Two Murder Co-Defendants Plead Not Guilty at Arraignment

Two co-defendants pleaded not guilty in a fatal shooting arraignment before DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman on Feb. 28.

Emmanuel Lewis, 35, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a license outside his home or business, and tampering with physical evidence for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Kwame Keith, 25, on the 1800 block of Fairlawn Avenue, SE on Oct. 30, 2023.

George Pendleton, 43, is charged with accessory after the fact to murder and tampering with physical evidence for his alleged involvement in the same incident.

Before going through the arraignment, the defense attorney for Lewis, Russell Hairston, requested his client be released pending the trial through GPS monitoring or 24-hour home confinement. The prosecution objected due to the severity of the case, especially tampering with physical evidence.

Judge Edelman declined the request, adding that the defendant was on probation at the time of the incident and he has multiple priors, which “would make a release challenging.”

Once arraigned, Pendleton and his attorney, Bryan Bookhard, reviewed the current terms of his release with Judge Edelman with a representative from DC’s Pretrial Service Agency (PSA) after failing to report for multiple drug tests.

Judge Edelman agreed to continue Pendleton’s pre-trial release, so long as he attends an intensive outpatient drug treatment program. On behalf of his client, Bookhard said he will voluntarily commit to inpatient treatment, as Pendleton wants to “appropriately address his substance issues.”

Judge Edelman responded, “I don’t see you as someone not taking this seriously. I want you to go get help.”

Parties for Pendleton will reconvene on May 2.

All parties in the co-defendant matter will reconvene for trial on June 8, 2026.

‘I Feared for My Life, I Wanted to Disappear,’ Says Transgender Victim in Carjacking Case

The victim of a domestic violence case testified about her fear before a jury in DC Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean’s courtroom on Feb. 27.

Nicolas Delgado, 31, is charged with unarmed carjacking, kidnapping, two counts of first-degree theft, two counts of robbery, second-degree theft, attempted credit card fraud, threat to kidnap or injure a person, and two counts of simple assault for his alleged involvement in an incident that occurred on July 8, 2020, at the 5400 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW.

Prosecutors called on the victim, who identified herself as the ex-girlfriend of Delgado. According to the witness, he punched her multiple times in the face after accusing her of cheating. The victim said she’d seen Delgado “furious” before, but “his eyes looked different.”

She testified he then dragged her into the bathroom and cut off her hair with scissors and a razor.

While doing so, she stated he repeatedly called her the F-slur, an attack at the transgender victim. She claimed Delgado knew the significance of her hair, stating “It’s everything to me. It’s what makes me feel pretty.”

She claimed he took her belongings including designer bags and jewelry. Then, the witness testified he drove them to a bank ATM machine, where he made her withdraw all her money and give it to him.

She claimed Delgado would make threats targeting her and her family including, “If we broke up, my family would find my head chopped off on top of the TV” and “If I told anyone, he would kill my mom and my entire family.”

After the incident, the witness said she cried for hours and took a picture of herself, which the prosecution showed to the court. It portrayed the victim’s shaved head and faint bruises on her face where Delgado allegedly struck her.

When asked why she did not fight back, she expressed her fear and stated “I feared for my life… I wanted to disappear.”

The witness claimed she initially did not call the police and had no intention of doing so because she feared for her family’s safety. However, after receiving a text from him several days later detailing how he would empty her bank account, she “noticed it was a pattern” and “it was never going to stop.”

According to the witness, she realized she could not keep it a secret and needed law enforcement to get involved.

During cross-examination, Bryan Bookhard, Delgado’s defense attorney, mentioned two incidents when the victim had opportunities to seek help while Delgado allegedly held her in his custody.

In response, the victim explained, “I was doing what he asked me to do so he didn’t hurt my family,” and described him as “an aggressive man.”

Parties are slated to reconvene on March 3.

Stabbing Trial Further Delayed, Despite Locating The Victim

The prosecution notified the court they located the victim, also the key witness, who was missing for days before DC Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean during a hearing on Feb. 27.

Shawn Dyson, 45, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault with a significant bodily injury for his alleged involvement in a stabbing on Aug. 29, 2023 at 1400 block of Park Road, NW. One individual sustained injuries during the incident.

