Document: MPD Investigating Officer Involved Shooting

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced that it is currently investigating an officer-involved shooting that took place in the 2500 block of Marion Barry Avenue Southeast. The incident occurred on Sunday, September 1, 2024, at around 5:30 a.m. when Seventh District officers responded to a report of a car crash at the location.

Upon arrival, the responding officers found the driver unresponsive in a car that had struck a commercial building, causing minor damage. Notably, the officers observed a firearm inside the vehicle. Additional officers were promptly requested at the scene.

The MPD reported that the suspect, who was still in the vehicle, began moving and was seen to have a weapon. Officers instructed the suspect to drop the weapon, but as they approached the suspect with their service weapons drawn, the suspect grabbed one of the officer’s service weapons.

This led to two officers discharging their firearms, shooting the suspect. Despite immediate medical assistance from DC Fire and EMS, who were already present at the scene, all lifesaving measures were unsuccessful, and the suspect succumbed to his injuries.

The department has identified the suspect as 26-year-old Justin Robinson from Southeast, DC. The suspect’s weapon was recovered at the scene.

The MPD noted that the officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave in line with MPD policy. The incident remains under investigation by the MPD Internal Affairs Division’s Force Investigations Team, which handles all law enforcement officer-involved shootings in the district. Meanwhile, The United States Attorney’s Office will independently review the facts and evidence of the case. The release of body-worn camera footage will follow District of Columbia law procedures.

Finally, the MPD requests anyone with information about this case to call the police at 202-727-9099. They also highlighted the option to anonymously text information to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE at 50411.

Document: MPD Investigating Fatal Stabbing in Northeast

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced that it is investigating a fatal stabbing incident that occurred in Northeast. The event took place on Sunday, September 1, 2024, around 2:53 p.m. and left one man dead and a woman injured.

The incident happened on the 900 block of Division Avenue, Northeast. Patrol officers from the Sixth District were dispatched following a report of a stabbing at the location. One victim, an adult male, had self-transported to the Sixth District police station for help, presenting with apparent stab wounds. He was subsequently taken to an area hospital by DC Fire and EMS. Despite all medical efforts, he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

A second victim, an adult female, was found at the scene also suffering from stab wounds. Her injuries were not life-threatening, and she was transported to an area hospital for treatment.

The deceased has been identified as 23-year-old Gray Hall of Northeast.

In closing, the MPD urges anyone with information about this incident to contact them at (202) 727 – 9099 or by texting a tip to 50411. The department is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for a homicide in the District of Columbia.

Document: MPD Arrests Suspect in Fatal Stabbing in Southeast

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of a suspect in a fatal stabbing incident in Southeast.

On August 30, 2024, at approximately 4:29 p.m., MPD officers responded to a report of a stabbing at the 3800 block of South Capitol Street, Southeast. Upon their arrival, the officers found an adult female inside a residence, suffering from multiple stab wounds. Despite the efforts of DC Fire and EMS, who responded to the scene, the victim could not be revived and succumbed to her injuries.

The victim of the fatal stabbing has been identified as 42-year-old Tiffany Parker of Southeast, DC.

The suspect, identified as 64-year-old Adrian Morgan of Southeast, DC, was located by responding officers and taken into custody. Following investigations led by detectives, Morgan was charged with Second Degree Murder While Armed.

Document: MPD Investigating Infant Death as a Homicide

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced that they are currently investigating the death of a child in Southeast as a homicide case.

On Monday, May 27, 2024, at approximately 11:02 a.m., officers responded to a report of an unconscious infant at an apartment in the 1400 block of Newton Street, Northwest. The infant was transported by D.C. Fire and EMS to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. The infant has been identified as 2-month-old Amiri Royal Bynum, of Northwest.

On Monday, August 26, 2024, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the District of Columbia determined that the infant died from Fentanyl/Methamphetamine Intoxication and the manner of death was ruled as a homicide.

The MPD advised that anyone with knowledge of the incident should call police at (202) 727-9099 or text a tip to the Department’s TEXT TIP LINE at 50411. The MPD is currently offering a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for a homicide committed in the District of Columbia.

‘You Are A Unicorn,’ Says Judge in Suspending All But Three Months in A Shooting

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt, standing in for DC Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz, sentenced a shooting defendant to 18 months, with all but three suspended on Aug. 30.

Jaylon Deangelo Whack, 30, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for firing a single shot at his uncle following a verbal dispute in a relative’s home on May 29 on the 3700 block of Horner Place, SE.

