Stabbing Defendant Misses Trial’s Opening Day, Judge Issues Bench Warrant

A stabbing defendant failed to appear for his trial, prompting DC Superior Court Justice Robert Salerno to issue a warrant for his arrest on Oct. 21.

William Clark, 45, is charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and two counts carrying a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a stabbing on the 1600 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW on Sept. 9, 2023. One person was injured during the incident.

According to court documents, the stabbing allegedly occurred because Clark became irate upon seeing the victims stand near his parked e-bike. Clark is alleged to have drawn a knife during a verbal altercation with the victims and chased one away before turning and stabbing the other in the abdomen, according to court documents.

Parties in Clark’s case arrived to court on Oct. 21 ready to select a jury and deliver opening statements for a stabbing incident that is now more than two years old. Missing from the proceedings, though, was Clark himself whose absence could not be explained by his attorney, Steven Polin.

Judge Salerno quickly issued a bench warrant for Clark, who had also missed the previous day’s pre-trial hearing. While issuing the warrant, Judge Salerno said he could understand why Clark may have missed the pre-trial hearing but that there was no explanation for failing to appear on his first day of trial.

“I don’t understand why he’s not here this morning,” Judge Salerno said.

Clark has been arrested off of bench warrants twice previously in this case, according to court documents.

Parties are slated to reconvene when US Marshals have Clark in custody.

‘It’s For Your Benefit,’ Judge Postpones Sentencing For Carjacker to Complete Her GED

DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld postponed a carjacker’s sentencing on Oct. 22, so that she could complete her General Educational Development (GED) exams–equivalent to a high school diploma– in the DC Jail.

On June 2, Tamika Burriss, 36, pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit robbery while armed for her involvement in a carjacking on the 100 block of Kennedy Street, NW, on Feb. 17, 2024.

During an Oct. 22 hearing, defense attorney Quiana Harris requested that the hearing be continued to another date. She argued that the defendant would like to stay in the DC Jail because she is one math class short of completing her GED and that she will finish the course in 30 days.

Without hearing the prosecution’s objection, Judge Hertzfeld decided to continue the hearing, sympathizing with Burriss.

“Two points, that’s frustrating,” Judge Hertzfeld said. “I know you’ve been working hard, it’s for your benefit.”

Harris also announced her plan to file a motion to reevaluate sentencing per Burriss’ request.

Parties are slated to reconvene on Dec. 11 for sentencing.

Document: MPD Arrests Man for Southeast Homicide

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of 32-year-old Clarence Edward Jones, Jr., for the alleged involvement in a fatal shooting in Southeast. The incident occurred on March 27, when officers found 29-year-old Benjamin Mingo deceased from a gunshot wound on the 3800 block of 1st Street, SE. Jones has been charged with First-Degree Murder While Armed (Premeditated).

Judge Weighs Provocative Social Media Posts in Carjacking Conspiracy

Hundreds of social media posts were the focus of a multi-defendant conspiracy, carjacking case before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on Oct. 21 and 22.

Irshaad Ellis-Bey, 20, Isaiah Flowers, 20, Taj Giles, 20, Bryon Gillum, 20, Jahkai Goff, 21, Jaelen Jordan, 20, and Warren Montgomery, 20, are charged with conspiracy, trafficking stolen property, two counts of armed carjacking, two counts of unauthorized use of a vehicle, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of robbery while armed. These charges stem from the co-defendants alleged involvement in a series of armed carjackings and fencing the stolen vehicles between February and May of 2023.

One of the carjackings occurred on Feb. 27, 2023 at the intersection of 20th Street and Sunderland Place, NW. Another at the intersection of K and 8th Street, NE, on April 27, 2023.

Additionally, Ellis-Bey, Flowers, Giles, Gillum, Goff, and Jordan are charged with two additional counts of unauthorized use of a vehicle, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, armed carjacking of a senior citizen, receiving stolen property of $1000 or more, and robbery of a senior citizen while armed. These charges stem from their alleged involvement in a carjacking that occurred on the 600 block of Butternut Street, NW, on May 16, 2023.

Prosecutors stated their intention to enter 411 posts from the defendants’ Instagram accounts, would including messages, photos, videos, and audio recordings. They also stated that 100 are gun related.

However, Judge Kravitz emphasized, “this is not going to be a trial about guns. This is a trial about carjackings.”

Further he said, “I will not let the prosecution flood the jury with evidence that sends the message that this is a group of thugs who smoke weed and play with guns.”

Lisbeth Sapirstein, the attorney for Ellis-Bey, also voiced concerns over the possible prejudicial nature of the photos that are said to depict the defendants holding guns, smoking marijuana and holding large amounts of cash.

Judge Kravitz stated that he will allow a few pictures of firearms to be entered as limited evidence only if the prosecution can establish a strong temporal relationship between the photos and the alleged conspiracy.

