The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of 23-year-old Martell West, alleged to be involved in a fatal shooting that occurred on Nov. 19, 2023, in Southeast, DC. The victim, identified as 18-year-old Treyvon Wilson of Northwest, DC, was found deceased at the scene from a gunshot wound. West has been charged with Second-Degree Murder while Armed.
DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz ordered a full competency exam of his mental for a man charged with killing his mother on Oct. 31.
Ricardo Botts, 37, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing his mother, 66-year-old Pamela Botts, on Sept. 21 on the 2100 block of 32nd Place, SE. Pamela died from her injuries on Sept. 23.
According to court documents, the individual who first reported the incident identified Ricardo as her grandson, and claimed he had a mental illness.
Judge Kravitz received a report from the Department of Behavior Health (DBH) which stated that the evaluator was unable to determine Bott’s competency, and recommended he be transferred from the DC Jail to Saint Elizabeths hospital for psychiatric evaluation. To stand trial a defendant must understand the the chages against him and be able to help his attorney.
Judge Kravitz ordered for Botts transferred, and also requested a full mental competency exam.
Parties are slated to convene on Dec. 12.
DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro sentenced a defendant to 10 months of imprisonment for stabbing another inmate at the DC Jail on Oct. 31.
Michael Mason, 21, pleaded guilty on Oct. 16 to attempted assault with a dangerous weapon for a non-fatal stabbing at the DC Jail on the 1900 block of D Street, SE on Feb. 27. The victim suffered a punctured lung.
At sentencing, the prosecutor requested Mason serve 28 months of imprisonment with three years of supervised release.
The prosecution noted that Mason approached another inmate and stabbed him in the back twice with a sharp object. According to the prosecutor, surveillance video showed Mason laughing while the victim attempted to fight back with a broomstick.
The prosecutor acknowledged Mason’s acceptance of responsibility in the case.
Mason’s defense attorney, Andrew Ain, played a video of the incident in which the victim charged at Mason with a broomstick. According to Ain, there’s a culture of violence and retaliation at the jail.
Ain acknowledged Mason “stabbed a guy in the back, you don’t do that,” but requested a sentence of only probation time.
Ain said Mason needs time to contemplate his actions but said he will already be spending a significant amount of time incarcerated. Mason was sentenced earlier in the day by DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman to 28 years and eight months of imprisonment for two different murders.
Judge Di Toro sentenced Mason to 10 months of imprisonment with three years of supervised release. She noted the imprisonment term was consecutive the other charges and the supervised release was concurrent to Mason’s other sentences.
No further dates were set.
DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman found probable cause in a fatal stabbing case on Oct. 29.
Christopher Taylor, 36, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of 31-year-old Michael Jackson on the 1600 block of V Street, SE, on April 10.
The prosecution called the lead detective from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), who stated that a trail of blood coming from the building at the crime scene led MPD to Jackson across the street.
Through private surveillance cameras, the detective stated that they were able to identify a physical altercation taking place on the driveway of the apartment building. The detective was then able to track the suspect using MPD crime cameras and private cameras that captured audio of an individual yelling. On one of the cameras the suspect can be heard yelling “I got him,” according to the detective.
The detective testified that the suspect was tracked from the location of the offense to a liquor store where the detective was able to capture an image of the suspect. Using the image, the detective issued a Be On the Lookout (BOLO).
The detective stated that they were told by a witness that the man in the photo sells stolen meat packages. The detective conducted a search of MPD’s database for Black males arrested for stealing meat packages, and found that Taylor’s photo was a likely match.
Another suspect was ruled out given the difference in appearance and their strong accent.
In a cross examination by Taylor’s attorney, Michelle Stevens, the detective agreed that no witnesses gave a description of the suspect and no one watched the stabbing happen.
Additionally, a search warrant was conducted of a home that did not yield results connecting Taylor to that home, according to Stevens and the detective.