On July 11, Whack pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon, a charge that has a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

During the hearing, prosecutors recommended the bottom of the sentencing guidelines of eighteen months of incarceration, noting that Whack has no prior convictions or criminal record.

Mathew Hertz, Whack’s attorney, clarified that Whack “was not the kind of person who picks up a gun after an issue.” He argued this was a rare circumstance for which treating issues like anger management or impulse control would not be as effective in jail rather than treatment during probation. He requested Judge Brandt impose a “short-split” sentence, which allows the defendant to serve a short part of the sentence in jail, and the other part through programs during probation.

However, due to the nature and circumstances of the crime, the prosecution objected, stating they believed Whack should receive a straight sentence.

Hertz emphasized Whack’s case as an anomaly, mentioning he accepted responsibility for his actions and his intention to start over and become a better person.

Whack told Judge Brandt in a personal statement that he “acted out of fear” and “felt in danger.”

In consideration, Judge Brandt stated , “You are a unicorn– you managed to live to the ripe old age of thirty, never ever having a criminal record… give credit to the people who brought you up and the people you surround yourself with because there are too many young Black Americans who can’t say the same.”

Considering his lack of criminal record and promise to change, the court sentenced Whack to 18 months of incarceration, with 15 months suspended. Whack is expected to be released within a few days. He must serve three years of supervised release.

No further dates were set.

Defense Challenges Victim’s Identification of Shooting Suspect

DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe delayed jury selection for Anthrone Cabos‘ non-fatal shooting trial by one day on Aug. 30 so parties can finish questioning the lead detective in the case about the victim’s disputed identification of Cabos as her assailant.

Cabos, 27, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, simple assault, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of an unregistered firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting on June 28, 2020, on the 600 block of Condon Terrace, SE.

According to court documents, a witness told Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives that Cabos shot the victim in the stomach during an argument over a drug sale.

Kevin O’Sullivan, Cabos’ defense attorney, filed a motion on April 26 arguing that the victim’s identification of Cabos as the shooter from a photo array should not be admitted into evidence.

O’Sullivan said the victim’s neighbors suggested to her that someone nicknamed “Pig” might be the shooter. When she gave this information to a MPD detective, he asked her for a photo.

According to Sullivan, the victim got a photo of Cabos from a neighbor and forwarded it to the detective before the photo array, making it more likely she would identify Cabos in the photo array.

In court, the prosecution called the lead detective in Cabos’ case as a witness. He supervised the detective who received the photo from the victim and the detective who conducted the photo array.

According to the lead detective, the victim was too badly injured for MPD officers to communicate with her on the night of the shooting or for five days afterwards.

“She was receiving pretty serious medical treatment, so law enforcement didn’t contact her,” the lead detective said. He testified that her medical records showed she had surgery to the intestine, liver and uterus, and was in critical condition with a breathing tube during that time.

The lead detective said, when an MPD detective first interviewed the victim, she told him that she didn’t personally know the name of the man who had shot her, but she had heard from someone in the neighborhood that his nickname was Pig. Two days later, she texted the detective that she had learned the shooter’s name was “Arthrone.”

“The person who gave her the nickname Pig didn’t personally witness the shooting?” O’Sullivan asked during cross-examination.

“Correct,” said the lead detective.

O’Sullivan displayed a text from an MPD detective to the victim, sent before the photo array, that asked her if she had a photo of the person known as Pig. She texted back that the people she had asked for a photo were “clueless.”

“You don’t know if the complainant found a picture of Cabos and texted it to [the detective] before the photo array?” O’Sullivan asked.

The lead detective said the victim and the detective she was texting both said she didn’t.

According to the lead detective, the victim circled Cabos’ picture in the photo array and wrote, “Very sure. Zero doubt it’s him.”

O’Sullivan asked Judge O’Keefe to order the prosecution to turn over all files from a case one of the witnesses had pending before the court while testifying in Cabos’ case. O’Sullivan said the files might undermine the reliability of the witness by revealing contradictions in the witness’ statements to police or showing the witness was trying to gain leniency from the prosecution by cooperating in the case against Cabos.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on Sept. 3.

‘I Feel Coerced Into This,’ Says Judge Sentencing Co-Defendants in Plea Deal

DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe reluctantly gave Jamal Mathews, Stefon Freshley and Darnell Savoy the sentences recommended in their plea deal on Aug. 30.

Mathews, 34, Freshley, 28, and Savoy, 25, were originally charged with conspiracy, two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, and two counts of aggravated assault knowingly while armed for a non-fatal shooting on Dec. 28, 2018, on the 200 block of 54th Street, NE. The incident left a father and his juvenile son with life-threatening injuries.

