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Non-fatal Shooting Defendant Pleads Not Guilty During Felony Arraignment

Gerald Day pleaded not guilty to all charges during a felony arraignment held before DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro on Oct. 16.

Day, 33, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, accessory after the fact, threat to kidnap or injure a person, and carrying a pistol without a license, for his alleged involvement in a shooting that occurred on the intersection of O Street and Carrollsburg Place, SW on Oct. 29, 2023.

Defense attorney, Steven G Polin, stated that the case has been pending for 9 months and therefore was ready to set a trial date.

Judge Di Toro set a trial date for April 7 and consent to all protective orders were granted. 

Parties are slated to reconvene April 4. 

Judge Delays Ruling on Modification of Release Conditions for Shooting Defendant 

A shooting defendant must wait another week to hear a ruling from DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan on whether his release conditions will be modified to accommodate his work schedule.

Vann Allen, 35, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, and assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting on Nov. 11, 2023.According to police reports, one victim was wounded on the 1400 block of New York Avenue, NE.

On Oct. 15, Michelle Lockard, Allen’s attorney, argued for Allen’s release conditions to be modified to allow him to work more flexible hours at his restaurant management job. 

The prosecution argued against modifying Allen’s release conditions, asserting that current conditions were successful and therefore shouldn’t be changed.

Judge Raffinan said she would rule on the matter when parties reconvene on Oct. 23

Judge Further Delays Ruling on Motion to Dismiss Homicide Case

A homicide defendant will have to wait two more weeks to hear DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan’s decision on a motion to dismiss his case.

Antonio Jackson, 38, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and carrying a dangerous weapon outside a home or place of business, for his alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of Maria Evans, 59, on the 500 block of Oakwood Street, SE on March 29, 2018. 

Jackson’s attorney, Jessica Willis, filed a motion to dismiss Jackson’s case on June 20, citing five different instances in which the prosecution failed to share potentially useful information with the defense in a timely manner.

Judge Raffinan stated in court during an Oct. 15 hearing that she would need more time before making her final ruling on Jackson’s motion to dismiss.

Parties are slated to reconvene on Oct. 31.

Homicide Defendant Renews Motion to Sever Amid Potential Trial Delays

One defendant in a fatal shooting case filed a motion to continue trial during an Oct. 15 hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan. In response, his co-defendant asked to renew their motion to sever.

Jermall Johnson, 40, and Rafael Stevens, 39, are each charged with two counts of premeditated first-degree murder, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for their alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Aniekobo Umoh, 50, on Dec. 29, 2022, on the 2700 block of 7th Street, NE.

During the hearing, Johnson’s attorney, Steven LoGerfo, argued for a trial to be delayed so that independent DNA testing could be conducted and to wait for the issue of having a jury that is representative of the community to be resolved.

Regarding the jury issue, Judge Raffinan agreed with the prosecution’s opposing argument, finding it not sufficient grounds for a continuance.

LoGerfo and the prosecution then made arguments on whether Johnson had the right to do independent DNA testing on the bullet casings at the scene.

The prosecution argued that one casing had been tested already and the other was used in ballistics tests and may have been contaminated. Additionally, any DNA findings on either casing would not have evidentiary value significant enough to warrant waiting for test results.

LoGerfo disagreed, stating evidence related to a gun allegedly used in any case should have sufficient evidentiary value to warrant a continuance.

Judge Raffinan decided that she would rule on the motion to continue and the potentially resulting motion to sever when parties reconvene on Oct. 18. 

Prosecutor Says Jail Instagram Messages Linked to Homicide Defendant

A homicide defendant’s communications during jail calsl came under scrutiny during a trial before DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo on Oct. 17.

Eugene Burns, 32, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, 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 Onyekachi Emmanuel Osuchukwu III on Nov 14, 2015 on the 2900 block of Second Street, SE.

Burns was convicted of these charges in 2017, but were later overturned in 2020 due to a search that was beyond what was legally allowed.

Burns and co-defendant Tyre Allen, 24, are being charged with obstruction of justice by trying to influence/delay a witness or officer, conspiracy, and obstruction of the due administration of justice for their alleged involvement in intimidating a witness who had testified at Burns original trial in 2017.

As trial resumed, a witness, from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) testified he reviewed two Instagram accounts authorized by search warrants— one allegedly confirmed to belong to Burns — that was active a month after the murder took place.

Various posts were captioned with “#itallforyouO” under a short video made in New York City on Nov. 22, 2015, “Back at it again, #allforyoubro” under a picture behind the wheel of a car on Dec. 8, 2015, and “Its personal. #blood” with a post of two people, unidentified, posing in front of a car on Dec. 1,7 2015.

Another post was made on Dec 18, 2015 captioned “#takenotes” with a video of what appeared to be Burns getting out of a car and speaking to the camera.