The detective agreed with Stevens that there were obstructions in surveillance footage, but said footage of the altercation in the apartment driveway is pretty clear. Stevens also noted that it is hard to make out what words are exchanged between the two individuals initially.
Stevens stated that the clothing the suspect was wearing in surveillance footage is not unique, especially given that the suspect ruled out previously wore a similar hat.
Additionally, Stevens stated that the detective’s search of the database for Black males arrested for stealing meat yielded more than 100 results, but started and ended with Taylor. The detective stated that she did not look through the other results because Taylor’s photo matched that of the suspect.
The detective also stated that the suspect’s voice was consistent with the sound of Taylor’s voice during his arrest on April 16. The detective agreed with Stevens that she does not have any training in voice identification.
Stevens argued that a witness who identified Taylor in the BOLO had made previous claims that Taylor attempted to burn down their house.
In the prosecution’s redirect, they reasserted that the detective stopped their search of the database at Taylor because his photo matched the suspect. Additionally, the witness who identified Taylor in the BOLO did not respond to media or BOLO releases.
Prosecutors also noted that the suspect can be heard in footage saying, “You leaking, you leaking now.”
Following the detectives’ excusal, Stevens requested that the court not find probable cause. She argued that the detective relied on voice comparison, stopped her search of the database at the first result which was Taylor, footage was too far away, and the suspect’s common outfit was tracked across three different cameras.
Stevens asserted that it is unknown how the incident started, Taylor could’ve acted in self-defense. Further, there is nothing that linked Taylor to the crime scene.
The prosecution stated that the detective did not compare voices for identification, but to connect the suspect in surveillance footage to the suspect who committed the offense. They also argued that statements made by the suspect indicate that the suspect stabbed the victim. Additionally, there is footage tracking the suspect.
Judge Edelman noted that the footage is hard to discern but it is clear two people were involved in a fight. He stated that it is possible this was self-defense, but that does not defeat probable cause.
He also stated that footage connected the suspect to the incident and the witness identified Taylor in the BOLO. He asserted that while he agreed with Stevens on some of her arguments, he did not agree that the connection between footage is based on assumptions and stated that it appeared to be the same person.
Judge Edelman ruled that there was probable cause.
The prosecution requested that Taylor remain held given that he has a pending case where he allegedly tried to escape from custody. Prosecutors also stated that Taylor’s criminal history is “lengthy” and that in this case the victim was stabbed five times.
Stevens requested that Taylor be released on GPS monitoring, noting his support from his family.
Judge Edelman stated that given the nature of the offense, Taylor will remain held. He noted that Taylor has a history of violent acts including simple assault and armed robbery and he has multiple bench warrants.
Parties are slated to reconvene on Feb. 6, 2026.
Over objections by the prosecution, a stabbing defendant was released pending sentencing after she pleaded guilty before DC Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean on Oct 28.
Kenyada Floyd, 48, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for her involvement in a non-fatal stabbing which occurred on Sept. 19 on the 1900 block of Benning Road, NE. Two victims sustained wounds.
Colleen Archer, Floyd’s attorney, alerted the court of her intent to accept a plea deal, which required her to plead guilty to assault with significant bodily injury in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment.
Archer also requested the defendant’s release, stating Floyd has three teenage kids she is the primary caretaker of, has a stable job she can maintain before sentencing, and would lose her apartment if she isn’t released soon.
Archer also noted Floyd was injured in the incident and presented the incident contextually as self- defense in a physical altercation.
Prosecution requested the defendant be held until her sentencing, citing that she has a history of “assaultive conflict,” noting one charge that is dated.
The judge ruled that Floyd would be released under the conditions of GPS monitoring and home confinement pending sentencing. In addition a no harassment, assault, threats or stalking (HATS) order was put into place for the two victims who live in the same apartment complex as the defendant.
Parties are slated to reconvene for sentencing Jan. 30.