On March 29, Mathews, Freshley and Savoy accepted a “wired” plea offer, so called because it is valid only if all co-defendants accept it.

Mathews pleaded guilty to aggravated assault knowingly while armed against a minor, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, and obstruction of justice. In return, the prosecution agreed to dismiss all other charges in this case and all charges in the case of an alleged stabbing at the DC Jail on July 30, 2019.

The plea deal recommended 17-to-26 years’ incarceration for Mathews.

Freshley pleaded guilty to assault with intent to kill against a minor and assault with a dangerous weapon. In return, the prosecution agreed to dismiss all other charges in this case and all charges in the case of an alleged stabbing on the 300 block of 53rd Street, NE, in the Clay Terrace community on Oct. 11, 2022, while Freshley was on pretrial release for this case.

The plea deal recommended seven-and-a-half years’ incarceration for Freshley.

Savoy pleaded guilty to assault with intent to kill against a minor, assault with intent to kill, and using, carrying and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. In return, the prosecution agreed to dismiss all other charges in this case and all charges in a case stemming from the same alleged stabbing that Mathews was charged with.

The plea deal recommended nine years’ incarceration for Savoy.

At the sentencing, the prosecutor read a victim impact statement from the older of the two victims.

“Just imagine, as a father, I saw my firstborn helpless, foaming at the mouth, as if he had already passed on,” the victim said about his experience of the shooting. “I was told he had a long shot to make it.”

“After 10 days in the ICU [intensive care unit] and the surgeries, the rehabilitation started,” the victim said. He described his son relearning how to walk, talk and use the bathroom.

“Once the unemployment insurance ended from my job, we had no income,” the victim said. His injuries from the shooting left him unable to do his former job, and his family of five had to leave their home and move in with another family.

Judge O’Keefe asked the prosecutor why he should accept this plea deal.

“They [the victims] support the idea that this case will be resolved,” the prosecutor said. “Every time this case comes up, it just sends them back. It just makes their progress harder.”

The prosecutor suggested that sentencing Mathews to 26 years in prison could deter others from crime.

“We’re talking about someone who is looked up to in Clay Terrace,” the prosecutor said. “Mr. Mathews is by far the most culpable in all of these cases.”

Judge O’Keefe asked about the case against Savoy for an alleged stabbing at Clay Terrace that would be dropped if Judge O’Keefe accepted the plea deal.

The prosecutor said the stabbing victim had known Savoy for his whole life and was reluctant to testify against him but supported the plea deal.

“Mr. Freshley–you have him on tape stabbing someone in the DC Jail?” Judge O’Keefe asked the prosecutor.

“We don’t agree with that characterization, that he was shown on video repeatedly stabbing someone,” said Savoy’s defense attorney, Christen Philips. She said Savoy’s DNA had not been found on the two shanks recovered from the alleged stabbing.

“Mr. Freshley deserves more time in jail than this. The only reason I’m accepting it is that the victims want closure,” said Judge O’Keefe. “I feel coerced into this.”

Judge O’Keefe gave Mathews a sentence of 26 years and gave Savoy and Freshley the recommended sentences. He sentenced each of them to five years of supervised release after their prison terms end and ordered each to pay $2,000 to the Victims of Violent Crime Fund.

Freshley, Savoy and Mathews apologized for their offenses in statements to the court.

Kyle McGonigal, Savoy’s defense attorney, said that his client has been involved in a peacekeeping program at the DC Jail and is learning to be a mentor to other young men.

“He wants to do everything he can to help prevent street violence and any violence,” McGonigal said. “The program he’s participating in at the jail is aimed at doing just that.”

“I took a course from Howard University that focuses on communication skills,” Freshley said in a statement read by his defense attorney, Molly Bunke. “I have learned to be patient.”

“It was never my intent to hurt [the victims],” Mathews said. “This was a mistake. This was something that wasn’t meant to happen.”

“People do these terrible, terrible things,” said Judge O’Keefe. “The person who gets caught comes in and says, ‘I didn’t mean to shoot them.’ Of course not, but you didn’t have the common sense not to take out a gun and shoot it.”

No further hearings are scheduled in these cases.

‘If It Was Your Child, Would You Accept What They’re Giving?’ Asks Victim’s Mother of Sentence in Shooting, Homicide

DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe questioned prosecutors on the fairness of Riley Benjamin‘s plea deal on Aug. 30 before sentencing him to 15 years in prison for two shootings that left one man dead and another paralyzed from the waist down.

