Michael Grayton, 42, was charged with first-degree murder while armed for his involvement in the fatal shooting of Danzell Hall, 26, on the 1500 block of Benning Road, NE on July 12.
During the hearing, Jason Tulley, Grayton’s defense attorney, stated that Grayton will be accepting a plea deal, which requires him to plead guilty to second-degree murder while armed, in exchange for the prosecution’s not seeking an indictment. Through the deal, parties agreed to a sentencing range of 14-to-26 years of incarceration.
Families of both the defendant and the victim were present via Webex. Grayton’s family expressed concern over his taking the plea and urged him not to accept. Additionally, the prosecution read a letter provided by Hall’s eight-year-old son, which said, “the person responsible should spend life in prison without parole” ending with the statement that he and his family are seeking “justice for Hall.”
Taking the family statements into consideration, Judge Raffinan accepted Grayton’s plea of guilty.
DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan granted a motion allowing the prosecution to provide evidence that a murder defendant is affiliated with a gang and that the shooting was linked to gang rivalry during a hearing on Oct. 30.
Tony Morgan, 31, is charged with first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, assault with intent to kill while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, and conspiracy, for his alleged involvement in a shooting incident on the 3500 Block of Wheeler Road, SE, on Oct. 20, 2018, which resulted in the death of 19-year-old Malik McCloud.
The prosecution submitted a motion to admit evidence of Morgan’ affiliation with, “Solid Gang” (SG), and that the motive behind the shooting is linked to gang rivalry. According to the prosecution, this evidence primarily consists of a YouTube video and social media posts of alleged gang members, which include Morgan as part of the group.
Morgan’s attorneys, Megan Allburn and Steven Kiersh, opposed the motion, arguing that evidence of gang affiliation lacks relevance, is prejudicial, and doesn’t clearly show gang affiliation.
Judge Raffinan cited prior cases that held gang affiliation is admissible if it is relevant to the case, and argued in this case because McCloud was allegedly a member of a rival gang, providing a motive for an otherwise random shooting.
However, Judge Raffinan ruled that the prosecution’s evidence of a Youtube music video that features the gang, “SG,” is not admissible in its entirety. Instead, Judge Raffinan ruled that various screenshots, social media posts, and social media messages are admissible to prove gang affiliation.
The defense objected to photos that featured cash, guns, and any linked identification of Morgan because it is “overly prejudicial.” Judge Raffinan ruled that the prosecution must redact these features and that the terms drug-dealer or drug-dealing cannot be used.
The prosecution also submitted a Drew Johnson motion, which would allow them to call a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective during trial to define slang terms used in Morgan’s messages. The slang terms refer to firearms and firearm accessories.
For example, “eggs” in reference to a message Morgan sent prior to the shooting that stated, “he needs [eight] eggs.” According to the prosecution, “eggs” is slang for ammunition and an MPD detective can testify to this.
Judge Raffinan made a preliminary ruling that the MPD detective can testify to slang terms, citing previous cases where this is a common practice. Judge Raffinan noted that the final ruling will depend on each specific slang term the prosecution plans to introduce, and the prosecution is tasked with connecting conspiracy to Morgan.
Room “C 10” in the DC Superior Court building is often at its busiest on Monday afternoons as defendants come out of the weekend “lock up” for their initial “presentment” in the city’s criminal justice system.
A large lightboard outside displays the emerging schedule for relatives, friends and crime victims, much like arrivals and departures in an airport terminal.
Almost all presentment defendants depend on a court appointed attorney because they can’t afford private counsel. However, finding subsidized legal help has become increasingly difficult because there simply aren’t enough lawyers willing to do this grueling kind of work.
Some have made the journey into this legal labyrinth many times like Louis Wesson, 28, who says without a court appointed lawyer he would literally and figuratively be defenseless.
“It’s one of the scariest places you can imagine,” says Wesson of the courtroom. “All they care about is, is there enough to make the case? You never know what’s going to happen.”
On this day, some 80 cases were heard before DC Superior Court Judge Renee Raymond. These proceedings must occur within 24 hours of arrest or 48 hours if the offense occurs on the weekend. Based on the evidence the judge decides whether to hold or release the suspect.
