Homicide Victim’s Mother Testifies He Was a ‘Role Model’

As part of the prosecution’s ongoing case, a homicide victim’s mother testified about her son’s character in front of a jury in DC Superior court Judge Jason Park’s courtroom on March 6.

Nyjell Outler, 22, is charged with first-degree murder premeditated while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, agg1ravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, and four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, for his alleged involvement in the murder of Demetris Johnson, 21, on March 20, 2021 on the unit block of Madison Street, NE at a gender reveal party. The incident also left another victim injured in both legs. All charges face an aggravating factor of allegedly being committed during Outler’s release in another matter.

Prosecutors called the victim’s mother, who attested to Demetris’ character as being a “role model.” She testified she rushed to the scene after finding out he had been shot, and it was then that an officer informed her that Demetris had died.

A Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer who was one of the first officers to arrive testified there were many there on the scene, potentially contaminating evidence. He later he found Johnson and futilely attempted to provide first-aid until emergency services arrived.

Aworker from the Department of Forensic Science, who had aided in collecting evidence confirmed that a backpack containing a drum ammunition magazine was recovered, but doesn’t recall if anyone searched the nearby street for additional evidence.

A homicide detective who spent the night securing the victim’s body stated Johnson’s clothing had damage consistent with the bullet injuries he sustained. A handgun was recovered from Johnson’s front pocket, but not likely fired because it contained residual ammunition.

Incross-examination, Outler’s attorney, Thomas Key, questioned if any of the civilians were interviewed, particularly noting a man seen on surveillance video appearing to hold a gun. The detective admitted that he had no idea who was interviewed, as it wasn’t his responsibility to handle witnesses.

A 911 caller stated she was driving near the incident location, and slammed on her brakes after the car in front of her suddenly stopped. After looking around she observed a man chasing another person with a gun.

Parties are slated to reconvene on March 10.

Prosecution Claims ‘It Was Not Reasonable…to Shoot’ In Trial

The prosecution gave their opening statement in a non-fatal shooting trial involving children before DC Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel on March 4.

Diamond Early, 32, is charged with assault with significant bodily injury while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, simple assault, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol without a license, possession of an unregistered firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition for her alleged involvement in a shooting that left one victim injured in the leg on July 31, 2023 on the 4000 block of Kansas Avenue, NW.

The prosecution gave their opening statement, explaining that the victim and her children were visiting a relative for a birthday celebration when their children and many other kids of the area began playing. This included two children of Early’s.

Then the children began fighting, and Early allegedly slapped one of the victim’s children. The victim and her relative returned home from a store and confronted Early, leading to a verbal altercation. Early then allegedly pulled out a gun and shot the victim in her leg before fleeing the scene. The prosecution concluded their opening by stating that “It was not reasonable… for the defendant to shoot [the victim] that day.”

Prior to the prosecution’s opening, they opposed a motion to sever the simple assault charge from this case. They stated that the simple assault, stemmed from Early allegedly hitting the child, directly led to the altercation that ended with the shooting. Early’s attorney, Antoini Jones, questioned why that charge was only added on Feb. 5 when the incident happened nearly two years ago.

Judge Israel denied the motion, emphasizing that all of the charges connect to one overall interaction.

Parties are slated to reconvene on March 5.

‘If You Feel Comfortable Hitting Children, Hit Me,’ Testifies Shooting Victim

A non-fatal shooting trial resumed with testimony from the victim on Mar. 5 before DC Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel.

Diamond Early, 32, is charged with assault with significant bodily injury while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of an unregistered firearm, carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business and unlawful possession of ammunition for her alleged involvement in a shooting that occurred on July 31, 2023 on the 4000 block of Kansas Avenue, NW.

The victim in this case was allegedly shot by Early following an argument over the treatment of her children. Early allegedly hit one of the victim’s children, which triggered the altercation. The victim allegedly told Early “If you feel comfortable hitting children, hit me.”

The victim testified Early reached into her bag pulled out a gun and shot the victim. After the shooting, the victim was treated on the scene by police and later transported to a hospital.

