David Contee, 31, previously pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon for his involvement in a shooting incident on June 5, 2022, on the 1700 block of 4th Street, NW. The victim was Contee’s sister and she sustained life-threatening injuries but later recovered at a nearby hospital.
According to court documents, Contee allegedly got into a verbal argument with the victim and two other family members over money. As the argument escalated, Contee shot the victim.
During the hearing, Contee’s defense attorney, John Harvey, said Contee has started counseling while on probation and the victim is going to join him for his next session.
Harvey also said Contee’s family, including the victim, was in the courtroom to support Contee.
Judge Ryan ordered to vacate Contee’s probation show cause hearing, but said if Contee had any violations while on probation he would re-order the show cause hearing.
Before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno, a defense attorney questioned detectives about inconclusive or missing evidence in a carjacking and burglary investigation on July 24.
Kenneth Phillips, 24, is charged with carjacking, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, robbery while armed, burglary second-degree, first-degree theft, unauthorized use of a vehicle during a crime of violence, receiving stolen property, and driving without a license for his alleged involvement in an armed robbery and carjacking on Nov. 15 and 16, 2021. The incidents occurred on the 2000 block of 4th Street, NE.
According to court documents, on Nov. 15, Phillips allegedly assaulted a victim as he stole his key ring, which contained keys to two vehicles, a white Nissan and a brown Toyota, and the keys to the victim’s home, before fleeing the scene in the Toyota.
On Nov. 16, Phillips was stopped in the early morning hours in the brown Toyota, while the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers were canvassing the area looking for the stolen vehicle. He was allegedly found with the key fob for the white Nissan and a Penn State graduation ring, according to court documents.
That same morning, the victim’s family member reported to MPD that someone had broken into their house and had stolen multiple items, including a Penn State graduation ring, a television, and three gold chains, among other items.
During the hearing, prosecutors called a criminal investigator and police officer to testify about their attempt to execute a search warrant to collect Phillips’ DNA sample.
The criminal investigator testified he was tasked with collecting a DNA sample from Phillips, but alerted the court he had been unsuccessful due to set up a meeting.
The investigator confirmed with defense attorney, Joseph Yarbough, that he was not alerted about the warrant.
The investigator then told prosecuting attorneys that “[he has] never had a lawyer present,” when collecting an individual’s DNA sample.
The police officer who “regularly interacted,” with Phillips was assigned to bring him to the location where his DNA was to be retrieved, but Phillips refused. During the cross-examination, Yarbough asked if the officer documented Phillips’ refusal to which the officer replied that he did not.
Prosecuting attorneys then called one of the detectives who responded to the burglary on Nov. 16 and determined that there was “reason to believe there might be a connection between,” the burglary and carjacking.
She stated that the keys, television, and backpack that were in the car at the time of Phillips’s arrest were swabbed for DNA. However, she testified, the results were inconclusive.
The detective confirmed these items of evidence in court and that all items were in the car and processed for “any possible DNA that could identify the suspect,” however, no fingerprints were collected.
Yarbough presented the witness with body camera footage that captured a conversation that she had with a colleague who was processing the victim’s home for fingerprints. The witness testified that in the conversation there are no mentions of the fingerprints but because the video only captured one side of the conversation she “could not say,” for certain if she neglected to order fingerprints collected.
However, the detective did state that there were “no notes about taking fingerprints,” in the investigation.
Yarbough then asked about the detective’s attempts to gather video surveillance footage of the initial carjacking. The detective stated that the camera on the 2000 block of 4th Street was the only one to clearly capture the incident and that she left her business cards at other locations in attempts to recover more footage but cameras were either not working or she received no replies.
Yarbough pointed out that she originally only requested footage from the time frame of the carjacking and when she accessed the footage she recorded the video on her phone on Dec. 9, 2021 weeks after the incident.
On Dec. 22, 2021, the detective placed a formal request for the footage but given that she “served it during the holidays,” she did not get a reply until Dec. 28. By the time an evidence technician was able to collect the video, the only content that remained was the portion of the carjacking and not the burglary.
The prosecution asked the detective about the lack of video surveillance footage and she replied that they focused on Fourth Street because that is where the crime took place.
The victim’s employer also testified, stating that the victim works as a driver, and the car is company owned. The victim said several items in the car that were not there before the carjacking, including an “assault baton, a bottle of alcohol, bottle of beer, speaker, face mask, and jacket.” All were turned over to the detective.
Another MPD detective testified to collecting items in Phillips’ possession at the time of his arrest. allegedly including a Penn State ring and a key fob. The detective’s body-worn camera depicts him with the key fob in an evidence bag in front of the victim’s car.