“It’s a dirty, smelly, wonderful ‘emergency room’ of the criminal justice world, but I love it. I think of myself as a kind of trauma surgeon in that ER of the halls of justice. I wouldn’t have any other job,” says Todd Baldwin who’s president of the DC Superior Court Trial Lawyers Association (SCTLA), the official organization for what are known as “panel attorneys.”
The group handles most criminal cases for indigent clients all the way from arrest to disposition that “have started to explode,” says Baldwin.
Often invisible to the public, and separate from the Public Defender Service (PDS), this freelance panel is, nonetheless, an essential part of the judicial machinery. Panel lawyers operate under the auspices of the federal Criminal Justice Act (CJA) of 1964, guaranteeing legal representation regardless of income.
In the wake of retirements, fewer newcomers are willing to work for the relatively low pay rate. Baldwin says panel attorneys can only charge $110 an hour, an amount that has changed little in 15 years and a fraction of the hourly rate for lawyers on K Street.
“Although D.C.[local] Courts modestly increased the hourly rate for court-appointed attorneys in January 2023 for the first time since 2009, the rate remains considerably lower than that paid in Federal Courts,” according to a DC Court budget document.
Every defendant that comes before the court is constitutionally entitled to an attorney, even if he or she can’t afford one. If not, counsel will be appointed. Panel lawyers have been picking up as many as 25 cases a day.
In response to the increasing volume, the association has created a sub-group called the Emergency Excess Panel (EEP) backed up by two stand-in attorneys to make an initial contact to be followed up by an essential in depth conversation at a later date.
He says a panel attorney can limit the number of new cases taken in a single day but many attorneys have taken themselves off the EEP because their case loads are too high.
It’s a voluntary effort to pass around cases as fairly as possible, but, while it hasn’t happened it’s possible there might not be enough attorneys to cover the need on a given day, Baldwin says.
Among those still on the job is Charles Murdter, assigned on this occasion as a “stand-in” because lawyers to take on the cases full time are not immediately available. That means the stand-ins fill the gap sometimes without even interviewing a client prior to a court appearance and entering a plea.
Murdter’s cases move quickly–a defendant facing a fugitive arson charge pending in Maryland waived a preliminary hearing and pleaded not guilty.
Another client accused of harassment was ordered to stay away from the victim and released from his shackles.
The presentment is the beginning of a complex legal process that can take months or even years to resolve and requires skilled representation to keep the scales of justice in balance.
However, based on a months-long investigation talking to lawyers, court officials and reviewing court documents, D.C. Witness has found the system is facing daily case overload.
In terms of providing adequate representation, one panel attorney, who asked not to be identified, called the current approach a “band-aid” when the optimum is to have an assigned attorney from the start.
Even so, Wesson says his appointed attorney has done an “outstanding” job during the two years they’ve worked together. “He’s there to answer questions, even when he’s out of town.”
His lawyer, who requested not to be named, says many of those hours were uncompensated based on statutory limits for time that can be billed for each case.
“Basically, because so few defense lawyers volunteer to pick up cases right now, those who do pick [them] up get an unmanageable burden,” said the lawyer.
That lawyer is also worried even though the problem hasn’t become a constitutional crisis, “quality will decrease for many defendants, and burnout will occur for many of the lawyers who struggle to do the job well.”
In our next report on Nov. 6, why a dilemma over available dollars stands in the way of a solution.
Murchison, 28, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Jamontate Brown on Oct. 16, 2022, on the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road, SE.
According to court documents, Brown sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was found on a sidewalk, lying on his back with his hands above his head.
During the hearing, the prosecution presented a second plea offer that would have required Murchison admit guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed in exchange for a sentence of 10-and-a-half to 14 years incarceration.
Through his defense attorneys, Kevann Gardner and Quiana Harris, Murchison rejected the plea deal and requested a trial date.
The trial was set for Jan. 21, 2025.
The prosecution raised concerns about the trial being delayed due to Gardner’s leaving the Public Defender Service (PDS).
Gardner said the trial wouldn’t be delayed because, at Murchison’s request, Gardner would continue to represent him for the upcoming trial.
The defense requested Murchison’s release on home confinement and GPS monitoring. They said he had already spent a substantial amount of time incarcerated due to multiple delays of his trial and he was not a flight risk.
The prosecution opposed the defense’s motion, asserting Murchison is still a danger to the public.
