The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating the fatal shooting of 30-year-old Eric Alexander that took place on Oct. 7, on the 1100 block of Eastern Avenue, NE.
Upon responding to reports of a shooting, officers discovered the victim, identified as Eric Alexander, who was pronounced dead on the scene.
DC Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur recanted his ruling on a motion for judgment of acquittal for a carjacking defendant on Oct. 7.
Jimmy Johnson, 44, and Gregory Patterson, 41, are charged with armed carjacking, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and robbery while armed for their alleged involvement in a carjacking that occurred on the 1600 block of Kenilworth Avenue, NE on July 11, 2023.
Patterson is also charged with armed robbery in connection to the incident.
Johnson faces additional charges of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict, possession of an unregistered firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition, stemming from his alleged possession of the items during his arrest on March 28 on the 4000 block of Ponds Street, NE.
On Oct. 3, Joseph McCoy, Johnson’s defense attorney, filed a motion to dismiss Johnson’s case, citing prosecutorial misconduct. In the motion, McCoy argued that the prosecution goaded, or coerced, the defense into the action by eliciting evidence previously deemed inadmissible from a detective.
McCoy argued that the victim specifically testified that Johnson was innocent because he was attempting to help him during the incident.
The defense claims prosecutors intentionally asked a question regarding inadmissible evidence so that the defense would file a motion for acquittal to set the stage for a retrial.
The prosecution objected to the motion, arguing that they carefully planned the questioning.
Judge Arthur granted the motion on Oct. 3, thus six of the nine charges against Johnson were dismissed.
However, the prosecution asked Judge Arthur to review the incident video. After which he recanted his ruling, thus reinstating the six charges.
During the Oct. 7 hearing, the parties delivered closing arguments, in which the prosecution showed the video of the incident to the jury and outlined the actions they claim Patterson and Johnson took to consummate each crime.
The prosecution elaborated by stating that Patterson was the first to throw a punch to the victim and showed Patterson allegedly getting into the victim’s car.
As for Johnson, they argued he punched the back of the victim’s head.
Alvin H. Thomas, Patterson’s attorney, argued that Patterson never wanted to rob the victim because he did not seize the opportunity when the victim was lying on the ground after being punched.
McCoy argued Johnson the prosecutor failed at doing their job, insisting that Johnson should have never been a suspect, and should not have to be on trial. He cited the testimony the victim gave under oath, in which he stated that Johnson helped him by breaking the fight between Patterson and the victim, as well as helping him to his car.
The prosecution argued that Patterson was the ring leader because two unknown individuals looked in his general direction, presumably for directions on what to do next. They said Johnson did “more than just help” because he punched the victim and waved on oncoming traffic.
The jury is currently in deliberations.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating the fatal shooting of 34-year-old Dominic Johnson that took place on Oct. 7, on the 4100 block of Southern Avenue, SE.
Upon responding to reports of a shooting, officers discovered Mr. Johnson, who was pronounced dead on the scene from apparent gunshot wounds.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of 48-year-old Wyatt Michelin Swan, who is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 53-year old Teresa Francisco. The incident took place on Oct. 1 on the 900 block of Eastern Avenue, NE.
Upon responding to reports of a shooting, officers discovered Francisco, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of 56-year-old Robert Simpson, who is charged with three counts of felony murder, arson, and felony threats, for his alleged involvement in an arson that took place on Oct. 6 on the 3400 block of 23rd Street, SE.
Upon responding to reports of a structure fire, officers discovered three victims, identified as 85-year-old Margaret McKinnon, 64-year-old Ronald McKinnon, and 34-year-old Jessica Cunningham, all of whom were pronounced dead.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of 38-year-old Kevin Johnson, who is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of 44-year-old Antonion Wood. The incident took place on Oct. 6 on the 1700 block of Lincoln Road, NE.
Upon responding to reports of a stabbing, officers discovered Woody, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
In front of DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe, murder defendant Dasean Matthews, 25, rejected a plea offer in which he would receive a downgraded charge and concurrent sentences on Oct. 8.