Yarbough also noted the detective’s currently having a civil lawsuit against him. The detective stated he was unsure if there were a pending matter against him, as he had not been notified.
Parties are slated to return on July 25 to resume trial.
Warren Montgomery, 19, is charged with conspiracy, trafficking stolen property, two counts of armed carjacking, two counts of robbery while armed, two counts of unauthorized use of a vehicle, and four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.
Montgomery is alleged to be involved in the sale of stolen and carjacked vehicles, the carjackings having occurred on May 16, 2023 on the 600 block of Butternut Street, NW. There are six other individuals identified to be allegedly involved in the conspiracy.
During the hearing, Montgomery’s defense attorney, Stephen LoGerfo, renewed his request for Judge Leibovitz to set conditions of release. He argued that Montgomery has been detained since fall of 2023 but won’t be in trial until late 2025, a trial date much later than many of the other co-defendant trials.
LoGerfo stated that Montgomery has strong family support, pointing out that his entire family was present at the hearing and has attended every court hearing in the case. He further argued that Montgomery has almost finished his GED program, does not have a serious criminal history, and will have employment if released. LoGerfo asked Judge Leibovitz to release him to stay with his mother.
The prosecution opposed the motion, stating that conditions have not changed to allow Montgomery to be released from jail. They argued that he was living with his mom at the time of the incident and it did not prevent him from allegedly committing crimes.
They stated that Montgomery is involved in a serious conspiracy case and that the evidence against him is “very strong.”
In response to LoGerfo’s timeline concern, the prosecution stated that Montgomery has been detained for as long as he has been because “the courthouse is not big enough to try all seven defendants at once.”
Judge Leibovitz denied the motion, stating that the defense’s factors do not overcome the presumption that Montgomery is dangerous. She agreed with the prosecution that the charges are serious, specifying that video footage showed Montgomery pointing a gun at multiple individuals.
Zoneil Williams, 51, was originally charged with assault with significant bodily injury for his involvement in a stabbing that took place on March 5 on the 4002 block of 4th Street, SE.
According to court documents, Williams and the victim, who are roommates, got into a verbal altercation inside an apartment. Williams then grabbed a knife from the kitchen, chased the victim down the street and proceeded to stab him.
The victim suffered from one stab wound to his left buttock, three to the left mid back, and one to his left armpit, but is in stable conditions.
At the hearing, Quo Judkins, Williams’ defense attorney, said he was accepting a deal, which required him to plead guilty to the sole count of assault with significant bodily injury, in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment on additional charges.
A murder defendant’s father testified before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan on July 24 after receiving a material witness warrant for previously failing to appear in court.
Keanan Turner, 35, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, second-degree cruelty to children, first-degree attempted murder against a minor, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, destruction of property, carrying a pistol without a license, tampering with physical evidence, and arson.
The charges relate to his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Ebony Wright, 31, and her mother, Wanda Wright, 48, on the 2300 block of Good Hope Court, SE on April 12, 2021.
According to court documents, Turner is the father of Ebony’s child, who was an infant at the time of the shooting. The child survived the incident, as did Ebony’s sister, who was shot in the face.
According to previous testimony by Ebony’s sister, Turner had been invited to Ebony’s home to discuss their child, despite his request for her to get an abortion.
When police arrived at the scene the apartment was on fire. Turner is accused of starting the fire before he fled.
At the hearing prosecutors asked Turner’s father about his relationship with his son. The witness took a few seconds to consider, asking the attorney to reword the question, and finally said that they were “close.” The prosecution then had the witness read his grand jury testimony where he said, “I can’t say I was close to him.”
“You’re asking me things I don’t remember,” the witness said multiple times, appearing frustrated. The witness said that he had a stroke which affected his memory and mobility.
He was able to testify assisted by his grand jury testimony, that after the alleged murders, his son arrived at his residence in Maryland unannounced. He also testified to remembering police arriving at his home following the homicide. However, he was unable to recall any details of his son’s arrival and any conversations they may have had.
A doctor who works for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) testified that both victims’ were killed by bullet wounds to the head in a double homicide.
The lead detective said when he arrived he found one gunshot victim in the landing, and a fire and blood soaked floors in the apartment. He said he also found a Ring camera on the door, and downloaded videos from it to look for suspects.
In the videos, an individual is seen attempting to dismantle the camera before leaving. The CCTV footage of the apartment parking lot showed an individual entering and exiting the premises.