Judge Demeo denied Murchison’s motion, stating there had been no change to cause the court to reconsider his release.
DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt heard from a homicide co-defendant asserti his right to conduct independent DNA testing and accepted his two co-defendants decision to waive their similar right during a hearing on Nov. 1
Demonte Gibson, 25, Tre’quan Nelson, 23, and Asani Forte, 26, are charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, conspiracy, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with intent to kill while armed, unlawful possession of a firearm, and destruction of property less than $1000 for their alleged involvement in the murder of 34-year-old Delonte King that occurred on Nov. 3, 2021, on the 2800 block of 14th Street, NW.
Nelson and Forte’s attorneys, Jesse Winograd and Susan Ellis, alerted the court that Nelson and Forte are waiving their right to conduct independent DNA testing.
Judge Brandt was satisfied that those defendants their decisions freely and voluntarily.
Gibson’s lawyers, Kevann Gardner and Rachel Cicurel, alerted the court that Gibson was asserting his rights to conduct independent DNA testing.
Judge Brandt was concerned that Gardner’s assertion is coming at the “eleventh hour” as trial is scheduled for March 17, 2025. Judge Brandt confirmed Gibson’s right to conduct independent testing but informed the parties that trial will not be delayed if testing is not completed in time.
According to the prosecution, the evidence that can be tested by Gibson includes 25 cartridge casings, a knife, various pieces of clothing, and two projectiles. From King’s autopsy, they can test a blood card, fingerprints, and a bullet fragment that was lodged in King’s brain. From Gibson’s apartment, there are five guns, jeans, and a black ski mask. There are also buccal swabs from Gibson, Forte, and Nelson.
The prosecution referred to Gibson’s decision to conduct testing as “suspect at best and a delay tactic at worst,” citing the strength and reliability of the prosecution’s test and the timing of Gibson’s decision.
During a hearing on Nov. 1, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt reordered a mental competency evaluation for a murder defendant after he refused to participate in the evaluation the first time.
Niko Hall, 32, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license, for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Anthony Lee on Sept. 26, 2020, on the 2900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE.
A letter from the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) alerted the court that Hall refused to participate in a mental health evaluation.
Hall and his attorney, Wole Falodun, approached Judge Brandt in a private conversation.
Following the conversation, Judge Brand informed the prosecution that Hall was agreeing to participate in another evaluation.
Judge Brandt reordered a mental competency evaluation for Hall.
D’Andre Montgomery, 18, and Eric Sheffield, 19, are charged with felony murder while armed and robbery for their alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Kenneth Barksdale. The incident occurred on Dec. 16, 2023, on the 1200 block of 44th Place, SE.
According to court documents, two individuals identified as Montgomery and Sheffield, attempted to steal Barksdale’s Ford Thunderbird, which was parked at the location. When he tried to stop them, the suspects allegedly shot at Barksdale multiple times, killing him.
Sheffield’s defense attorney, Daniel Mensah, requested his release, arguing the only evidence against Sheffield is circumstantial. Mensah said Sheffield would have adequate living conditions and supervision if released pending trial.
The prosecution opposed the request, saying no new reasons to release Sheffield have arisen since the preliminary hearing. They argued new evidence that emerged, specifically from Sheffield’s phone, that strengthens the case against him.
A homicide defendant waived his right to conduct independent DNA testing of the prosecution’s evidence during a hearing on Nov. 1 before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt.
Irv Duff, 33, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, and obstruction of justice for his alleged involvement in the death of Darnell Gibson, 26, on Aug. 1, 2023, on the unit block of Forrester Street, SW.
According to court documents, Gibson was fatally shot while confronting a man who had knocked over his barbecue grill. The sounds of 23 gunshots were detected at the scene of the incident.
During the hearing, Duff’s lawyer, Kevann Gardner, alerted the court that Duff was waiving his right to conduct independent DNA testing of the prosecution’s evidence.
The prosecution told the court there are two swabs of evidence in this case, a swab from a grill lid and a swab from a grill handle.
Judge Brandt was satisfied that Duff understood his rights and made his decision freely and voluntarily.
A stabbing defendant accepted a plea offer extended by the prosecution during a trial readiness hearing in front of DC Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno on Nov. 1.