Dyson’s defense attorney, Sharon Weathers, requested dismissal of the case. Weathers argued there has been a “lengthy” delay in the trial, with the burden on the prosecution unable to find the witness. She said Dyson spent a long time in jail and felt “anxiety” about the uncertain status of the case.

Judge McLean denied the motion. She stated the prosecution made “substantial efforts” to locate the witness, and the delay was only three days. She concluded the factors did not interfere with Dyson’s right to a speedy trial.

With the help of an interpreter, the witness was admonished by Judge McLean warned the victim to appear or a warrant will be issued.

The trial, which was slated to begin Feb. 24, has been rescheduled to May 27.

Parties are slated to reconvene May 16.

Judge Says Witness’ Testimony in a Seven-Year-Old Case is Like ‘Pulling Teeth’

A jury in DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman heard more testimony about a teen-age homicide from on Feb. 27.

Daquan Gray, 23, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license outside of his home or business for his alleged involvement in the murder of 15-year-old Jaylyn Wheeler, on the 600 block of Alabama Avenue, SE, on May 16, 2018. Gray was 16 years old at the time of the incident.

Throughout the trial, prosecutors have attempted to prove that Gray allegedly shot Wheeler as a result of a fight that occurred at their high school on the day of the incident.

A witness, an in-school suspension coordinator from Ballou High School, claimed not to recognize any student from school security camera stills during his testimony. Another witness, a former high school student, also refused to identify the students and later stopped his testimony, stating, “I want a court-appointed lawyer,” after the prosecutor handed the witness his grand jury testimony transcript.

Judge Edelman dismissed him for the day and, after discussing the next steps for the witness with the parties, said, “This [witness name] testimony will be like pulling teeth.”

The prosecution also called on the former lead security officer at the high school, who confidently identified the students from the same school surveillance cameras. She identified Gray and another former student from surveillance taken near the alleyway of the incident that shows the two walking from the school towards the alley where Wheeler was fatally shot.

A forensic scientist was called to testify virtually, about her crime scene photos and the physical evidence she was able to collect. One key piece of evidence was a firearm, which was recovered near the incident, in the backyard of a home under tarps and leaves. The firearm was presented in court for the jury to see, after being rendered safe by a US Marshal.

During a cross-examination by Hanna Perry, it was noted the forensics expert was given a bad review by superiors in a moot court in San Diego, CA. In an effort to impeach the witness, Perry said, reading the review, that the witness, “Gave misleading and untruthful testimony.”

In a brief redirect, the prosecutor was able to emphasize it was a moot court and the witness has given numerous truthful testimonies both in moot courts and in real trials.

The prosecution also called a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer from the K-9 unit, who responded to the crime scene intending to locate a firearm. Instead, the dog and officer found multiple bullet casings, which were flagged for forensics to collect.

Parties are slated to reconvene on March 3.

Judge Issues Bench Warrant for Stabbing Defendant

DC Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur issued a bench warrant for a stabbing defendant on Feb. 28 after failing to appear in court.

Tyra Redad, 34, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for her alleged involvement in the stabbing of a victim on the 800 block of 7th Street, NW, on Dec. 1, 2024.

During a previous hearing, Redad had already been warned about the consequences of failing to appear in person due to transportation issues.

Chantal Jean-Baptiste, Redad’s defense attorney, had no information regarding her absence.

Consequently, Judge Arthur issued a bench warrant.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene when Redad is in custody.

Witnesses Testify about a Car Crash, Sounds of Gunfire in a Homicide Trial

The prosecution called the victim of a car crash to testify about his extensively damaged vehicle in a homicide trial before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan on Feb. 25. Prosecutors suggest the accident is linked to the crime.

Jerome Israel, 21, is charged with premeditated first-degree murder while armed, two counts of carrying a pistol without a license, two counts of unauthorized use of a vehicle, unlawful discharge of a firearm, and two counts of destruction of property for his alleged involvement in the death of ChaQuan Barbett, 24, on Aug. 23, 2022. The incident occurred on the 2300 block of Minnesota Ave, SE.

Prosecutors called on an eyewitness who lived at the house bordering the crime scene.

The witness testified that he was watching TV at home when he heard gunshots and saw two men running away from an alley. One of the men fell to the ground, and the other one continued to shoot him while standing over the victim, according to the witness.

