Shooting Defendant Rejects Plea Offer, Judge Finds Probable Cause

A shooting defendant rejected a plea offer in a preliminary hearing on Sept 19, before DC Superior Court Judge Renee Raymond.

Donnell Wells, 36, is being charged with aggravated assault knowingly while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in a shooting on the 500 block of Newcomb Street SE,. The incident occurred on Aug. 1, 2024, with two of the victims suffering from gunshot wounds.

According to court documents, the defendant was smoking and being loud with some of his friends when a witness came to the door and asked them to be quiet. The allegedly started to yell at her. When the woman’s son asked the defendant to stop disrespecting his mother Wells allegedly reached for a gun, and the mother yelled “he has a gun”, while she and the son wrestled for the gun.

The mother said she also saw a third individual enter the apartment who was shot. When Wells broke free, the mother ran back into her apartment. The son suffered a gunshot wound to his left of the chest and required surgery. The third individual suffered a gunshot wound to the left side of his neck.

At the hearing, Brennan Burrell, Wells’s attorney, told Judge Raymond that the defense intended on rejecting the plea deal.

The deal required Wells to plead guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon, in exchange for dismissing the indictment on greater charges.

Burrell said the defense was ready to move forward with proceedings.

The prosecution called one of the lead detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), who identified Wells as the defendant and affirmed everything in the search warrant was accurate.

Under cross-examination, when the defense questioned the consistency of the victims’ testimonies.

According to the detective, one victim said the defendant “didn’t aim it [the gun] good.”

The mother told the detective that she was unsure of who shot her son, but her son believes it was one of the defendants’ friends in the apartment.

Additionally, the detective said he was unaware of how the landlord saw the three victims with firearms before reaching the apartment. The third individual refused to cooperate with police.

Nonetheless, Judge Raymond ruled there was still probable cause based on the prosecution’s presenting strong physical evidence.

Parties are set to reconvene Oct. 11.

Judge Dismisses Two Firearm Charges For Lack of Probable Cause

DC Superior Court Judge Renee Raymond waived both firearm charges for a stabbing defendant on Sept. 19 after the prosecution failed to prove probable cause for gun possession during the crime.

Michael Fenwick, 34, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, a knife, assault with a dangerous weapon, a gun, and possession of a firearm during crime of violence for his alleged involvement in an Aug. 21, 2023, stabbing on the 4400 block of Quarles Street, NE. The victim sustained cuts to the back of her head, swollen hands, and a cut on her left thigh.

During the hearing, the prosecution called one of the lead detectives to identify Fenick in court.

Prosecutors also showed surveillance footage of the physical altercation between the victim and Fenwick, without a clear of both individuals are fighting over the a gun.

Under cross-examination, the detective acknowledged that there was no footage of the defendant assaulting the victim with a gun. The defense said the surveillance footage shows the victim with the gun as Fenwick walks out first with no gun visible.

Additionally, the detective was told by the victim that when she walked out of an apartment with the gun, she put it in front of the building.

After the detective testified, Judge Raymond ruled there is only probable cause on assault with a dangerous weapon, knife.

Parties are set to reconvene Oct. 8.

DNA Testing Requested by Murder Suspect

A defendant in a homicide case asserted his right to independent DNA testing before DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe on Sept. 20.

Ranje Reynolds, 27, is charged with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for allegedly shooting and killing Tarek Boothe, 27, on Jan. 31, 2022, on the 3200 block of M Street, NW.

During the status hearing, Cheryl Stein, Reynolds’ defense attorney, told the court that the defendant planned to assert his rights to independent DNA testing.

Parties are to reconvene on Nov. 20.

Judge Approves Cost For Arson, Murder Defendant’s Disputed Mental Evaluation

DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein approved a voucher on Sept. 20 to pay an independent expert to evaluate D’Aundrey Scott‘s mental competency after the DC Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) found him competent to stand trial.

Scott, 30, is charged with first-degree murder, assault with intent to kill, and two counts of arson after allegedly igniting multiple fires on May 13, 2020, on the 900 block of H Street, NE. The fires injured one individual, 62-year-old Darryl Finney, who died of burns on May 15, 2020, from a firebomb that Scott allegedly threw at him.

“I don’t agree that DBH is correct that the symptoms are entirely malingering,” said Scott’s defense attorney, Jesse Winograd of the notion that Scott is faking mental illness.

DBH based their conclusions on a preliminary screening of Scott. Winograd chose not to request a full mental evaluation of his client by DBH.

“My experience is that, once DBH makes a finding of competence, it doesn’t matter how many DBH evaluations are done. The outcome will always be to find the defendant competent,” Winograd said. “I’m going to ask for funds to hire my own competency expert.”

“It’s not my experience that DBH is necessarily dug in on any competency finding,” said Judge Epstein as he granted a voucher to pay an outside expert.

