The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced they are seeking assistance in identifying a suspect involved in a stabbing incident that occurred on April 22 in the 500 block of North Capitol Street, NW.
The victim, an adult male, was found conscious with non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital.
Surveillance footage captured the suspect, and the MPD is urging anyone with information to come forward.
Nov. 26, 2024, MPD Searching for Suspects in an Unarmed Carjacking (Washington, DC) – The Metropolitan Police Department is asking for the community’s assistance in locating two suspects involved in an unarmed carjacking that occurred in Northwest. On Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at approximately 11:17 p.m., two suspects approached the victim while in the 1900 block of 14th Street, NW. The victim stated the suspects attacked him, stole his property and vehicle before fleeing the scene. The victim was not injured during the incident. The suspects were captured by surveillance cameras and can be seen in photos and video surveillance footage.
Anyone who can identify these suspects or has knowledge of this incident should take no action but call police at (202) 727-9099 or text your tip to the Department’s TEXT TIP LINE at 50411. The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to $1,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for a violent crime committed in the District of Columbia.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced they are investigating a homicide that occurred on April 22 on the 2900 block of Knox Place, SE.
The victim, identified as 22-year-old Dar’Juan McRoy, was found with gunshot wounds and pronounced dead at the scene. The case remains under investigation.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced they are investigating a fatal pedestrian crash that occurred on April 22 on the northbound lanes of DC-295 near the Pennsylvania Avenue exit.
The victim, identified as 47-year-old Edward Pearson of Southeast, DC, was struck by a red 2005 Chrysler Sebring and subsequently by a 2013 Toyota Avalon after exiting a 2017 GMC Sierra to secure a loose truck bed cover.
Both drivers involved remained at the scene, and the Chrysler’s occupants were treated for minor injuries.
A defendant accused of tampering with evidence and assisting in a homicide rejected a plea offer in front of DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on April 18.
Nichelle Thomas is facing 16 charges, including accessory after the fact second-degree murder while armed, six counts of tampering with physical evidence, three counts of misdemeanor credit card fraud, threat to kidnap or injure a person, threat to injure a person, and four counts of obstruction of justice. These charges stem from her alleged involvement in the murder of 42-year-old Anthony Jordan. The incident occurred on the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road, SE, on Aug. 4, 2023.
Thomas’ boyfriend, Lewis Jones, is allegedly the person who stabbed Jordan and has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree premeditated murder while armed, possession of a prohibited weapon, six counts of tampering with physical evidence, and obstructing justice.
Thomas’ attorney, Alvin Thomas, announced her decision to reject the prosecution’s plea offer in that Thomas would plead guilty to accessory after the fact of second-degree murder, one count of obstruction of justice, one count of simple assault, and one count of sexual abuse misdemeanor. In exchange, the prosecution would consolidate the other felony concurrent cases against her and dismiss the 17 other pending charges against her, including misdemeanors and a felony count.
Jones’ attorney, David Knight, stated that Jones was requesting new counsel.
However, after a conversation with all parties that occurred under seal, Knight and Jones stated they would continue to work together.
Parties are slated to reconvene on June 13.
DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz denied a carjacking defendant’s motion to overturn his conviction based on ineffective representation on April 18.
Marquise Lucas, 26, was convicted of conspiracy to commit a crime of violence, unarmed carjacking, and three counts of armed robbery with an imitation pistol, for his involvement in an incident that occurred on the 900 block of Florida Avenue, NW on Feb. 12, 2015. He appeared remotely from a federal Bureau of Prisons (BoP) facility.
According to court documents, Lucas was engaged in a robbery and carjacking of a BMW at a gas station. The stolen vehicle was pursued by officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) before it collided with another vehicle and those involved were detained.
Lucas was sentenced to 14 years of incarceration in December 2015.
Lucas filed a motion to vacate his conviction on Dec. 3, 2023. He alleged that his Public Defender Service (PDS) trial counsel, Michael Carter, is related to one of the victims in the 2015 carjacking and was, therefore, ineffective in representing him.
Lucas’ current attorney, Andrew Ain, argued, in addition, Lucas’ prior defense team failed to order a timely psychological evaluation, despite his documented history of mental health struggles.
Ain called on a former junior counsel lawyer, leshaah Murphy, who defended Lucas, to testify. Murphy explained that had she been aware of Lucas’ previous suicide attempts earlier, she would have sought an evaluation sooner. She only learned of the issue a few months before sentencing, which, she argued, left insufficient for an accurate assessment.
Ain asserted this oversight in documentation constituted ineffective representation, as critical information was present in Lucas’ mental health records but overlooked by his previous attorneys. Furthermore, Ain stated that the absence of a psychological evaluation at sentencing disadvantaged the court.