The witness stated he ran downstairs to help, but people near a bus stop were already rendering aid and the shooter had fled. The witness then called 911, and an ambulance was flagged down to help. The witness testified that he did not see the face of the shooter, only knew that he was wearing a gray hoodie and pants.

Another witness was a former Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer who arrived at the scene as the victim was being loaded into the ambulance, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds to the lower body and couldn’t provide information about the person who had shot him.

Another MPD officer testified about an incident two days after the murder of Barbett. He testified that on Aug. 25, 2022, as he was on patrol for a separate investigation in the area, he heard gunshots at 5:49 a. m.

The witness and his partner turned into an alley encountering an individual all in black when they saw a black Dodge Charger with a Maryland license plate back towards them.

Later that morning presumably the same black Dodge Charger got into an accident a few minutes away. The vehicle collided with a white Ford pickup truck, and the driver fled the scene.

The prosecution called the driver of the pickup truck to the stand to testify to the accident. He described it by saying that “all of a sudden, it sounded like a bomb went off. The airbags went off. I didn’t know what had happened.”

When he got out of his car when he noticed a gun lying on the ground next to, a black Dodge Charger.

He explained that his truck was no longer drivable, and the insurance company totaled the vehicle.

Parties will reconvene on February 27.

Victim’s Mom Testifies in Homicide Trial

A victim’s mother testified about her son’s loss before a jury in DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman’s courtroom on Feb. 26.

Daquan Gray, 22, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and carrying a pistol without a license outside of his home or business, for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Jaylyn Wheeler, 15, on May 26, 2018 on the 600 block of Alabama Avenue, SE.

The prosecution called on Wheeler’s mother, who testified the last time she saw Wheeler was the Monday before he was killed, as he had stayed home from school. Wheeler was in ninth grade at Ballou High School when he was killed.

She became very emotional as she testified, stating she learned of his death during a phone call from one of Wheeler’s friends’ parents. At the time, she said, Wheeler was only 15-years-two-months old.

Prosecutors also called on an officer from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The officer testified that she was called to the scene over dispatch radio, after reports of shots fired.

Her body-worn camera footage of the incident played in court showed Wheeler on the ground surrounded by police officers, and a crowd of witnesses gathered close by.

Another officer testified that he was field training a fellow officer when they received reports of gunfire and that an individual had been shot.

The officer testified that he took control of the scene, and identified potential eye witnesses who lived on the street, as well as a neighbor who had security cameras on the outside of the house.

Prosecutors also called on a handyman who was working in the house next to the location of the shooting. He stated that he had walked out to get some tools from his car when he heard arguing in the alley between two people.

He recalled that a third individual collapsed in the alley and that he did not have a weapon.

The witness he did not actually see the shooting nor who was shot or who fired the weapon.

The trial is slated to resume Feb 27.

Homicide Defendant Chooses Not to DNA Test

A defendant in a fatal shooting case waived his right to test two pieces of evidence before DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson on Feb. 26.

Kevin Singletary, 47, is charged with first-degree murder premeditated while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for his alleged involvement in a fatal shooting of Delonte Hazel, 31, on Sept. 10, 2021 on the 100 block of Kennedy Street, NW.

Singletary’s attorney, Howard McEachern, said that Singletary had no interest in independently testing DNA from a mask and a cartridge casing recovered at the scene, with Singletary waiving his right voluntarily and knowingly.

Parties are slated to reconvene on April 11.

Judge Sentences, ‘Monster Who Has No Compassion,’ to 25 Years for Two Murders

DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe sentenced a double-homicide defendant to 25 years of imprisonment on Feb. 28.

On Dec. 19, 2024, James Mayfield, 25, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 38-year-old Jermaine Bowens on Dec. 26, 2017 at the 2200 block of Douglas Street, NE.

Mayfield also pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Elijah Henry on Dec. 27, 2017 on the 1800 block of Bryant Street, NE.

Through the plea deal, parties agreed to a sentencing range of 23-to-25 years of incarceration.

Mayfield was recently sentenced to 50 years of incarceration for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Jamahri Sydnor on Aug. 12, 2017 at the intersection of Saratoga and Montana Avenues, NE. Mayfield continues to assert his innocence in the case, and is currently appealing that matter.