She testified about the impact the shooting had on her life, including struggles with anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) before the jury.

A detective from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), who responded to the scene, administered first aid to the victim, as well as asking who shot her. The victim initially declined to identify her assailant.

The detective learned through a witness the shooter was allegedly named Diamond, and a DC government employee. He was able to comb through the DC database to find an individual named Diamond matching the witness’ description.

Trial is slated to resume March 6.

Defense Challenges Evidence in Homicide Trial

After nearly a week at trial before DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson, the defense focused March 4 on several gaps in a crime scene forensic scientist’s testimony of the murder scene.

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 scientist’s explained that she took photographs of the fence that one of the witnesses used to compare the suspects height too. She confirmed that she visited the scene on Feb. 25, 2023, three years after the shooting occurred.

The defense highlighted that the witness admitted that she had never been to the scene before 2023 and thus had no direct knowledge of how tall the fence was at the time of the shooting in March 2020.

The witness also conceded that she could not determine how tall the fence was in 2020, nor could she confirm whether any changes had been made to the area between the shooting and her visit three years later.

Another testimony the defense challenged was from an officer at the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). He said he searched Johnson’s apartment and collected a loaded magazine.

However, the defense emphasized that despite the officer’s thorough search of the apartment, no gun or any other weapon was found by him or any other officer.

Prosecutors also called on a DC Department of Corrections (DoC) monitoring specialist who has access to communications made at the jail from inmates. The witness explained that each inmate has a unique identification number that is tracked when making calls and video chatting.

The prosecutors played several audio clips from Johnson’s jail calls, in which he appeared to discuss his knee. In a previous hearing, Kevin Mosley, Johnson’s defense attorney, indicated Johnson’s significant knee injury and need for a cane, alleging he could not have run from the scene.

Parties are slated to reconvene March 5.

Police Say Woman’s Stolen Car Was Used in A Homicide

Prosecutors say a woman’s stolen car was later used in a homicide, then destroyed. She testified before a jury in DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan’s courtroom on Feb. 27.

Jerome Israel, 21, is charged with premeditated first-degree murder while armed, three counts of carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, 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 shooting death of ChaQuan Barbett, 24, on Aug. 23, 2022, on the 2300 block of Minnesota Avenue, SE.

The witness whose car was stolen in Southeast DC the day of the murder testified that she saw two people get into her black Dodge Charger and drive away, taking her belongings, including a firearm.

She described the suspects as slender and wore black ski masks and black hoodies.

Earlier, 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 who owned the Charger stated that the car was cited for two camera speeding violations, one on Aug. 24 and Aug. 25, and the car was found totaled on Aug. 26.

The prosecution also called on a responding officer who stated that there were fourteen cartridge casings on the scene recovered as evidence.

Parties are slated to reconvene March 3.

Jail Stabbing Defendant Rejects Plea Deal

A jail stabbing defendant rejected a plea deal extended by prosecutors before DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld on March 4.

Eric Davis, 61, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a stabbing that occurred on Nov. 2, 2024 inside the DC Jail at the 1900 block of D Street, SE. One individual sustained injuries during the incident.

According to court documents, the stabbing stemmed from a verbal dispute between Davis and another inmate. Davis is also serving a 60 year sentence for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 41-year-old Theodore Riley on July 19, 2021.

During the hearing, Davis’ defense attorney, Craig Ricard, stated that Davis intended to reject a plea deal which would require him to plead guilty to simple assault and assault with a dangerous weapon in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment on greater charges.

Parties are slated to reconvene on Sept. 4.

Judge Denies Defense Motions to Suppress Shooting Trial Evidence

DC Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur denied multiple motions filed by a defendant in a shooting case, moments before trial began on March 3.

Dupre Jones, 26, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, second-degree cruelty to children, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, and unlawful discharge of a firearm for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting on the 4500 block of First Street, SW, on Oct. 11, 2024. No injuries were reported.

Judge Arthur denied motions made by Jones’ attorney, Adgie O’Byrant, to suppress evidence and statements, stating that the evidence was relevant to the case and the evidence and statements were collected properly and legally.

