Defense Says Homicide Evidence Received, ‘Drip, Drip, Drip’

Defense lawyers claimed the prosecution failed to disclose relevant evidence in a homicide and asked DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan to dismiss the case on March 25.

James Lewis, 48, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a prohibited weapon, and three counts of contempt for his alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of Brenea Franklin, 30. The incident occurred at the 1100 block of Bellevue Street, SE on Jan. 30, 2021.

Lewis’ attorney, Damayanti Desai, finished her cross-examination of a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective in the investigation who revealed that police believe that Lewis was living in his van at the time it was seized.

Then in redirect, the prosecution questioned the detective about photos of the crime scene, showing it was clear Franklin had been in the van based on its contents.

Then, Desai and Lewis’ other attorney, Mani Golzari, argued their motion filed on March 17, to dismiss the case because of the prosecution’s failure to disclose relevant evidence to the defense.

Golzari claimed the “discovery seems to be coming in a drip, drip, drip” manner and not in a timely fashion. He said that when the prosecution requested surveillance videos from a property manager they “had a duty to disclose them” to the defense.

The prosecution stated they did not turn over some of the videos because they lack relevance.

Golzari argued that the defense looks for different elements than the prosecution and they cannot determine what could be relevant to the defense.

Judge Ryan said while he understands Golzari’s point, the prosecution does not have to turn over everything in their possession.

Golzari went on to explain that one of the surveillance videos was sent as a YouTube link hidden in another part of the evidence. In addition, according to Golzari, there were other videos disguised on the YouTube channel and it’s unreasonable to think he would find them.

Golzari also told the court that the videos were not turned over as required. Judge Ryan asked the prosecution to explain and they did not have a good answer but the material must have, “slipped through the cracks.”

Judge Ryan acknowledged that there were clear issues with disclosure of evidence and said he will rule on the defense motion to dismiss when the parties reconvene next week.

Desai also argued to suppress evidence that was obtained through what they believe was an unlawful detention on Feb. 24, 2021 before Lewis’ arrest. Desai stated Lewis felt he was not free to go as he was a “Black man interacting with armed officers.”

Later that day he was questioned at the police station, but Desai argued that Lewis was not initially “Mirandized” about his legal rights when he was questioned.

The prosecution argued the police only asked Lewis “mere booking” questions before he was Mirandized and under Terry Stop doctrine police had reasonable cause to briefly detain Lewis without violating his rights.

Desai also argued that the seizure of Lewis’ van and phone were unlawful under the Fourth Amendment’s protection against illegal search and seizures. Since the MPD were aware Lewis was living in the van and unauthorized entry into a home is considered the “chief evil” in violating the Fourth Amendment.

Golzari intends to file another motion to dismiss on the grounds of prosecutorial misconduct.

Parties will reconvene on March 31 to continue to discuss motions.

Case Acquitted: Prosecutors Say Stabbing and Sexual Assault Victims, ‘Weren’t Bothering Anyone’

Editor’s Note: Darryl Myers was acquitted of all charges by a jury on March 27, 2026.

The prosecution argued that two individuals weren’t bothering anyone before one was sexually assaulted and another stabbed in a trial before DC Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna on March 26.

Darryl Myers, 52, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, misdemeanor sexual abuse, and simple assault for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal stabbing at Dupont Circle near the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and 20th Street, NW on June 7, 2024. One victim sustained four stab wounds and another victim was sexually assaulted.

During her closing argument, another one of Myers’ attorneys, Kristin McGough, argued that Myers acted in self-defense. “The only reason there is stabbing is because [Myers] airway was being cut off,” McGough told the jury.

McGough described the stabbing victim putting Myers in a tight chokehold during the fight and argued that the stab wounds were consistent with Myers trying to escape. She pointed out that the victim told the grand jury he had his attacker in a chokehold but changed his story to say he only held Myers’ chin during his testimony earlier in the trial.

“Why are we telling lies?” McGough asked the jury.

She also stated that, even if Myers was the first aggressor in the situation, once deadly force was used against him, he had a right to self-defense.

McGough pointed out other inconsistencies in the victim’s testimony, including lies about being a Navy medic, the number of drinks he had that night, and the number of stab wounds he sustained. She noted that on their own, the lies might seem insignificant, but that together they build up on one another.

“Even feathers get heavy when you have enough of them,” McGough said and urged the jury to find Myers not guilty on all charges.

The prosecution said that the day turned “violent and disturbing” when Myers walked away from the stabbing saying, “I got that mother f*****.” They explained the victims were just sitting in the park, catching up on each other’s lives.

“They weren’t bothering anyone,” the prosecution stated. The prosecution argued that Myers was the aggressor and caused the fight, stating that he had no right to self-defense.

“If you come up to a woman in a park and sexually abuse her and something arises from that situation, you caused that to happen,” the prosecution told the jury.

They said that Myers’ arms were free during the fight and that he never tried to pull the victim’s arms away or retreat, choosing to stab him. The prosecution also emphasized the locations of the wounds, arguing Myers stabbed the victim in the neck, back, thigh and leg, going for the neck first.

“Those are decisions,” the prosecution stated.