The detective found the victims’ phones and the texts shown to the jury identified Turner and Ebony’s numbers and indicated that they were in communication before Ebony’s murder.
Turner’s attorney, K. L. Wellington, asked the detective if he could remember any other suspect or lead during his investigation besides Turner. The detective could not. Wellington then asked if the detective had “concluded [his] investigation,” the day of the murder. The detective denied Wellington’s claim.
Later the prosecution asked the witness if he received “anything that indicated that anyone other than the defendant was responsible for the crime” over the course of his investigation to which the detective responded, no.
The prosecution and defense offered contradictory explanations of a fatal shooting in their closing arguments in DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan’s courtroom on July 25.
Keanan Turner, 35, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, second-degree cruelty to children, first-degree attempted murder against a minor, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, destruction of property, carrying a pistol without a license, tampering with physical evidence, and arson.
The charges relate to his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Ebony Wright, 31, and her mother, Wanda Wright, 48, on the 2300 block of Good Hope Court, SE on April 12, 2021.
According to court documents, Turner is the father of Ebony’s child, who was an infant at the time of the shooting. The child survived the incident, as did Ebony’s sister, who was shot in the face.
According to previous testimony by Ebony’s sister, Turner had been invited to Ebony’s home to meet their child, despite his request for her to get an abortion.
When police arrived at the scene the apartment was on fire. Turner is accused of starting the fire before he fled.
The prosecution closed by saying Turner was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and “told on himself” when committing the crimes through his actions.
“The defendant tried to quite literally burn his second life to the ground,” the prosecution said in reference to their theory that Turner was attempting to rid himself of the consequences of his affair with Ebony, including their child.
The prosecution focused on five main things as identification evidence including: Turner’s potential motive as he was served custody papers along with a lawsuit Ebony filed against him a few weeks before; cell site data from his seized phones; surveillance footage of the apartment complex and Ring camera attached to apartment door; and after the homicide when he visited his estranged father unannounced.
The main point of the prosecution centered on the testimony given by Ebony’s sister claiming Turner was the individual who shot her in the face. At the end of their rebuttal, the prosecution urged the jury to “hold the defendant accountable.”
Franz Jobson, one of Turner’s defense attorneys, argued that the jury should remember that Turner is “cloaked with innocence” until and unless the prosecution proves their case for his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Jobson accused the witnesses and investigators of targeting Turner as the main suspect and “piecing together a flawed theory irrespective of the facts.” Jobson called this phenomenon cognitive dissonance or holding irreconcilable ideas.
Jobson went on to argue that Turner was not the perpetrator pointing to inconsistencies in the testimony of Ebony’s sister and incomplete DNA and fingerprint evidence.
“The tunnel vision approach cannot work in our justice system,” Jobson said.
The prosecution rebutted, stating that if Turner was innocent it would “have to be coincidence after coincidence after coincidence.”
Jury deliberation began immediately after closing statements and rebuttal.
Parties will reconvene when the jury finishes deliberations.
Jarvis Jackson, 42, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm due to a prior conviction for allegedly fatally shooting Deont’e Minor, 23, on March 20, 2021, on the 1200 block of Southern Avenue, SE.
According to court documents, Minor was in an Uber ride when he was shot in the backseat as the vehicle was waiting to make a turn. The Uber driver took the victim to a nearby hospital immediately after the shooting. Minor later succumbed to his injuries.
At the hearing, a DNA analyst testified about two pieces of clothing found in the area of the crime scene, which were identified as a black face mask and gray knit cap. The analyst stated her analysis very likely excluded Jackson’s DNA from being on the gray knit cap.
She also testified there is “very strong support” for Jackson’s DNA not being on the black face mask.
Prosecutors also called on a friend of Minor’s, who testified that he was with Minor the day of the incident. According to the witness, they were driving around town and smoking marijuana in the witness’ car. The friend was originally going to drive Minor to his sister’s baby shower, however, his car was experiencing transmission trouble which led to Minor’s calling an Uber.
Shortly after Minor left in the Uber, the witness testified, he heard gunshots but did not initially believe Minor was involved. According to the witness, he attempted to contact the victim with no response and rushed to the hospital soon after.
Another of Minor’s friends testified he briefly saw the victim twice the day of the incident. He said that he was with the other witness after the victim left, also smoking marijuana. He also heard gunshots shortly after Minor left in the Uber and tried to contact him sometime after hearing the shots before going to the hospital as well.
When the prosecution asked both of these witnesses about their relationships with the victim, they both described Minor as a “brother.” They both testified to not having seen the shooter or the shooting occurring.