Judge Kravitz, however, found that Lucas’ former counsel’s performance was not deficient. He acknowledged that although the defense’s actions were “imperfect,” they requested a psychological evaluation and worked with the resources they had.
No further dates have been set for this matter.
A stabbing defendant accused of killing his grandmother was found mentally incompetent to stand trial by DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on April 21.
Christopher Holness, 31, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of his grandmother, Sandra Mundle, 83. The stabbing occurred on the 1300 block of Missouri Avenue, 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.”
According to a report by the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), there is a “substantial probability” that Holness will make progress in the near future.yu Both parties agreed to keep the preliminary hearing scheduled in May, and requested another mental observation hearing for June.
Judge Kravitz ordered Holness be detained at St. Elizabeths Hospital as he receives treatment and works towards restoring competency. In order to stand trail, a defendant must have the mental ability to understand the charges against him and take part in his own defense.
Parties are slated to reconvene May 21.
DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park denied defense motions to suppress identification evidence in a homicide case on April 22.
Robert Carpenter, 36, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, for his alleged involvement in the shooting of 42-year-old Tremaine Nicholson. The incident occurred on the 3400 block of 25th Street, SE, on May 7, 2024.
Carpenter’s lawyers, Christen Philips and David Knight, filed a motion arguing that evidence police found in his truck shouldn’t be admitted because the police searched it without a warrant.
On April 11, a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective testified that they searched the truck only after a police dog signaled that there was a gun inside. He also stated that Carpenter was free to leave but chose not to.
The prosecution argued that the canine sweep was legal as the truck was parked in a public location. They added that the police had well founded suspicion that the truck was connected to the incident as it was allegedly observed leaving the scene.
Knight stated that Carpenter was handcuffed immediately after being stopped and wasn’t able to drive away. He added that there was no basis for the search as police originally thought the gun was elsewhere and the decision to search the truck was an afterthought.
Knight further argued that police attempted to interrogate Carpenter before the search of his truck hoping he would say something incriminating. He said probable cause should have been established before arresting Carpenter. Additionally, Knight stated that Carpenter was held was too long and the police should have been able to complete the search faster.
The prosecution responded that police had an obligation to determine the ownership of the truck and determine the suspect’s identify in surveillance footage–a process that was ongoing.
Judge Park ultimately agreed with the prosecution and denied the motion to suppress the evidence found in the truck.
Philips also argued that a witness’ identification of Carpenter should be excluded because the identification procedures used were unduly suggestive. She said that the witness initially identified a different person in the surveillance footage of the incident.
However, during grand jury testimony, the witness was questioned about his relationship with Carpenter, shown photos of Carpenter’s vehicle, and in surveillance footage where he was seen entering and leaving the vehicle. Philips argued these actions implicitly and explicitly communicated to the witness that the prosecution wanted them to identify the individual as Carpenter.
Philips further stated that the prosecution’s case for the witness’s reliable identification rests on knowing Carpenter. However, it does not mitigate concerns about the suggestive nature of the identification procedure.
The prosecution argued that the witness’ identification was a result of a careful and measured review of the evidence. They stated that the witness knew Carpenter and that the initial identification was made based on a low-quality cellphone photo.
Judge Park found that, while the defense proved the presence of suggestivity, the prosecution succeeded in proving the reliability of the identification. He reasoned that several factors, including the witness’ opportunity to observe the defendant, the controlled grand jury setting, the degree of attention paid by the witness, and more contribute to the reliability.
Parties are expected to reconvene on April 24.
The prosecution claimed a “blizzard” of evidence proves Bernard Eddy‘s guilt in a homicide case, while the defense said the case rested on a single unreliable witness during closing arguments before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan on April 21.
Eddy, 25, is charged with first-degree murder premeditated while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license outside his home or place of business. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in the shooting of 16-year-old Steffen Brathwaite on Sept. 10, 2019, on the 3000 block of 24th Place, SE.
Brathwaite was murdered a few minutes past midnight as he was walking to a friend’s house. Police heard gunshots and ran to the scene, where they discovered Brathwaite on the ground in a pool of blood.
Brathwaite was killed by five gunshot wounds from behind. Two of the shots were angled upwards, which indicated Brathwaite was already on the ground when they struck him, according to the prosecution.
The prosecution argued Eddy killed Brathwaite because he believed Brathwaite was one of the killers of Eddy’s friend, Gerald Watson, who was murdered the year before.
Only four hours before Brathwaite was shot, Eddy created an image on his phone that superimposed the words, “Missing you like crazy,” over a photo of Watson.
“Steffen Brathwaite had the right to be tried in this courtroom like the defendant here today,” the prosecutor told the jury. “One man can’t decide who is guilty. That is for a jury.”
Eddy and Watson lived in the Langston neighborhood, which has a history of conflict with the Hartford neighborhood next door, where Brathwaite lived.