The prosecution also asked the jury to consider why Myers didn’t initially claim self-defense when police questioned him. They pointed out that Myers initially claimed he didn’t know how he injured his hand and then a month later, he had a story for how it happened.

“That is not reliable,” the prosecution stated.

The prosecutor told the jury to focus on their recollections of the evidence, stating it wasn’t a coincidence that Myers “just happened to be out the night of the attack, blocks away, with a cut on his hand that he gave a false story about.”

“The evidence you have is beyond a reasonable doubt,” the prosecution told the jury and urged them to return a guilty verdict.

Prior to closing arguments, the prosecution cross-examined a retired emergency medicine doctor and asked the doctor questions about the locations of the stab wounds. The doctor indicated that the stab wound on the victim’s neck was near a major blood vessel.

According to the prosecution, the victim’s wounds were still bleeding long after he arrived at the hospital. Based on the victim’s medical records, the doctor stated he had a “significant elevation” to his lactate level, which is indicative of shock.

The prosecution also asked the doctor whether the victim was intoxicated and the doctor said according to medical records, the victim was. The doctor said that he believed the victim had four-and-a-half-to-seven drinks.

Additionally, the doctor stated the victim also had a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 15, meaning he was alert and awake. The GCS is a scale used to measure a person’s level of consciousness.

On re-direct, one of Myers’ attorneys, Lauren Rennecker, asked the doctor to elaborate on the relationship between lactate levels and shock. The doctor explained that when the body doesn’t get enough oxygen, lactate levels increase. The doctor noted that lactate levels can increase for various reasons and that while high lactate levels are consistent with shock, it’s “hard to pin down.”

When Rennecker asked the doctor about the GCS score, he stated that “most people would have a GCS of 15 while intoxicated” and that it didn’t change his opinion on the number of drinks the male victim consumed.

The prosecution followed up with a question about the lactate levels after the defense’s re-direct. They asked if the shock could be caused by blood loss, to which the doctor said, “you can have a shock state and not an elevated level.” The prosecution asked the question again before the doctor answered yes.

Parties will reconvene when the jury reaches a verdict.

Witness Identifies Person Said to be Homicide Suspect

The prosecution called a witness who identified the defendant as the suspect in a homicide case to the stand before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on March 25.

Jaime Macedo, 24, is charged with first-degree felony murder while armed, attempt to commit robbery 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 fatal shooting of 25-year-old Maxwell Emerson on the 600 block of Alumni Lane, NE on July 5, 2023.

The prosecution called a witness who knew Macedo personally and identified him t authorities. She said that, upon seeing a flyer on Instagram with a picture of the suspect, she was “99% sure” that the suspect was Macedo, based on the suspect’s face, stature, hair, and the Crocs shoes he wore.

According to the acquaintance, she knew Macedo because her best friend is dating Macedo’s older brother. She said she has known his family since 2011.

The acquaintance subsequently called a homicide tip line at the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and provided the information she knew about Macedo, later having an in-person meeting with detectives. The jury was shown video footage of this meeting, in which the acquaintance identified a person said to be Macedo in multiple images.

She then pointed to Macedo in court, identifying him as the person in the pictures she saw.

Another eyewitness, a construction worker testified he saw the aftermath of the shooting from a nearby rooftop where he was working. He, through a translator, described the moment he heard the gunshot and, looking up, saw a man lying on the ground while another man picked up a weapon and ran away.

The eyewitness said in body-worn camera footage to officers on the scene that he could not confidently say the weapon was a gun, instead describing it as a “black thing.” However, he insisted in front of Judge Kravitz that it was, in fact, a gun and claimed to have said it was a “black weapon” to the responding officers on the day of the shooting.

The eyewitness also testified that the man he observed running away from the scene was dressed in all black and tennis shoes.

During the eyewitness’ testimony about what he saw the suspect holding, a translation issue resulted in the interpreter’s being replaced.

The eyewitness utilized the word “escuadra,” referring to the triangle shape of the weapon he saw. In an attempt to explain, the interpreter described this as a weapon with a clip, prompting Judge Kravitz to determine that a new interpreter was necessary.

Judge Kravitz instructed the jury to ignore parts of the original translator’s testimony, saying that she used her own explanation, and reminded the new interpreter that, “What I expect you to do is simply translate…verbatim without editorializing.”

On cross-examination, Macedo’s attorney, Jessica Willis, noted that the eyewitness originally told MPD officers on scene that the suspect was white. He confirmed that he believed that the man running away from the scene was white, not Hispanic, saying, “He was as white as this sheet of paper.” The eyewitness said that he beleived this description based on the hair color and skin color of the man he observed.

Another witness was an officer at the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA). Due to previous defense motions to preclude previous conviction information about Macedo for the jury, the prosecution had the officer omit his job title and very vaguely describe his duties.

The officer stated that he arrived at Macedo’s residence for a meeting between 7:45 a. m. and 8 a. m. the morning of the incident. However, Macedo wasn’t there, and the officer waited in his car for him to arrive. The officer stated that he noticed Macedo was sweaty when he arrived for the meeting at around 8:30 a. m., and that he was wearing a black t-shirt and shorts.