According D.C. Witness data, 34 plea deals–more than half– were accepted in October for homicide, non-fatal shooting, stabbing and carjacking cases, nearly 62 percent of the total number of pending plea deals. It’s an increase from the September plea deal total for he same crimes. .
Overall there were approximately 55 plea deals pending from current and past cases in October. Of those 55, 34 were accepted,13 were rejected, and eight are still pending.
The number of accepted pleas increased from 25 in September across the listed crimes in the District. There were 46 plea deals pending in September.
Byron Sneed, 40, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Raymond Washington on June 30, 2024, at the 700 block of Marietta Place, NW. Sneed rejected a plea deal offered to him on Oct. 8. The terms of the deal were discussed under seal with DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan.
For homicides, six pleas were accepted, while three were rejected, and one is still pending a decision.
On Oct. 17, Mussay Rezene, 31, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed, in the fatal stabbing of 34-year-old Darrow Johnson on Aug. 19, 2023, at the DC Jail. Rezene accepted a plea deal of 15-to-20 years of incarceration for his guilty plea, and was sentenced by DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz to 20 years on Oct. 30.
Data shows there were 29 cases that began in October. Out of those cases, two plea deals were offered with defendants rejecting one plea while the other is still awaiting a decision.
Prosecutors and a defense attorney clashed over a new homicide division policy that restricts the flow of grand jury testimony and witness information to defense attorneys before DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park on Oct. 28.
Tyquan Jennings, 27, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Vonte Martin and the injury of another person on the 3000 block of Stant Road, SE on Aug. 19, 2024.
During an earlier hearing, Jennings’ defense attorney, Nate Mensah, and a prosecutor had come to an impasse on the terms of a protective order that defined the scope of Mensah’s access to information from grand jury transcripts.
Protective orders are legally binding agreements between prosecutors and defense attorneys that establish safeguards for grand jury information and protect the identity of witnesses in the case.
Historically, prosecutors in the United States Attorney’s Office’s (USAO) homicide division have often shared information about grand jury testimony with defense attorneys through protective orders months in advance of trial.
During the hearing, a supervisor from the USAO explained to the court that the homicide division will no longer disclose grand jury materials to defense attorneys far in advance of trial unless they agree to a protective order that stipulates that any modification to the protective order must be approved by prosecutors. The protective order prohibits the defendant from knowing who testified to what in the grand jury.
The supervisor argued that it had become commonplace for defense attorneys to use their right to have sealed conversations with Judges when discussing their theory of defense to successfully petition for modifications to protective orders. Prosecutors, unable to participate in much of these sealed conversations, were unable to effectively argue against revealing the information, the prosecutor said.
“It may seem like a big shift but there are legitimate reasons why we are doing it,” the prosecutor said.
Judge Park initially expressed skepticism about the homicide division’s new policy, though his perspective on the issue shifted during the course of the hearing. He pushed back against prosecutors’ notion that the sealed conversations put them at a significant disadvantage during evidentiary hearings, arguing that they had a right to be heard by the judge to argue against the revelation of grand jury testimony information.
Judge Park said that he was less concerned by the new policy when he understood that it would not prevent defense attorneys from petitioning for Brady information — evidence in the control of prosecutors that may be exculpatory for the defense.
Mensah disagreed with the new policy which prevented him from sharing grand jury information with Jennings and required him to notify prosecutors about any violation of the protective order. Mensah argued that compelled disclosure raised Fifth Amendment concerns, and said several times throughout the hearing that he did not think it was appropriate for him to consent to the protective order in its current form.
Judge Park said Mensah’s objections raised very important theoretical questions but that he was not in a position to practically effect any orders on prosecutors, given that the defense was not entitled to grand jury testimony up until the trial.
“Fundamentally the prosecution is right that I do not have a…legal basis to compel the prosecution to disclose grand jury information,” Park said. “This whole history will have to be something that will have to be litigated.”
During the hearing Judge Park also denied Mensah’s motion to release Jennings and accepted Jennings’ waiver of his right to independent DNA testing.