The evidence in question was ShotSpotter technology which uses software to detect gun shots and their location and send it to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Jones allegedly made voluntary statements to the officers during his arrest without being prompted by leading questions.

In the motion to suppress tangible evidence, O’Byrant says Jones stop, seizure, search, and arrest were illegal because the officers lacked specific facts that he was involved in criminal conduct, thus the firearm and its evidence found from it should be suppressed. He also stated that O’Bryant’s clothing did not match the description given for the suspect over the MPD radio.

Judge Arthur also ruled the officer who arrested Jones had probable cause due to an outline of what seemed like a firearm in his pants and then allegedly finding a firearm in his pants in conjunction with the Shotspotter evidence and a radio call description.

Jury selection began, and parties are slated to reconvene for opening statements on March 4.

Judge Denies Release For Homicide Defendant After Seeing Instagram Video That ‘Appears to be a Confession’

DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman denied release for a homicide defendant after prosecutors played an Instagram video that the Judge stated “appears to be a confession” during a hearing on March 4.

Shaun Brown, 24, is charged with first-degree murder premeditated while armed, eight counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, four counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with intent to kill, and assault with intent to kill against a minor while armed. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 47-year-old Dametrics Evans and injuring another individual on the 4900 block of G Street, SE on Oct. 25, 2021.

Prosecutors dismissed the case on June 27, 2022 but a grand jury indicted Brown on Jan. 29 after the discovery of new evidence.

During the hearing, the prosecution motioned for pretrial detention and played a clip from an Instagram live video that allegedly includes Brown’s confession. An anonymous user commented “you kill my mom and send a request” to which Brown responds “They closed the case, couldn’t find more evidence,” he is said to add, “I felt bad, my target wasn’t her.”

Brown’s attorney, Marnitta King, argued the video is “not the smoking gun the [prosecution] thinks it is” and her client is “being baited to say this” in the clip. She argued the prosecution presented a clip that is out of the context of the 20 minute video. King requested Brown’s release with GPS monitoring, arguing he is not a threat to the community because he relocated to North Carolina and is employed.

Judge Edelman ruled to hold Brown without bond, he acknowledged Brown’s time in the community without violent acts and his current employment, but noted the grand jury’s finding of probable cause to issue an indictment. The judge had not seen the entire video but questioned how the clip was out of context if Brown said the words in question.

The next hearing is scheduled for April 18.

Judge Limits ‘Excited Utterance,’ in 911 Call during shooting Trial

DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park ruled that only certain parts of a 911 call connected to a non-fatal shooting could be admitted as evidence in the case, asserting that the victim’s statements were not an “excited utterance” and must be partially omitted, during a hearing on Feb. 28. An excited utterance in response to a shocking event can be admissible, and an exception to the rule against hearsay testimony.

Roger Jones, 42, and Riley Benjamin, 31, are charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Jones is also charged with carrying a pistol without a license outside the home or business, threat to injure or kidnap a person, unauthorized use of a vehicle, fleeing a law enforcement officer, and simple assault. These charges stem from his alleged involvement in a shooting and assault that occurred on Jan. 22, 2022, on the 1400 block of Okie Street, NE.

During the hearing, the prosecution submitted a motion to include a 911 call made by the victim as evidence in the case. The defense opposed the motion, wanting to omit certain parts of the call.

In the call placed the day of the crime, the victim of the assault identified Jones as her baby’s father and stated that the defendant followed her to a bar and stole her pocketbook. She also said he allegedly threatened to kill her.

Judge Park ruled that this call was not an “excited utterance,” as she was coherent in talking to the operator. Therefore, the only part of the call that can be admitted is when the victim identifies the defendant.

The defense also motioned to sever the counts, arguing that there is a clear break between an assault and a shooting. They asked the counts in the indictment be severed into three groups: counts related to the shooting incident, counts related to fleeing law enforcement, and counts related to the domestic dispute. Judge Park denied this motion, stating the counts are properly joined and severance is not warranted.