Further evidence from Instagram consists of a group chat, labelled Fent Colony, which the defendants allegedly used to discuss criminal activity. The section was from Feb. 27, 2023, and involved the men allegedly discussing the theft of a Porsche Cayenne from the Dupont Circle area.

Multiple attorneys from the defense, objected to the material as hearsay or were not relevant.

The prosecution argued that the inclusion of these chats is necessary to prove the the defendant’s close relationships.

Prosecutors cited Laumer v. US, stating that since the men were making statements against their own penal interests –risking criminal liability –they can be excepted from the hearsay rule. Judge Kravitz disagreed, and said that since they were not in custody nor knew that these statements would be used in court, that precedent does not apply.

Judge Kravitz asked for cooperation among all parties when negotiating which parts of the group chat will be shown to the jury. He stated they cannot object to all of the messages being entered, nor can the prosecution admit everything into evidence.

Parties reconvened on Oct. 22 to further discuss motions.

In total, eleven objections to the exhibits from Instagram were raised by every defendant except Montgomery, who is not mentioned. The defense wants to redact chats among defendants and block the use of photos where the prosecution stated they are holding guns or drugs, as well as a video where two defendants are said to be in a stolen vehicle.

Additionally, the prosecution’s exhibits include a picture of Gillum’s report card from Charles Herbert Flowers High School in addition to a “No Pass Policy” that he was put on– which stems from students’ continuous failure to appear in school.

Gillum shared this information on his Instagram story with the caption, “man they put me on the no pass policy.” The prosecution explained that by eliciting this into evidence, they can use it to associate Gillum with the account he was using.

Prosecutors stated that they still have between 35 and 40 objections to sort out before the court, which has pushed back jury selection to Oct. 27.

Trial is set to reconvene on Oct. 23.

Murder Victim’s Family Describes 11-Year Sentence as ‘Slap on the Wrist’

DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman sentenced a homicide defendant to 11 years of imprisonment despite objections from the victim’s family on Oct. 17.

De’Andre Sams, 29, pleaded guilty on Aug. 14 to voluntary manslaughter while armed for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Matthew Miller on Sept. 5, 2023 on the 200 block of M Street, SW. Miller’s death resulted from an attempted robbery and two additional individuals sustained gunshot wounds.

Keshawn Lavender, 24, and Raymond Mathis, 38, also face charges for their alleged involvement in the incident. They are both charged with conspiracy, first-degree felony murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, attempted robbery while armed, and three counts of possession of a firearm while armed.

As part of Sams’ plea deal, prosecutors agreed to a prison sentence of eight-and-a-half-to-13 years, contingent upon Judge Edelman’s acceptance.

At sentencing, Miller’s mother expressed, “Me and my daughter are not the same persons anymore, we walk around as shells of a person, pretending to be okay.” The mother said her only comfort was knowing her son did not suffer.

Miller’s mother noted that although Sams’ is incarcerated, his family can still visit him. “I have to visit my son in a graveyard,” she said.

“Finding my way through this grief I’m stuck with feels like trying to swim through concrete,” expressed Miller’s sister.

Miller’s sister described the case as a “miscarriage of justice” with “so little time, so little punishment.”

“They committed this cruel act completely out of selfishness and material desire. Please understand that these defendants will commit these same crimes again,” said Miller’s sister.

Miller’s godmother asked Judge Edelman “Your Honor, I am humbly asking you to let justice prevail, no slap on the wrist.”

Miller’s family members all requested Judge Edelman impose the maximum sentence on Sams.

After statements from Miller’s family, Judge Edelman implored why the prosecutor requested the sentence range in light of the tremendous impact on the family.

The prosecutor informed the judge the case had a “hole in the evidence” that created a litigation risk and the possibility of Sams’ acquittal if they proceeded to trial.

According to the prosecutor, Sams’ attempt to commit a robbery led to a gunfight in which Miller died, but there is no direct evidence of what occurred in the apartment.

The prosecutor requested Judge Edelman sentence Sams’ to 13 years of imprisonment.

Jessica Willis, Sams’ attorney, acknowledged the grief, anger, and frustration of Miller’s family and said Sams wrote them an apology letter. Willis asserted that based on their statements, Miller’s family might not understand the facts of the case.

According to Willis, the apartment had $90,000, 100 pounds of marijuana, and various guns when Sams’ and others attempted to commit the robbery that led to Miller’s death. Sams’ accepted responsibility for his conduct in the robbery but claimed he did not initiate or participate in the gunfight.

“Sams himself did not assault or shoot anyone,” declared Willis.

Willis claimed the evidence pointed to Deandre Christian, 31, as the person who fired the shot that killed Miller. Christian was originally charged with assault with intent to kill but pleaded guilty on Nov. 8, 2024 to felony possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

After discussing the defense’s theory of the case, Willis emphasized who Sams is as a person. She noted he suffered instability throughout his life but is currently devoted to his two children despite his incarceration.

Willis requested Sams’ serve an eight-and-a-half year prison sentence.

Judge Edelman acknowledged the difficult nature of determining a sentence in the case and that “an innocent life was lost in a tragic way.”