Veronice Holt, Mayfield’s attorney, asked Judge O’Keefe to not hold his “refusal to participate in the pre-sentence report writing” against him, arguing he was wheelchair bound at the time of the report, and Mayfied was afraid of getting beaten waiting to be transferred from the DC Jail.

“It has been almost a decade since my brother was violently and suddenly taken away from me,” Bowens’ sister told Judge O’Keefe, deeming Mayfield a “monster who has no compassion.”

“I can’t go to the stores and get another Jermaine Bowens. That’s it, he’s gone,” Bowens’ sister cried, asking Judge O’Keefe to impose the maximum sentence for the crime.

Bowens’ sister cried that Mayfield was worried about his safety at the jail, saying “well so was my brother… all his victims were unable to defend themselves.”

“He [Mayfield] exemplified all the stereotypes,” that society has imposed on Black men, said Bowens’ sister, adding “It’s been too many times the justice system has failed to hold this man accountable.”

A family friend of Bowens also told Judge O’Keefe that his loss has “permanently changed my life.” She recalled she got the phone call to rush to the hospital after he was shot, and said “we didn’t make it in time.”

“Whatever is in your power, I’d ask for the strictest sentence for the defendant,” she cried.

As for Bowens’ other sister, who took custody of his two young children, those close to Bowens said “she’s devastated… she has lost all confidence in the justice system.”

Prosecutors requested Judge O’Keefe sentence Mayfield to 25 years, stating his plea deal was “about accountability… the defendant has accepted responsibility.”

“Hold the defendant, with finality, accountable for his actions,” the prosecution said, stating they chose to offer a deal because the evidence in the case was circumstantial.

According to the prosecution, Bowens was walking down the street when he was approached by Mayfield, robbed, and shot. “This was a murder that should have never happened,” the prosecutor insisted.

As for Henry, prosecutors claimed that Mayfield, who was living at Henry’s house at the time of the incident due to homelessness, shot and killed Henry in an argument over a jacket.

They stated Mayfield had a “concerning pattern of armed violence,” stating he lacks control and is indifferent. “He deserves to be held accountable,” they insisted.

“He’s accountable for it,” said Holt, stating “he has a lot of problems,” including drug addictions and mental health issues.

Holt stated Mayfield had a rough upbringing, and has had a lot of time to think about the consequences of his actions. “He wants you to know he’s really sorry for your loss,” Holt told Bowens’ family.

“I just wanted to look you in the eyes and say I’m truly sorry,” Mayfield told Bowens’ family, stating he’s working on bettering himself.

“This isn’t an easy call for me, because I feel the same thing you’re feeling… it’s unsatisfying,” Judge O’Keefe said about the plea deal, adding “it’s all so senseless.”

“Even though I have my reservations, I’ll accept the deal,” Judge O’Keefe told the parties, sentencing Mayfield to 25 years for the second-degree murder charge and 18 years for the manslaughter. The sentences will run concurrently, and he’ll be required to serve five years of supervised release.

Mayfield will also be required to register as a gun offender, seek substance abuse and mental health evaluations and treatments, as well as attend grief counseling and anger management classes.

Holt requested they set a new date to allow Mayfield to stay at the DC Jail to finish his GED program. “I’m this close at the door. I told you I’m trying to do better to come out and be a better person,” Mayfield pleaded with Judge O’Keefe.

“Don’t get in any trouble when you’re in [Bureau of Prisons] BOP,” Judge O’Keefe told Mayfield, setting a probationary hearing for May 20, to allow Mayfield to graduate May 15.

Responding Officers Testify About Recovered Evidence in Homicide Trial

A jury in DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson’s courtroom heard testimony from multiple officers gathering evidence following a homicide on Feb. 26.

Guy Johnson, 57, is charged with first-degree murder premeditated while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Kriston Robinson on March 25, 2020, on the 1600 block of 19th Street, SE.

The prosecution called a forensic scientist who located evidence of six bullets in a patch of grass in front of the crime scene. She also collected DNA blood samples from a witness who was allegedly in the passenger seat of Robinson’s car.

Prosecutors then called a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer, who administered medical aid to Robinson while securing the crime scene. He also described canvassing the area and speaking with a neighbor whose Ring camera captured parts of the incident.

During cross-examination by defense attorney, Kevin Mosley, a review of the officer’s body-worn camera footage shows officers standing over the area where the cartridges were found, with one officer walking over the patch of grass.