The defense also motioned to suppress evidence acquired from Jones’ phone, arguing there was no probable cause for the seizure. Judge Park denied the motion, saying he did find evidence of probable cause in seizing the phone.

Parties are slated to reconvene on March 19.

Jury Convicts Defendant in Homicide Over Sexual Slur

A jury in DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park’s courtroom convicted a homicide defendant of all charges on March 4, following a two-week long trial.

Darrell Moore, 47, was convicted of first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during the crime of violence and unlawful possession of a firearm for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Julius Hayes, 37, on April 3, 2021, at the 300 block of 18th Street, NE.

Throughout the trial, prosecutors provided evidence that Moore shot Hayes following an argument over rumors that Hayes had spread, alleging that Moore was having sexual relations with men.

However, Brandon Burrell, Moore’s attorney, attempted to debunk the prosecution’s argument, insisting that no gun or forensic evidence was found that tied Moore to the murder.

Moore, then 16, was convicted in 1995 along with his twin brother for the murder of a child and non-fatal shooting of the child’s mother. According to a press release from the Office of the US Attorney for DC, Moore was released in 2020 following a sentence reduction under the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act (IRAA), which allows defendants to receive a reduced sentence if they were under 25 at the time of the incident.

Parties are slated to reconvene May 30 for sentencing.

Witnesses Recount Night of Fatal Shooting in Vivid Detail

Three witnesses testified in dramatic detail about what they say they saw the night of a fatal shooting in an ongoing trial before DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson on March 3. One witness recounted being spattered with blood during the violent encounter.

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 murder of 28-year-old Kriston Robinson on March 25, 2020, on the 1600 block of 19th Street, SE.

The prosecution called a witness who lived in a building overlooking the scene of the incident to testify about what she saw and review body-worn camera footage of her statements to the responding officers.

The witness said she woke up to the sound of gunshots at 3 a.m. and saw a white car slowly roll before crashing into a curb. She testified she also saw one individual get out of the car and run away with a gun while another got out and walked in the other direction.

The witness reviewed the body-worn camera footage showing her estimating the height of the person was relative to the fence in her backyard. Officers suggested a possible height range of five-feet-six-inches to five-feet-seven-inches.

During cross-examination, defense attorney Charlotte Gilliand questioned the witness’ ability to clearly see what she believed was a gun. The witness admitted that she only peeked through the blinds out of fear and never fully opened them, acknowledging she couldn’t be certain it wasn’t something else.

Prosecutors called a DC Special Police Officer (SPO) to testify about identifying Johnson as a suspect. The officer, who works security in elite housing developments said he had known the defendant for years and saw him nearly every day in the apartment building where he worked.

The witness confirmed his identification of the defendant from a photo shown to him in April 2024 during grand jury proceedings and later made an in-court identification. He also identified Johnson as one of the individuals shown in security camera footage from another building.

The prosecution called an eyewitness, Robinson’s cousin, to testify about his timeline of events on the day of the incident.

Robinson’s cousin testified that he was in a white car with her when the shooting occurred and explained that after drinking throughout the night, he was driving until Robinson drove them to Minnesota Avenue, a location the witness knew as a place frequented by sex workers.

The witness admitted to having interacted with a sex worker and explained that he had been drinking and hanging out by a bus stop on Minnesota Avenue. CCTV footage from the area shows him walking along the sidewalk with a cup, drinking while waiting for Robinson to pick him up.

According to the witness, he saw a group of people talking who got into the passenger side of a red or orange car and leave. Robinson then arrived to pick him up and he got into the white vehicle, as shown on Ring camera footage. The witness said he was playing music and finishing his cup of liquor while Kriston was on the phone, until they started to leave, at which point he heard gunshots and the car rolled into the curb.

The witness testified that he did not see the shooter but saw flashes from the gun and was uncertain about the number of shooters. He stated that he knew Robinson was injured because her blood splattered on his face and he described trying to lift up her leg to switch gears and drive away, but was unsuccessful. He also admitted that he hesitated getting out of the car because he was in shock and intoxicated.

