Charles Haskell said Brown realizes he made a huge mistake. Brown claimed he was calling 911 for help.
“He (Brown) is constantly thinking about the victim. It’s haunting him.” Haskell noted Brown’s extreme hardships dealing with drug and alcohol abuse and that he’s been wounded three times.
“Give Mr. Brown a chance at redemption,” implored Haskell in asking the court for a total of five years’ punishment.
Struggling to stand, his voice shaking, Brown expressed remorse. “I fell short,” he said. ‘I want to come back to the community and give back instead of taking away.”
“There’s no excuse for what I done,” he continued.
Weighing the evidence, Judge Salerno said Brown exhibited “incredibly dangerous behavior.”
“This is as serious as it gets,” he said, reflecting on Brown’s lifetime criminal record including assault, destruction of property, arson, trespassing and robbery.“We’re getting too old for this.”
Judge Salerno sentenced Brown to 72 months total with the two charges served concurrently.
That along with three years of supervised release. Additional sanctions include paying $200 to the Victims of Violent Crime fund and another $450 for unpaid obligations from his previous convictions.
Upon release Brown will have to register as a gun offender. He will be 70-years-old at that time.
No further dates were set for the case.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced they are seeking assistance in identifying two suspects involved in an armed carjacking on April 27 on the 3600 block of Jay Street, NE.
The suspects approached the victim, brandished a handgun, and stole a gray 2015 Toyota Prius with Maryland tag 8GN4820. The incident was captured on surveillance video.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is currently seeking help in identifying a person of interest in a fatal stabbing in Southeast DC.
The victim, 31-year-old Michael Alanzo Jackson, was found with puncture wounds on the 1600 block of V Street, SE and later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Surveillance footage of the person of interest is available for public viewing.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced they are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on April 27 in Northeast D.C.
Officers responded to the 100 block of 54th Street, SE, and found two victims with gunshot wounds. Kevin Edwards, 28, was pronounced dead at the hospital, while a woman survived with non-life-threatening injuries.
The investigation revealed that the shooting occurred on the 4400 block of Foote Street, NE.
Editor’s Note: Tyshay Moore was acquitted of all charges by a jury on May 2, 2025.
A shooting case got more complicated after a former co-defendant testified against her lover who is also charged in the crime. The lawyer for the remaining defendant says the testimony was a “sell out” to get a better deal for another pending case. In that matter, the one-time co-defendant is accused of assaulting the victim in the current case who is also the father of her child.
Prosecution continued questioning the ex-partner of both the victim and defendant and former co-defendant, before DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson in a hearing on April 24.
Tyshay Moore, 27, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, four counts of possession of a firearm during crime of violence, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, and simple assault for her alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting on May 10, 2023 at the 700 block of 7th Street, NW. The victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries to the face, arm, and torso.
Javonee Jackson, 25, was initially charged with the same offenses as Moore in connection with the incident. However, during the cross-examination, Moore’s defense attorney, Hannah Claudio, pointed out that Jackson signed a plea deal, the terms of which were not disclosed in court, and was severed as a co-defendant. She was then called to testify against Moore.
Claudio said Jackson’s willingness to testify against Moore would result in a favorable outcome in a separate case against her ex-boyfriend, where she had allegedly assaulted him and made threats.
During her direct examination by the prosecution, Jackson revealed that she and the victim have a son together. After their breakup and while he was incarcerated, Jackson became romantically involved with Moore. According to Jackson, Moore developed a close relationship with Jackson’s son, even being present for important milestones like the child’s first steps and words.
Jackson also testified that she spoke to Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives the night after the shooting. At that time, she claimed she didn’t know the shooter, saying, “There was a safety issue if it got out I snitched.”
However, during cross-examination by Claudio, Jackson’s story clearly began to shift as she met with detectives again. She admitted during another interview to knowing the identity of the shooter, describing the person as a masked man who was seen with a friend of hers on the night of the shooting.
Claudio noted that Jackson had not mentioned Moore during the initial police interviews, instead using male pronouns when describing the shooter.
Claudio also highlighted other inconsistencies between Jackson’s initial testimony and her later statements, including a meeting with prosecutors where Jackson seemed to adopt their version of events. Claudio argued that Jackson “sold Moore out” in exchange for a possible reduction of charges.
Claudio presented what appear to be other inconsistencies in previous grand jury testimony where Jackson first denied knowing Moore was involved in the shooting, but in the latest meeting, said she saw Moore with an “XD-style” gun, a plastic semi-automatic pistol, the night of the shooting.
Jackson also claimed the shooter knew her friend, but a defense investigation found otherwise. Additionally, Jackson testified that the shooting was triggered by the victim’s making insensitive comments about Moore’s cousin, though the victim had previously denied knowing Moore’s family to detectives.