Mosley asked the officer to confirm that observation. The officer stated that “several officers before [forensic scientists] arrived” could have stepped on or around the cartridges.

Prosecutors also called a homicide detective who responded to the incident and later led the investigation to find cameras that may have caught the suspect arriving at or fleeing from the scene.

In the process, the detective interviewed a relative of Johnson’s. He showed the relative a still image of Johnson before the incident and footage of Johnson after the incident, both taken in the area of the shooting. Johnson’s relative confidently identified a person believed to be Johnson, noting the “brace on his leg” visible.

Parties are slated to reconvene on Feb. 27.

Prosecutors Say Assault Suspect Attacked, Tried to ‘Humiliate’ Transgender Victim

The first day of an assault trial against a transgender woman included what the prosecution says was a vicious beating sparked by jealousy before DC Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean on Feb. 26

Nicolas Delgado, 31, is charged with unarmed carjacking, kidnapping, two counts of first-degree theft, two counts of robbery, second-degree theft, attempted credit card fraud, threat to kidnap or injure a person, and two counts of simple assault. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in an incident that occurred on July 8, 2020, at the 5400 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW. One individual was punched in the face during the altercation.

Prior to opening statements, Delgado waived his right to test DNA evidence collected by investigators, including two of his cell phones, swabs from the victim’s vehicle, and an oral swab from the victim.

In their opening, the prosecution claimed Delgado assaulted his live-in girlfriend of a year-and-a-half, who he suspected of cheating. They argued Delgado tried to “humiliate and intimidate” her by punching her, shaving her hair, stealing her money, personal belongings and vehicle in retaliation.

Prosecutors noting the victim is a transgender woman and proceeded to detail the attack, arguing that after he accused her of cheating, Delgado punched her in the face, dragged her by her hair into the bathroom where he shaved her head, which was a symbol of her femininity. Prosecutors claimed that while Delgado shaved her head, he called her by the name she used prior to transition, as well as a homophobic slur and threatened to kill her.

The prosecution said Delgado took the victim to a gas station to withdraw money from an ATM, but he wanted more and the pair went to a bank and withdrew most of the money from the victim’s account.

According to prosecutors, Delgado threatened the victim that he would kill her if she told the police and said he would keep her car for a week. Four days later, after receiving a text from him allegedly threatening to drain all the money from her account, she decided to call the police.

The prosecution told jurors the victim will testify and review surveillance footage from the apartment and the bank indicating she complied with Delgado’s demands out of fear. An officer from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) will also testify about the investigation and interview with the Delgado in which he largely corroborated the victim’s side of the story and stated because he paid for things in the beginning of the relationship, he felt he was owed some of that back after the break up.

Prosecutors highlighted a bias enhancement on the assault charge, arguing Delgado’s actions were not only motivated by anger over the alleged cheating, but also by the victim’s gender identity.

In his opening statement, defense attorney Bryan Bookhard pushed back on the prosecution’s claims, stating this was not a case of kidnapping, carjacking, or robbery, but rather the end of a relationship between two individuals who loved each other. He urged the jurors to consider the reasonable doubt in the prosecution’s argument.

Bookhard explained that the relationship went south after Delgado found evidence on hwe phone she cheated on him. He also pointed out there was an earlier incident that made Delgado believe she cheated and strained the relationship.

According to Bookhard, when the break up was happening, Delgado was not working and sought some assistance moving out. Bookhard claimed the victim gave him access to her car and voluntarily withdrew money to support him.

The defense also challenged the kidnapping charge, highlighting that the victim never attempted to flee or seek help when left alone at the gas station or at the bank, suggesting there was no threat.

Bookhard pointed out inconsistencies in the victim’s story, noting the absence of visible marks or injuries that would be expected from the violent altercation she described. He also challenged the reliability of the victim’s testimony, claiming her version of events grows more extreme with each retelling to portray Delgado in a negative light and enhance her side of the story.

The trial is slated to resume on Feb. 27.

Prosecutors Say Homicide Suspect Texted, ‘I Need Protection From Police’

Prosecutors presented text messages in a jury trial indicating a homicide defendant was worried about police in DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park’s courtroom on Feb. 26.