Multiple jail calls from Sept. 2020 between Burns and Allen were played during the trial, which revealed the Instagram account belonged to Burns.

The prosecution also showed web history to the witness, who read aloud multiple searches regarding the keywords “Rico” and “Paid in Full,” which is a movie that prosecutors have previously claimed allegedly guided Burns in his actions in Osuchukwu’s murder. 

In the movie one of the characters, Rico, fatally shot another character, Mitch, due to a narcotics dispute. Prosecutors claimed Osuchukwu’s murder stemmed from a dispute with Burns about their alleged narcotics business. 

During cross-examination, Burns’ attorney, Jocelyn Wisner, asked the witness about other parts of the film that were not related to the shooting.

Wisner then asked the witness if he recalled Allen’s claiming that Burns told him about another man who was present during the incident in 2015.

The witness did not recall but was later shown a document which confirmed the claim made by Allen.

According to Allen, the man was in the bathroom of the residence where the incident occurred.

Parties will reconvene on Oct. 18.

Document: MPD Arrests Four in Northeast Shooting

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of four individuals, 18-year-old Andrew Williams, two 16-year-old males, and 18-year-old Anardo Little, for their alleged involvement in a shooting and attempted carjacking that took place on Oct. 16, on the 1200 block of H Street, NE. They are all charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, armed carjacking, carrying a pistol without a license, possession of an unregistered firearm, possession of unregistered ammunition, possession of a high capacity feeding device, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and unlawful entry.

Teen Says She And Other Juveniles Took Part in Fatal Beating of a Senior

A 15-year-old girl described her part in kicking and beating an elderly man to death in testimony before DC Superior Court Judge Kendra Briggs on Oct. 15.  And she identified her alleged co-conspirators as willing participants. 

The teen is one of five co-defendants, girls aged 12-to-15 at the time of the crime, charged with first-degree murder and assault with a dangerous weapon for their alleged involvement in the fatal beating of 64-year-old Reggie Brown. 

The incident occurred late at night on Oct. 17, 2023, on the 6200 block of Georgia Avenue, NW. 

As the prosecution’s lead witness the teen claimed she suggested that a group of her girl acquaintances “find someone to beat up,” because they were bored. Then the juvenile said she along with her four co-defendants encountered Brown on Georgia Avenue and chased him down a back alley where she admitted, “I kicked him,” on the leg and in the torso.  

While she acknowledged that the prosecution didn’t promise her immunity, the juvenile had previously signed a plea agreement with undisclosed terms.

Wearing a black hooded scarf and testifying with an emotional support dog at her side, the teen answered many prosecutorial questions with just a “yes” or a “no,” avoiding eye contact with two co-defendants who were being tried.  

However, the most chilling moments of her hours on the witness stand came in narrating a cell phone video the prosecution says was taken by one of the suspects in the beating. 

As the prosecutor moved through the video the witness told of the group’s meeting up with an unknown man on Georgia Avenue in a blue jacket who was already in the process of beating Brown and suggested they join the attack.

“Can we help?” asked the witness of the man.

As the crime unfolded, two of the suspects hopped over a fence and allegedly jumped on Brown in his futile efforts to escape. The video depicts s a flurry of boots assailing Brown’s bloody head while he lies motionless on the ground.  In particular, the witness identified the shoes of one of the attackers she knew as “silvery and glittering”   

Prompted by the prosecutor she named her co-defendants as visible in the video taking part in the attack.

At that point, the witness said she knew something was wrong.  “I stepped back,” she said, unhappy with what was happening. However, the onslaught continued with squeals and laughs audible in the background and when it was over, two girls, identified as suspects, are seen in the frame appearing to celebrate.  

The witness realized that Brown was dead, “He stopped talking,” she said.  Brown was described as a man with multiple medical conditions who was missing several fingers.  None of the defendants apparently knew the victim. His family members excused themselves from the courtroom before the video was played.

In cross examination, Geoffrey Harris, who’s representing the 13-year-old defendant, argued that getting into a fight didn’t mean killing someone.

“That thought that somebody was going to die, that thought never crossed your mind,” said Harris. “Nobody was getting seriously hurt; no one was getting killed,” he continued, and the witness agreed. 

Earlier in the proceeding Charlotte Gilliland, who represents a 14-year-old defendant, argued unsuccessfully against admitting a series of text messages and social media posts as inadmissible hearsay. The prosecution says the information links the five suspects to the crime.

Among the electronic conversations is the question, “You want us to beat the s*** out of him?,  then “We going to jail.”  Another post presented to the court read, “We jumped SB but killed him accidentally.”

“There’s no mention of an incident…There’s no mention of committing a crime,” said Giilland.  

Gilliland also asked Judge Briggs to recuse herself from the case for a potential bias after having hearing evidence that culminated in plea deals for two of the defendants Gililland says is prejudicial to her client.