“I don’t think any circumstances have changed with respect to that determination,” Park said.
Parties are slated to return Dec 15.
DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park allowed the prosecution to use a witness’ identification of a homicide defendant as evidence over objections from defense attorneys on Oct. 28.
Dion Lee, 24, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, three counts possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license outside the home. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Pamela Thomas, 54, on the 500 block of Division Avenue, NE on Feb. 9, 2022.
Rashod Dunbar, 26, is charged with accessory after the fact for allegedly providing Lee with a change of clothes near the 500 block of 50th Place shortly after the shooting.
Much of the hearing focused on whether prosecutors could admit into evidence a witness’ identification of a man prosecutors allege is Dunbar. The defense team for Dunbar and Lee objected on the grounds that an investigator had not properly interviewed the witness and that the identification was altogether unnecessary.
Prosecutors pushed back against notions that the detective assigned to the case had acted with any impropriety in his interactions with the witness. They cited quotations from the grand jury transcript of the witness testifying that she was treated well by the police and that she did not feel coerced.
Defense attorneys Carrie Weletz, for Dunbar, and Joseph Yarbough, for Lee, argued that the standard grand jury “catch all questions” would not indicate whether the detective had made any suggestive statements about the suspect’s identity in his interactions with the witness.
Prosecutors called in the detective who said he never suggested the suspect’s identity to the witness and that the witness had always “seemed normal” in his interactions with her, never upset or angry.
Yarbough questioned the objectivity of the witness identification pointing out that the detective had met with the witness to talk about her relation to Dunbar twice before he met with her to conduct a suspect identification.
During cross-examination, the detective also said that he had mentioned Dunbar to the witness before asking her to make a witness identification in his last meeting with her. Throughout his testimony, the detective indicated he had a difficult time recalling specific details from conversations from 2022.
Yarbough and Weletz argued that the evidence was faulty because the detective had talked about Dunbar with the witness before asking her to make an identification. Yarbough also argued that, suggestivity concerns aside, witnesses could make out the suspects’ identity for themselves based on surveillance videos of the suspect, who prosecutors allege is Dunbar.
Judge Park ultimately ruled in favor of prosecutors, saying that the witness’ identification was both legitimate and useful.
“It certainly is the case that just from my observation the image is pixelated,[distorted]” Judge Park said. “I do find that it [the witness identification] would be helpful to the fact finders.”
During the hearing, Judge Park also denied a motion from Lee’s other defense attorney, Patrick Nowak, to preclude evidence of location data from the co-defendants’ phones. Novak argued that the method for locating phones based on their interactions with cell towers, known as cell-site analysis, was not widely accepted by the scientific community and imprecise.
In his denial of the motion, Judge Park said that the information did not necessarily need to meet the criteria outlined by Nowak and that courts had consistently allowed the use of cell-site analysis evidence.
“Cell site analysis has been widely accepted,” Judge Park said.
Parties were not able to resolve two issues about the qualifications of witnesses prosecutors hope to call to testify during the trial. Yarbough objected to the proposed testimony of a ballistics expert on the grounds that he did not have enough training in the evidence prosecutors hoped he would testify about.
Prosecutors said that they were working to add 20 hours to his contract for additional training and familiarization with the materials in this case and that they would inform the court of his status at the next hearing.
Yarbough also objected to specialized information witnesses testifying about information from the ballistics detection system known as ShotSpotter that prosecutors claim captured audio of five gunshots at the time of the homicide.
Yarbough’s arguments centered on the fact that the prosecutor’s proposed witness did not have the technical knowledge to answer questions about the mechanisms and reliability of ShotSpotter devices.
Judge Park said he would reserve his ruling on ShotSpotter until a later hearing.
Parties are slated to reconvene Dec. 15.
DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz sentenced a chronic violent offender for his involvement in a fatal stabbing at the DC Jail during a hearing on Oct. 30.