Darrell Moore, 47, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a conviction greater than a year for his alleged involvement in the murder of 37-year-old Julius Hayes on the 300 block of 18th Street, NE on April 3, 2021.

In trial, the prosecution called an analyst who extracted data from Moore’s iPhone including a text Moore allegedly sent to a friend three days after the incident, saying “I need protection from police and people trying to harm me.” The friend replied offering him bath salts, herbal teas, and crystals in order to “cleanse [him] of negative energy.”

The prosecution also called on a witness who recovered surveillance footage that revealed a black sedan circling the area of the incident when ShotSpotter detected a gunshot. A video previously shown from Moore’s phone ostensibly showed that he owned a black sedan.

However, Santia McLaurin, Moore’s defense attorney, confirmed no license plate was recognizable among multiple cars.

The prosecution later called on a Secret Service forensic analyst who enhanced video footage of suspects and vehicles of interest. Later a carjacking task force sergeant from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), identified the black sedan in the footage as a 2016-2020 Ford Fusion based on its logo and grille design which was later taken into custody.

The prosecution said they found multiple documents that connect the vehicle to Moore, including doctors’ notes, mail and a bank card, and a car registration belonging to his partner.

The prosecution also called on an MPD officer whose investigation led to the black Ford Fusion, which was found at an address in Silver Spring, where the officer saw Moore moving the vehicle. The officer also interviewed a witness arrested on a different matter in the area, who was at the scene of the shooting, and verified that Moore often drove the suspect Ford.

Trial is set to resume on Feb. 27.

Homicide Defendant’s Brother Won’t Identify Him As The Shooter

A homicide defendant’s brother and the lead detective testified before a jury in DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson‘s courtroom on Feb. 27.

Guy Johnson, 57, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Kriston Robinson on March 25, 2020 on the 1600 block of 19th Street, SE.

Prosecutors called Johnson’s brother to the stand and presented him with evidence of Johnson at the scene of the incident and asked him to identify his brother. However, he became irritated and reiterated, “That’s not the picture the detectives showed me,” refusing to identify Johnson as the individual in the photograph.

The witness got annoyed at prosecutors for mentioning his prior arrest due to non-compliance in the case. He repeatedly claimed that he and Johnson are not close and have had no contact for the past seven years, concluding his testimony.

Johnson’s attorney, Kevin Mosley, cross-examined the homicide detective who began his testimony on Feb. 27, with the detective confirming that most of the people seen in surveillance footage were never identified and therefore never interrogated about the incident.

Of the few interviewed, none could identify Johnson as having been the shooter or even of having a firearm the night of the incident, according to the detective. He reiterated, however, that one of Johnson’s brother identified him in multiple surveillance clips–again, something the brother denied on the stand.

Mosley pointed out that the detective admitted that “a lot of the surveillance footage was motion activated,” causing several gaps in the video recovered from the surrounding area and preventing investigators from viewing what actually happened during the shooting.

Parties are slated to reconvene on March 3.

Psych Eval Ordered For Stabbing Suspect in Grandmother’s Murder

DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz approved a transfer of a homicide defendant to St. Elizabeth’s Psychiatric Hospital on Feb. 26.

Christopher Holness, 31, is charged with fatally stabbing his grandmother, Sandra Mundle, 83. The stabbing occurred on the 1300 block of Missouri Ave., NW, on Jan. 17.

According to court documents, while escorting Holness to the hospital officers observed him making statements such as “She had to die,” and “She was a sacrifice.”

During the mental observation hearing, it was revealed that staff at the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) were unable to conduct a proper evaluation of Holness due to his mental state. Parties agreed to transfer Holness to St. Elizabeth’s hospital for a full competency evaluation.

Holness is scheduled for mental observation return on April 4.

Prosecution Seeks to Exclude Victim’s Statements in Carjacking Case

The prosecution told DC Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean on Feb. 25 that they want unspecified statements made by the victim about a carjacking defendant to be struck from evidence during trial.

The prosecution referred to a recorded interview with a victim who shared personal beliefs about the defendant’s alleged ties with a criminal cartel. They intend to strike those statements during trial.

Bryan Bookhard, Delgado’s defense attorney, said the information could come up during cross examination. Judge McLean told the parties, if necessary, they should advise her to tell the victim not to mention anything related to a cartel.

Parties are slated to reconvene Feb. 26.

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