“The grief of Miller’s family is palpable,” said the judge.

Judge Edelman noted the seriousness of the crime but said the plea deal accounted for the lack of clarity surrounding who shot first and the events that transpired inside the apartment.

Judge Edelman sentenced Sams’ to 11 years of imprisonment with five years of supervised release. Sams will be required to register as a gun offender in DC upon his release. No further dates were set for Sams.

Prior to Sams’ sentencing, the prosecution extended plea deals to Lavender and Mathis. The deals would require them to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed. The prosecutor, in exchange, would dismiss all other charges and agree to a prison sentence of nine years for Lavender and eight-to-12 years for Mathis.

Mathis’ attorney, Carrie Weletz, informed parties that Mathis rejected the plea deal and opted to proceed to trial.

Lavender’s attorney, Kevin Irving, requested more time for his client to consider the offer.

Parties for Lavender are scheduled to reconvene on Nov. 12.

Murder Defendant Remorseful At Sentencing

DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman sentenced a homicide defendant to 17 years of imprisonment after he expressed deep regret for his actions on Oct. 17.

Derek Turrentine, 43, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed for the fatal shooting of 43-year-old James Price on Sept. 15, 2024 on the 400 block of 50th Street, NE.

Turrentine pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed on Aug. 18 and in exchange, prosecutors agreed to a sentence of 17 years of imprisonment.

At sentencing, the prosecutor read a statement from Price’s aunt and uncle who said Price was “tragically and senselessly taken from [them] due to gun violence.”

Price’s sister said she was “holding on to the hope and strength [Price] inspires” and dedicated her remembrance of Price to keep his legacy alive.

A letter from Price’s brother acknowledged the loss Turrentine’s family suffered with him incarcerated and said “this tragedy has hurt two families.”

The prosecutor noted Turrentine’s limited criminal history and that he accepted responsibility early in the case. However, but the prosecutor also described the premeditated nature of the murder because Turrentine followed Price into an alley and fired the final shot when Price was motionless on the ground.

Shawn Sukumar, Turrentine’s attorney, said he struggled to comprehend how the person who sat next to him was the same person in the video of the murder. Sukumar said the person he knew was “only a person of deep regret” and “truly contemplating his life” since his arrest.

Turrentine looked directly towards Price’s family in the courtroom and apologized. “I beg them for forgiveness,” said Turrentine.

“When I reemerge, I’d like to impact the community I devastated in a positive manner,” expressed Turrentine.

“His expressions of remorse strike me as genuine,” said Judge Edelman.

Judge Edelman described the murder as “cold-blooded” but acknowledged Turrentine accepted responsibility and had a minimal criminal history.

The judge accepted the plea deal and sentenced Turrentine to 17 years of imprisonment with five years of supervised release. Turrentine will also be required to register as a gun offender in DC upon his release.

No further dates were set.

Shooting Defendant Denied Release,Waives Preliminary Hearing

A shooting defendant was denied release after he waived his right to a preliminary hearing before DC Superior Court Heide Herrmann on Oct. 21.

Delon King, 19, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in a shooting that injured three individuals on the busy corridor of 900 block of U Street, NW, on May 11, 2025.

Judge Herrmann noted that a waiver of preliminary hearing was submitted by the defense. King’s attorney, Quo Meiko Judkins, explained that the waiver was being submitted in light of a pre-preliminary plea he had been considering, although the terms of the plea were not discussed. The waiver was accepted.

Judkins requested King’s release pending his next hearing. She cited King’s lack of prior convictions and the fact that the individual allegedly shot by King fully recovered. Judkins also highlighted that King had two jobs anticipating his return.

Furthermore, Judkins argued DC Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel previously released King’s co-defendant, 20-year-old Davian Raines, who allegedly confessed to his involvement in the shooting.

The prosecutor, however, stated that the facts of the case were severe, thus King should be held to ensure the safety of the public.

King allegedly shot several rounds into a crowd of hundreds of people, which led to a juvenile’s being hit. Furthermore, the gun allegedly found on King during his arrest matched the shell casings found at the scene of the incident, according to the prosecution. A jail call between Raines and King also revealed King supposedly saying that he shot twice that day and did not shoot more because his gun jammed.

After hearing the facts of the case, Judge Herrmann decided to hold King in jail.

Judge Herrmann insisted that it was lucky that no deaths were caused by the shooting, but this luck did not undermine the dangerousness of the situation. She determined that there were no conditions of release that could ensure the safety of the community.

The parties are slated to reconvene on Oct. 28.

Shooting Defendant Waives Preliminary Hearing

A shooting defendant waived the preliminary hearing rights before DC Superior Court Judith Pipe on Oct. 21.

Thurman Williams, 55, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict, for his alleged involvement in a shooting on the 1100 block of First Street, NW, on Oct. 17, 2025. No injuries were reported.