Harry Jhin, 38, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, and carrying a dangerous weapon outside his home or business. The charges stemmed from his involvement in a non-fatal stabbing on the 1500 block of 17th Street, NW, on Dec. 23, 2021.
Jhin was able to appear in court with the help of a walker. D.C. Witness reported on July 18 that Jhin missed a court hearing and his attorney, Darryl Daniels, attributed his absence to pain from gunshot wounds.
The prosecution described the series of events on the day of the incident. They said Jhin was carrying a knife and assaulted the victim during a verbal altercation, swinging the knife at the victim’s throat and cutting him. Jhin accepted the facts of the incident as true.
Daniels listed the terms of the plea agreement. In return for Jhin’s pleading guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and carrying a dangerous weapon, the prosecution was dropping the charge of assault with significant bodily injury.
The prosecution offered a “wired” plea deal to four co-defendants on Nov. 1 before D.C. Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur.
Elhadji Ndiaye, 25, Dion Lee, 25, Dionte Anderson, 25, and Tyrone Hawkins, 23, are all charged with conspiracy, assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of contraband in a penal institution for their alleged involvement in a non-fatal stabbing on May 9, 2023.
According to court documents, the defendants allegedly stabbed an inmate and injured a corrections officer who tried to intervene in DC Jail on the 1900 block of D Street, SE.
The prosecution offered to drop indictment charges if the defendants plead guilty to the lesser charge of assault with significant bodily injury. If the defendants accept the plea offer, the prosecution would recommend the charges to run concurrently with time the defendants are already serving from other cases.
The plea offer is wired, so if one of the codefendants rejects it, none of the codefendants can accept it.
The prosecution’s offer expires Nov. 18, when parties are slated to reconvene.
Albert Amissah, on behalf of his client, filed a motion to recuse DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun from a fatal car crash case during an Oct. 31 hearing, stating the defendant believed Judge Okun was biased against her.
Nakita Walker, 44, is charged with three counts of second-degree murder, fleeing a law enforcement officer, and assault with a dangerous weapon for her alleged involvement in a March 15, 2023 car accident resulting in the deaths of Mohamed Kamara, 43, Jonathan Alberto Cabrera Mendez, 23, and Olvin Josue Torres Velasquez, 22, on Rock Creek Parkway.
According to court documents, Walker’s blood-alcohol level was twice the limit during the incident.
During the hearing, Amissah claimed that the reasoning for requesting recusal was that Walker felt Judge Okun was biased against her based on his denial of release conditions in a previous hearing
In response, Judge Okun first cited that a motion to recuse a judge requires a certification of good faith, and a written affidavit to be filed, neither of which was done in this case.
Judge Okun continued, stating that even though failure to file those documents was grounds to deny the motion, he would still deny the motion pursuant to the idea that recusal required bias to extend past the courtroom, which Judge Okun could confidently state it did not.
Following Judge Okun’s ruling, Walker asked for new counsel in the case. The prosecution opposed the idea, stating Walker has previously received new counsel, current counsel was specifically who Walker had asked for, and that the second trial date in this case is only three weeks away. “Cases rarely get better with time,” prosecutors claimed.
Judge Okun followed up the prosecution’s stance, stating that if new counsel were appointed in this case, it would not be tried until the end of 2026, advising Walker that she would be held at least through that date. Judge Okun added that he believed Walker’s issue to be with herself, not her attorneys.
Walker spoke with Amissah and Destiny Fullwood-Singh, Walker’s second attorney, at length before they were able to report Walker decided to remain with current counsel at this juncture.
Green, 38, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in the murder of 24-year-old Terrence Akindo on the 2300 block of 13th Place, NE, on July 30, 2023. Akindo died from gunshot wounds to his head and chest.
Judge Epstein said Smith had filed a motion to delay Green’s trial from March 3, 2025, to April 28, 2025, because of her new duties training PDS (Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia) attorneys. He said the prosecutor had filed a strongly worded objection.
“I don’t understand the intensity of opposition to what is a very modest request,” said Judge Epstein. He said attorney training is an important task and a valid reason to request scheduling changes.
“Frankly, I think PDS does a better job in training overall than the US Attorney’s Office does,” Judge Epstein said. He added, “I’ll give Ms. Smith an opportunity to respond to the personal attacks.”