Prosecutors asked the officer about Macedo’s demeanor, which the officer described as “normal, calm.” The officer testified that Macedo claimed he was coming back from seeing a friend, which is why he was late to the meeting.

During cross examination, Willis confirmed with the officer that the interaction between him and Macedo lasted around five minutes.

A surveillance footage custodian testified and, during his testimony, he stated that he pulled footage from cameras surrounding the area where he worked and provided the footage to MPD. Prosecutors showed screenshots and some short clips from the footage for the court.

Prosecutors claimed that the footage captured Macedo’s trip to the Brookland-CUA Metro station before the incident occurred.

During questioning, prosecutors asked the video custodian to identify the streets in the footage as well as the direction the camera was facing. In one of the clips, a man was captured taking his pants off, revealing shorts underneath. According to court documents, the man was identified as the suspect by MPD.

Another witness was a campus police officer at the Catholic University of America, who testified to pulling the unconscious victim from a bush and administering CPR. He also said he looked in the victim’s wallet to find any medical cards or signs of affiliation with the university to find an explanation for the victim’s condition.

He stated he didn’t do anything further with the wallet when questioned by prosecutors.

A crime scene investigator from the Department of Forensic Science (DFS) also testified. The investigator retrieved physical evidence including a phone with a purple case, a book bag, broken glasses, and an airpod. Prosecutors also had the investigator identify and show the jury Emerson’s clothing that was retrieved from the hospital after he was brought in for treatment.

Due to time constraints, the officer was not able to finish her testimony, and it was continued to the next day.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on March 26.

Carjacking Defendant Still Mentally Incompetent, but Restoration Continues

DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro ordered a carjacking defendant to continue efforts that demonstrate his mental competency at a hearing on March 23.

Demetrius Johnson, 27, is charged with armed carjacking for his alleged involvement in a carjacking with pepper spray that left an injured victim on Nov. 4, 2025, on the 3000 block of Hayes Street, NE.

According to court documents, Johnson reportedly approached the victim’s car while he was parked and attempted to open the door. As Johnson walked away, the victim reported that he got out of his car to confront him. The victim stated Johnson engaged him in a fight, allegedly pepper sprayed him in the face then drove off with the vehicle.

At a hearing on Jan. 22, Judge Di Toro ordered Johnson to attempt restoration after a report from the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) deemed him incompetent. To stand trial, Johnson must understand the charges against him and be able to aid his attorney in his defense.

According to the most recent report filed by DBH on March 20, Johnson was still incompetent and recommended additional mental evaluation and participation in the agency’s Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program.

Based on the report, Judge Di Toro said that Johnson does not require hospitalization but needs continued evaluation and treatment.

Parties are set to reconvene on May 12.

Case Acquitted: ‘I Felt Him Hitting Me, Not Knowing Each Hit Was Him Stabbing Me,’ Stabbing Victim Testifies at Trial

Editor’s Note: Darryl Myers was acquitted of all charges by a jury on March 27, 2026.

A victim who was stabbed four times testified during a trial before DC Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna on March 24.

Darryl Myers, 52, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, misdemeanor sex abuse, and simple assault for his alleged involvement in a stabbing on June 7, 2024, in Dupont Circle. One individual sustained four stab wounds to the neck, back, and leg. Myers allegedly sexually assaulted another victim.

“I got that mother f*****r,” Myers yelled as he fled the scene, claimed prosecutors in opening statements. “The scene in which one victim was sexually abused, and another was stabbed repeatedly in the neck, back, leg, and thigh,” elaborated the prosecutor.

Prosecutors continued by describing the timeline of the incident and how the two victims went to Dupont Circle to hangout. At the circle, prosecutors said Myers approached them yelling, “You don’t know what to do with that white butt, give me that white butt.”

As Myers got closer, the victims began to panic and tried to de-escalate the situation. Despite their attempt at de-escalation, one victim ended up sexually assaulted and “frozen in fear”, and the other victim stabbed numerous times.

After the stabbing victim was transported to the hospital, he quickly identified the perpetrator. Prosecutors believed that there was, “absolutely no room for doubt.”

Hannah Shankman, Myers’ attorney, asserted there were too many “questions, inconsistencies, and unknowns” regarding this case for prosecutors to push the “guilty narrative.”

“The [prosecution’s] story is flawed, and there is not enough evidence to prove Darryl Myers’ guilt,” Shankman asserted to the jurors.

Prosecutors called the sexual assault victim to testify. She told the court that she and the stabbing victim started their night at a jazz bar having a few drinks and a light dinner before they biked to Dupont Circle to hangout. At Dupont Circle, the victim said they had a few more drinks and sat around the fountain talking.

As the two of them sat in the grass they heard a man yell, “you ain’t gonna f*** this white b**** in my park.” The victim recalled giggling as a reaction to the fear she felt. Then, she stood up and walked toward the sidewalk when she felt a presence on her butt.

“His touch was in between a light touch and a slap, but it was deliberate,” the victim recalled as prosecutors asked her about being touched that night. The next thing she remembered was turning around to get to the sidewalk and seeing the suspect and her friend in a stand off before they were both rustling on the ground.

She told the court that she stood there, “frozen in fear,” as she thought her friend was being beat up.