According to court documents, Williams allegedly was walking with the victim, when he reached into his coat, pulled out a handgun, and shot one bullet towards the victim.

The victim fled the incident. Williams was arrested shortly after, with a handgun is claimed to match the ammunition found at the scene in his possession.

During the hearing, Williams’ attorney, Camille Wagner, alerted Judge Pipe that Williams would be waiving his right to a preliminary hearing.

The parties are slated to reconvene on Nov. 3.

Evidence Motions Debated in 7 Defendant Carjacking Case

Seven carjacking co-defendants, and their respective attorneys, argued complex motions on the first day of trial before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz and were unable to select a jury on Oct. 20.

Byron Gillum, 20, Jaelen Jordan, 20, Isaiah Flowers, 20, Jahkai Goff, 21, Warren Montgomery, 20, Taj Giles, 20, and Irshaad Ellis-Bey, 20, are charged with conspiracy, trafficking stolen property, two counts of armed carjacking, two counts of unauthorized use of a vehicle, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of robbery while armed.

These charges stem from the group’s alleged involvement in a series of armed carjackings and the subsequent distribution of the stolen vehicles between February and May of 2023.

According to court documents, the first verified carjacking took place on Feb. 27, 2023 at the intersection of 20th Street, and Sunderpland Place, NW. The second incident occurred on April 27, 2023 at the intersection of 8th and K Streets, NE.

A third incident occurred on May 16, 2023, in the 600 block of Butternut Street, NE, for which Jordan, Goff, Gillum, Ellis-Bey, and Flowers, are facing additional charges.

The charges include two counts of unauthorized use of a vehicle, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, armed carjacking of a senior citizen, receiving stolen property of $1,000 or more, and robbery of a senior citizen while armed.

On the first day of trial, the prosecution and the entire defense counsel, composed of nine attorneys, moved forward with preliminary motions. Judge Kravitz stated that he had a list of more than 15 motions to address throughout the day.

The prosecution’s notice of intent to introduce evidence of the defendant’s prior crimes was discussed.

The prosecution stated that Goff, Ellis-Bey, and Flowers were involved in a prior carjacking that occurred on Feb. 25, 2023 at the Royal Farms gas station on the 6200 block of Allentown Road in Camp Springs, MD. The prosecution argued that the stolen car from the Feb. 25 carjacking was used two days later as part of the carjacking that took place on Feb. 27, and is direct evidence to the pattern of carjackings the defendants followed.

None of the defense attorneys filed any oppositions, although Goff’s attorney, Donna Beasley, argued that she had “missed” the prosecution’s filing and wished to oppose the notice.

Beasley further argued that the prosecution was proceeding on the Pinkerton Theory, without establishing that the co-defendants had agreed to commit crimes together beforehand.

The Pinkerton Theory holds that a conspirator can be convicted of a substantive crime committed by a co-conspirator if the crime was a reasonable and foreseeable outcome of the conspiracy and was committed in the purpose of the crime, even if the defendant did not directly participate.

Beasley further argued that Goff had not been identified by the victim, and therefore the prosecution was making the assertion that Goff had participated in the crime from cell-site data that showed his phone was in the area at the time of the crime.

Judge Kravitz told Beasley that the jury would be instructed on Pinkerton Theory and the fact that some evidence applies to certain defendants only. Judge Kravitz asserted Goff’s defense that some evidence, specifically regarding cell-site data, could even fail to prove Goff’s involvement or role as a co-conspirator.

However, Judge Kravitz ultimately agreed with the prosecution that the evidence presented about the carjacking committed on Feb. 25, 2023 by Goff, Giles, Ellis-Bey, and Flowers was valid and admissible for conspiracy. Therefore, the prosecution’s notice of intent to introduce evidence of the defendant’s other crimes was granted.

The court further discussed the prosecution’s notice of intent to present evidence from another carjacking that occurred on April 15, 2023.

The prosecution stated that the carjacking was committed by two unknown offenders, but contained valid evidence against the defendants, given that the stolen vehicle was driven to the parking garage used as the headquarters of their operation, located on the 1300 block of Florida Avenue, NE.

With that, the prosecution further argued the evidence was relevant given that the stolen vehicle from April 15 was later sold to undercover Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers by Jordan, with 15 pre-recorded hundred dollar bills.

All 15 hundred dollar bills, with the matching serial numbers, were allegedly recovered during a search of Jordan’s apartment following his arrest in May of 2023.

Jordan’s defense attorney, Brian McDaniel, opposed the motion and argued that there was no evidence that supported that Jordan was involved in the carjacking.

Judge Kravitz referenced the indictment, which stated that the scope of the conspiracy was from February to May of 2023, and included the sales of vehicles stolen and sold solely by the defendants.

The prosecution argued that this evidence was probative to Jordan’s identity, and proves that Jordan sold vehicles to undercover MPD agents.

McDaniels, as well as the other defense attorneys, argued that the prosecution was prejudicial, and that it was not necessary to include another violent carjacking to the case.