Benjamin, 33, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm for shooting 31-year-old Maurice McRae on Feb. 19, 2022, on the 3000 block of Bladensburg Road, NE.

According to court documents, an autopsy showed that the shooting caused McRae’s death on April 27, 2022.

Benjamin was also charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, aggravated assault while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a license, threatening to injure or kidnap a person, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and fleeing a law enforcement officer for his involvement in a non-fatal shooting on Jan. 22, 2022, on the 1400 block of Okie Street, NE.

“These cases are eerily similar. Both are innocent people who get shot in the back and paralyzed, and one of them ends up dying,” Judge O’Keefe said.

As part of a plea deal, Benjamin pleaded guilty on June 14 to voluntary manslaughter while armed and assault with intent to kill, in exchange for the dismissal of all other charges in both cases.

The plea deal recommended a sentence of 15 years for the manslaughter charge. It recommended that the sentence for the assault charge be within the sentencing guidelines and run concurrently with the sentence for manslaughter.

Benjamin had the right to withdraw his guilty pleas if the judge sentencing him did not accept the recommendations.

“Why should I accept this?” Judge O’Keefe asked the prosecutors.

“This is the result of, I can tell you, relatively prolonged negotiations with the defense,” one of the prosecutors said.

The prosecutors said there were “evidentiary issues” with both of the cases against Benjamin.

“This plea agreement brings closure to what has been a prolonged process for these families,” one prosecutor said. “It will avoid the process of appeal, and Mr. Benjamin will go to jail for a long period of time, in our view.”

In an impact statement, the surviving victim told the court of the shooting’s consequences in that he wound up partially paralyzed just as he had a chance of joining an NFL team. He went from being a star college athlete to being unable to walk, use the bathroom normally or father children.

The victim spent days in the hospital in a coma. After he woke, he had to go through extensive surgery and rehabilitation.

“I suffered and struggled to relearn how to breathe because my lungs collapsed,” the victim said. “I’m left with $100,000’s of medical bills.”

“I don’t know if I’ll ever have the joy of having a grandchild. There were so many lives that were robbed and impacted from this,” the surviving victim’s mother told the court. “His career was stolen from him. For a child to get to that point, it’s a family sacrifice.”

“As a father we want to give answers to our children, but there are no answers,” said the father of the surviving victim.

“I mentored young men for most of my life and taught them conflict resolution, but what if you never have a chance to say a word?” the father asked, referring to the fact his son didn’t know his assailants.

The surviving victim’s grandmother told the court how responsible, ambitious and hardworking her grandson had always been.

“Never did we ever think that his path would ever cross with such criminal scum as sits here,” she said.

“He had sixty days when we had time to love on him,” McRae’s mother said, describing her murdered son’s condition in the time between his shooting and his death.

“My son couldn’t go to the bathroom anymore. He had a tube from his stomach that took his feces out through his nose. He had pain at ten every day, and it never went away,” she said.

“If it was your child, would you accept what they’re giving?” McRae’s mother asked protesting the terms of the plea agreement. But she said she supported it because she was afraid Benjamin would be acquitted if he went to trial.

“She’ll wake up at night screaming and yelling,” the great-grandmother of McRae’s young daughter told the court about her great-granddaughter. “She goes to her mother’s house and my house, but she won’t go to many other places because she’s scared.”

“He’s not coming back. It’s not fair at all,” said McRae’s sister. “I didn’t want to come, but I wanted everyone to know my brother was loved. I’m here for him and for his justice.”

“I’m not going to pretend there’s anything I can say to relieve any of the grief that’s in the courtroom today,” Julie Swaney, Benjamin’s attorney, said. “This is not a light sentence, although it feels that way to the families.”

“I don’t want to minimize this. It should never have happened. I take full responsibility,” Benjamin said regarding McRae’s shooting in a passage Swaney read from Benjamin’s presentence report.

“I think it needs to be clear that Mr. Benjamin did not shoot [the surviving victim],” said Swaney. She and the prosecutors said Benjamin was cooperating with the prosecution in the case against Roger Jones, 41, a former co-defendant with Benjamin in the non-fatal shooting case.

“This result seems completely inadequate because of the pain that’s been inflicted on all of you,” Judge O’Keefe said to the McRae family and the surviving victim and his family.

“[Benjamin] does benefit the case going forward so Mr. Jones can be held accountable,” Judge O’Keefe noted. “So there’s some justification for it–for the deal, I mean–even though it doesn’t seem fair, because it’s not fair.”