The defense also focused on Jackson’s complicated relationship with the victim. Claudio pointed out that he and Jackson had a “hostile” relationship at times, marked by physical abuse and threats against her and their son’s lives. According to Claudio, Jackson filed a protective order against him before the shooting.
Despite the order, Jackson continued to defend her ex-boyfriend, claiming that he would never follow through with his threats, despite allegedly firing a gun near their son.
Due to time constraints, Jackson was unable to conclude her testimony.
Parties are slated to reconvene on April 28.
A Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer testified he found a gun inside a booster seat in the defendant’s vehicle during a homicide trial before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan on April 29.
Robert Carpenter, 36, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction greater than one year for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 42-year-old Tremaine Nicholson on May 7, 2024 on the 3400 block of 25th Street, SE.
During opening statements, the prosecution asserted Nicholson was “unarmed, outnumbered, and shot in the back four times” by Carpenter. They alleged that Nicholson and the mother of his child, who Carpenter was romantically involved with, were verbally fighting when Carpenter shot him with the mother and her friends present. The prosecution concluded that Carpenter’s actions were unreasonable and unjustified because Nicholson did not harm or threaten anyone, and was unarmed.
Carpenter’s attorney, David Knight, claimed the prosecutors minimized the danger posed by Nicholson.
“He was like a terrorist who you couldn’t negotiate or reason with,” said Knight. They contended that Nicholson lunged at the mother to attack her, Carpenter fired a couple of shots, Nicholson reached in his waistband as if he had a weapon, and Carpenter fired more shots until Nicholson was down.
Prosecutors meanwhile asserted that despite the number of eyewitnesses it isn’t clear what occurred because the witnesses lied to cover-up Carpenter’s actions. They alleged that the mother told the witnesses to say that she shot Nicholson and they lied for her because they’re her friends.
Prosecutors urged the jury to consider the biases of the witnesses. “Subjective testimony does not always match the objective evidence,” said the prosecution. The prosecution said the jury will see evidence that cartridge casings from the scene were consistent with a firearm found in Carpenter’s vehicle.
Knight argued the prosecution tried to mislead the jury with an alleged cover-up.
Judge Ryan informed the jury that Carpenter’s girlfriend was charged with obstruction of justice and will not testify in the trial.
Knight concluded that Nicholson was “unpredictable, erratic, and dangerous” when he went to the mother’s home “unexpected, uninvited, and unwelcome.” Knight argued that Carpenter shot Nicholson to protect a single mother and everyone else in the apartment. “It felt life threatening,” said Knight, and asserted that the mother would be dead if Carpenter did not shoot Nicholson.
After opening arguments, the prosecution called an MPD officer, who testified that when she arrived on scene, the mother was “hysterical” outside the apartment. The witness said the mother confessed to police that she shot Nicholson but did not know where the murder weapon was and no weapons were found on the scene.
Another MPD officer testified that he responded to a call about a black truck related to the homicide on the 2400 block of Elvans Road, SE. The officer said when he arrived at the location there was no one inside or near the truck but there were individuals doing manual labor behind the apartments. He said that no one immediately claimed ownership of the truck but police collected the information of all individuals working in the area, including Carpenter.
A crime scene analyst from the Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) testified that he searched the black truck at the DFS loading dock. The witness confirmed the truck was registered to Carpenter from documents found in the vehicle. He also said he found a firearm with 9mm cartridge casings inside the cushion of a booster seat. “I felt something clunky, cut the seat cushion open, and there was the firearm,” said the witness.
A DFS forensic scientist testified that 9mm cartridge casings were recovered from the crime scene.
The prosecution also called Carpenter’s former employer who testified that Carpenter worked the day of the incident cleaning up trash at a worksite behind an apartment building. The witness said that he left the site for a few hours between 11 a. m. and 2 p. m. and was unaware of any employees, including Carpenter, leaving the site in his absence. Prosecutors showed the witness surveillance footage, in which the witness identified Carpenter’s truck outside the apartment where the shooting occurred.
The trial is scheduled to resume on April 30.
A former Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) patrol officer described total chaos following a triple homicide, mass shooting crime scene before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on April 24. The multi-faceted litigation, ongoing for four years, involves six defendants facing a laundry list of felony charges for wanton attacks resulting from what appears to be a neighborhood feud.
William Johnson-Lee, 22, Erwin Dubose, 30, Kamar Queen, 27, and Damonta Thompson, 28, are charged with conspiracy, two counts of premeditated first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, and three counts of assault with significant bodily injury while armed, for their alleged involvement in the mass shooting that claimed the lives of 31-year-old Donnetta Dyson, 24-year-old Keenan Braxton, and 37-year-old Johnny Joyner.