Defense attorneys Megan Allburn and Michelle Stevens alerted DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun their client did not intend to come to court because of medical issues based on an examination by DC Jail medics on July 24.
Mark Price, 29, and Antonio Murchison, 31, are charged with first-degree murder while armed, five counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, seven counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, conspiracy, and seven counts of criminal gang affiliation.
The charges stem from their alleged involvement in a mass shooting on July 16, 2018, on the 5300 block of 53rd Street, NE in the Clay Terrace neighborhood. The highly publicized crime left 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson dead and four other individuals with gunshot wounds.
Price is also charged with first-degree murder while armed, two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, threat to injure or kidnap a person, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict and first-degree burglary while armed. These charges are connected to the fatal shooting of 47-year-old Andre Hakim Young on July 30, 2018, on the 1500 block of 19th Street, NE.
The third co-defendant, Quanisha Ramsuer, 31, is charged with obstruction of justice in connection to the homicide.
Before the jury was called, Price’s attorneys, Allburn and Stevens, told the court that Price was not present due to a medical issue. Allburn stated that Price had been feeling lightheaded for the past several days and informed his attorneys that he would not appear in court if his ailment continued. DC Jail medics sent official notice to the attorneys that Price had a “moderate headache.”
This is not the first instance of Price has failed to appear for the trial. While this incident was confirmed as a medical issue, Price has failed to appear several times for alleged ailments or simply refusing to appear.
The prosecution believes Price is willfully making himself ill by not eating in an attempt to delay trial proceedings. They argued that a “moderate headache” is not sufficient cause to avoid court and this should be regarded as a voluntary waiver of his right to appear.
They asked Judge Okun if Allburn and Stevens would present Price with the option of voluntarily waiving his presence in court.
The defense told Judge Okun they would not be willing to proceed without Price, as they anticipated key DNA and jail visit evidence would be admitted.
Judge Okun stated that he was concerned that Price’s behavior would continue, but agreed to not hold trial without Price and sent the jury home.
Tyler, 46, is charged with first degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 34-year-old Nolan Edwards at the 4100 block of Ames Street, NE, on July 7, 2023.
At the hearing, the prosecution alerted Judge O’Keefe they extended a plea offer to Tyler, which required him to plead guilty to second-degree murder while armed in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment.
Tyler and his defense attorney, Frances D’Antuono, rejected the offer and did not make a counter offer. D’Antuono said that her client wants to go to trial.
The prosecution will now decide what, if any, additional charges they will bring against him.
James Toler, 45, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal stabbing that occurred on Feb. 20, on the 200 block of 8th Street, NE.
According to Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) documents, an individual identified as Toler got into a verbal altercation with a victim that turned physical when Toler allegedly pulled a large knife and charged at the victim. Toler claimed that the victim threw a metal shopping cart at him and Toler continued the fight in self defense.
All parties agreed that Toler, who is on release with no conditions, needs to return to the Specialized Supervision Unit (SSU) of the Pretrial Service Agency (PSA). Now Toler is required to meet with a case manager, have weekly check-ins, and return to mental health programs.
In a July 24 proceeding before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt, a fourth continuance was granted for a non-fatal shooting defendant’s preliminary hearing so plea negotiations can continue.
Donte Scott, 39, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting that occurred on May 26 on the 1800 block of M Street, NW. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
On June 26, Scott requested for new counsel which Judge Brandt granted, moving the case to defense attorney Charles Haskell.
At the hearing, Haskell requested another continuance in order to fully review the presented plea offer and possibly prepare for a preliminary hearing. Haskell consented to extending the legally required deadline until the preliminary hearing.
Frustration about jail security boiled over during a hearing on June 25 in the DC Superior Court.
Arguing for his client’s immediate release under an emergency motion, Public Defender Jason Tulley told DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun, “The DC Jail is horrible!”
Tulley said that murder suspect Jahi Settles, 23, is forced to live under conditions that violate constitutional provisions against cruel and unusual punishment.
According to Tulley’s June 24 motion, “People incarcerated at the DC Jail report that the jail is more dangerous than ever and the people stuck inside are in constant fear for their lives.”
The filing catalogs a litany of abuses at the jail that critics say has persisted even though the prison was put into federal receivership between 1995 and 2000.
One of the biggest measures are stabbings that took place at the DC Jail.
A review of D.C. Witness data as well as statistics from the DC Department of Corrections show that inmate stabbing attacks increased by 38.46 percent between 2022 and 2023, including one fatality. D.C. Witness counted an additional fatality in 2022 beyond the information supplied by the jail which has not been factored into the percentage increase.