On Oct. 17, Mussay Rezene, 33, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for his involvement in the fatal stabbing of 34-year-old Darrow Johnson on Aug. 17, 2023 at the DC Jail on the 1900 block of D Street, SE.
Through the plea deal, parties agreed to a 15-to-20 year sentence.
During the hearing, the prosecutor deemed the stabbing “gory,” stating that the incident “encapsulates the type of person [Rezene] is.”
According to the prosecution, Rezene attacked Johnson in a physical therapy room at the jail with a homemade shank and tried to flush it down a toilet.
The prosecution displayed body-worn camera footage from Rezene’s arrest three minutes after the stabbing, where he could be seen smiling and telling people he was “alright.”
The prosecutor requested Rezene be sentenced to 20 years, highlighting that Johnson was an “unsuspecting and unarmed individual,” at the time of the incident.
Johnson’s wife and daughters provided victim impact statements, highlighting his devotion to being a good father and partner. His eldest daughter told the court she’s had to step into a caretaker role since his loss, in order for their mom to have multiple jobs to make ends meet.
“Losing him was losing stability and comfort,” Johnson’s daughter cried, adding “a fair and serious sentence will show that [Johnson’s] life mattered.”
“He was my hero and best friend,” Johnson’s wife read a letter from their youngest daughter, who added “please stop the violence because no family should have to feel this kind of pain.”
The prosecution discussed Rezene’s adult criminal history, which started in 2005, and went through 2021, when he was arrested for the murder of 17-year-old Brayan Villatoro, two-weeks after his involvement in a deadly mass shooting. Rezene received a 50 year sentence for Villatoro’s murder, and three years imprisonment for the mass shooting.
According to the prosecution, Rezene has a pending federal gun trafficking case, robbery and shooting case in Atlanta, Georgia, and multiple convictions for violent offenses. The prosecution also claimed he is known to tamper with witnesses, and is the “epitome of a menace to society.”
The prosecution claimed Rezene had an “utter lack of remorse,” for everything, and refused to participate in the pre-sentence report process – an interview that helps the judge make decisions about sentencing.
“He doesn’t think the law applies to him,” the prosecution insisted, requesting a 20 year sentence.
Camille Wagner, Rezene’s attorney, requested he be sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment, stating that he accepted responsibility for his actions in the case.
“I sincerely apologize for my actions,” Rezene told Judge Kravitz, adding that he has had time to think about his life, future and change while he’s been incarcerated.
“All that I have is hope,” Rezene stated, “I’m not a monster like [the prosecution] paints me out to be.”
“I ask you to give me a chance, your honor – I want better for myself. Please give me that chance,” he said.
Judge Kravitz sentenced Rezene to 20 years of incarceration for this murder, which will run consecutively to all other sentences.
Parties are not slated to reconvene.
The victim of an armed robbery faced critical cross-examination from defense attorneys in a carjacking case before DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld on Oct. 29.
Marcus Tucker, 30, is charged with armed carjacking, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, robbery while armed, and assault with a dangerous weapon in relation to his alleged involvement in an armed carjacking that occurred April 17 at the intersection of 30th and Hartford Streets, SE.
The defense, led by Jason Tulley, questioned the victim on the information he provided to the 911 dispatcher, officers on scene, detective, and the investigator about the events in the case.
Tulley pointed out apparent inconsistencies in the description of the assailant’s clothing as wearing “all black” on the 911 call but to Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers, he identified a suspect in all white and a black coat as the perpetrator. The witness also gave different accounts about the number of guns present at the scene and which direction the suspects drove away.
The witness stated that he had been arrested for having an open container of alcohol a few hours before the carjacking. He stated that he bought tequila multiple times throughout the day and was repeatedly questioned about whether he was drunk when the incident occurred, which he denied.
Officers can be seen on the body worn camera footage of the victim who appeared drunk.
