Judge Weighs Dismissing Charges Against Mentally Incompetent Stabbing Defendant

DC Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean stated on June 12 she will decide if charges should be dismissed against a stabbing defendant who’s been declared mentally incompetent during a July hearing.

Dwayne Waller, 74, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a stabbing that occurred on Sept. 18, 2022 on the 400 Block of H Street, NW.

According to court documents, Waller was involved in a verbal dispute with the victim before allegedly chasing and stabbing him with a kitchen knife.

After his arrest in September of 2022, Waller was found to be mentally incompetent on four separate occasions from November 2022 to April 2023.

In the spring of 2024, Waller’s defense attorney filed a motion to dismiss the charges against Waller due to chronic incompetency, citing that medical providers at the Department of Behavioral Health had found Waller incompetent and with “no substantial probability that he will attain competence.” DC Superior Court Judge Erik Christian denied that motion.

In a June 12 hearing, Waller’s defense attorney, Anthony Smith, stated his intention to file a second motion to dismiss, this time in front of Judge McLean.

Parties are slated to reconvene at the motion hearing on July 14.

Homicide Defendant’s Case Delayed For Court’s Non-Compliance With Disability Act

US Marshals alerted DC Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur that a homicide defendant was unable to show up for his June 4 hearing due to a broken wheelchair ramp in the courthouse.

Desmond Barr Jr., 23, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, tampering with physical evidence, first-degree theft, and destruction of property less than $1000, for his alleged involvement in the death of Ambria Farmer, 20. The incident occurred on July 13, 2024 on the 3600 block of F Street, SE.

Barr is paralyzed from the waist down and confined to a wheelchair.

According to court documents, Farmer’s body was found in Fort Dupont Park, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

Shatia Penn, 25, is charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and destruction of property, for her alleged involvement in stabbing Farmer.

Their hearing was rescheduled due to the court’s wheelchair ramp being out of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Barr is confined to a wheelchair.

ADA compliant means a space, either private or public, needs to be designed as to be accessible to people with disabilities so that they can access and utilize benefits without discrimination or impediments. Physical spaces need to include features such as ramps, or accessible doorways and bathrooms.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene July 7.

Judge Revokes Stabbing Defendant’s Probation, Pending Re-Sentencing

DC Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean has agreed to give a stabbing defendant’s attorney the chance to present a possible treatment plan to amend past probation violations in a hearing on June 11.

Gregory Edmonds, 34, was sentenced to 24 months of incarceration, suspended, and two years probation for assault with significant bodily injury. The charges stem from his involvement in the stabbing of his father on July 4, 2023, on the 2600 block of Martin Luther King Avenue, SE.

The proceeding was held to consider re-sentencing. Meanwhile, Edmonds’ probation is revoked.

Due to ongoing battles with mental health and substance usage, as well as requests from his father, Edmonds faced no jail time. His sentence was instead focused on recovery.

In light of Edmonds’ mental health crises during his probation, and multiple violations, the prosecution and defense agreed that a re-sentencing was necessary.

Defense attorney Lauren Morehouse advocated for a referral to a mental health provider to continue the treatment he began pre-trial.

Morehouse stated that, after progress in restoring his mental competency, Edmonds himself has realized that “release without a plan for treatment does not make sense for him.”

Judge McLean noted that treatment cannot be guaranteed until re-sentencing unless there’s agreement about the defense’s plan for rehabilitation. For now, Judge McLean revoked Edwards’ probation.

Resentencing is scheduled for July 11.

Prosecutors Say Ex-Girlfriend’s Stolen Car Report Links Her to Triple Homicide, Mass Shooting

An ex-girlfriend of a triple homicide defendant is said to be involved in an ongoing murder trial before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on June 9th. She allegedly made a stolen rental car report linked to the crime just days after the event.

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 defendants already listed discard evidence and avoid arrests.

Toyia Johnson, Dubose’s ex-lover, became a central figure in the case when, two days after the triple homicide, she showed up at a rental car company in Falls Church, VA, to report a vehicle stolen, according to the lead detective’s testimony.

The detective further testified that the car she referenced as stolen matched the one seen on surveillance footage the night of the homicides and was later found burned. Prosecutors allege that Johnson may have tried to help cover up Dubose’s involvement.

On June 11, before the jury entered the courtroom, there was a dispute over a jail call in which Dubose allegedly referenced Johnson, saying, “Shawty calling me… about the wheels. I can’t talk to you the way I want to.” Prosecutors argued this suggested guilty knowledge.