For the charge of assault with intent to kill, Judge O’Keefe sentenced Benjamin to nine years’ incarceration, the maximum allowed under the sentencing guidelines. Since the sentences run concurrently, Benjamin will serve that sentence at the same time as the 15-year sentence for manslaughter.

Judge O’Keefe sentenced Benjamin to five years of supervised release after his prison term ends. Benjamin’s release conditions include getting a complete mental health assessment and participating in all recommended treatment, completing a life skills training program, securing and maintaining employment, submitting a DNA sample to a law enforcement database, and abiding by stay-away and no-contact orders for the victims’ families.

Benjamin is required to pay $2,000 to the Victims of Violent Crime fund.

No further hearings are scheduled in these cases.

Non-Fatal Shooting Defendant Receives 15 Year Sentence

DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe sentenced Scotland Alston to 15 years in prison on Aug. 30 for shooting a woman in the chest, legs and buttocks during an argument on a street corner.

Alston, 33, was originally charged with assault with intent to kill while armed for his involvement in the non-fatal shooting on Feb. 28 on the 2000 block of Benning Road, NE.

On June 10, Alston pleaded guilty to aggravated assault knowingly while armed in exchange for the prosecution’s not seeking an indictment for any other charges stemming from the facts of this case.

At the sentencing, the prosecutor read a statement from the victim describing the effects of the shooting.

“Over the last six months, I have been learning to walk and talk again,” the prosecutor read. “I really have not been there for my seven kids because I am suffering from depression.”

“She’s not the same person,” the victim’s mother told the court. “I understand because of the trauma she went through.”

The victim’s mother said the victim was shot in the chest and over the kidney and liver. She spent two-and-a-half months in the hospital and endured multiple surgeries. She experiences pain in breathing, walks with difficulty, and must wear a colostomy bag.

“Shooting a woman who’s clearly arguing with him, but she’s sitting down, not doing anything–he thought about it and came back and shot her,” Judge O’Keefe said after the prosecutor showed a video of the incident.

The prosecutor asked Judge O’Keefe to impose a sentence of 11 years, the maximum indicated by the DC sentencing guidelines.

According to Judge O’Keefe, aggravating factors in the case allowed him to impose a sentence above the maximum.

“One of the aggravating factors is that the victim sustained devastating injuries,” Judge O’Keefe said.

In addition to the prison term, Judge O’Keefe sentenced Alston to five years of supervised release, when he must secure stable housing, maintain employment, and complete anger management therapy. Alston must also pay $1,000 to the Victims of Violent Crime Fund.

Wole Falodun, Alston’s defense attorney, apologized to the victim and her family and said Alston took full responsibility for the crime.

“It’s certainly a good thing that Mr. Alston took responsibility, and he took responsibility early and didn’t draw it out,” said Judge O’Keefe, referring to Alston’s accepting a pre-indictment plea deal within a month and a half of his arrest.

No further hearings are scheduled in this case.

Procedural ‘Hamster Wheel’ Delays Stabbing Case

A stabbing trial that was supposed to start on May 14 has been delayed again because of a “hamster wheel” miscommunication between the US Attorney’s Office and the US Marshals preventing the victim from testifying in court.

The prosecutor asked for the latest postponement in a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun on Aug. 26.

Samuel Robinson is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon in connection to a Feb. 6 incident at the Mt. Vernon Square Metro Station on the 700 block of M Street, NW.

According to court documents, a Metropolitan Department Police (MPD) officer heard a commotion on the train platform and was told by a special police officer that an individual, identified as Robinson, had allegedly stabbed a victim in the back of his head with a knife.

The stabbing was the result of a physical altercation between Robinson and the victim. Both were injured and after receiving medical treatment both parties were arrested.

During the hearing the prosecutor said he was not prepared to go to trial and asked for a 45-day extension so the victim could testify. The individual is being held in Prince George’s County related to the stabbing. However, the prosecutor said there was a paperwork problem in transporting him back to the District.

DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun queried, “Who’s talking to Prince George’s County?” He noted this was the second time the prosecution had failed to produce the witness.

The prosecutor compared the situation to a “hamster wheel” because of the time required by the US Marshals to execute a writ enabling the transfer within the mandatory deadline. While the prosecutor said there was “good cause” for the procedural delay, he was still “a little unclear why [the witness] has not come back”.

Defense attorney Michelle Lockard said the prosecution has “failed to be diligent in this matter” and asked Judge Okun to either dismiss the case or release Robinson who’s been jailed since the incident.