The prosecution continued to argue that the evidence was going to be used to prove Jordan’s knowledge that he was selling a stolen vehicle, and was therefore part of the conspiracy.

When Judge Kravitz asked the prosecution what other evidence the prosecution had relating to the fact that Jordan was allegedly selling stolen vehicles, they said that they had recovered hidden camera footage from undercover agents, text messages and hidden phone calls from Jordan’s cellphone with undercover agents.

The prosecution also stated that they had more than 111 security footage videos from the parking garage on Florida Avenue, many of which capture an individual, identified as Jordan, cleaning and preparing cars for sale, photographing vehicles to display for sale, in addition to the exchange of keys of the stolen vehicles between sellers and undercover MPD agents.

All of this, Judge Kravitz asserted, was strong evidence about Jordan’s identity, and said that the finding from April 15 was not supported by the language of the indictment and was not part of the ongoing conspiracy.

Therefore, Judge Kravitz denied the prosecution’s notice of intent to introduce evidence from the carjacking that occurred on April 15, 2023.

Parties also discussed Jordan’s motion to suppress evidence recovered from his apartment during the execution of a search warrant.

McDaniels argued that the fruits of the search from Jordan’s apartment should be dismissed given that the original search warrant lacked probable cause and particularity, in addition to containing some misstatements.

The prosecution opposed the motion, and Judge Kravitz said that the affidavit made probable cause given that it was believed evidence worn by the defendants at the time of the crimes, as well as pre-recorded funds would be found in his home.

However, Judge Kravitz did admit that some parts of the warrant were overly broad, such as a certain section pertaining to the search for evidence that would show Jordan’s state of mind when committing the crimes.

Despite this statement, Judge Kravitz denied the motion.

Judge Kravitiz also addressed Gillum’s motion to dismiss charges which stem from the carjacking that took place on May 16, 2023 on the 600 block of Butternut Street, NE.

These charges include armed carjacking of a senior citizen, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, robbery while armed of a senior citizen, and unauthorized use of a vehicle.

Gillum’s defense attorney, Daniel Dorsey, argued that there was no evidence that linked Gillum to the offense that took place on May 16, 2023.

However, the prosecution argued that under the Pinkerton Theory the evidence from the carjacking would be admissible against Gillum, using statements from the defendants given that they were proffered.

Given that the defense did not dispute the prosecution’s statement, Judge Kravitz denied Gillum’s motion to dismiss the charges, without prejudice.

Judge Kravitz reviewed Goff’s motion for supplemental severance.

This was the third motion that Goff’s defense attorney had filed requesting severance for his own trial, arguing that the evidence against him was far weaker than his co-defendants.

Beasley claimed that Goff had not participated in the carjackings that occurred in February, April, or May, although the prosecution once again argued that this evidence is admissible under the Pinkerton Theory, given that Goff never withdrew from the conspiracy.

The defense argued that given that Goff had never participated, knowledge of an ongoing conspiracy is not reason to withdraw in the first place.

Judge Kravitz stated that the defense’s arguments would not change in a separate trial or a joint trial, and saw no unique reason for Goff to be severed from the case, as would be the argument from the prosecution.

With that, Judge Kravitz reassured Goff’s defense that the jury would be presented with all of the correct information during cross-examinations to make a knowledgeable decision without confusing the defendants.

Therefore, Judge Kravitz denied Goff’s motion for supplemental severance.

Judge Kravitz also addressed the prosecution’s notice of intent to introduce firearms evidence of the defendant’s other crimes and conspiracy.

The prosecution stated that their position was that the co-defendants’ acquisition and possession of firearms was done as part of their conspiracy to commit armed carjackings and later sell the stolen vehicles.

Judge Kravitz said that the evidence of the co-defendant’s prior possessions of firearms could be permissible, but was confused in part by the prosecution’s full argument.

The prosecution therefore clarified that in each of the noted carjackings, victims described assailants armed with either handguns or rifles.

The carjacking victim from Feb. 27, 2023 was held at gunpoint by two individuals wearing black ski masks, one holding a black and tan handgun, and the other holding a blue handgun.

Similarly, the carjacking victim from May 16, 2023, described one “strange looking” gun that was allegedly later found in Jordan’s apartment with DNA evidence linked back to him.

The prosecution told Judge Kravitz that each victim’s descriptions of the weapons used during the carjackings was most relevant, given that some incidents were not caught on camera, or the footage was captured in black and white or from a considerable distance.

With that, the prosecution said that there was also evidence regarding the acquisition of the firearms, as well as evidence from before and after the charged conspiracy timeframe that had been recovered from Instagram and Jordan’s iCloud account.

According to the prosecution, all of the evidence shows possession in means to commit armed offenses. The prosecution argued that if defendants were posting or sharing their handguns on social media, it further negates any future arguments that they were unaware of the ongoing conspiracy.

While the entirety of the defense counsel attempted to move forward with oppositions, it was quickly revealed to Judge Kravitz that a number of attorneys were either unable to access the entirety of digital evidence, or were overwhelmed with the volume of evidence shared by the prosecution.