“I don’t make misrepresentations to the court. I take my responsibilities seriously,” said Smith. “I don’t think there’s any real argument the [prosecution] made, so I don’t think I need to respond unless the court wants.”
Smith said she has several trial dates that were set before she was given training responsibilities. She’s trying to reschedule all the ones that conflict with her new duties.
The prosecutor from another case in which Smith is representing a defendant appeared in court virtually to object to Smith’s assertions.
“Ms. Smith just indicated that her goal is to keep the detained cases on track,” the prosecutor from the other case said. She argued that claim was inaccurate because Smith already has another trial scheduled for April 28, 2025. The defendant in that case is also detained, and his case is older than Green’s case. The prosecutor said the other defendant’s case could not be rescheduled sooner than April of 2026 if Green’s case displaced it.
The prosecutor urged Judge Epstein not to delay Green’s trial, saying Smith would tell the judge in the other case that the trial needed to be rescheduled because of Green’s new trial date.
Smith argued she was representing both Green and her other client according to their wishes. Her training schedule conflicts with Green’s current trial date, but Green wants his trial as soon as possible, so she is asking Judge Epstein to give him the first opening in Judge Epstein’s trial calendar.
“My representation of [my other client] is completely different,” Smith said. She said the prosecutor from the other case should make her arguments over the timing of that trial at hearings for that case, not during Green’s hearings.
Judge Epstein said his trial opening for April 28, 2025, came about unexpectedly because of the death of the defendant in the trial originally scheduled for that date. He doesn’t expect that opening to get filled because most attorneys are already fully booked for April of 2025.
Judge Epstein said he will set Green’s trial date for April 28, 2025, if Smith’s other client’s trial date gets moved. If that trial date doesn’t change, Judge Epstein will hold a status hearing to find a different date for Green’s trial.
The prosecutor said she had turned over evidence to the defense, including cartridge casings recovered from the scene of the crime and bullets recovered from the victim’s body.
“The [prosecution] did not do DNA testing in this case, but evidence was recovered,” the prosecutor said.
Green waived his right to conduct DNA testing on the evidence.
The next hearing in this case is scheduled for Nov. 25.
A police officer who responded to the scene testified in a stabbing case that the victim was “barely alive” in DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt’s courtroom on Oct. 31.
Devan Green, 30, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, kidnapping while armed, kidnapping while armed against a minor, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, and simple assault. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in a domestic stabbing incident on Sept. 19, 2023, on the 500 block of 58th Street, NE, seriously wounding an individual.
Prosecutors during their opening statement said the defendant stabbed the victim, who was his girlfriend, 21 times because he was jealous about the victim’s being on the phone with a man. According to prosecutors, the defendant got frequently jealous and “violent,” and on the night of the stabbing he decided he was going to kill her.
“What he intended to do was kill her,” the prosecutor said.
Lee Smith, Green’s attorney, said in his opening statement that Green is “wrongly accused” and acted in self-defense. He said the victim attacked Green first by biting him on the leg and the defendant feared for his life once the victim’s family arrived because he thought they were going to attack him.
Prosecutors called the first officer to respond to the scene. The officer testified that the victim was “barely alive” when she arrived on scene and was lying on the floor covered in blood. She said the scene was “brutal” and “violent.”
Prosecutors played the officer’s body-worn camera which showed officers responding to the multiple stab wounds on the victim’s chest, back, and neck.
Another officer who responded to the scene testified that the victim said, “He tried to kill me” while he was tending to her wounds.
An additional officer who responded said she went into a back bedroom and found a child. Prosecutors played her body-worn camera which showed the officer talking to the little boy. In the video, the boy said his dad’s name was Devan.
“He tried to kill my mom,” the boy said in the video.
A murder defendant was denied modified release conditions to pursue job and education opportunities in a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun on Oct. 31.
Jahi Settles, 23, is charged with attempted robbery, felony murder while armed, three counts of possession of firearm during a crime of violence, premeditated first-degree murder while armed, and second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Langston Sharps, 33, on July 3, 2023 on the 2800 block of Hartford Street, SE.
According to court documents, an argument about between Settles and Sharps precipitated the killing. Settles allegedly reached into a car to steal a backpack from Sharps sparking a physical fight that ended in Settles’ allegedly shooting and killing Sharps before fleeing the scene.