“In this set of circumstances, a reasonable person could conclude that there is an appearance of partiality,” said Gilliland referring to “prejudicial and criminalizing information,” presented to the judge.

Rejecting Gililland’s claim Judge Briggs said, “You knew that prior to making your opening statement.” 

Quoting precedent, Judge Briggs said, the judge will have presumed to rely on the admissible evidence.

The prosecution is slated to continue questioning the juvenile in future proceedings. The trial is scheduled to resume on Oct. 16.

Stabbing Suspect’s Trial Delayed So Defense Can Test DNA Evidence

The trial of a suspected killer in a brutal knife attack has been postponed until late next year because the defense wants to do its own testing of extensive DNA evidence in the case. 

In an Oct. 11 hearing, DC Superior Court Judge William Okun said he was “concerned about the delay,” but acknowledged the deferral was justified.

George Sydnor, 45, is charged with three counts of first-degree premeditated murder while armed that was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel offense was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel offenses committed during release, burglary while armed offense was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel offenses committed during release, and one count of kidnapping while armed offense was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel offenses committed during release for his alleged involvement in a stabbing that killed 31-year-old Christy Bautista on March 31, at a hotel on the 1600 block of New York Avenue, NE.

According to court documents, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to a 911 call reporting screams coming from a hotel room in the district.

When they arrived, police found Syndor in the room, allegedly with blood on his hands and clothing and a woman on the ground near the door covered in blood apparently suffering from repeated stabbing injuries.  Police recovered half of a blood-stained broken knife in their search for evidence and Syndor was arrested at the scene.

Earlier a person identified as Syndor was seen on surveillance video arriving at the hotel on a red bicycle and making contact with the victim, according to court documents.  Shortly thereafter, the screams for help emanate from the hotel room. 

According to the autopsy report, Bautista was stabbed approximately 30 times, mostly in the back but also in her lungs and liver.  Additionally, the coroner said the victim endured a neck wound that punctured her spinal column, possibly paralyzing her. 

When he was taken into custody, Syndor had two outstanding arrest warrants for robbery, according to court records.

During the hearing the prosecutor said she’d supplied the defense with five reports of DNA evidence including tests on bodily fluid as well as evaluations of other genetic information that could be pertinent to the case. 

“We want to get the case off the ground this year,” she said. 

Jesse Winograd, Syndor’s attorney, said that his client was asserting his right to test DNA evidence in the case independent from the prosecution’s results.  Further that because the task was so complex he wants his own expert to review the reports before sending the material to a private lab.

Syndor “absolutely has the right to do this,” said Winograd, assuring the court that “there was no malfeasance by the government” regarding its handling of the evidence.

“The government has been very diligent,” agreed Judge Okun who said there might still be a chance of the trial starting this year. 

The planned trial date of Nov. 6 was canceled and reset for Oct. 27, 2025.

Document: MPD Arrests Suspect in Multiple Carjackings

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of 17-year-old Jordan Grice, who is charged with two counts of armed carjacking that took place on Aug. 16 and 17 on the 1700 block of 10th Street and 1100 block of 6th Street, NW, respectively. Upon responding to reports of carjacking, officers discovered the victims, who were ordered out of their cars at gunpoint.

Document: Suspect Wanted in a Fatal Shooting in Northeast

The Metropolitan Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating 17-year-old Andre Chillous, who is wanted on an arrest warrant charging him with first-degree premeditated murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 14-year-old David Bailey, that took place on Aug. 1 on the unit block of Tuckerman Street, NE.

Upon responding to reports of a shooting, officers discovered Bailey, who was pronounced dead at the scene. A second victim, an adult male, was also found and transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

‘You Broke Every Bone in My Dad’s Face,’ Says Homicide Victim’s Daughter as Defendant Pleads Guilty

A homicide defendant accepted a pre-preliminary hearing plea deal extended by prosecutors before DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe on Oct. 11. 

Chanos Monroe, also known as Chanos Marcus Gillis, 42, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed for his involvement in the fatal beating of 52-year-old Keith Sistare on July 27, 2022 on the 4400 block of Benning Road, NE. Sistare succumbed to his injuries on Sept. 11, 2022. 

During the hearing, Shawn Sukumar, Monroe’s attorney, alerted the court of his intent to waive his preliminary hearing rights and accept a plea deal. According to Sukumar, the deal required Monroe to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict, in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment. 

Through the deal, parties agreed to a sentence of 14 years of imprisonment. 

According to the prosecution, had the case gone to trial, they’d have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Monroe, his fiancee, and another individual were at a BP Gas station at the time of the incident. Sistare attempted to go into the driver’s seat of a vehicle, and when he realized Monroe’s fiancee was still in the vehicle, he attempted to flee. 