The prosecution explained that given the number of co-defendants they had made immense efforts to organize everything properly, and keep only what was most relevant.

For example, the prosecution explained that one exhibit, which contained a group chat on Instagram called “Fent Nation” between all the defendants from January 2023 to May 2023 contained more than 26,000 pages of material.

The prosecution stated that on average they had worked down each exhibit of digital evidence from Instagram to an average of five pages, despite some attorneys saying they were not comfortable moving forward without a definitive list of exhibits that the prosecution planned to use.

Given these statements on the first day of trial, Judge Kravitz urged defense attorneys to figure out a methodology that best worked for them, assuring them that accessing the information was not impossible.

The prosecution said that they had no issue with granting the defense counsel more time to thoroughly review the digital evidence at hand, and suggested that instead the court move forward to review two music videos that were also being considered as firearms evidence.

The first music video, titled Zaymoney was published to YouTube publicly in December 2022, and the prosecution stated they would not be using lyrics as evidence, simply short clippings and still shots.

In the Zaymoney music video, stills of Goff, Flowers, Ellis-Bey, Jordan, and Gillum, were presented to Judge Kravitz, each wearing unique clothing items that were later matched with a corresponding picture from each co-defendant’s Instagram account.

Additionally, the still of Goff depicts him holding a black and tan handgun that matches the description the victim from the Feb. 27, 2023 carjacking gave to officials, as well as in his testimony in front of a grand jury.

Defense attorneys objected to the relevance of the evidence, arguing that the defendants wearing clothes from before December 2022 and later in February 2023 is not relevant. However, Judge Kravitz claimed that it is useful to identify association with each of the co-defendants’ Instagram accounts.

The prosecution moved on to show Judge Kravitz a clip from the Zaymoney music video that depicted Jordan, Goff, and Ellis-Bey together, and later transitioned to show Flowers wearing a crossbody Coach bag, which was later recovered during a search of his apartment with a firearm inside.

Throughout the short clip, there were multiple transitions that show the defendants and others in the music video holding large sums of money, as well as large bags of marijuana.

Jordan’s defense objected to all images relating to the defendant’s holding large sums of money or bags of marijuana, and the rest of the defense counsel later joined in agreement.

The prosecution agreed that they would redact most clips with marijuana or large sums of money, but would not do so at wholesale value.

The prosecution argued that there were certain exhibits where the defendants were captured smoking marijuana, matching up to descriptions given by the carjacking victims stating that their vehicles smelled of marijuana following the return.

With that, the prosecution argued that some exhibits show the defendants holding large sums of money immediately before or after an offense took place, which would be relevant to include.

Judge Kravitz asked the prosecution to highlight these exhibits and share them separately with the court.

While the defense counsels continued to argue that there was no probative link, Judge Kravitz acknowledged that it would be entirely incorrect to say that there was zero logical relevance.

Lastly, the prosecution shared the second music video, titled Boxed In, which was published in May 2023 to a YouTube account titled Juwop that is not part of the indictment.

However, the prosecution argued that the music video showed the association of the co-defendant’s and asserted the claim that they would be more likely to agree to commit crimes together.

The music video, which was shown in full, showed Ellis-Bey and Jordan holding multiple handguns, with lyrics that the prosecution claimed are autobiographical in nature and describe the methodology used by the co-defendants to commit the armed carjackings.

Several attorneys as well as Judge Kravitz however, said that they were unable to follow the music video’s lyrics, and requested a former transcript before moving forward with any rulings.

However, Judge Kravitz did note that the Boxed In music video was more prejudicial than the Zaymoney video, and adequately displayed the association of the co-defendants and their willingness to commit crimes together.

By the end of the hearing, Judge Kravitz urged attorneys to return to the courtroom ready to discuss the digital evidence from Instagram and iCloud in order to have “meaningful discussion”.

Parties are slated to convene Oct. 21.

Judge Finds Probable Cause in Classmate Murder

DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman found probable cause a defendant murdered his classmate during a preliminary hearing on Oct. 17.

Carlton Simon, 20, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Angel Dominguez on May 29 on the 900 block of Florida Avenue, NW. Dominguez sustained five gunshot wounds to his chest, calf, thigh, knee, and forearm.

According to court documents, Simon and Dominguez both attended YouthBuild, an alternative high school that provides academic and vocational training to students.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective who wrote the arrest warrant for Simon resumed her testimony with cross-examination from Kevin Irving, Simon’s attorney.

The detective wrote in the warrant that a witness said Dominguez previously threatened other students in class. Irving asked for additional details about the content of the threats but the detective said the witness was not specific.

According to the detective, the same witness told her about accusations that Dominguez robbed or attempted to rob people. However, the detective could not provide any specific information regarding the reported robberies.

The prosecutor confirmed with the detective that Simon told her Dominguez robbed people.