“I have continued to receive letters from the defendant as recently as last week,” the prosecutor told Judge Epstein, noting he had previously warned Scott not to write to her.

“You’re not helping yourself by sending letters to [the prosecutor],” Judge Epstein told Scott. “She has an ethical duty not to communicate with someone who has a lawyer. If you have something you think should be communicated to the prosecutor, talk to Mr. Winograd.”

The next hearing in this case will be scheduled once Scott’s mental evaluation is complete.

Medical Condition Delays Hearing for Carjacking Defendant

DC Superior Court Judge Robert Hildum granted a continuance for a carjacking defendant during a hearing on Sept. 20.

Charles Holt, 68, is charged with unarmed carjacking for his alleged involvement in an incident that occurred on Sept. 2, 2024, at the intersection of 30th Street, SE and Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

According to prosecution, Holt was found unconscious at the scene and has been in the hospital since the incident.

Holt’s appearance at the hearing was waived, but his attorney, Karen Minor, asked for his preliminary hearing to be delayed due to Holt’s hospitalization.

The prosecution had no objections, and Judge Hildum granted a continuance.

Parties are slated to reconvene on Sept. 26.

Judge Says His Jail Transfer Request Will Likely Be Ignored

DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein advised a defense attorney on Sept. 20 that his recommendation to transfer a defendant from DC Jail to the medium security Correctional Treatment Facility (CTF) for health reasons was unlikely to influence the DC Department of Corrections (DOC) which manages inmate housing.

Keith Robinson, 57, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed for his alleged involvement in a domestic non-fatal shooting that occurred on May 23 on the 3000 block of B Street, SE. The shooting left the victim, his girlfriend, with four gunshot wounds in the chest and four gunshot wounds to the arm.

“Would the court consider recommending CTF placement?” asked Brandon Burrell, Robinson’s defense attorney, noting that Robinson has been suffering from multiple health problems.

“As far as I know, my recommendation doesn’t count for anything with the [DOC]. Their position is that the standard of medical care at the jail is exactly the same as it is at CTF,” Judge Epstein told Burrell, while agreeing to make the recommendation.

Parties notified the court they expect to have a plea agreement soon.

The next hearing in this case is scheduled for Oct. 18.

Trial Set Nearly Three Years After Double Murder

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan notified a double murder defendant of his arraignment charges and set a trial date for 2026 in a Sept. 20 hearing.

Kevin Foster, 20, is accused in six counts of of first-degree murder premeditated, second-degree murder while armed, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with the intent to kill while armed. The charges stem from his alleged involvement on the 2700th block of Bruce Place, SE on March 7, 2023, which took the lives of both Dana Faulkner, 23, Abdul Fuller, 15, and injuring another.

Foster’s defense attorney Matthew Davies said the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges and requested his release. The prosecution opposed this request as they believe he is a danger to society.

Judge Raffinan denied the release as she believes he does pose a danger to society and the defense arguments presented do not give enough assurance for Foster to be safely released.

A trial date was set for March 23, 2026,

Parties are set to reconvene on Dec. 11.

Homicide Defendant Waives Right to Independent DNA Testing

A homicide defendant waived his right to independently test DNA evidence during a Sept. 20 hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt.

David Pena, 47, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm. Pena’s charges stem from his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Maurice Robinson on the 3000 block of 30th Street, SE, on June 12, 2023. Robinson later succumbed to his injuries in a local hospital.

Dana Page, Pena’s defense attorney, told the court during the hearing he would waive his right to independently test any of the prosecution’s DNA evidence in his case.

The prosecution said the scope of the physical evidence in the case is limited, explaining most of the evidence remains on the victim’s clothes. The prosecution further stated that they would not DNA test the evidence.

When Judge Brandt informed Pena of his rights and the rights he was waving through removing the opportunity to independently test for DNA evidence, Pena said, referring to the limited scope of evidence, “If I’m not mistaken, there’s nothing to test.”

Parties are slated to reconvene Jan. 16, 2025.

Shooting Defendant’s Wife Feared Retaliation After Car Accident Confrontation

In a trial before, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on Sept. 18, the jury heard the defendant’s pregnant wife say that a confrontation after a car accident left her in fear.

Adrian Lee, 49, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, and five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.

The charges stem from his alleged involvement in a shooting incident on the 700 block of Gresham Place, NW, on April 18, 2023. One individual sustained serious injuries during the incident.

Defense attorney Destiny Fullwood-Singh called Lee’s wife, who told what happened after a car accident in which her vehicle, a Chevy Suburban collided with a Tesla carrying two passengers.

She stated that the victim and the woman in the Tesla were both “hostile” towards her and Lee when he arrived to provide insurance information requested by the victim but it had expired.

Lee said earlier he ran to his house and got a gun from a friend living nearby. He said the victim and the woman passenger got out of their car and approached his house. Lee told them to leave, and thought he saw the man reach in his waistband, so he fired a shot.