The prosecutor added that Monroe and his friend exited the gas station and assaulted Sistare, stomping his head multiple times, before Monroe retrieved a firearm from his vehicle. Monroe, his fiancee and companion fled the scene. 

According to the prosecutor, Sistare remained unresponsive, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Maryland (OCMEMD) ruled the manner of death a homicide, caused by complications with blunt force trauma from stomps to the head. 

Sistare’s daughter delivered a statement to Judge O’Keefe, despite Sukumar’s objections. 

“I feel like you did some bi**h a** sh**,” the daughter told Monroe, adding “My father suffered… you broke every bone in my dad’s face.” 

“I don’t know if he knew I was there taking care of him,” Sistare’s daughter stated, ruminating about her time as his caregiver following the attack. 

“You left him for dead,” she told Monroe, adding “I was there every day, until his last breath.” 

“He ain’t deserved that,” Sistare’s daughter insisted, adding “My father was somebody.”

Parties are slated to reconvene Dec. 17 for sentencing.

Judge OKs Child Witness’s Statements in Stabbing Trial 

On Oct. 10,  DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt ruled a witness’s statements, who was five-years-old at the time of the incident, are admissible to the jury in a stabbing case.

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.

During the hearing, parties argued the admissibility of statements made by the juvenile witness, the victim’s child, and audio from six 911 calls made on the night of the incident. 

The prosecution argued they’d show the jury body-worn camera footage from police officers where statements from the five-year-old can be heard. Judge Brandt expressed that the minor’s claims at the crime scene were excited utterances, an exception to the hearsay rule. This makes the statements eligible to be shown to the jury, despite the juvenile not testifying in court. 

Judge Brandt stated most of the 911 calls could be displayed to the jury, as long as the callers were witnesses that were testifying. She ruled parts of the calls irrelevant to the trial, and the prosecutors will need to redact them. 

Parties are set to convene for a jury trial on Oct. 30.

‘I Had Nothing to Hide,’ Says Suspect Claiming Self-Defense

A defendant testified he stabbed the victim in self-defense before DC Superior Court Judge Heidi Pasichow on Oct. 10.

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. One person sustained injuries.

According to court documents, Reams allegedly met the victim to buy narcotics. Reams allegedly returned sometime later to the scene because he was under the impression that he was missing narcotics he bought. After an argument, Reams allegedly stabbed the victim twice in his left arm and once in the left side of his abdomen. 

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers went to the hospital so that the victim could identify the suspect. They used a photo array consisting of nine individuals. The victim picked out the suspect and called him by his nickname and legal name.

Reams’ attorney, Michelle Lockard, called on Reams to testify.  

Reams testified that, upon moving out of he and his wife’s house after a disagreement, the victim offered his apartment as a place to stay. According to Reams, his belongings were disappearing after the first week, including clothing and money.

Reams further explained that he left the remote and 100 dollars in the victim’s apartment, but when he returned to retrieve the items, they were gone. 

According to Reams, he had just enough time to turn around to see the victim was swinging a knife at him, and they engaged in a physical altercation that, according to Reams, led the victim to cut himself by mistake and land on the knife.

Pertaining to the obstructing justice charge, Reams testified his family was concerned about his arrest, and attempted to discuss some of the case with them without disclosing too many details. 

Specifically, Reams brought up a recording where he said “If they [the victim] do not show up, they will have to throw the case out.” According to Reams, he was not requesting that his family dissuade the victim from going to court, he was explaining court procedure to them.

On cross-examination, the prosecution elicited testimony that Reams owed the victim 100 dollars and that Reams saw the victim dig through a drawer in the kitchen, contradicting what he said previously, which was that he turned around and the victim was ready to swing the knife.

“I had nothing to hide,” Reams said.

During their closing argument, the prosecutor said Reams contradicted his story several times in his testimony. The prosecutor said Reams had previously said on a phone call that it was not him in the CCTV video that shows an individual entering the victim’s apartment, but in his testimony said it was he.. 

The prosecutor said the injuries the victim sustained are inconsistent with the defense’s story that there was a struggle with the knife, since the victim had two distinct stab wounds on his arm, which is more consistent with him blocking his face from a knife. The prosecutor also said Reams was unharmed. 

The prosecutor said Reams is guilty of obstruction of justice because of the phone call played for the jury where he allegedly told someone to “get on top of” the victim and to tell him not to come to court to testify. 

Lockard asked the jury to find Reams not guilty of assault with a dangerous weapon because they do not know for sure what happened in the apartment. She said they have two competing stories of what happened — one from the defendant and one from the victim — and that the victim “has a reason to lie.” 

Lockard said the jury should also find the defendant not guilty of obstruction of justice because the defendant did not give a direct instruction to tell the victim not to come to court. 

The jury then started deliberation.