Tulley questioned the victim about his criminal history, where he revealed that he had a pending case in Maryland for driving under the influence and resisting arrest, and was released pending trial in a felony strangulation case in DC.
The prosecution’s redirect focused on clearing up the irregularities in the witness’ testimony by confirming that he had been confused by all the questions thrown at him by so many different people, but that he was telling the truth to the best of his ability.
During the hearing, prosecutors also questioned an FBI agent who specializes in tracking communications between cell phones and cell towers. The field, known as “historical cell site analysis,” allows investigators to locate and identify which cell towers connected to a suspect’s phone at a particular date and time.
The witness stated that Tucker’s phone was in the general vicinity of the crime scene at the time of the carjacking.
Defense attorney Marta Garcia questioned the accuracy of the map and the usefulness of historical cell site analysis in her cross examination.
“The call record doesn’t list the location of the phone itself, does it,” Garcia said. The witness testified that cell site analysis could not provide such precise information.
The trial is slated to resume Oct. 30.
DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro accepted a plea agreement in a carjacking case with teen co-defendants on Oct. 28.
Denhym Boykins, 16, and Dekhyri Greene, 17, were originally charged with armed carjacking, robbery while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unauthorized use of a vehicle. These charges stem from the armed carjacking of a Toyota Prius on Aug. 7, at the 1000 block of Mississippi Avenue, SE.
Boykins and Greene are charged under Title 16, which allows juveniles to be charged as adults for certain serious offenses.
At the hearing, Boykins and Greene accepted a plea deal extended by prosecutors that required them to plead guilty to robbery, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and carrying a pistol without a license. The mandatory minimum for robbery is two years of imprisonment with a maximum sentence of 15 years. The maximum sentence for the other two charges is five years.
In exchange, the prosecution agreed to dismiss any greater and remaining charges and not oppose the sentences run concurrently.
The prosecutor said if the case had proceeded to trial they would have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that on Aug. 7, at the 1000 block of Mississippi Avenue, SE, Boykins and Greene robbed a victim of her vehicle while pointing a firearm at her.
Boykins and Greene committed the crime knowingly and voluntarily and there was no legal justification for their actions.
Greene’s defense counsel, Varsha Govindaraju, motioned to have him released pending sentencing, due to the overcrowding at the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) and his outstanding performance since his incarceration. According to Govindaraju, Greene received straight A’s on all report cards, participates in optional programs such as Free Minds, and has had no prior interaction with the criminal legal system.
Boykin’s defense counsel, Carrie Weletz, joined in the motion and requested her client’s release, citing similar reasons. Weletz said Boykins is supposed to receive 24 hours a week of educational support, but due to overcrowding at the DYRS is receiving little to none of that support.
The judge denied both motions to release the boys pending sentencing.
Parties are set for sentencing on Jan. 16, 2026.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of 18-year-old Naqwan Antonio Lucas in connection with two separate homicide investigations. Lucas is charged with the murder of 21-year-old Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, who died on July 1 after a shooting incident on Jun. 30, and the murder of 17-year-old Zoey Kelley, who was found dead on July 4. Lucas was apprehended in Germantown, MD, and charged with First-Degree Murder While Armed for both cases.
A jury in a domestic violence related carjacking case found the defendant not guilty on all charges before DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson on Oct. 29.
Bernard King, 40, was charged with carjacking and threatening to kidnap or injure a person due to his alleged involvement in a carjacking that took place on the 2000 block of S Street, SE, on June 10.
After deliberations on Oct. 29, the jury acquitted King on both of the charges.
Both the victim and King testified that they were in a dispute because the victim took King’s phone. King then followed her out of a deli parking lot to an officer’s house nearby.
Defense attorney Karen Minor claimed that the victim was driving erratically and may have been under the influence of a substance. King testified to being worried for the victim’s safety, claiming she allegedly did not have a license.