“He got me,” was the next thing the victim remembered hearing her friend say as the suspect ran away and her friend tried to get up. Her friend was limping and holding his neck, soaked in blood, the victim described. She helped her friend get on his bike so he could ride home and get help.

“I thought my friend was going to die,” recalled the victim.

Lauren Rennecker, another one of Myers’ attorneys, cross-examined the witness and asked the victim how much she drank that night, in which she answered, “ a martini, a tequila shot, and three-to-four beers.”

After the stabbing victim went to the hospital, Rennecker noted that the assault victim told police the suspect was “six two in height, bald, Black man, wearing a running shirt and shorts.”

Rennecker questioned her description because during prosecutors questioning, the victim testified that the defendant was wearing a gray shirt and jeans.

The victim confirmed that she previously said the suspect wore shorts.

Prosecutors asked the assault victim whether testifying was hard, she said it was extremely difficult, “because it was extremely traumatic, I thought my friend was going to die.”

Prosecutors then called the stabbing victim who recalled meeting his friend at a jazz bar for dinner and drinks before riding bikes around town and ending up at Dupont Circle. The stabbing victim reiterated his friend’s testimony about having a few more drinks at the circle and hanging out.

While they sat in the grass facing the fountain, the victim said he and his friend heard a man’s voice from the trees. The suspect said, “you don’t know what to do with that white butt, give me that white butt,” according to the victim.

After hearing this voice, the victim became more alert and told his friend to get up and go to his bike so they could leave. As he began to stand up, the suspect started yelling and calling him the n-word saying, “don’t you get up.”

“I felt like he was watching and waiting to take action,” the stabbing victim testified.

The stabbing victim recalled seeing the suspect grab his friend by the neck and smack her butt. Then, the victim said he pulled his friend by the wrist and told her “go to my bike.” He remembered as she was getting to the bike, the suspect punched him out of nowhere. The victim then punched and kicked the suspect asking, “why are you doing this?”

The next thing he remembered was being on the ground and trying to get the suspect in a headlock to control him. The suspect freed his arms and swung at the victim.

“I felt him hitting me, not knowing each hit was him stabbing me,” the victim told the court.

The last stab was to his hip which made his “leg shoot straight out.” In that moment, the victim said he knew he was stabbed, he pushed the suspect off of him, and yelled, “OH HE GOT ME.”

Then, the victim said he went home, blacked out, and “thought this was the end.”

Prosecutors showed body-worn camera footage from a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer entering the victim’s hospital room, asking if Myers was the suspect who stabbed him. The victim identified Myers in a photo on the officer’s phone and said, “that’s him, I don’t know him but he assaulted my friend and attacked me.”

As a result of time constraints, the defense will cross-examine the stabbing victim when parties reconvene the next day.

The prosecutors also called an eyewitness who was in Dupont Circle at the time because he was homeless at the time and often slept there. When the eyewitness arrived at the circle he saw two men rolling around in the grass and then heard a loud “OHHH AHHH,” after that, the man on top started to flee.

As the man was fleeing the scene the eyewitness heard him say, “I got him good, I got that mother f*****r real good.” The eyewitness felt like the individual “almost got a big rush from” whatever had just occurred.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on March 25.

Given Prosecutor’s Delay, Judge Considers Dismissing Shooting Case

DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe is considering dismissing a shooting case based on what she says is the prosecution’s continued lack of preparedness during a hearing on March 23.

Malik Stone, 28, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting on the 2100 block of R Street, SE on July 30, 2025.

According to court documents, a witness reported hearing gunshots outside their apartment. When they looked outside on the balcony, they allegedly saw Stone shooting at two individuals. No injuries were reported.

Representing Stone, Natalie Murphy, complained about the prosecution and disputed the viability of the case.

Murphy told Judge Pipe the prosecution said on three separate occasions they would have an indictment by the May deadline and were working on DNA testing, but that progress has stalled. According to Murphy, the case has been ongoing for eight months without an indictment. Court records indicate the case was opened on Aug. 14, 2025.

The prosecution emphasized they plan on filing the indictment by the deadline but did not have a timeline on the DNA.

Murphy is also concerned about evidence from ShotSpotter, a software used to collect sounds of gunshots and pinpoint their location. She stated the arrest warrant cited 15 ShotSpotter notifications from the time of the shooting and that the prosecution did not turn over any of them. The prosecutor stated they were not up to date on any discovery issues but would try their best to turn over any remaining evidence as quickly as possible.

Judge Pipe expressed frustration with the prosecution, stating there’s been a history of their claiming to be prepared when they were not. She advised them that if the problems persist she would consider dismissing the case entirely.

Parties are slated to reconvene on April 9.

Judge Issues Warrant For Carjacking Defendant Absent From Probation Hearing

DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld issued a bench warrant after a carjacking defendant failed to appear in court after reportedly violating his probation on March 24.

Derrick Curtis, 25, was sentenced on Nov. 17, 2025 for charges of assault with intent to commit robbery and first-degree theft. These charges stem from his involvement in an unarmed carjacking incident on Dec. 30, 2024 at the intersection of 16th Street and Benning Road, NE.

Curtis was sentenced to two years imprisonment and three years supervised release, all time suspended in favor of one year probation.