Lee’s wife claimed she fled because she was “scared,” since she was pregnant and previously had a miscarriage.

“I thought they would hurt me, I didn’t know what they would do,” she said. According to the witness, she heard a gunshot after she went home.

The witness testified that she feared her husband had been shot, saying she and her family left home that night, fearing that the individuals involved in the accident would retaliate. Lee said he left DC for Florida after the shooting, not to evade the police, but avoid retaliation. He said he stayed in Florida longer than he planned because his car broke down.

Lee was arrested about a year after the incident.

According to a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective, assigned to the case Lee can be heard on video during a police interview saying multiple times “I’m not the shooter”.

The prosecution then called the doctor who said the victim’s wounds were life-threatening and required surgery. He confirmed that the bullet was fired “into the abdomen area near the spine.”

Following the testimony, the defense filed a motion for judgment of acquittal, stating that the prosecution failed to meet their burden of proof. Judge Brandt denied it, stating that a reasonable jury could find Lee guilty of the charges.

Parties are scheduled to resume trial on Sept. 19.

Victim Claims He Was Shot For Playing ‘Tupac’ Too Loudly

DC Superior Court Judge Erik Christian presided over opening day of trial for a defendant who allegedly shot a victim during an argument about playing loud music on Sept. 18.

Calvon Brown, 31, is charged with aggravated assault knowingly while armed, possession of a firearm during crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm, and carrying a pistol without a license. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in a shooting on March 22 on the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. One individual sustained injuries.

Prosecutors called on the victim who testified he was going to the store to buy marijuana materials when he encountered Brown, who seemed angry about the speaker volume level of the music the victim was playing.

“I don’t know why they don’t like Tupac,” the victim told the jury, a reference to Tupac Shakur, the famous rap artist who was gunned down in 1996. After an argument, the victim testified, he challenged Brown to a fight, expecting a hand-to-hand altercation.

“He is not a man. If you’re a man, you fight with hands,” the victim told the jury. He said he was shocked when Brown pulled out a gun and allegedly fired three times, one of which hit him on the hip. The victim stated he managed to wrestle the gun away and tried to shoot back, but the gun jammed. Afterwards, the victim said, he threw the gun in a trash bin and fled.

“You cannot bring a gun to a fist fight,” the prosecution told the jury in their opening statements prior to the victim’s testimony, claiming that is exactly what Brown did.

The prosecution stated the confrontation resulted in a decision to “take it outside,” for what the victim thought would be a fist fight.

Tammy Thom, Brown’s attorney, countered the prosecution’s opening by saying it was, “based on lies and deceit.” Thom highlighted inconsistencies in the victim’s testimony. She referred to the victim’s police statements, noting he initially refused to identify the shooter and only did so after a lengthy interview.

The prosecution also called the victim’s girlfriend, who recalled receiving a call from the victim saying he’d been shot. She stated she met him at a nearby police precinct. According to the witness, the victim looked”bad,” stating his pants were soaked with blood. She also explained how the victim’s wound dressings had to be changed regularly the following days.

During cross examination, the witness stated she didn’t recall if the victim had his speaker with him at the precinct, but stated he must have been carrying it.

Parties are slated to reconvene Sept. 19.

In Switch, Suspect Testifies He Shot Victim in Self-Defense

Prosecutors say a shooting defendant changed his story in court testimony from his initial police interview, now claiming self-defense before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on Sept. 19.

Adrian Lee, 49, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict.

The charges stem from his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting incident on April 18, 2023, on the 700 block of Gresham Place, NW, that left one person injured.

In his testimony, Lee said he got a call from his wife saying she’d had a car accident and needed him to bring her insurance car and driver’s license. He said when he went to the scene, a bigger man and a woman were in a Tesla talking to his wife. According to Lee, the man and woman quickly got aggressive and he thought he saw a gun in the man’s waistband.

“I need to get my wife out of here,” Lee said is what he thought at the moment.

According to Lee, the man reached for him, so he took off running and the man and woman in the Tesla started chasing him down the street. He said he heard the woman scream out of the car “Now I’m boutta dog you,” which he took to mean she was going to attack him.

Lee testified he ran to his house and got a gun from his friend living on the street. He said his pursuer and woman got out of the car and approached his house. Lee stated he told them to leave, and thought he saw the man reach in his waistband, so he fired a shot.

“I felt threatened and I was afraid,” Lee told the jury.

Lee said he lied to detectives when he was arrested a year after the incident, saying he didn’t know who shot the man. According to Lee, he lied because he wanted to be able to come home to his kids and thought the police would not believe his self defense story.

“I never had a good interaction with the police in my life,” Lee said and affirmed he was telling the truth in court.