Johnson’s attorney, David Akulian, said the phrase was slang and cannot be compared to “the Queen’s English.” Judge Kravitz ultimately decided to exclude the call from evidence.

Shortly after, the lead detective on the case was questioned about his involvement in the arrests of the defendants.

He testified that on September 6, police arrived at the rental car company in Falls Church to investigate the homicide further. While there, they encountered Johnson, who told officers she wanted to report a vehicle as stolen. Investigators say the rental manager turned over a spare set of keys to the vehicle.

According to the detective, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) was told there was a GPS tracker attached to the car.

Police subpoenaed the GPS data and reviewed Johnson’s phone records as well as 911 calls and footage of the Fourth District police station in case Johnson had visited recently asking for assistance. .

According to law enforcement, there was no indication that Johnson filed a police report regarding the stolen car prior to visiting the rental agency, raising questions about her intent. Johnson was arrested on Oct. 19, 2021, after Erwin Dubose and co-defendant Kamar Queen.

During the investigation, authorities collected more than 30 call logs and interviewed several ex-girlfriends connected to the suspects. Johnson-Lee’s ex-girlfriend initially denied recognizing anyone in video footage, but once the video was slowed down repeatedly, she said one individual resembled her ex-boyfriend.

Police also seized phones and conducted home searches where they found clothing that allegedly matched what suspects were wearing in surveillance footage.

On cross-examination, Thompson’s attorney, Elizabeth Weller, questioned the MPD detective about his preliminary investigations citing that Thompson was not initially a person of interest in the case in September 2021.

In focus was MPD’s identification of suspects in surveillance footage from the 400 block of Galloway Street, NE at 5:07 p.m., a few hours before the shooting, and at about 7:45 p.m. immediately after the shooting. The fourth suspect in the footage was initially identified as a different individual, not Thompson, and was only later reidentified as Thompson in the 5:07 p.m. footage. No identification was made for the suspect in the later footage due to a mask.

The reidentification occurred after the same identifying officer was shown surveillance, without a time stamp, from the 800 block of Oglethorpe Street, NW where she identified a person in the footage as the initial suspect in the Galloway footage. The detective on stand testified that this Oglethorpe Street footage was taken around the same time as the first Galloway Street footage and that the initial suspect was also identified in the Oglethorpe Street footage by his godmother.

Weller used this identification confusion to question the MPD detective on measures taken in the investigation of the initial suspect, Thompson. The detective stated that evidence was obtained within three-to-four days of the initial identification that indicated the initial suspect was not present in the Galloway Street footage. In this time, no steps were taken to pursue investigation of that suspect, according to the detective.

Queen’s defense attorney, Brian McDaniel, shifted questioning to focus on Queen’s arrest on Oct. 13, 2021 and proceeding search warrants related to the shooting noting that none of the searched locations were connected to Queen.

The detective testified that he made efforts to find an address for Queen, having visited the address indicated in the defendant’s biographical information at the time of arrest. The detective, however, was unable to corroborate that Queen actually lived at the address. As such, no search was conducted.

McDaniel also noted that of the two phones belonging to Queen that were seized upon arrest, only one of the two numbers was subjected to cell-site analysis.

Upon re-direct, the detective pointed to the lack of activity on record for this second number between Aug. 3 and Sept. 6, 2021, this including the date of the incident on Sept. 4, 2021, as reason for the exclusion. He clarified that without cell activity, no location data would have been available for the phone regardless.

The prosecution advanced cell site analysis noting numerous results for what was identified as Rezene’s number in and around the area of the 400 block of Galloway Street, NE in the evening of Sept. 5, 2021, the day following the shooting, as well as many results for the number on the day of the shooting.

Parties are slated to reconvene June 16.

Defendant Pleads Not Guilty to Second-Degree Murder

Kyle Piunti pleaded not guilty in a homicide case before DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman on June 13.

Piunti, 36, is charged with second-degree murder while armed and three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a vehicular accident that led to the death of 54-year-old Michael Hamlin, on Jan. 3 on I-295 southbound.

During the hearing, the prosecution formally read a four-count indictment against Piunti, including one count of second-degree murder while armed and three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon. The defense requested a trial date be set, and the prosecution noted that they expect the trial to take less than two weeks.

Judge Edelman scheduled the trial to begin on May 18, 2026, at 9:00 a.m, with an Innocence Protection Act (IPA) and status hearing to determine if Piunti wants to waive or exercise his right to DNA testing. The proceeding is set for July 11.

Defense Challenges Police Response to a Shooting

A responding officer testified he ran towards “multiple semi-automatic gunshots,” but the defense challenged the effectiveness of the police response. The exchange came during a shooting trial on June 11, before DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro.