According to court records, a notice of non-compliance was filed on Feb. 25 by the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) reporting a violation by Curtis. Parties did not specify the nature of the infraction.

During the hearing, the prosecution requested Judge Hertzfeld issue a bench warrant for Curtis for missing the hearing and allegedly violating his probation terms.

As a result, Judge Hertzfeld issued the writ. If Curtis fails to complete the requirements of his probation, Judge Hertzfeld can require him to serve the two year prison sentence.

Parties will reconvene when US Marshals successfully execute the warrant.

Judge Denies Motions to Dismiss Homicide Case After Police Misconduct

DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz denied two defense motions to dismiss a homicide case for police misconduct in a hearing on March 24.

Jaime Macedo, 24, is charged with first-degree felony murder while armed, attempted robbery while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction of less than one year, for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Maxwell Emerson. The incident occurred on the 600 block of Alumni Lane, NE, on July 5, 2023.

According to the motion to dismiss the indictment filed on March 17 by Macedo’s defense attorneys, Jessica Willis and Rachel Cicurel, the prosecutors “committed multiple…violations by not disclosing exculpatory and impeaching information to the defense as soon as practicable.”

Judge Kravitz agreed that the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) did not act as soon as feasible. They were more focused “on efforts to win the case” than providing information favorable to the defense, said the judge.

Because of this, Willis argued that “dismissal is appropriate” for Macedo’s case.

Judge Kravitz ruled that dismissal of the charges is too severe of a sanction in this case. He said the USAO did not act in “bad faith” which is a requirement to warrant the dismissal of the charges.

Cicurel said prosecutors were made aware of an investigation into the previous lead detective on his case on Jan. 5, 2024. According to Cicurel, prosecutors did not disclose this information to the defense until March 9 and because of this, they were not acting “as soon as practicable.”

During the hearing, a USAO supervisor said they received notice from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) about the detective’s misconduct on Jan. 5.

Cicurel said this was a “unique call under unique circumstances” and that prosecutors failed to turn this over to the defense counsel “as soon as practicable.”

In court on March 18 and 19, parties debated emails that showed when USAO knew about the detective’s misconduct. The emails, sent in January and March 2024, referenced the former lead detective on the case, who was investigated for sexual misconduct that violated MPD policies.

The prosecutors did not disclose the officer’s misconduct until around a week before Macedo’s trial was scheduled to begin, and the defense did not know what the emails between USAO supervisors contained until the day before the March 18 hearing, according to Willis.

Prosecutors provided summaries of these USAO emails originally, but Cicurel said these were not representations of the extent of their violations.

A prosecutor said the defense’s argument contained inaccuracies and a “compressed timeline.”

According to Willis, the January 2024 email thread included multiple USAO Homicide Division supervisors and stated the detective would not be testifying in Macedo’s case. Willis said one of the prosecutors replied, “WTF. Are we going to make an affirmative disclosure?”

Willis said the email thread shows the prosecutors made a decision in January 2024 not to disclose information about the detective to the defense counsel.

A USAO supervisor, who parties informally questioned in court, said he did not believe in January 2024 that the detective’s misconduct pointed to “credibility” or “veracity.” He said he did not know why the email’s sender from USAO chose to replace the detective on the case.

The supervisor said the officers involved were “idiots,” but the incident did not go to their “credibility” or “veracity” in his mind. He said that he did not want to “put anyone on blast.”

Cicurel said if USAO supervisors did not see an issue with the detective’s “credibility or veracity,” then they did not read the MPD misconduct report. Cicurel read that in the documents, MPD found that the detective’s “misconduct has cast a shadow over [his] credibility and reputation as a law enforcement officer.”

When being questioned by Cicurel, the supervisor said that they did not completely read the MPD documents provided to them. As a result, Circurel said they missed crucial information about the credibility of the previous lead detective.

Cicurel noted that the MPD documents include conversation about the detective’s MPD-issued phone being wiped by the detective nine minutes after he was made aware he was under investigation. MPD did not find that he did so on purpose, but interview documents provided by the defense suggest that they know he “could” have done so.

According to another higher level USAO supervisor, who Judge Kravitz and the parties questioned, a March 2024 email concerned the former lead detective’s status on the Lewis List, a confidential database listing police officers with possible credibility issues.

The higher level supervisor said another Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) flagged that detective’s status as “green,” indicating AUSAs would not need to check with their supervisors before sponsoring an officer to testify in a case. According to the higher level supervisor, he said this email prompted him to flag the officer as “yellow,” indicating AUSAs would need to check with their supervisors.

The higher level supervisor flagged the detective as “yellow” in the database two months after receiving information about his misconduct from MPD. He said it was a “failure” on his part not to notify other USAO supervisors. He said he initially did not prioritize it because the detective was either on a no-contact order, meaning he was not allowed to speak with USAO about cases, or he was not taking cases at the time.

Judge Kravitz said the higher level supervisor acted, “more with laziness than intentionally with bad faith.” The judge said he does not think that the supervisors knew the “extent of the exculpatory information,” but he personally would have known if he read through the MPD finding.