“Who had the motive [to kill Brathwaite]?” the prosecution asked the jury. “I think the defense and the [prosecution] would agree on this: pretty much everyone in the Langston neighborhood.”
Julie Swaney, Eddy’s defense attorney, did not agree. She stated the prosecution didn’t provide evidence to show Eddy or anyone else in Langston attributed Watson’s shooting to Brathwaite.
“Nothing tells us that Bernard Eddy was so upset and angry that he committed revenge for Gerald Watson’s murder,” Swaney told the jury. .
The prosecution showed a video from Eddy’s phone from hours after Brathwaite’s murder, in which he mimed a shooting, took a draw on a blunt, and said, “Smoking Steff pack.” Witnesses testified at trial that the expression is a way of celebrating someone’s death by pretending to smoke the person’s remains.
Swaney argued this video wasn’t evidence of Eddy’s guilt. He didn’t need direct experience of the killing to know Brathwaite had been shot, since he could have heard about the police investigation from other people in the neighborhood.
“His teenage antics are not a reason to convict him of first-degree premeditated murder,” Swaney argued.
About seven months after Brathwaite’s death, in an unrelated investigation, police seized a Ruger SR9C handgun. A toolmark and firearms examiner determined that the cartridge casings found around Brathwaite’s body could have been shot by that Ruger.
Swaney pointed out that the toolmark and firearms examiner couldn’t determine with certainty that the Ruger was the one used in Brathwaite’s shooting. Swaney said another witness testified that police frequently find Rugers at crime scene investigations.
The prosecution displayed a video of Eddy’s from less than an hour after Brathwaite’s death, saying “Ruger” while revealing a gun magazine sticking out of his waistband. The magazine resembled the one in the Ruger recovered by police.
Swaney argued the video doesn’t show a gun, only a magazine, and that magazine isn’t distinctive enough to prove it’s the same one police recovered.
“There is nothing unique about what was sticking out of Mr. Eddy’s waistband,” Swaney said.
The afternoon following the shooting, a rapper visiting from Chicago posed for photos with Eddy while holding a gun similar to the Ruger police later recovered. At trial, the rapper testified that someone in the group lent him the gun for the photos.
Swaney said the rapper’s description of the person who handed him the Ruger for the photographs didn’t match Eddy. According to Swaney, it matched a man who appeared in another video on Eddy’s phone, and that man had a motive to attack Brathwaite because Brathwaite earlier fired a gun at his car.
Surveillance video footage on the night of the incident showed Eddy getting picked up by a vehicle five minutes before the shooting. One of the other people in the vehicle testified against Eddy and received a plea deal on numerous charges for gun possession and shootings in exchange for his cooperation with police.
The witness testified that their vehicle drove past Brathwaite and Eddy said, “That’s a body,” indicating Brathwaite was a potential “kill.” The witness said Eddy instructed the driver to circle back around,” and drop him off. According to the witness, he heard gunshots while Eddy was out of sight, and then Eddy returned to the car.
Swaney pointed out that the witness initially claimed in a police interview not to know Braithwaite or Eddy. He didn’t testify against Eddy until after Eddy had been arrested and, according to Swaney, the witness knew what evidence the police had against Eddy.
“What does he do? He makes the story fit,” Swaney said about the witness.
Swaney stated the witness changed his testimony about what Eddy said when he returned to the car. At the grand jury, the witness testified that Eddy said, “I think I got him.” Shortly before the trial, he testified that Eddy said, “I hit him.” At the trial itself, he testified that Eddy didn’t say anything.
The prosecution argued that the witness was frightened to testify at trial because of fear of retribution. The witness expressed concerns that people in the gallery were photographing him during the trial, according to the prosecution.
“Why go through all that, if it wasn’t true?” the prosecutor asked.
The prosecutor said the witness could have attributed Brathwaite’s shooting to someone who had been shot and killed since then, if he wanted to lie in order to receive the benefit of a plea deal without becoming a target of revenge.
Swaney said the prosecution wouldn’t have offered a plea deal if the witness hadn’t provided evidence against someone living.
“What evidence has the [prosecution] really shown you about Mr. Eddy’s guilt in this case?” Swaney asked the jury. “The witness who came in here and talked over three days, he has significant motivation to fabricate his testimony for the [prosecution].”
“You must not turn one tragedy into two and wrongly convict Bernard Eddy of Steffen [Brathwaite]’s murder,” Swaney said.
The prosecution pointed out that justice equally goes awry when a jury fails to convict a defendant in spite of evidence beyond a reasonable doubt to convict them.
“That is also a tragedy,” the prosecutor said.
After Judge Ryan instructed the jury, they began deliberations.
Parties will next convene when the jury returns a verdict.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of a 15-year-old male suspect in connection with a shooting on April 21.