DC Jail Stabbings
Non-Fatal
Fatal
Percent Increase
2022
13
0
2023
17
1
38.46
Sources: DC Department of Corrections, D.C. Witness
In a jailhouse attack, Mussay Rezene, 31, is accused of fatally stabbing fellow inmate Darrow Johnson, 30, in August of 2023. Security footage allegedly shows Rezene acting aggressively toward the victim during a confrontation after which he died from wounds to the back of his head and skull.
Earlier, Rezene was convicted of fatally shooting a 17-year-old boy and sentenced to 45 years in prison.
Marcel Jackson, 37, pleaded guilty to manslaughter for killing a cellmate by blunt force trauma after the pair ingested PCP in May of 2022. Jackson also pleaded guilty to manslaughter in another case.
D.C. Witness data for DC Jail stabbing prosecutions shows a big jump from 2020 to 2023 continuing in the current year.Overall,there are 31 total stabbing victims whose cases have resulted in charges filed between 2020 and April of this year.
DC Jail
Stabbing
Prosecutions
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
3
1
2
10
10
Source: D.C. Witness: A case may have multiple defendants.
According to D.C. Witness data, there have been 10 stabbings prosecutions in the DC Jail so far this year, the most recent on April 5.
“With over 20 percent of our population associated with groups or crews that present security concerns and approximately 35 percent of our population under ‘keep separate’ orders due to conflicts with other residents, our safety and security environment is complex and ever-changing,” said the DC Department of Corrections in a statement provided to D.C. Witness. “DOC is also continually evaluating and adopting new strategies and technologies to improve contraband detection.”
However, the motion Tulley filed says otherwise.
“The DOC has continued to show its utter disregard for the safety and humanity of the people held at the DC Jail,” according to the motion.
One of the examples Tulley cites are so-called “Safe Cells” that he says amount to solitary confinement without running water. “Oftentimes, the ‘Safe Cell’ is soiled with the feces and bodily fluids of prior occupants of the cell. People are left languishing in the cell for days, if not weeks,” says Tulley.
The DC Jail, according to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) website, has a capacity of 2,164 prisoners in what’s known as the Central Detention Facility (CDF).
“Throughout the history of the DC Jail, there have been bouts of overcrowding which spurred the building of the Correctional Treatment Facility (CTF),” says the MPD. The CTF with a capacity of 1,500 is considered a medium-to-minimum security environment where all female inmates are housed.
According to the DOC, the census at the CDF as of June 28 was 1,328, while there are 627 people housed in the CTF, both units operating well below capacity at the moment.
However, DC Jail operations have long been under legal scrutiny. A 1998 lawsuit raised issues at the jail dating to 1975.
“[T] he district court found that the conditions did indeed violate the Constitution because of severe overcrowding, inadequate health care, unsanitary conditions, and unsafe facilities. The district court issued an injunction ordering the District of Columbia to improve the conditions for inmates,” according to a case summary from the Court Listener project.
An appellate judge hearing the case said, “The jail’s lack of compliance borders on bad faith.”
In 2021, the US Marshals Service determined after an inspection that DC Jail conditions “do not meet the minimum standards of confinement as prescribed by the Federal Performance-Based Detention Standards.”
Based on that review, the marshals removed 400 detainees in their custody from the facility.
Last April, the Washington Lawyers’ Committee filed another suit against the jail for allegedly denying inmates adequate health care as required by law.
Kristen McGough, one of the attorneys arguing the suit, says there is a connection between violence and health care problems at the jail in the sense that it shows an overall lack of operational accountability, good management and adequate staffing.
One of the biggest reform hurdles is that those in jail are stigmatized even though many have not been convicted, says McGough.
“Everyone should be able to get the basic medical care they need,” McGough tells D.C. Witness. “They should be able to serve time with dignity.” She says the lawsuit is in the early stages of mediation but there are “good signs.”
D.C. Witness reached out to the Fraternal Order of Police Labor Committee which represents corrections workers at the jail for comment but has not received a response before publication.
“In many ways the jail environment is a mirror of the community’s landscape, requiring vigilant efforts to maintain residents and staff safety,” the DOC said.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of a 16-year-old boy for his alleged involvement in a triple shooting that injured three women on July 23 on the 2900 block of Nelson Place, SE.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating the fatal shooting of 34-year-old Deangelo Jones, which occurred on the 600 block of O Street, NW.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating the fatal shooting of a man, who has yet to be identified by MPD. The incident occurred on July 25 on the 3900 block of 1st Street, SE.