Judge Kravitz suggested potential sanctions that would be less severe than dismissal. He proposed the defense could call the former lead detective as a witness. The failures of the “initial investigation” could be “reasons [for the jury] to doubt” Macedo’s guilt.

Judge Kravitz said he believes these sanctions “more directly” address the violations by the prosecution in this case. Cicurel asked for time to discuss the proposed sanctions and decide what they plan to implement moving forward.

Sanctions are expected to be decided before the jury arrives on March 25.

Shooting Co-Defendant Wanted a Sentence Allowing Her to ‘Beat the Odds’

Co-defendants in a non-fatal shooting case were sentenced by DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park during a hearing on March 24.

A jury found Bernard Vance, 31, guilty of tampering with evidence on Dec. 19 2025 and subsequently Vance pleaded guilty on Jan. 29 2026 to attempted robbery with a prior conviction for his involvement in a robbery and non-fatal shooting that occurred on the 300 block Franklin Street, NE, on March 28, 2023. The victim sustained a gunshot wound to the face.

Nikia Cunningham, 31, pleaded guilty on Jan. 29 to unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for her involvement in the incident.

During the hearing, the prosecutor read a statement from the shooting victim that said before the shooting, the victim had stable housing and employment. After he was shot, he lost his job and noted “three years later he is still trying to get his life back.”

The prosecutor requested Judge Park to impose a sentence totaling 43 months of imprisonment for Vance, 28 months for attempted robbery and 15 months for tampering with evidence. They argued it was “two separate criminal acts” of attempted robbery and then hiding the gun in a trash can when police arrived.

They concluded due to the severity of the incident, Vance’s past criminal history, and failure to comply while on probation, they believe tough sentence is necessary to ensure safety of the community.

Vance’s attorney, Wole Falodun, argued that the 15-minute duration of the shooting to the gun disposal was too brief to be classified as two distinct criminal acts. He requested 28 months of imprisonment, suspending six months. Falodun asked Judge Park to impose a sentence that can give Vance an opportunity to prove he has learned from his mistakes and is making better decisions moving forward.

In Vance’s letter to the judge, he said he takes full accountability for his action. “At the time of the offense, I struggled with drugs and mental health from past trauma,” Vance said. “I have grown and matured,” Vance concluded, “This is the last time I’m behind bars.”

For Cunningham, the prosecutors requested 32 months of imprisonment for unlawful possession of firearms with a prior conviction. They argued while she did not fire the gun she carried, bringing a gun to a tense situation leads to violent acts. They also noted she was under court supervision when the incident occurred.

Cunningham’s attorney, Jesse Winograd, claimed the prosecutor’s filings are slightly inaccurate because the gun Cunningham carried had nothing to do with the shooting. Winograd said the prosecution “can not say that the gun was used to threaten, it was only used in a possessory offense.”

Winograd explained Cunningham’s past criminal history and said she has been incarcerated for three years and has been a “poster child for rehabilitation.” According to Winograd, she has been heavily involved in classes and leadership programs in jail.

“She has used her trauma to help other people,” Winograd said. “I do not believe her incarceration is helpful to any one.”

Cunningham read a letter she wrote to Judge Park reflecting on her incarceration. She explained how she has used her time to educate herself and others about the law and has been getting college credits.

“I worked diligently to set an example for my peers,” Cunningham said. She requested Judge Park give her a concurrent sentence to the one she was currently serving in an unrelated case, but acknowledged it is up to the Judge to decide. She ended her letter and said, “Please allow me to beat the odds.”

According to Winograd, Cunningham has around two months left in her sentence for her other case.

Judge Park thanked both of the defendants for their well-thought out letters. He said when “sentencing, I am required to impose a sentence that reflects the seriousness of the event and take into consideration the criminal history.”

As a result, Judge Park sentenced Vance to 28 months of imprisonment for attempted robbery and 10 months for tampering with evidence. Totaling 38 months of consecutive imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.

Cunningham was sentenced to 14 months of imprisonment, the minimum duration under court guidelines, followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Park ordered this term to run consecutively to her existing sentence in an unrelated case.

No further dates were set.

Defendant Accepts Plea Deal After Shooting at Ex-Girlfriend’s Door

A defendant who shot at his former partner’s apartment door accepted a plea deal before DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro on March 25.

Dacquan Judd, 20, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his involvement in a shooting that occurred on Oct. 17, 2025 on the 2700 block of Langston Place, SE. No injuries were reported.

At the hearing, Judd’s attorney, Erin Griffard, told Judge Di Toro that her client accepted an offer from prosecutors that required Judd to plead guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to not seek an indictment with additional charges and limit their sentence request to the bottom third of sentencing guidelines. Judd must also register as a gun offender in DC.

The prosecutors said that if the case had proceeded to trial, they would have proven that Judd fired multiple rounds at his ex-girlfriend’s apartment door, after an argument between them. There was no legal justification for Judd’s actions.

Judge Di Toro questioned Judd to ensure that he knowingly and willingly pleaded guilty.

After Judge Di Toro accepted Judd’s plea, the prosecutor made a motion to detain Judd until sentencing. The prosecutor acknowledged that there were no compliance issues with his current release, but because of the dangerousness of the crime, he believes Judd should be detained.