Matthews is charged with first-degree murder with aggravating circumstances, and first-degree cruelty to children for the alleged fatal beating of Mars Jones, 2, on Oct. 13, 2022, on Atlantic Street, SW. Jones passed away from the injuries sustained on Oct. 18, 2022.
Monet Jones, 26, Matthews’ codefendant, is charged with second-degree cruelty to children, obstruction of justice, three counts of perjury, and tampering with physical evidence for her alleged involvement in the fatal beating of Jones.
During the hearing, the prosecution alerted Judge O’Keefe they had extended a plea offer that would require Matthews to plead guilty to second-degree murder and first-degree cruelty to children, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges.
Matthews told Judge O’Keefe he was rejecting the deal.
Additionally, Sylvia Smith, Matthews’ attorney motioned for a trial delay, citing issues with an expert witness’ availability.
The child neuropathologist originally slated to testify “dropped the ball” according to Smith and would not be available for the current trial dates. Smith argued that Matthews’ case would be severely damaged without this expert witness’ testimony given the complexity of evidence.
The prosecution questioned whether the delay was more about finding an expert that would agree with the defense’s point of view.
Judge O’Keefe granted the continuance, setting a new trial date in February of 2026.
Parties are slated to reconvene May 2.
A carjacking defendant’s request for release was granted by DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro on Oct. 8.
Darryl Butler, 19, and Julan Byrd, 17, are charged with armed carjacking and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for their alleged involvement in a carjacking on Sept. 1 on the 5500 block of Jay Street, NE.
Byrd also faces a robbery while armed charge in connection to the incident. He is charged as an adult under Title 16.
Butler’s attorney, Wole Falodun, filed a motion for a bond review requesting Butler be released to home confinement and GPS monitoring, like Byrd. According to Falodun, Butler’s lack of a criminal record, and his desire to continue his studies, suggest he should be released to the community as he awaits further proceedings.
Byrd was granted release to home confinement and monitoring on Oct. 4. Judge Di Toro also granted Butler’s request to be in 24 hour home confinement with GPS monitoring.
Parties will reconvene on Nov. 13.
An expert in DNA analysis testified that blood found in a rental car linked to a homicide defendant is very likely to belong to the victim during a jury trial before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun on Oct. 7.
Dennis Chase, 31, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm while armed, for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 30-year-old Anthony Orr. The incident occurred on Dec. 7, 2020, on the 400 block of Xenia Street, SE.
The prosecution called a forensic DNA analyst as a witness who testified about the results of the DNA tests on items recovered from the incident.
Swabs of blood recovered from a red Kia K5 rental car linked to Chase were tested and the swabs had an extremely high likelihood of belonging to Orr.
The DNA recovered from a water bottle found in the car was found to likely belong to Chase.
Further swabs from different areas of the car found that there’s a high likelihood that Chase was in contact with the driver’s side of the car and Orr was in contact with the passenger side of the car.
The prosecution also called the medical examiner who performed the autopsy on Orr.
She testified that Orr sustained a gunshot wound to the head and that the gun was a few inches to a foot from Orr’s head when it was fired.
She also found fractures to the teeth and scratches on the head and hands, which are consistent with terminal collapse or rapid heart failure.
The medical examiner confirmed that it was possible that the gunshot wound was consistent with someone in the driver’s seat shooting Orr, and that the injuries to the teeth and body could have been from being pushed out of a car.
Trial will resume on Oct. 8.
A homicide defendant’s relative testified that he heard one suspect in the case confess that he shot the victim in a trial before DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo on Oct. 4.
Eugene Burns, 32, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, carrying a pistol without a license, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in the Nov. 14, 2015, fatal shooting of 24-year-old Onyekachi Emmanuel Osuchukwu III on the 2900 block of Second Street, SE.
Burns was convicted of these charges in 2017, but the DC Court of Appeals overturned the verdict in 2020. The court ruled that investigators had searched beyond what was legally allowed.