Shaqunda Reed, 32, is charged with carrying a pistol without a license and carrying a dangerous weapon for her alleged involvement in a shooting that occurred on the 800 block of Florida Avenue, NW on March 2, 2024. No injuries were reported.

According to court documents, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to the scene for the report of a shooting, where they located evidence including cartridge casings inside a parking garage on Florida Avenue.

Prosecutors presented body-worn camera (BWC) footage from a responding officer, who said he began sprinting towards the scene after hearing multiple gunshots.

The officer said he stopped to check on bystanders in the area to make sure they had not been injured. He testified he came across Reed at the scene but did not stop her, seeing no signs she was injured or carrying a weapon.

Instead, he continued investigating the area for injured parties or signs of a shooter.

Sara Kopecki, Reed’s attorney, attempted to impeach to officer’s testimony citing several alleged disciplinary actions against him in 2023, 2024 and 2025 for use of force and improper use of a camera–to which he had little opportunity to respond.

The prosecution also called on another officer who stopped Reed later that night after a call to look for a suspect wearing a green jacket. The officer verified it was Reed who he saw that night when asked to identify her in court.

Kopecki challenged the officer with a barrage of questions suggesting he could have been preoccupied during the investigation.

“Did you frisk yourself,” she asked? There was amusement in the courtroom when the officer said he couldn’t recall.

In fact, Kopecki told Judge Di Toro that she would like to use the officer as a defense witness and the judge complied.

The prosecution brought in another officer, who works in forensics, to report that the empty shells at the scene were likely tied to the gun at the center of the case which they’ve linked to Reed.

Parties are slated to reconvene June 12.

Release Conditions Continue for Carjacking Defendant in Plea Negotiations

DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld denied a carjacking defendant’s request to moderate his release conditions while plea negotiations continue at a June 11 hearing.

Dale Benjamin, 37, is charged with armed carjacking and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in an incident on the 4400 block of Bennington Road, SE, on Sept. 15, 2024.

Benjamin’s attorney, Marnitta King, argued that his current release under GPS tracking and home confinement, is preventing the defendant from maintaining employment and growing his relationship with his children who live in Maryland, while he is in DC.

King highlighted no violations for his client, and stated there’s a correctional facility that wants to hire Benjamin.

The prosecution agreed that Benjamin was maintaining compliance. However, they argued it isn’t enough to warrant a release due to the severity of the defendant’s charges.

The prosecution also cited past offenses suggesting the defendant is a danger to the community.

King argued that the defendant’s past crimes are irrelevant to this case since they occured when he was a juvenile.

Judge Hertzfeld denied Benjamin’s release, stating that he needs employment verification to lift the curfew and meanwhile the GPS box will stay on.

Parties are to resume on July 15.

Shooting Defendant Wants Release to Attend Daughter’s Graduation

DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe accepted a non-fatal shooting defendant’s request for a confinement exception to see his daughter’s graduation during a hearing on June 12.

Demarco Young, 32, is charged with endangerment with a firearm and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business for his alleged involvement in a shooting incident that occurred on Jan. 21,on the 1600 block of Galen Street, SE.

Young’s attorney, Alvin Thomas, filed a motion to end Young’s home confinement with GPS monitoring. According to Thomas, Young has been compliant with all conditions, except for a ten minute period in May.

He “wants to go to his daughter’s graduation,” said Thomas, arguing that his client should be allowed to see his daughter finish high school. The prosecution had no objection to the exception.

Judge Pipe disagreed with ending the current confinement status but did agree to make an exception to allow Young to attend the graduation.

According to the parties, they’re in the final stages of plea negotiations.

They are set to reconvene June 16.

Domestic Stabbing Defendant Denied Release, Waives Preliminary Hearing

DC Superior Court Judge Heide Herrmann denied a stabbing defendant’s request for release in a hearing on June 9, following the defendant’s waiving a preliminary hearing.

Manuel Yeager, 41, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault with significant bodily injury for his alleged involvement in a stabbing that occurred on June 3 on the 2000 block of Q Street, SE.

According to court documents, the victim was Yeager’s brother, with whom the defendant lived. The two brothers allegedly engaged in a heated argument, leading Yeager to attack the victim with a knife.

Darryl Daniels, Yeager’s attorney, alerted Judge Herrmann of his intent to waive his right to a preliminary hearing, and argued in favor of Yeager’s release, citing his lack of criminal history in the last seven years and the complicated domestic nature of the incident.