Irving confirmed with the detective that only 9mm firearm casings were found at the scene and during the execution of a search warrant MPD did not recover a gun in Simon’s home.

Irving argued there was no probable cause because the detective’s testimony differed from the warrant she wrote and asserted Dominguez could have shot himself because he had a gun in the video footage.

The prosecutor disputed the idea that Dominguez shot himself and pointed to the torso wound as his cause of death.

Judge Edelman found probable cause that Simon committed the murder because of the Metro surveillance videos, which were discussed on Oct. 3, documenting Simon and witness identification of Simon in the videos. The judge also noted Simon’s statements during his interview with MPD could be interpreted as a confession.

Following the probable cause ruling, the prosecutor requested Simon’s continued detention at the DC Jail while he awaits trial because there are no conditions that can ensure the safety of the community.

They noted the crime Simon’s accused of a shooting that occurred in broad daylight and asserted Simon bragged about the murder in social media posts and rap lyrics he reportedly posted following the incident.

Parties discussed under seal what the prosecutor described as the “history and characteristics of the defendant.”

Irving requested Simon’s release because he had no prior adult convictions, could stay with his mother, and had employment prior to his incarceration.

Judge Edelman ordered Simon to remain held due to the weight of the evidence against him and his prior history of violence that remains under seal.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on Jan. 23, 2026.

Prosecutors Say Carjacking, Shooting Defendant, Pulled Woman, ‘Out of the Car and Threw Her to The Ground’

DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson heard openings from parties in the jury trial for a carjacking and shooting defendant on Oct. 23.

Bernard King, 41, is charged with unarmed carjacking, unlawful discharge of a firearm, and threat to injure or kidnap a person. These stem from King’s alleged involvement in the unarmed carjacking and assault on a victim, the mother of his children, on June 7, at the 1900 block of 18th Street, SE.

The prosecution opened by playing security camera footage of the incident. Two cars can be seen pulling up, a male gets out of a black car, and opens the door to the other vehicle in frame. A woman can be heard screaming as she is “yanked out of her car” and thrown to the ground, according to the prosecution.

The video depicts the male getting in the woman’s car and driving down the block as she runs in the opposite direction. He returned moments later where he could be heard yelling at the woman, “You going to die!” The man in the video is King, alleged prosecution.

The prosecutor stated that the defendant and victim had known each other for a decade. The case is about, “how a relationship spiraled out of control,” according to the prosecution.

The victim ran to an off duty Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer’s house “frantically banging and screaming” on her door. The prosecution said this officer and other eyewitnesses will prove, without a reasonable doubt, that King is guilty of all that he has been charged with.

Defense attorney Karen Minor claimed this case is “chaotic” with lots of moving parts, and that a single event has been viewed from multiple angles. She reminded the jury that the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt every element of every charge that they have brought against King.

Minor alleged that prosecutors will fail to meet that burden. Specifically, on the charge for unlawful discharge of a firearm, a weapon was never recovered from King, Minor insisted. .

She ended by telling the jury that prosecutors have claimed a crime has occurred, but that is not their job. Only the jury can decide if a crime occurred, and there is not enough evidence to prove that King committed all of the charges against him, according to the defense.

Parties are slated to reconvene Oct. 27.

Stabbing Defendant Loses Bid to Represent Himself at Trial

DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro denied a defendant’s request to represent himself at the first day of trial on Oct. 20, after he criticized his defense attorney for being “ineffective.”

Christopher Samuels, 28, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal stabbing that occurred on the 200 block of Valley Avenue, SE, on Sept. 3, 2023.

On the first day of jury trial, Samuels “made several outbursts and spoke out of turn”, said Judge Di Toro, who reminded Samuels that he had the right to remain silent.

Samuels stated, “I’m pretty sure it’s not against the rules to speak to the court if I want to.”

Judge Di Toro asked Samuels to explain his issue with the jury trial. Samuels criticized his defense attorney Brandon Burrell for being “ineffective,” and explained that Burrell did not make the arguments that Samuels urged him to make.

Samuels, who said he moved to DC from the UK, argued “I feel as though I should represent myself if my attorney doesn’t say what I tell him to say when I tell him to say it.” He asked Judge Di Toro, “If I cannot speak for myself, what am I supposed to do?”

Judge Di Toro denied Samuels’ request to represent himself and argued that Burrell had not been ineffective in any way.

This came after opening statements were heard from Burrell and the prosecution.

During openings, the prosecution explained that the stabbing stemmed from a conflict between Samuels and his roommate. According to the prosecution, Samuels was upset with the victim for not keeping the bathroom in their group home clean.

Samuels allegedly assaulted the victim with a knife as he attempted to block Samuels from entering his bedroom, according to the prosecution.

The prosecution stated that the victim ran to a nearby library for help and called 911.

Additionally, the prosecution claimed, “there were things that officers did not do in this case.”

Burrell agreed with the prosecution. In his opening statement, he claimed that MPD officers never took photographs of Samuels’ residence. He also stated that they never recovered the knife that was used in the assault.