Burns and Tyre Allen, 24, are also charged with conspiracy, obstructing justice by influencing or delaying a witness or officer, and obstruction of justice for their alleged attempts to persuade a witness to redact testimony from Burns’ first trial.
According to the prosecution, Burns and Allen are cousins.
A witness, who testified he is Allen’s brother and Burns’ cousin, said he had spent time with Burns around the time of the incident, alleging that Burns told him he shot Osuchukwu less than a day after the killing.
The witness testified that Burns helped Osuchukwu deliver drugs, resulting in an argument because Osuchukwu did not “give him [Burns] his cut.”
A week before the shooting the witness said he spoke with Burns, asking Burns not to harm the victim and to talk to him before doing anything. The witness testified that Burns said he would speak with Osuchukwu.
The witness testified that, on Nov. 15, Burns told him he shot Osuchukwu after the victim charged at him. According to the witness, Burns also revealed that Osuchukwu had pleaded with him, saying, “Don’t do it!”
Describing Burns’ behavior after the shooting, the witness testified that Burns was “mentally messed up” in the days following, carrying a gun with him at all times.
The prosecution also called a detective who was with the homicide unit at the time of the incident.
The detective testified that on Nov. 19, he received an anonymous phone call on the department’s homicide line, during which a male voice alleged that Burns had shot Osuchukwu. The detective testified the phone call helped lead to Burns becoming a suspect.
Parties are slated to reconvene Oct. 8.
Michael Burke, 45, through his attorney Thomas Healy, told the court on Oct.7 he wants to challenge a finding of incompetency and hire outside experts to prove he is mentally competent to stand trial.
Burke, 45, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal stabbing during a street fight on the 1700 block of Rhode Island Avenue, NE, on April 16.
According to court documents, the victim suffered a cut to the left side of his left jaw and was transported to the hospital with the blade still lodged inside his mouth.
Healy told DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park he finds Burke to be competent and engaged in helping with his case. Healy has contacted four experts to schedule a new evaluation.
The next hearing is scheduled for Nov. 12.
Defense attorney Mani Golzari asked DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein on Oct. 7 to release his client, Kavon Young, from DC Jail so Young can address a fugitive case pending against him in Maryland.
Young, 34, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of John Pernell, 66, on July 3, 2010, on the 3000 block of Nelson Place, SE.
Golzari suggested Judge Epstein could order Young back into custody a month before his trial, which is scheduled for April 7, 2025, but the prosecutor objected.
“[Young] will be in custody of a separate sovereign and we can’t necessarily get him back,” the prosecutor said.
Judge Epstein said it should be possible for Young to resolve the Maryland charges against him while waiting for trial, since he has succeeded in addressing federal charges against him during his time in DC custody.
“There is another mechanism to do this, which is for Maryland to submit a writ,” the prosecutor said. “The court wouldn’t have to release the hold in that case.”
Golzari said the defense is willing to accept any pathway to addressing the Maryland case.
“Our goal in all this is just for Mr. Young to put this all behind him,” Golzari said.
Judge Epstein asked parties to submit written motions explaining how they propose to deal with Young’s Maryland charges.
Golzari said he has subpoenaed evidence relevant to Young’s case from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which has two weeks to decide whether to turn over the materials or oppose the subpoena in federal court.
Judge Epstein set a hearing in a month for Golzari to update him on how that process is going. He said he’ll move the hearing date up if Golzari has progress to report sooner.
According to court documents, witnesses of Pernell’s murder said three-to-five men with guns stole wallets and phones from attendees at a cookout and pistol-whipped at least one of them. A witness said Pernell was shot after trying to take a gun away from one of the robbers.
Young was 19 years old at the time of the incident. More than nine years went by before police charged him with the murder after a DNA test linked him to biological evidence from the victim’s autopsy.
Parties are next scheduled to convene on Oct. 16.
The prosecution argued Michael V. Robinson conspired to aid a carjacking, while the defense claimed he was merely trying to help during closing arguments before DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe on Oct. 7.
Robinson, 39, is charged with unarmed carjacking and two counts of robbery for his alleged involvement in a carjacking on May 26, 2024, on the 3000 block of Georgia Avenue NW.