Dubose, Queen, and Johnson-Lee each face nine additional counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Queen and Thompson each have one additional count of first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, and Johnson-Lee was accused of two more counts of the same charge. Dubose, Queen, and Thompson also each have an additional charge of one or more counts of assault with intent to kill while armed.
Dubose and Queen are also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, as well. Dubose has additional charges of premeditated first-degree murder while armed and tampering with physical evidence. Finally, Queen and Johnson-Lee each have an additional charge of carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business.
The incident occurred on the 600 block of Longfellow Street, NW on Sept. 4, 2021, and left three others suffering from injuries.
Toyia Johnson, 52, and Mussay Rezene, 32, are charged with accessory after the fact while armed and tampering with physical evidence for their alleged involvement in assisting the other defendants in getting rid of the evidence and avoiding getting caught in connection with the case.
The prosecution called a key MPD officer to the stand to testify about his response to shootings on Oglethorpe Street, NW and Longfellow. The Oglethorpe shooting took place around an hour before Longfellow, and prosecutors claimed that Kamar Queen and his friends were targeted, causing them to retaliate.
Shortly after arriving at the Oglethorpe location, he was summoned to Longfellow. There, his body-worn camera footage depicted his putting up crime scene tape, but he was still able to get a good look at what happened. He mentioned the difficulty MPD had in controlling the large crime scene because there were so many bystanders in the blocked off area.
During cross examination, Johnson-Lee’s defense attorney, Peter Fayne, questioned the witness about the scene, who described it as “mayhem,” adding that it had “a lot of moving parts.”
The prosecution also called a forensic scientist to the stand to finish his testimony from the day before. He explained the collection of many items of physical evidence recovered from the scene on Longfellow, such as bullet fragments, casings, sneakers, a backpack, and a pair of jeans.
During the cross examination, the witness admitted that smaller crime scenes are easier to manage.
Outside the presence of the jury, Thompson’s defense attorney, Elizabeth Weller argued the rap videos the prosecution planned to introduce pitting two groups–the Kennedy Street Crew (KDY) and the defendants–against each other were non-equivalent and would prejudice the jury.
While drugs have not been raised as issue in the current case, according to a release from the US Attorney’s Office last September, KDY had an extensive drug trafficking operation in Northwest DC and “armed itself with fire power to facilitate the drug trade and defend its territory from rival crews.”
Judge Kravitz did not yet rule on the videos, but plans to before the next witness takes the stand.
Parties are slated to reconvene April 28.
A witness claimed she overheard a homicide defendant confess to shooting the victim and fleeing the U.S. in front of DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park on April 28.
Ranje Reynolds, 28, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 27-year-old Tarek Boothe on Jan. 31, 2022, on the 3200 block of M Street, NW.
A witness testified that she overheard Reynolds confessing to shooting Boothe and fleeing the U.S. at her cousin’s house in Jamaica. Her cousin and Reynolds were close friends and she saw Reynolds a number of times at his house.
She testified that she was in the living room while her cousin and Reynolds were on the verandah, a porch style outdoor space common in Jamaican architecture. The living room and verandah were connected making it easy for her to hear what they were saying clearly.
This witness later told U.S. Marshals in Jamaica about the incident and gave a description of Reynolds’ car which led to his arrest.
The witness testified she is now seeking asylum in the U.S., alleging someone threatened her with a gun at her home to “shut your mouth” after she spoke with authorities. While there is no evidence the warning was related to this case or specifically Reynolds, the witness believes it is. Neither party brought up the asylum issue in court.
Reynolds’ attorney, Cheryl Stein, mentioned the witness was paid $1,500 dollars for giving information that led to Reynolds’ arrest. However, the witness said she did not know about the money until after reporting what she heard. She noted the experience has been distressing and she is not enjoying testifying or the aftermath of coming forward.
A special agent from the FBI described his training as an expert member of the Cellular Analysis Survey Team (CAST) and confirmed that he is CAST certified.
The agent went over call detail records in this case showing that after 4:30 pm the day after the shooting, no calls were made from Reynolds’ phone. The testimony will continue April 29.
The court also discussed a potential scheduling issue for a jury member who has to leave town on Friday, probably not before 3:30 pm, but would be back by lunchtime the following Monday.
Stein moved for this juror to be excused, but the prosecution stated that would be premature as there would not be much time lost. The prosecution also stated there is a higher standard needed for dismissing a juror this late into the case. Judge Park concluded that if the juror could be in court for most of the day on Friday and Monday there is no reason to excuse him.
Parties are slated to reconvene on April 29.