Prosecutors called in an MPD officer, who was assigned to look out for an individual armed with a knife on the day of the assault.

According to the officer, the call described a suspect with very distinct facial hair, wearing a black, colored jacket and grey sweatpants. The officer spotted a man who matched that description standing near Samuels’ apartment building.

The officer, who was with his partner, claimed that the suspect started walking at a fast pace as he saw them.

The officer said he followed the man, who eventually identified himself as Chris, into his apartment where he reportedly observed blood on his hands and grey sweatpants.

During the defense’s cross-examination, the officer said he took photographs of a blood trail at Samuels’ apartment, which he thought had been uploaded for evidence. The officer claimed that he does not know where those pictures are now.

However, the officer confirmed he did not take pictures of the victim’s bedroom door, where the assault occurred, nor did he take pictures of Samuels despite the blood on his hands. When asked by Burrell, “did it not seem relevant to you?,” to photograph those things, the officer explained, “that’s the role of the detective.”

Additionally, the officer stated that he did not recover a knife from Samuels or at the scene.

The black hoodie and grey sweatpants that Samuels wore were collected for DNA testing. According to the prosecution, DNA from the blood stains on the grey sweatpant said it belonged to two contributors.

Additionally, Burrell mentioned a recent discovery of hair and fiber that was found with the clothing. According to the prosecution, the hair and fiber was never tested.

Judge Di Toro asked Samuels if he wanted the blood on the clothing and hair and fiber to be independently tested–a re-examination of the prosecution’s evidence by a third party.

Samuels waived his right to have the prosecution’s evidence independently tested.

Parties are slated to reconvene on Oct. 21.

Judge Denies Shooting Defendant’s Request for Release

DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park denied a shooting defendant’s request for release on Oct. 22.

Solaiman Richardson, 39, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of his brother, 41-year-old Allen Shropshire, at the 100 block of Fort Drive, NE on July 18, 2025.

Judge Park found probable cause that Richardson was the perpetrator in a hearing on Oct. 20. Rachel Cicurel, Richardson’s defense attorney, argued for Richardson’s release.

Cicurel highlighted Richardson’s minimal criminal history. She stated Richardson had a few finance related cases from more than 15 years ago and no violent crime.

Cicurel read parts of three different letters in support of Richardson, one from his family, one from his boss, and one from a former coworker. According to Cicurel, all of the letters seem to portray Richardson as a very different person than the allegations depict him to be.

Cicurel also stated that Richardson had reached out to the head detective for his case to ask if he should turn himself in, but he received no response.

The defense pushed for the case to be considered in self-defense. She pointed to a line in the arrest warrant that, to her, suggested Shropshire was sexually assaulting Richardson. She also quoted the detective who investigated the incident, saying “there were knives everywhere” at the scene of the crime. Cicurel also noted that they discovered a knife in Shropshire’s hand.

The prosecution insisted Richardson remain held, arguing that if he was willing to kill his brother, then there is no way to guarantee the safety of others should he be released.

The prosecution claimed they were unaware of the sexual assault allegations against Shropshire until the Oct. 20 hearing. Judge Park agreed that the line Cicurel read did not make such allegations obvious.

Judge Park agreed that the letters, job and time between cases did depict Richardson as an honest man. However, he concluded that there was little evidence that pointed to self-defense and that there is no question that Richardson is the perpetrator of the incident.

Judge Park denied Richardson’s release.

Parties are slated to reconvene on Feb. 6.

Non-Fatal Stabbing Defendant Accepts Plea Deal

A domestic stabbing defendant accepted a plea deal extended by prosecutors before DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe on Oct. 21.

Antonio Williams, 59, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. These charges stem from his involvement in a domestic dispute that led to a stabbing on Aug. 1, at the 2600 block of Q Street, SE.

Williams pled guilty to attempted assault with a dangerous weapon. The maximum penalty for this charge is five years incarceration and or a $12,500 fine.

The prosecution waived their right to sentencing enhancements and reserve step backs. Additionally, they are seeking to cap their recommendation at the bottom half of the sentencing guidelines.

According to the prosecution, had the case gone to trial, they would have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that on Aug. 1 the defendant was in an argument with the victim, he grabbed a knife during the dispute, and cut the victim’s ear.

Parties are slated to reconvene Dec. 19.

Judge Orders Mental Competency Exam For Non-Fatal Shooting Defendant

DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe ordered a preliminary competency evaluation for a non-fatal shooting defendant on Oct. 21.

Gerniya Duncan, 21, is charged with aggravated assault knowingly while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for her alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting. The incident occurred on the 2400 block of Elvans Road, SE on Aug. 2. One individual sustained injuries.

During the hearing, Peter Odom, Duncan’s attorney, asked for a preliminary competency examination. The request was granted by Judge Pipe.

In order to stand trial, a defendant must understand the charges and be able to help the defense.

Parties are slated to reconvene for a mental observation hearing on Oct. 24.

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