The incident involved a teenage male victim who was found on March 29 on the 1200 block of 7th Street, NW conscious with a gunshot wound and transported to a hospital with serious injuries.
The suspect has been charged with Assault With Intent To Kill (Gun).
The prosecution called multiple witnesses to testify in a homicide case before DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park on April 22.
Ranje Reynolds, 28, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 27-year-old Tarek Boothe on Jan. 31, 2022, on the 3200 block of M Street, NW.
The prosecution called a medical examiner who performed the autopsy of Boothe to determine the cause and manner of his death. The examiner testified that Boothe suffered a gunshot to his head and the bullet entered through his left eye and exited through the right-back area of his head.
She further said that there was stippling found on Boothe’s face which indicates that the gun was within 36 inches of him. The examiner explained that stippling is abrasions caused by unburnt gun powder and looks like red dots on the skin.
Prosecutors also called bystanders who were stopped at the traffic intersection where Boothe was shot, and called 911. They testified that they were waiting at a red light when they heard a popping sound.
They also stated that they saw someone fall to the ground and a second person briskly turn the corner onto 33rd Street. One of the witnesses said she saw the second person holding a firearm as he walked up the street.
The prosecution then called the owner of a store that is near the scene, and he testified that he provided surveillance footage from his security cameras to the police. He said they capture the front door and anything happening outside the front of the store.
The prosecution also called on a woman, who testified that she formerly had a sexual relationship with Reynolds, also known as “Jay”. She said that she would drive him to work and book hotel rooms for the two of them but that he would always pay her back. The witness testified that she had booked a trip to Miami, Florida with him but he asked her to cancel the trip at the end of January.
The prosecution walked the witness through screenshots of text messages between her and Reynolds. These messages were about his hand, which was injured, and the cancellation of their trip to Miami. Shortly after the cancellation, the messages turned green which, according to the witness, indicates that Reynolds either got a new phone or blocked her. She said that she drove him to work on Jan. 31 but didn’t receive any further communication from him after.
Parties are expected to reconvene on April 23.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced they are investigating a homicide in Northeast D.C.
On Apr. 19, officers found 62-year-old Donella Bryan deceased inside a dumpster on the 1600 block of Maryland Avenue NE.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma and asphyxiation, ruling it a homicide. The investigation is ongoing.
DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe issued a motion stipulating access to 543 pages one of a victim’s medical records which had been sought for six months. The records were subpoenaed in March.
Donnell Wells, 36, is charged with two counts of aggravated assault knowingly while armed, five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for his alleged involvement in a shooting on the 500 block of Newcomb Street, SE. The incident occurred on Aug. 1, 2024 and two individuals suffered from gunshot wounds.
“Upon brief review by chambers, it appears that all substantive information contained within the medical records is relevant to the incident in question and would not be subject to redactions,” said Judge Pipe in her ruling on April 21, one day prior to the scheduled trial.
The records delay had threatened the proceedings.
Brandon Burrell, Wells’ defense attorney, stated he was concerned about continuing the case while Wells is still being held, and he would agree to delay the trial only if Wells were released.
Judge Pipe denied the request, citing Wells’ concerning history of gun-related charges.
Burrell stated that while parties were scheduled to select a jury, he was not comfortable moving forward with the case without the medical records in question. The prosecution was concerned that swearing in the jury could lead to a mistrial if they don’t receive the records in time.
“I’m not picking a jury till we get the records,” said Judge Pipe during the hearing.
Parties are slated to reconvene April 22.
A stabbing defendant accepted a plea deal before DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe on April 21.
Antonio Nicks, 33, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a prohibited weapon, and simple assault for his involvement in a non-fatal stabbing that injured one individual. The incident occurred on Feb. 16, 2024, at the DC Jail on the 1900 block of D Street, SE.
The incident left one victim suffering from cuts on the head and neck.
In court, Nicks’ attorney, Lisbeth Sapirstein, alerted Judge Pipe of Nicks’ intent to accept a plea deal extended by prosecutors. According to Sapirstein, the deal required Nicks to plead guilty to simple assault in exchange for dismissing all other charges.
The prosecution recommended a maximum of 180 days of incarceration, citing the volitional nature of the stabbing and the severity of the victim’s injuries. They also stated that Nicks had been charged with a prior armed conviction in 2015.
Sapirstein asked that the court impose a 90 day incarceration.
Judge Pipe agreed with Sapirstein, stating that accepting the plea deal shows that Nicks is taking responsibility for his actions. Nicks was sentenced to 90 days of incarceration and required to pay $50 to the Victims of Violent Crime Fund.
No further dates were set.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced they are investigating a homicide that occurred on April 18 in Southeast Washington, D.C. Officers found 18-year-old Christopher Daniels deceased in the 1300 block of Congress Street, SE, while an adult male and a juvenile male self-transported to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. The case remains under investigation.