During the hearing, Jason Tulley, Settles’ attorney, motioned to modify Settles’ release conditions to allow him to pursue employment and schooling. Settles was originally placed on electronic monitoring Aug. 30, but remains under home confinement.
Judge Okun denied the motion without prejudice, stating that if the defense would like to file a motion in writing with more details he would review it.
D.C. Witness data shows that plea agreements accepted between Jan. 1 and Oct. 12 this year as the pandemic receded, increased by 92 percent, in comparison to Jan. 1 through Oct. 18, 2023.
From Jan. 1 to Oct. 18, 146 plea deals were accepted — including 28 for homicide cases and 48 for non-fatal shooting cases — and 71 were rejected. Of the rejected plea offers, 21 were in relation to homicide cases and 22 were in non-fatal shooting cases.
That’s compared to the 2023 timeline where 76 plea deals were accepted — including 26 for homicide cases and 13 for non-fatal shooting cases — and 20 were rejected. Of the rejected plea offers, five were in connection to homicide cases and six were in non-fatal shooting cases.
This indicates a 92 percent increase in all plea agreement acceptances and a 308 percent increase in plea agreement acceptances in non-fatal shooting cases. Homicide plea agreement acceptances only increased by seven percent between 2023 and 2024.
The increase may in part be the result of resolving a pandemic-related case backlog.
“While the data indicates an overall post-COVID-19 return to normal criminal justice operations in the District, it is crucial to consider the lingering effects of COVID-19,” according to an April report by the DC Sentencing Commission.
Notable examples of plea deal negotiations in 2023 and 2024 include:
On Feb. 7, Chanel Clinton, 28, accepted a deal to plead guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon for her involvement in a non-fatal shooting on Jan. 18, outside of a 7-Eleven on the 4800 block of Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, NE. One individual sustained injuries.
By pleading guilty, her other charge, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, was dismissed.
On April 22, DC Superior Court Judge Erik Christian sentenced Clinton to 5 years, with two years suspended, followed by a five year probation. In addition, she is required to serve three years of supervised release, undergo mental health evaluation and treatment and stay away from the victim.
On May 3, Tyree Sanders, 24, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 34-year-old Michael McKinney on Sept. 17, 2023, on the 1200 block of Brentwood Road, NE.
Sanders was originally charged with first-degree murder.
On May 14, Jaykell Mason, 22, rejected a second plea offer which would have reduced his charges to two counts of second-degree murder while armed and felony assault on a police officer while armed.
Mason is being charged with first-degree murder while armed and assault on a police officer while armed for his alleged involvement in the death of 29-year-old Terrance Dantzler on Feb. 13, 2020 on the 700 block of 8th Street, NW. Mason was taken into custody after an exchange of gunfire with MPD officers.
He is scheduled to go to trial in September of 2025.
On July 7, 2023, Delonta Stevenson, 28, and Vorreze Thomas, 26, rejected a plea deal that would require them to plead guilty to one count of second-degree murder while armed and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon. If they accepted the plea, Stevenson would have to serve 27 years and Thomas would have to serve 15.
Both were convicted of conspiracy, first-degree murder while armed, two counts of assault with intent to kill, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, for their involvement in the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Terrance Allen. The incident occurred on Jan. 18, 2021, on the 3000 block of Stanton Road, SE, and left two other individuals suffering from gunshot wounds.
Stevenson was additionally convicted of two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a prior convict during offenses committed during release. Thomas was additionally convicted of carrying a rifle outside a home or business.
On Sept. 6, 2023, Basil Thomas, 20, accepted a deal to plead guilty to one count of armed carjacking, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, robbery, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Thomas was originally charged with two counts of armed carjacking, one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count of carrying a pistol without a license for his involvement in two incidents, including a shooting on March 3 on the 4400 block of 8th Street, NE, and the 4800 block of North Capitol Street, NE.
On November 19, 2023, Demetrius Void, 36, was sentenced to six years of incarceration after accepting an agreement to plead guilty to one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.
Void was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon while armed, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm, and armed carjacking, for his involvement in fatal shooting of 24-year-old Anthony Lawson, on Sept. 25, 2018, on the 6200 block of Eastern Avenue, NE.
