DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman found probable cause and ordered a homicide defendant jailed on Nov. 18 based partly on her own statements that she committed the crime.
Shawnta Aiken, 51, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for her alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of her boyfriend, 56-year-old Richard Walker, on Nov. 2, 2025, on the 3000 Block of P Street, SE.
The prosecution called a homicide detective, who testified that officers responded to the scene for a reported fatal shooting inside a single-family home. They found Walker lying on a mattress in the living room, fully clothed, covered from the neck down, and with multiple gunshot wounds. The defendant was identified and arrested at the scene.
The prosecution introduced the 911 audio, in which Aiken reportedly identified herself. When the dispatcher asked when the incident occurred, she said it was “15 minutes ago,” which the detective confirmed.
On the call, the defendant is heard saying, “He’s dead”, “He’s my boyfriend”, and when asked to perform chest compressions, she responded, “I ain’t doing chest compressions, he got shot on his mother-f****** head.” She also stated, “He told me he had HIV, now he’s dead.”
The prosecution introduced multiple crime-scene photographs. One showed a handgun on the couch, and another angle showed blood spatter near the mattress. A close-up photo showed Walker with a gunshot wound to the left of the forehead.
The detective testified that the firearm was not secured when police arrived and that a bullet was stuck in the firearm. He stated this could have occurred because the gun was not held properly. When cleared, the firearm contained two spent cartridges and four live rounds.
Several eyewitnesses in the home reported hearing a gunshot. One awoke to a “pop” and allegedly saw the defendant holding a firearm, according to the detective. Other witnesses described hearing a gunshot, seeing Walker on the mattress, and finding Aiken on the phone.
Multiple eyewitnesses confirmed a history of domestic violence between Aiken and Walker, according to the detective.
During cross-examination, Aiken’s defense attorney, Joseph Yarbough, emphasized that the defendant called the police herself, identified herself as the shooter, directed officers to the gun and the victim, and did not attempt to hide what happened.
Witness accounts contained inconsistencies, according to Yarbough, with one witness saying they heard two gunshots, another saying they were asleep until the shot, and another saying they believed the defendant had stopped taking psychiatric medication but did not know when.
The prosecution asked how many bullets were on the scene, and the detective stated that seven cartridge casings were recovered, and that there was no stippling on Walker, which would show the shot was fired in close range. The detective described the shots as not “machine fire” but “consistent.”
According to the detective, several witnesses described past incidents in which Walker physically assaulted Aiken, including pistol-whipping her, and one recalled her attempting to seek help at a domestic-violence center. A witness also reported seeing a firearm in Aiken’s purse a month before the shooting.
Further testimony revealed that two children under the age of ten lived in the home. Witnesses also discussed past injuries to the defendant that they believed were inflicted by Walker.
The detective testified that at the station later that day, Aiken became non-responsive, struggled to say her name, and admitted she had taken PCP that morning. According to the detective, officers discovered a tied-off bag containing powder in her hand.
Yarbough argued that there was,no probable cause but that if the judge were to find it, it should be for voluntary manslaughter, contending the situation was a heat of passion response. he emphasized that Aiken’s story had been consistent–she said she had intercourse with Walker, and he disclosed he had HIV, and she reacted emotionally.
Yarbough argued this was understandable and that immediate disclosure to family and police made fabrication unlikely.
The defense also noted that many states treat nondisclosure of HIV as a criminal offense. Yarbough also highlighted the long history of alleged domestic violence, the defendant’s lack of recent criminal charges, her strong family support, and her recent enrollment in a drug rehabilitation program.
The prosecution argued that the defendant lost control and that her statements were inconsistent and not credible.
They noted that Walker was fully clothed, with two pairs of pants and underwear, which contradicted her claim that they had just had intercourse.
They emphasized that she allegedly shot Walker twice in the head, that the incident occurred in a home with children present, and that she had a previous conviction for attempting perjury, raising concerns about her veracity.
Thus, Aiken poses a danger to the community and that no conditions of release could ensure safety.
Judge Edelman found probable cause, citing major inconsistencies in the defendant’s statements, including statements to family such as “and he gave it to me,” “He had HIV, told me to shoot him, gave me the gun, and I shot him.” The court reasoned that the conduct did not reflect heat of passion because the gun was not fired at close range and the defendant had to retrieve the firearm.
The judge determined Aiken posed a danger to others, especially because the shooting happened while children were present in the home. Her past conviction for lying in court weighed heavily against her.
The judge agreed with the prosecution that there were no conditions sufficient for release and ordered the defendant held without bond until trial.
Parties are slated to reconvene on Jan. 16, 2026.