Responding to defense attorney Destiny Fullwood-Singh’s request to withdraw from Aaron Brown‘s case, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt agreed on April 28 to appoint a second attorney to hold meetings with Brown during the month leading up to his sentencing.
On Dec. 20, 2024, Brown, 29, pleaded guilty to assault with intent to kill while armed for his involvement in two shootings that occurred on March 1, 2020. One occurred on the 600 block of S Street, NW, resulting in the death of 13-year-old Malachi Lukes and the injury of a second juvenile. No injuries were reported from the other shooting, which occurred on the unit block of Channing Street, NE.
Through the deal, prosecutors agreed to limit their sentencing request to 18 years in prison.
At the April 28 hearing, Judge Brandt noted that Brown’s plea agreement, unlike most others, is subject to Rule 11(c)(1)(C) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Plea deals of this type place limits on the sentence that can be imposed, so the attorneys’ statements at sentencing don’t have as much effect.
“There is no strategy or anything like that that is going to be impacted,” Judge Brandt said. She asked why Brown wanted to change attorneys under these circumstances.
“My interests no longer align with Mr. Brown’s interests,” Fullwood-Singh told the court. Regarding Brown’s sentencing, she said, “All the work is done,” but added, “I still have to visit my client.”
Fullwood-Singh declined to say more in open court, citing attorney-client privilege. She suggested Judge Brandt ask Brown if he wanted to provide more explanation.
“We’re having trouble communicating with each other respectfully,” Brown stated. “I might overtalk her, and she might say, ‘Are you listening, or do you want me to leave?’ and I might become impatient.”
“I apologize to her also for losing my composure,” said Brown. “I know I need to listen to her when she speaks. I just want her to be able to listen to me when I speak.”
Judge Brandt urged Brown to continue working with Fullwood-Singh for the last few weeks of the case.
“Mr. Brown is not asking. I am asking,” Fullwood-Singh responded. “May I approach under seal?”
“I have a better idea of what’s going on,” Judge Brandt said after a private bench conference with Fullwood-Singh. “I’m going to appoint a second attorney to co-chair the remainder of this with Ms. [Fullwood-]Singh.”
Judge Brandt asked all parties for understanding if she needed more time than usual to find an attorney who was not disqualified from representing Brown by previous involvement in some aspect of the case.
“This case has been expansive, and a lot of attorneys have touched this case,” Judge Brandt explained. “If you give me until the end of the day or tomorrow, we’re going to make this work.”
“I think your public apology went a long way to righting the ship,” Judge Brandt told Brown.
Parties are next slated to convene on May 23.
Defense attorney Albert Amissah told DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on April 28 that his client, Javarry Peaks, intends to accept a plea agreement offered by the prosecution, as soon as the prosecutor provides the necessary paperwork.
Peaks, 19, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault while armed, and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting at the intersection of 22nd Street and Minnesota Avenue, SE, on March 8. One individual sustained injuries from the incident.
According to arrest documents, a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) bus driver testified to seeing the defendant shoot the victim in the chest, then exit the bus and run away down the street.
Court documents state that WMATA surveillance footage from inside the bus before the shooting shows the victim talking to an individual identified as Peak who blocks him from leaving his seat, holds onto his backpack, follows him between the back and front of the bus, and pushes him.
The prosecutor told the court that the plea agreement will require Peaks to plead guilty to aggravated assault while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.
In return, the prosecution will dismiss all other charges related to the case and will waive an enhancement to the charges for committing a crime of violence against a WMATA passenger. According to the prosecutor, that enhancement would have increased the length of Peaks’ prison sentence by one-and-a-half months.
The next hearing in this case is scheduled for May 1.
Two carjacking co-defendants waived their rights to preliminary hearings before DC Superior Court Judge Eric Glover on April 23.
Jamari Robinson, 18, and Devyn Black, 16, are charged with unarmed carjacking, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and robbery while armed, for their alleged involvement in an incident that occurred on March 26 on the 2000 block of 16th Street, SE.
Under special circumstances, including the severity of the crime, juveniles can be tried as adults.
Black is additionally charged with carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business and unlawful discarding of a firearm or ammunition.
During the hearing, Stephen LoGerfo, Robinson’s attorney, and Julie Swaney, Black’s attorney, alerted Judge Glover of the co-defendants’ intent to waive their rights to preliminary hearings, and Judge Glover accepted the waiver, finding Robinson and Black made the decision knowingly and voluntarily.
The defense requested the court consider release, citing dual limited criminal histories and attendance in school. The prosecution presented video footage showing evidence of the defendants committing the alleged incident.
Judge Glover determined the hold will continue.
Parties are slated to reconvene May 30.