After a driver hit a cyclist, court documents state, Robinson intervened, saying he was trying to help the cyclist. The cyclist, still unidentified, attacked the driver and drove off with his vehicle.
Robinson admitted during cross-examination that he previously pleaded guilty to charges of destruction of property, attempted theft, prison breach, and distributing liquid PCP.
The prosecution argued the defendant and the cyclist knew each other and created the incident to steal the victim’s car. The prosecutor cited a statement the victim alleged Robinson made during the incident, saying, “You can’t hit my little cousin.”
Robinson said he and the biker are not actually blood related.
The prosecution showed video footage from a bus behind the carjacking to demonstrate there was no dispute a violent robbery occurred and Robinson was there.
Robinson’s defense attorney, Martin V. Rosendorf, argued Robinson’s intentions were to check on the cyclist and mediate the situation.
Robinson said on the stand that he opened the victim’s car door to ask about insurance information.
Rosendorf added that there were no fighting gestures and Robinson did not expect the cyclist to steal the automobile.
Rosendorf said the prosecution’s whole case is based on the existence of an unsupported conspiracy.
Parties will reconvene when a verdict is reached.
DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun delayed ruling on a motion to suppress evidence in a murder case on Oct. 4.
Juan Peterson, 33, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed offenses committed during release, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence committed during release, two counts of accessory after the fact while armed committed during release, and second-degree cruelty to children committed during release. He is being charged for his alleged involvement in the shooting of four individuals on May 15, 2021, on the 3900 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE.
One of the victims, later identified as 28-year-old Lester Howard, succumbed to his injuries.
At the motion hearing, defense attorney Daniel Kovler argued to suppress an interview conducted by the lead detective on the case, and information from Peterson’s phone from trial, claiming the detective violated Peterson’s Miranda rights.for failing to inform Peterson of his right to an attorney and remain silent to avoid self-incrimination.
The prosecution called the lead detective in Peterson’s case as the main witness to show that Peterson was not in custody, and therefore no Miranda rights were violated.
Attorney Kovler cross examined the detective, stating that the conditions of the interview created an environment that led Peterson to believe he was in custody including that the detective was holding on to his car, and that the detective told Peterson he needed to speak with the police to get his car back.
Kovler noted the detective didn’t let Peterson leave, but said he could be late to an appointment at 1 p.m., telling him that he’ll write an excuse note.
Kovler also said that Peterson’s phone, which was taken to be searched during the interview, is not allowed to be used in court, because the unlawful interview led to the searching of his phone.
“It’s the fruit of the poisonous tree,” Kovler stated.
Judge Okun said that he will rule on the motion and issue a written order by the end of the next week.
Peterson’s trial is scheduled for Oct. 21.
DC Superior Court Judge Erik Christian gave a defendant a strict reminder to attend drug tests as part of his conditions of pretrial release in an Oct. 7 hearing.
Richard Bates, 17, is charged with armed carjacking, robbery while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, and three counts of possession of firearm during crime of violence while armed. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in a carjacking on the 1600 block of Frankford Street, SE, which occurred on Sept. 13, 2023. One individual sustained injuries to the head.
According to court documents, the carjacking occurred while the victim was retrieving items from his car. Two armed suspects exited a white sedan and demanded the victim’s belongings. One suspect allegedly struck the victim on the head with a firearm. As the victim walked away, one suspect re-entered their vehicle, while the other fled in the victim’s car.
Christen Philips, Bates’ attorney, informed the court that the prosecution was in a position to extend a plea offer. She sent the prosecution a proposal for their consideration and asked for more time to try to resolve the case.
The prosecution alerted the court of Bates’ notices of non-compliance, specifically regarding missed drug tests.
Bates explained his absences were due to illness and transportation issues. On one occasion, he said he was turned down when he tried to reschedule.
“That’s why you have two feet,” Judge Christian responded to Bates. He emphasized the importance of attending even if it meant walking to the facility.
Parties are slated to reconvene Oct. 28.