The witness described getting out of the car, running through different backyards, and hopping fences to get away. He made phone calls to family members, one of whom picked him up and brought him to the homicide branch to be interviewed by detectives. The witness admitted he was under duress during the interview, adding that he was still under the influence of alcohol.

Police footage showed the witness in torn clothes with a blood-spattered face with blood spatter, illustrating evidence from the incident remained intact. During the interview, photos were taken of the witness’ face with blood on it, his torn clothes, and the injuries to his hands and stomach sustained from jumping over fences.

The witness cooperated with officers during the interview, granting them access to his phone. He also allowed the Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) to collect samples of the blood on his face and DNA swabs.

During cross-examination, the witness confirmed his description of the shooter as 230 to 240 pounds and stated he couldn’t determine the height, though he wasn’t short. He also testified that he went to Minnesota Avenue seeking sex and didn’t get into a disagreement or altercation with anyone in the area.

Defense attorney Kevin Mosley questioned whether the witness believed he may have been the possible target of the shooting, noting that it is difficult to see through the car’s side windows at night because of the tint. The witness answered that the “whole night was random” and that he didn’t think he was the target, as he hadn’t been involved in any arguments or stare-offs.

The witness explained that he waited until the shooter left the area before running away, stating he couldn’t confirm where the shooter went afterwards. He also mentioned ducking at the sound of gunshots, preventing him from seeing the shooter’s face.

Trial is slated to resume March 4.

‘He Never Acted Like That Before,’ Shooting Victim Testifies of Her Fears

Parties delivered opening statements and two witnesses testified in a shooting trial in front of DC Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur on March 4.

In their opening statements, the prosecution claimed that Jones had arrived at the victim’s home with the intent to stay the night. The two of them had some drinks and the victim had gone to bed, but later was awakened by Jones, reportedly breaking items and pulling a gun while her ten-year-old son sleeping in the next room.

The prosecution stated the victim then begged Jones to leave, fearing for her and her ten-year-old son’s safety.

Jones’s defense attorney, Adgie O’Bryant, claimed Jones and the victim intended to have a pleasant evening with drinks, and that Jones never threatened the victim or her son.

Prosecutors called the victim to give her account of the incident. She explained that she had been relaxing in the apartment the night of the incident with her son when Jones arrived at her doorstep unexpectedly. She had known Jones for the past 13 years, as he was the brother of an ex-friend of hers, so she wasn’t surprised to see him.

Later on that night, she claimed that Jones woke her with loud music and his behavior escalated to breaking household items, and eventually pulled out a gun from his overnight bag, pointing it at her. “He never acted like that before,” said the victim, expressing her fear and surprise at his alleged behavior. Once she was able to get Jones out of her apartment, he began cursing and yelling at the neighbors, causing a commotion while he shot at the sky.

Prosecutors presented photos of the apartment building’s entrance and the stairs leading to the witness’ apartment, showing Jones’ belongings outside. She identified the building entrance’s doorway as the spot where he allegedly fired the gun. The witness testified that after kicking Jones out, she put his belongings outside, but he only took his gun and money when he left.

The witness alleged Jones’ threatening to shoot her twice while pointing a gun at her, but said she wasn’t intimidated, assuming he was intoxicated and talking nonsense. She testified that her concern escalated when Jones started directing his attention toward her son, making inappropriate remarks about his being a player that “gets females,” which he found amusing but she did not.

According to the witness, Jones was scaring other residents in the building, prompting her to tell him she was going to call the police. As she tried to get him to leave at the front door to the building, he said, “You think I’m a punk,” before firing a shot up into the air. She ran out of the building and across the street before police arrived.

The witness admitted she didn’t initially call 911, believing Jones would leave on his own since she never had to deal with that behavior before. She added that she was also worried that her neighbors would complain to the landlord.

During cross-examination, O’Bryant questioned the witness about her relationship with Jones’ sister. The witness confirmed they were once good friends, that she was introduced to Jones through her, and that his sister would sometimes stay with her.