Lee said he left DC to go to Florida after the shooting, not to evade the police, but avoid retaliation for the shooting. He said he stayed in Florida longer than he planned because his car broke down.

On cross examination, Lee said he did not tell detectives when he was arrested the man and woman involved in the accident threatened him nor did he say he saw the man with a gun. He said he told detectives the man was just standing there when he got shot.

Prosecutors asked if Lee felt bad about the incident, and Lee said he did, but he told detectives the man “got himself shot.”

“I feel bad for the whole situation,” Lee said in court.

Prosecutors asked if it was true that Lee told detectives “If I was the shooter, all I would have to do is scream self-defense,” which Lee admitted.

After Lee’s testimony, the defense rested its case.

Parties are set to reconvene for closing arguments on Sept. 23.

Defense to Challenge Defendant’s Competency Finding

The lawyer for a stabbing defendant said he intends to challenge his client’s mental competency finding in DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt’s courtroom on Sept. 19.

Kenneth Garner, 33, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal stabbing that occurred on Jan. 17, 2023, on the 700 block of Brandywine Street, SE. One individual sustained life-threatening injuries.

According to court documents, Garner was found mentally competent to stand trial as long as he remains at St. Elizabeths Hospital receiving psychiatric treatment.

Defense attorney Janai Reed said an expert they hired to rebut that finding is not available to meet with and evaluate Garner until November. The prosecution had no objections to continuing the matter until an evaluation has been completed.

Parties are set to reconvene for a contested competency hearing on Jan. 17.

Stabbing Defendant Challenges Witness Identification

A stabbing defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges while contesting witness identification during an arraignment before DC Superior Court Judge Heidi Pasichow on Sept. 19.

Warnell Reams, 57, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and obstruction of justice for his alleged involvement in a stabbing on June 5 on the 200 block of Vine Street, NW, that left one person injured.

Michelle Lockard, Reams’ attorney, alerted the court of his intent and asserted his right to a speedy trial.

Lockard also filed a motion on Sept. 17 to suppress Reams’ identification made by the victim and the building’s property manager. According to Lockard, the photo identification procedure conducted with the victim was inappropriately suggestive and therefore unreliable.

Likewise, said Lockard the property manager’s identification violates due process and is unreliable because it was based on extraneous information provided by law enforcement.

The prosecution told the Judge they would respond by Sept 23.

Parties will reconvene on Sept. 30 for jury selection.

Female Stabbing Defendant Waives Right to DNA Testing

A stabbing defendant waived her right to independently test DNA evidence on Sept. 18, as trial was slated to begin before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno.

Amadelia Hernandez, 35, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for her alleged involvement in a stabbing incident that occurred on March 29 on the 400 block of Emerson Street, NW. One individual sustained injuries during the incident.

During the hearing, which was supposed to be the start of Hernandez’s trial, Damon Catacalos, her attorney, alerted the court of her wishes to waive her right to independently test DNA evidence.

The parties picked a jury and are slated to reconvene Sept. 19 for trial.

Detective Makes Courtroom ID of Suspect in Sex Worker Shooting

A lead detective in a shooting involving a transgender sex worker identified a defendant as the incident’s perpetrator before a jury in DC Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur’s courtroom on Sept. 18. During the same proceeding, a doctor described the victim’s grievous injuries to the jury.

Jerry Tyree, 46, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of liquid PCP, and unlawful possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged role in a Nov. 29, 2023, shooting on the 5900 block of Foote Street, NE. A transgender woman sustained injuries to her penis and groin during the incident.

Throughout the trial, the prosecution has claimed that the shooting may have resulted from a transaction gone wrong with a sex worker. The defense contends the incident was the unintended result of a scuffle.

The prosecution called the doctor who removed a bullet from the victim. He testified that she appeared to be “obviously anxious and uncomfortable, relatively calm but clearly in distress.”

According to the doctor, the bullet entered the victim’s penis from the top closest to the body and passed through to the other side, barely avoiding the urinary tract and the testicles. The victim had to undergo two surgeries and was hospitalized for four days.

The prosecution also called a detective from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) who testified he was present during a follow up interview with the victim in which she identified the defendant, Tyree, as the shooter from a photo identification. The detective was subsequently able to identify Tyree as the suspect in the courtroom.

Under cross examination by defense attorney Sara Kopecki, the detective acknowledged that when preparing documents for this case, he relied on the victim’s testimony and another witness present at the scene to describe the defendant.

However, he did not ask the witnesses how long they observed the defendant, saying it was about 15 minutes. Kopecki noted that the specific length of time is, “important for the reliability of the complaining witness.”

After testimony concluded, Kopecki filed a motion for judgment of acquittal, stating that the prosecution had failed to meet its burden of proof. Judge Arthur denied the motion, stating that a reasonable jury could find Tyree guilty of all charges.

Parties are slated to reconvene Sept. 19.

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