Griffard argued that Judd has been completely compliant with the home confinement, has a full-time job, and made no contact with the victim as part of the stay-away order.

Judge Di Toro denied the prosecution’s motion because of Judd’s failthful compliance.

Griffard presented the court with a letter from the victim providing context to Judd’s actions as “out of character.” The victim also requested that the stay-away order be removed.

Griffard then requested that Judge Di Toro lift Judd’s home confinement but the prosecutor objected because of how serious the incident was.

Judge Di Toro denied both of Griffard’s requests because she wants Judd to stay focused on his case and continue the good behavior, especially with sentencing quickly approaching.

Parties are slated to reconvene on June 12.

Defense Withdraws Request to Dismiss Nail File Stabbing Case

A defense attorney told DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe she no longer wished to dismiss her client’s stabbing case after she confirmed she wasn’t missing evidence during a hearing on March 23.

Tania Murphy, 26, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for her alleged involvement in a stabbing on the 2000 block of Georgia Avenue, NW on Oct. 31, 2025.

According to court documents, a fight broke out at a bus stop that reportedly involved the victim and Murphy. After police broke up that fight, another fight broke out at a nearby parking lot where Murphy allegedly stabbed the victim in the stomach with a nail file.

During the hearing, Murphy’s attorney, Camille Wagner, stated that she no longer requested to dismiss the case for want of body camera footage from prosecutors, since there wasn’t any. .

When discussing release, Wagner requested that Murphy’s GPS monitor be removed. The judge noted that Murphy has a non-extraditable warrant, a warrant in another jurisdiction that doesn’t allow her to be arrested in DC. The prosecution argued that because of the warrant and the charges that Murphy is facing that she should not have her GPS monitor removed.

Judge Pipe ruled she would not remove Murphy’s GPS monitor until she dealt with the outstanding warrant.

Wagner also told Judge Pipe that she was waiting for a response from the prosecution about the counter plea offer she sent them, which prosecutors said they were still considering.

Parties are slated to reconvene on July 30.

Defendant Accused of Restaurant Stabbing Rejects Plea Deal

A defendant accused of stabbing someone in the back at a restaurant rejected a plea deal from the prosecution before DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro on March 23.

Shelton Elder, 37, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a stabbing that left a victim hospitalized on Dec. 17, 2025, on the 1000 block of Vermont Avenue, NW.

According to court documents, Elder and the victim reportedly fought after Edler allegedly took a table from a group of girls at a restaurant and the victim told him to move. Elder allegedly pulled out a knife and later stabbed the victim in the back. The victim was hospitalized with a compromised lung.

During the hearing, the prosecution offered a plea deal in which Elder would plead guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and in exchange, prosecutors would not seek an indictment with additional charges.

Elder’s attorney, Peter Odom, rejected the plea offer on behalf of his client and asserted his right to a jury trial.

Parties are set to reconvene on June 8.

Fatal Hit-and-Run Defendant Pleads Not Guilty at Arraignment

A defendant accused of a fatal pedestrian crash pleaded not guilty at an arraignment before DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman on March 24.

Kyree Young, 18, is charged with conspiracy, first-degree felony murder, two counts of assault with significant bodily injury, three counts of robbery, first-degree theft, and fleeing a law enforcement officer for his alleged involvement in a hit-and-run that killed Donnel Phillips, 55, on May 7, 2025 at the intersection of 12th and U Streets, NW.

Young is charged under Title 16, which allows juveniles to be tried as adults for certain serious offenses.

According to court documents, Young allegedly stole a white Hyundai Santa Fe and robbed two individuals, both of whom sustained injuries during the incident. He then allegedly struck Phillips with the vehicle, who was standing at a marked crosswalk and later died from his injuries.

During the arraignment, Young’s attorney, Kevin O’Sullivan entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf, asserted his right to a speedy trial, and requested evidence favorable to the defense from the prosecution.

Parties are slated to reconvene on May 22.

Homicide Defendant Sentenced to 107 Years for Shooting Spree

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt sentenced a defendant to 107 years in prison on March 20 for his involvement in a 2020 shooting spree that resulted in multiple injuries and the death of a 13-year-old boy.

Reginald Steele, 27, was convicted on Nov. 19, 2025 of first-degree premeditated murder while armed, three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, seven counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of carrying a pistol without a license. The charges stem from his involvement in the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Malachi Lukes, at the 600 block of S Street, NW, on March 1, 2020. Another individual sustained injuries during the incident.

Steele was also convicted of a non-fatal shooting that injured two individuals on Feb. 22, 2020, on the 700 block of Farragut Street, NW, and a non-fatal shooting with no reported injuries on March 1, 2020 on the unit block of Channing Street, NE.

In addition to these charges, Steele pleaded guilty on Feb. 13, 2025 to assault with a dangerous weapon for his involvement in a stabbing that occurred on Aug. 3, 2021, at the DC Jail. One individual sustained wounds to the neck.

At Steele’s sentencing, prosecutors asked Judge Brandt to impose a sentence of 109 years.

“This number is not just an abstraction” prosecutors said, but a reflection of Steele’s actions.