Parties are not slated to reconvene.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of 51-year-old Shawnta Aiken in connection with a fatal shooting on Nov. 2 in Southeast. The victim, identified as 56-year-old Richard Walker, was found with a gunshot wound and pronounced dead at the scene. Aiken has been charged with Second-Degree Murder While Armed in this domestic-related case.
DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz sentenced six defendants on Oct. 30 for their involvement in a mass shooting that killed three. The judge singled out what he termed the ring leaders that terrorized a neighborhood for prison terms as long as 123 years.
Erwin Dubose, 31, Kamar Queen, 28, Damonta Thompson, 28, and William Johnson-Lee, 22, were convicted of conspiracy, premeditated first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, among other charges, for their involvement in the mass shooting that killed 31-year-old Donnetta Dyson, 24-year-old Keenan Braxton, and 37-year-old Johnny Joyner. The incident occurred on the 600 block of Longfellow Street, NW on Sept. 4, 2021, and injured three additional individuals.
Mussay Rezene, 32, and Toyia Johnson, 53, were convicted of accessory after the fact while armed and tampering with physical evidence for their involvement in assisting the other defendants in discarding evidence and avoiding arrest.
“Over four years ago, gunfire cut through a city block,” the prosecutors told Judge Kravitz, highlighting the “brutality, shocking violence, and devastation brought by the defendants.”
According to the prosecution, the defendants “turned a block into a battlefield… those images are indelible.”
“What we cannot quantify is how many lives were impacted,” the prosecutor insisted, adding “we cannot allow this history to repeat itself.”
Braxton and a surviving victim’s aunt stated she was “standing ten toes down for my nephew,” adding she was grateful for the conviction. She deemed the defendants “monsters, serial killers.”
“DC can rest assured now that they’ll be behind bars for the rest of their lives,” she said.
“I just ask for justice,” Dyson’s mom told Judge Kravitz, asking him to understand her impact statement based on a letter she filed before the sentencing. The letter was not read in court.
The prosecution argued the defendants committed “one of the most horrific acts of violence the District has seen in decades,” and insisted “there were so many others that were put at risk,” by the defendants’ actions.
The prosecution requested Judge Kravitz impose a sentence of 240 years for Queen, 246 years for Dubose, and 25 years for Rezene, citing their leadership roles. According to the prosecution, they were the principal organizers of the attack and all have a history of glorifying violence.
Prosecutors stated that although Rezene was not a shooter, he intended to be but did not show up to the scene fast enough.
The parties agreed that the shooting was in retaliation for a shooting aimed at Queen and his friends earlier that day, at a house occupied by his grandmother and mother.
However, the prosecution stated that did not excuse their actions. “[Queen] took matters into his own hands,” instead of calling the police, and the defendants all celebrated together after the incident.
“Rather than becoming a better man, he turned to violence,” the prosecution said, highlighting Queen’s history of criminal activity. According to the prosecution, he was released from prison for a shooting months before the mass shooting.
Prosecutors also requested that Judge Kravitz impose a 193-years-and-two-month sentence for Johnson-Lee, 158-years-and-four-month sentence for Thompson, and two years of incarceration for Johnson.
According to the prosecution, Johnson-Lee deserved a lower sentence despite being a shooter due to his lack of criminal history and his young age at the time of the incident. The prosecution argued Johnson-Lee was the “most lethal of the shooters at Longfellow,” but has expressed intent in changing his life since his conviction.
As for Thompson, the prosecution argued he deserved a shorter sentence because he was not a shooter and acted only as the getaway driver. However, they stated it was clear he was “ready and willing to answer the call in any form it came,” and the incident wouldn’t have happened without him.
The prosecution also stated Johnson should be incarcerated, rather than serving a probationary sentence, due to her “truly stunning persistence in deceiving” officers.
The prosecution insisted that the defendants have refused to take accountability for their actions and have no remorse.
Michael Bruckheim, Dubose’s attorney, argued that Dubose has participated in multiple programs at the jail to help him become a better person. He requested a sentence that would allow Dubose to use the lessons he’s learned from the programs in the community.