The prosecution was opposed, focusing on the seriousness of the victim’s injuries and the defendant’s history of altercations with the victim. The prosecution also provided images of the victim’s injuries showing excessive bleeding and detailed how emergency responders used an oxygen mask and tournaquet to save the victim’s life.

Citing the seriousness of the victim’s injuries, Judge Herrmann denied Yeager release.

Parties are slated to reconvene July 2.

GPS Tracking Lifted for Murder Suspect, Bench Warrant For Missing Co-Defendant

DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan granted the defense’s request on June 12 to lift GPS tracking of one co-defendant, while the other remains subject to a bench warrant.

Jahi Rapp, 21, and Amarii Fontanelle, 22, are charged with two counts of premeditated first-degree murder, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill while armed, and aggravated assault knowingly while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Davonte Berkley, 19, and Reginald Cooper, Jr., 19, on the 1300 block of Congress Street, SE on Oct. 17, 2022.

According to court documents, surveillance footage displays shots being fired from an individual identified as Fontanelle, who then fled the scene. Four other individuals, including one identified as Rapp, are seen fleeing the apartment building. All five allegedly fled in the suspect vehicle.

Jesse Winograd, Rapp’s attorney, requested that his requirement for GPS tracking be lifted, stating that Rapp has been compliant for more than a year. The prosecution raised objections.

However, after testimony from a pretrial supervisor indicated Rapp’s compliance, Judge Ryan agreed to lift the GPS tracking monitor.

Fontanelle failed to appears and is being sought under a bench warrant.

Parties are slated to reconvene Nov. 19.

Carjacker Accepts Plea Deal, Held For Sentencing

A carjacking defendant accepted a plea deal before DC Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel on June 9.

Vincent Atchison, 58, was originally charged with unarmed carjacking for his involvement for an incident that occurred on Feb. 3 on the 3800 block of Davis Place, NW.

During his hearing, Atchison’s attorney, Howard McEachern, alerted Judge Israel he intended to accept a plea deal extended by the prosecution, which required Atchison to plead guilty to robbery and unauthorized use of a vehicle in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment.

Through the deal, the prosecution agreed to limit their sentencing request to the bottom of the sentencing guidelines based on his criminal history.

McEachern requested Atchison be released pending sentencing with mandatory weekly drug testing. He argued that Atchison’s last conviction was 18 years ago and was largely fueled by substance abuse. Further, McEachern mentioned that Atchison’s mother had health issues that Atchison’s could support if released.

The prosecution objected and argued that Atchison approached the victim from behind, throwing her to the ground before taking her keys and taking off with her vehicle. The prosecution emphasized that the elderly victim was especially vulnerable and such force is extremely dangerous for an elderly person.

When McEachern provided the address where Atchison would live the prosecution alerted Judge Israel that it was extremely close to the victim.

Judge Israel ultimately stated that she did not believe Atchison was a flight risk but that there was insufficient evidence to prove that Atchison was not a risk to the community, subsequently denying McEachern’s request for release.

Parties are set to reconvene on August 22.

Medical Examiner Confirms Stabbing Homicide

A medical examiner testified about the extent of a homicide victim’s injuries before DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman on June 11.

Daniel Chapman, 37, is charged with second-degree murder while armed and carrying a dangerous weapon outside a home or business for his alleged involvement in the stabbing of 43-year-old Antoine Ealey. The incident occurred on July 22, 2023, on the 2300 Block of L’Enfant Square, SE.

The prosecution called on the medical examiner who said Ealey sustained five external injuries, including a two inch deep, three inch wide gaping stab wound on the left shoulder.

The witness detailed that the shoulder wound had cut through several blood vessels and punctured the top of the left lung, ultimately causing the victim’s death. The autopsy located blood in the chest cavity ultiamtely determining manner of death was homicide.

A toxicologist toxicology report found PCP and K2, a synthetic cannabinoid, was in Ealey’s blood and that PCP could distort reality in a way that might cause violence but not necessarily from taking it.

Another witness who reviewed Ealy’s autopsy. testified that the second rib on Ealy’s left side was fractured due to sharp force trauma.

The witness also stated that the knife used in the stabbing would not have had serrated edges due to the lack of chipping and marks on the rib bone. The prosecution showed the knife that was allegedly used during the incident and asked the witness if a knife like this could have been used in this scenario. The witness stated that he could not rule it out.

The prosecution also showed the CCTV surveillance footage of the incident. In the video, provided by a witness from the United States Attorney’s office, an individual in a red shirt walking down an alleyway was visible. Shortly after, a group of four individuals was seen exiting an apartment building on Pennsylvania Avenue, and walking down the same alley in the same direction as the man in a red shirt. The group of individuals eventually stop at the end of the alley near a back parking lot of a car wash.