Although Judge Okun said it was a “close call,” he was not going to dismiss the case. However, he said the “trickier issue,” had to do with the delayed trial date. Judge Okun criticized the prosecution for failure to exercise due diligence even though they were acting under “the mistaken belief” they were doing the right thing.

Regarding Robinson’s release, Judge Okun said it was “concerning” given the serious nature of the offense. That decision was delayed until it was determined if Robinson would be eligible for home confinement.

Meanwhile, a trial date of Sept.10 was set before DC Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz.

Metro Shooting Defendant Pleads Guilty

A shooting defendant accepted a plea deal extended by the prosecution before DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo in an Aug. 30 hearing.

Thomas Leach, 17, was originally charged with three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with intent to murder while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, two counts of assault with significant bodily injury, three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, ten counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of carrying a dangerous weapon outside a home or business.

The charges stemmed from his involvement in a non-fatal shooting that left three individuals suffering from gunshot wounds, at the Benning Road Metro Station on the 4000 block of Central Avenue, NE, on Dec. 8, 2022.

According to court documents, Leach and the intended victim have a history and attended school together.

Leach accepted an offer in which he pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, assault with a dangerous weapon, and carrying a pistol without a license, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges..

Through the deal, parties have agreed to a sentencing range of 60-and-78 months.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 1.

Homicide Defendant Refuses To Attend Court

A homicide defendant refused to attend a hearing in front of DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun on Aug. 30.

Marcus Barringer, 32, is charged with first-degree murder premeditated while armed, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of obstruction of justice, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict, unlawful possession of ammunition, and carrying a pistol without a license. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Rashad Davis on the 2300 block of Nicholson Street, SE, on May 6, 2022.

During the hearing, US Marshals alerted Judge Okun that Barringer had refused to attend court. The defendant has been held at St. Elizabeths in order to be evaluated to determine if he’s mentally competent to stand trial and represent himself.

Lisbeth Saperstein and Chalres Murdter, Barringer’s attorneys, requested additional time to ensure their client is able to participate in a hearing remotely.

Parties are set to reconvene on Nov. 1.

Homicide Defendant Pleads Not Guilty of Killing Burn Victim

A homicide defendant pleaded not guilty in front of DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun during an arraignment on Aug 30.

Dayshawn Nolan, 21, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the death of Antoinette Davis on July 3, 2022. The incident occurred on the 400 block of Condon Terrace, SE.

According to court documents, an apartment at the listed location caught on fire on the night of the incident. Davis, who was inside, sustained multiple first, second, and third-degree burns and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. On July 17, 2022, Davis succumbed to her injuries.

During an interview with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), Nolan allegedly told a detective he and a friend were playing with roman candles inside of the apartment building before the place went up in flames.

The prosecution has not yet offered a plea agreement.

Parties are set to reconvene on Sept. 3.

Non-Fatal Shooting Defendant Detained

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan denied a shooting defendant’s request for release at a hearing on Aug. 23.

Richard Price, 24, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, six counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, conspiracy, and eight counts of obstruction of justice, for his alleged involvement in a shooting on June 1, 2022 on the 300 block of 56th Street NE.

During the proceeding, Lisbeth Saperstein, Price’s attorney, argued the prosecution lacks witnesses to identify Price as the shooter, and raised the question of other individuals’ possible involvement.

As for release, Saperstein argued Price had just been promoted at work and has a young child who he’d like to raise along with his wife.

However, prosecutors disagreed, stating that probable cause had been found, and the nature and circumstances of the event made Price a danger to the community.

The Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) deemed Price’s “compliance marginal” with his probation terms.

Given that the alleged crimes were committed during probation in another matter, Judge Raffinan ordered Price detained.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on Sept. 24.

Preliminary Hearing Delayed in Shooting Case

On Aug. 30 DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt postponed a preliminary hearing since she had to stand in for another judge.

Marcus Martin, 27, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed for a non-fatal shooting that occurred on Jan. 11 on the 4200 block of East Capitol Street, NE. Two individuals sustained injuries during the incident.

According to court documents, the pistol that was allegedly used might match one that Martin had in his possession of at the time of his arrest.

Speaking on behalf of the investigating detective, the prosecutor clarified that the recovered bullet casings show only a potential match and need to undergo ballistics testing for confirmation.

Judge Brandt alerted the parties she was covering for another judge in part because several judicial appointments for the DC Superior Court are pending in Congress.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on Friday Sept. 27.

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