“He will be much older, wiser, and hopefully better,” Bruckheim stated, asking for an opportunity to “live a little of life without incarceration.”
Camille Wagner, Rezene’s attorney, stated the prosecution’s request was “egregious,” and requested he be sentenced within the guidelines. She also requested he go to Federal Correction Institution (FCI) Pollock in Louisiana to continue participating in trade and career programs.
Peter Fayne, Johnson-Lee’s attorney, requested leniency and a sentence at the bottom of the sentencing guidelines. He also requested that all sentences run concurrently with each other, despite DC code stating that sentences for incidents with multiple victims must be served consecutively.
Elizabeth Weller, Thompson’s defense attorney, stated he would be asserting his right to an appeal, and stated that although the incident destroyed the lives of many people, it also destroyed his family.
Weller requested Judge Kravitz recommend he be placed at a FCI that is near New Orleans so he has access to family.
Charles Murdter, Thompson’s other attorney, read a letter written by Thompson to the court. “I truly apologize,” Thompson wrote, adding “I ask for your mercy.”
Brian McDaniel, Queen’s attorney, deemed him a charismatic individual with “a great deal of potential.”
“Queen sits here an individual who is redeemable,” McDaniel stated, asking he be given a lighter sentence than the prosecution requested.
“I ain’t a cold-blooded nothing,” Queen stated, citing prosecutors’ prior statements, and added he is “remorseful for what happened, but not taking accountability.”
David Akulian, Johnson’s attorney, requested Judge Kravitz impose a probationary sentence. He cited her family’s support, and stated she has been fully compliant with release conditions for multiple years.
“The facts of the case are profound enough to speak for themselves,” Judge Kravitz stated, adding he understood the gravity of his decision for sentencing, which weighed on him heavily since the defendants were convicted.
“[The defendants] committed an incredibly dangerous violent act,” said Judge Kravitz, insisting that the community “deserves meaningful protection from them and they deserve significant sentences.”
Judge Kravitz claimed the defendants are complex humans, and should not only be judged by their actions on the day of the incident, despite it “surely [being] the worst thing each of them has done – the humanity of defendants in this case must be respected.”
According to Kravitz, Dubose and Queen were deserving of the greatest punishment because of their criminal history and their leadership roles. “Their behavior was simply unacceptable in a civilized society.”
He imposed an aggregate sentence of 123 years for Dubose, 120 years for Queen, and 105 years for Johnson-Lee – all of their charges’ sentences will run consecutively.
Thompson was sentenced to 35 years of imprisonment, due to a mitigating factor that Judge Kravitz stated allowed the sentences to run concurrently rather than consecutively. According to Judge Kravitz, if he imposed consecutive sentences for Thompson, it would amount to 105 years in prison.
“In my opinion, that would be excessive by a lot and a manifestation of injustice,” for a getaway driver, Judge Kravitz said. “He’s being punished significantly.”
As for Rezene, despite the prosecution’s argument that Rezene wanted to be a shooter, “we punish people for what they did, not what they wanted to do.” Judge Kravitz imposed a three year sentence for Rezene, which will run consecutively to all other sentences he faces, including 50 years for the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Brayan Villatoro on Sept. 18, 2021, and 20 years of imprisonment for the fatal stabbing of 34-year-old Darrow Johnson at the DC Jail on Aug. 17, 2023.
Judge Kravitz stated Johnson lived a “decent and law abiding life,” since her arrest in 2021, and despite her “meaningful but mindful role,” he imposed 24 months of incarceration, suspended, with a year of probation.
According to Judge Kravitz, it is “unclear if she was acting out of love, loyalty, or fear… she was doing another person’s bidding.”
Thompson, Queen, and Johnson-Lee will remain at the DC Jail until January in order to complete plumbing programs and GED classes.
All the defendants intend to appeal but no further dates were set.