The man in red, who was also at the end of the alley, sees the group of four individuals and begins to interact with them. Eventually, the man in red comes closer to the group and an individual in a polka dot shirt begins to interact with the man in red.

After a couple of seconds of face- to-face interaction, both individuals briefly begin to kick each other’s legs. After, the man in the red walks away toward the end of the alley, the man in the polka dot shirt follows him and they both begin to fight. After a couple of seconds, the man in red runs away and out of line of the camera view.

The participants shown in the melee were not immediately identified.

Parties are slated to reconvene June 16.

Shooting Defendant Released Despite Rearrest

DC Superior Court ChiefJudge Milton Lee allowed a shooting defendant to continue probation on June 12, despite facing another charge.

Dakia Thomas, 44, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. She was originally charged with four counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, possession of an unregistered firearm/unlawful possession of a firearm or destructive device, and unlawful possession of ammunition.

These counts. stemmed from her involvement in a non-fatal shooting on Dec. 16, 2021, on the 33500 block of Albert Irvin Cassell Place NE. No injuries were reported.

Dakia is on a five year probation as a part of her plea deal, and, according to her parole officer, was complying with everything asked of her by the court. However, she was rearrested for simple assault for allegedly sending multiple threatening text messages.

During the hearing, the prosecution asked to keep her in jail stating that she broke her probation agreement. In an April proceeding, DC Superior Court Judge Pipe stated that she was not inclined to release Thomas, and that her two previous charges are cause for concern. When the hearing concluded, Thomas shouted, “This is bulls**t.”

However, Judge Lee stated that the two cases are unrelated and granted her release, under the condition she reports to her parole officer on June 13 and arrives at her court date for the misdemeanor.

Judge Considers Extending Probation Following Re-Arrest

DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson postponed deciding on a prosecutor’s request to extend probation on June 6 after a woman convicted of conspiracy to commit a crime of violence was re-arrested for allegedly driving without a permit.

Brianca Phillips, 28, was charged in 2022 with conspiracy, first-degree murder and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence in connection to the 2021 shooting of Terrance Allen, according to court records. In 2024, Phillips entered a deal where she pleaded guilty to conspiracy in exchange for the other charges being dropped.

DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo sentenced Phillips to 12 months probation in February 2025 under the Youth Rehabilitation Act of 1985 (YRA).

The YRA is a DC law that allows defendants who were 24 years old or younger at the time of committing a crime to have their conviction taken off from their criminal record if they comply with court orders and participate in rehabilitative programs.

After Phillips was re-arrested on charges of driving without a permit, a urine test indicated she had consumed alcohol within the past 48 hours.

Phillips’ defense attorney, Lisbeth Sapirstein, questioned the relevance of this test result, as alcohol consumption is legal. However, alcohol use violates Phillips’ probation, according to court records.

A community supervision officer (CSO) from the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) told the court that, apart from this rearrest, Phillips has been compliant and involved in rehabilitation and community programs.

However, the CSO said she was standing in and could not speak for Phillips’ current CSO.

Judge Dayson remarked that extending Phillips’ probationary term may not make sense, since it ends in February 2026. She said she wants to hear the opinion of Phillips’ current CSO regarding the status of her probation before making a decision.

Parties are set to reconvene on July 11.

Metro Bus Stabbing Defendant Denied Release, Waives Preliminary Hearing

DC Superior Court Judge Heide Herrmann denied a stabbing defendant’s request for release following his waiving a preliminary hearing of the evidence against him on June 9.

Daniel Williams, 42, is charged with aggravated assault knowingly while armed for his alleged involvement in a stabbing that occurred on May 27 at the Minnesota Avenue Metro bus station on the 4100 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE.

According to court documents, Williams and the victim exchanged heated words on board the bus prior to the incident.

Darryl Daniels, Williams’ attorney, alerted Judge Herrmann of his intent to waive his right to a preliminary hearing, and presented arguments for Williams’ release. According to Daniels, Williams has stable housing and a job, lack of criminal history, and is the sole provider for his two children. The defense also mentioned that the victim had been “disrespectful” to the driver of the bus, which offended Williams.

The prosecution provided arguments for holding Williams, mentioning the unprovoked nature of the attack and the seriousness of the victim’s injuries, which included a punctured lung.

Citing the seriousness of the offense, Judge Herrmenn denied Williams release.

Parties are slated to reconvene July 2.

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