The witness testified that she initially told Jones not to stay the night when he showed up the night before the shooting because she was no longer friends with his sister. However, after Jones returned from the liquor store, they spent some time talking before she went to bed.

The witness then stated she awakened early in the morning by Jones playing music loudly on his phone. When she asked him to turn down the volume, he refused, sparking an argument.

She described his behavior as unusual, with impaired motor skills, but said she was more irritated than concerned and just wanted him out of her house. The situation continued for two to three hours, she said.

The witness confirmed Jones never pointed the gun at her son and admitted she hesitated to call the police earlier, partly because she didn’t want to interact with his sisters or be blamed for him ending up in jail.

The witness recalled speaking with Jones earlier that night about his child’s mother, offering advice on a situation that upset him, which he didn’t appreciate. She said he responded by telling her she couldn’t comment on the situation and making a crude comparison between her and his child’s mother.

A ShotSpotter analyst recalled that on Oct. 11, 2024 there were recorded sounds from sensors in the morning, and the audio files capturing one gunshot from the incident area that day were played in court, where the witness identified each sensor.

During cross-examination, the witness reaffirmed that the sensors are always recording but only react to impulsive sounds. He clarified that the system captures sound alone, and therefore, it is not possible to distinguish the caliber of firearm or determine who fired the weapon based on the audio files.

Trial is slated to resume March 5.

Judge Considers Homicide Defendant’s Request to Attend Funeral, Orders Mental Eval

DC Superior court Judge Neal Kravitz delayed a ruling that would allow a temporary release for a homicide defendant to attend a family member’s funeral during a Feb. 28 hearing, and ordered a mental competency evaluation.

Dayshawn Nolan, 22, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the death of Antoinette Davis on July 3, 2022. The incident took place on the 400 block of Condon Terrace, SE.

During the hearing, defense attorneys Joseph Yarbough and Christen Philips mentioned a previous temporary release that allowed Nolan to participate in an event virtually. For this reason, attorneys requested that the defendant be placed on temporary release again, so that he is able to attend his uncle’s funeral in-person or virtually.

Judge Kravitz stated they must file a motion in writing. He also ordered a full mental evaluation on Nolan to see if he’s competent to stand trial.

Parties are slated to reconvene on March 7.

Armed Carjacking Defendant Denied Release, Waives Right to Preliminary Hearing

Antonio Kent requested pre-trial release but was returned to DC Jail by DC Superior Court Judge Robert Hildum on March 3 after he waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

Kent, 19, is charged with armed carjacking for his alleged involvement in an incident on Sept. 1, 2024, on the 5500 block of Jay Street, NE.

According to court documents, the victim told police three men threatened him with a gun and demanded his car keys. Arrest documents state that police recovered a gun Kent allegedly tossed in a storm drain while fleeing.

Kent’s attorney, Alvin Thomas, Jr., alerted Judge Hildum of Kent’s intent to waive his right to a preliminary hearing, and asked Judge Hildum to allow Kent to return home with GPS monitoring until his trial. Thomas noted Kent has no prior criminal history and release has been granted to his two co-defendants, Darryl Butler, 19, and Julan Byrd, 17.

“He, who lives in Maryland, came over here to victimize someone who was just washing his car,” said the prosecutor, arguing Kent should remain in jail.

An official from the DC Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) told the court Kent isn’t eligible for release because he has an extraditable warrant from a county in Maryland. That court is requiring DC to detain Kent until he can be transferred to their jurisdiction.

The next hearing in this case is set for March 18.

Murder Defendant Pleads Not Guilty at Arraignment

A defendant accused of being involved in a fatal shooting pleaded not guilty at an arraignment in front of DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park on Feb. 28.

Robert Capenter, 35, 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 for his alleged involvement in the murder of Tremaine Nicholson, 42, that occurred on the 3400 Block of 25th Street, SE, on May 7, 2024.

Carpenter pleaded not guilty to all charges and waived his right to independently test DNA evidence. Judge Park acknowledged that his consent was given freely and knowingly and accepted his waiver.

Parties are slated to reconvene on April 4.

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