Prosecutors argued Lukes’ murder wasn’t impulsive but that Steele and his friends “were hunting.” The prosecution continued that “they were looking for victims and ambushed [Lukes and his friends] in an alley.”

They only wanted to play basketball, prosecutors stated. They were just trying to get to the neighborhood court when they were hunted down and shot at in a crime that was “purposeful, planned, and intended.”

Prosecutors claimed when Steele was at the DC Jail he stabbed the brother of one of the boys playing basketball with Lukes. Despite having open felony cases, he did it anyway, prosecutors emphasized.

Additionally, prosecutors contended Steele hadn’t shown any remorse or accountability for his actions. They referenced a statement from Steele’s father in which he admitted Steele doesn’t like taking orders. This sentence is “how to protect the community from a man who will not be deterred by anything,” said prosecutors.

According to prosecutors, the impact of Steele’s crimes affect the entire community.

Steele “earned every minute of the 109-year-sentence,” prosecutors stated. “He made his bed, and now he must lie in it.”

Steele’s attorney, Megan Allburn, prefaced her sentencing remarks by telling Judge Brandt nothing she can say will diminish the losses felt in the courtroom.

There’s no question the community needs to be protected, Allburn said, but 109 years is excessive and says Steele isn’t capable of reform. Allburn pointed out that it was Steele’s birthday. He knows he’s likely going to die in federal prison, she said, but the prosecution is saying Steele’s life doesn’t matter by asking for that extreme sentence.

According to Allburn, Steele’s father was correct in saying Steele doesn’t like taking orders when being “barked at,” but he can be reasonable. If directions are calmly explained, Steele is more than willing to follow them, she said.

Allburn further argued Steele’s frontal lobe wasn’t fully developed at the time of the shootings, as he was only 21-years-old.

According to Allburn, Steele was a victim of street violence during his childhood and didn’t have the structure and education he needed growing up. She pointed out Steele’s struggles with reading as a testament to the failure of the education system.

Also, Allburn described the DC Jail as a dangerous, hostile, aggressive, and dirty place. Steele has taken responsibility for that stabbing and acknowledged his wrong, showing “growth and maturity,” asserted Allburn.

“Justice and mercy are not opposites, they’re partners,” Allburn claimed. She asked Judge Brandt to show both when imposing a sentence for Steele.

Given the opportunity to speak, Steele said he couldn’t talk about Lukes or the other people he “allegedly shot at” because he was filing an appeal.

However, Steele admitted guilt for the jail stabbing and told Judge Brandt that regardless of the sentence he received, he would rehabilitate himself. He said he wanted to do positive things and make it right for the day he returns home.

Judge Brandt said “this is a very hard day.” She gave her condolences to Lukes’ family and acknowledged Steele’s brother and family friend who were at every hearing supporting him.

To Steele, she said “I am truly sorry because I believe education is the key to everything. I am woefully sorry and embarrassed that the DC public school system has let you down.”

Judge Brandt said when she hears words like, “Steele’s incapable of rehabilitation,” she doesn’t agree. Everyone can change, she said, but Steele has to put his best foot forward.

She told Allburn she tries to be merciful. However, Judge Brandt also took into consideration the previous victim impact statement from Lukes’ mother at Steele’s co-defendants’ sentencing.

“It is within an extremely heavy heart that I impose this sentence,” Judge Brandt said.

Judge Brandt sentenced Steele to 45 years for first-degree murder. Steele received 14 years for each count of assault with intent to kill while armed and five years for each count of assault with a dangerous weapon. For the stabbing case, he received time already served.

He received five years for each count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and two years for each count of carrying a pistol without a license, all terms served consecutively. The sentences for six counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and two counts of carrying a pistol without a license will run concurrently with the other charges.

Steele received a total 107 years imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release.

Judge Brandt told Steele because of the DC Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act (IRAA), he is eligible to apply for release after 15 years. The IRAA allows individuals who committed crimes before age 25 and served at least 15 years to petition for sentence reduction. She also told him he has 30 days to file appeals.

No further hearings have been scheduled.

Homicide Defendant in Georgia Home Fails to Appear in Court

A homicide defendant, apparently in Georgia, failed to appear at a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park on March 23.

Steven Washington, 26, is charged with conspiracy, first-degree felony murder while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol without a license outside of a home or business, and attempting to commit robbery while armed. These charges stem from his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Nurudeen Thomas, 30, on the 4100 block of 14th Street, NW on July 21, 2020.

Washington failed to appear at the hearing, and his defense attorneys, Quo Judkins and Veronice Holt, stated they have been unable to contact him. An officer from the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) also stated that she had been attempting to contact Washington with no success.

Washington is currently released in Georgia with GPS monitoring. According to Holt and the PSA officer, his GPS device was totally discharged on March 16, and came back online around March 21.

The GPS device now indicates Washington was at his residence in Georgia. However, he failed to keep his contact information updated for PSA, which is part of his release conditions.

The prosecution requested that Washington’s release be terminated, which Judge Park denied because he lives in another state.

Holt requested a couple of days to attempt to contact Washington.

Judge Park stated that he planned to issue a bench warrant, but gave Holt and Judkins until Wednesday to speak to Washington.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on March 25.

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