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Prosecution Says, ‘Are You Capable of Killing Your Best Friend?’ Quiz on Suspect’s Phone

A witness testified that a homicide suspect was allegedly taking quizzes on his phone about murdering his best friend in a trial in front of DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo on Oct. 3. 

Eugene Burns, 32, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, carrying a pistol without a license, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in the shooting death of 24-year-old Onyekachi Emmanuel Osuchukwu III, on Nov. 14, 2015, on the 2900 block of Second Street, SE. 

Burns was convicted of the charges in 2017, but the verdict was overturned in 2020 for an overly broad search and the DC Court of Appeals returned the case to DC Superior Court.

Along with Tyre Allen, 24, Burns is also charged with conspiracy, obstructing justice by influencing or delaying a witness or officer, and obstruction of the due administration of justice. The charges stem from their alleged attempts in 2020 to persuade and intimidate a witness into recanting testimony he gave against Burns in the original murder trial.

A witness who performed an extraction on two of Burns’ phones presented web browsing history data that allegedly showed the user visiting the site “gotoquiz.com” and the quiz “Are you capable of killing your best friend?” in the search history a week before the murder. 

On cross examination from Burns’ attorney Jocelyn Wisner, the witness testified that he cannot tell how long the user was on any given site and that the website has links that can take you to different pages. 

The witness also testified that hundreds of text messages and calls were deleted from both phones. He presented texts between the victim and Burns on the day of the murder showing Burns messaged Osuchukwuhe “I’m leaving the door open for you” at 8:01 p.m., approximately an hour before the murder. 

A forensic pathologist from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) said there were four gunshot wounds on the victim, including one on the left cheek, left shoulder, lower left abdomen, and lower right side of the back.

The medical examiner explained the lethal gunshot wounds that traversed the victim’s body, hitting vital blood vessels and the pumping chambers of the hearts well as the bowels. Because of the vital organs involved, the pathologist testified, the gunshot wounds were not survivable.

During the cross examination, the witness explained there were no signs of bruises, cuts, or scrapes found during the autopsy, showing no signs of struggle.

Parties are set to reconvene on Oct. 7.

Defendant Pleads Guilty to March Shooting

A shooting defendant accepted a plea deal before DC Superior Court Judge Heidi Pasichow on Oct. 2. 

Taiyon Suggs, 50, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his involvement in a shooting incident on March 25 on the 3700 block of 10th Street, NW. One person sustained a gunshot wound.

During the hearing, Suggs’ defense attorney, Jeremy Feldman, announced that his client would accept the plea offer, which required him to plead guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment. 

Through the deal, the prosecution agreed to limit their sentencing request to five years of incarceration. 

Parties are slated to return on Dec. 10 for sentencing.

Stabbing Defendant Accepts Plea Deal 

A stabbing defendant accepted a plea deal extended by prosecutors before DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld on Sept. 23.

Le Count Briscoe, 52, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his involvement in a stabbing incident on July 7 at the intersection of 8th and E Street, SE.

During the hearing, Jesse Winograd, Briscoe’s attorney, alerted the court of his intention to accept a deal that required him to plead guilty to attempted assault with a dangerous weapon in exchange for the prosecution’s not seeking an indictment. 

Attempted assault with a dangerous weapon carries a penalty of up to five years in prison in addition to a $12,500 fine, along with three years of supervised release.

Judge Hertzfeld scheduled sentencing for Dec. 9.

Shooting Defendant Held Without Bond

DC Superior Court Judge Renee Raymond decided to keep a defendant in custody on Oct. 3 after reading through his criminal record. The defendant also waived his rights to a preliminary hearing.

Charles Brown, 64, 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 took place on Sept. 4 at a gas station located on the 2500 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE that left one person injured. 

Brown’s defense attorney, Charles Haskell, alerted the court of his intent to waive his right to a preliminary hearing. 

Haskell noted that Brown has previously completed 10 months of sobriety and drug treatment, proving that he is committed to changing the direction of his life, and requested he be released as he awaits further proceedings. 

However, the prosecution noted his “lengthy criminal record” which included two counts of assault and battery on a family member and grand theft auto in Virginia. They also stated that their aim is not to discredit his sobriety, “which the [prosecution] always commends”, but rather to ensure the safety of the community. 

Judge Raymond ruled to hold Brown without bond. 

Parties will reconvene on Oct. 23. 

Judge Postpones Release Ruling For Previously Tried Defendant

DC Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur delayed a decision on Sept. 19 regarding a request to release a defendant awaiting trial on aggravated assault charges.

Anthony Gary, 27, is charged with aggravated assault while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in a shooting incident that occurred on Aug. 4 near the 3700 block of Jay St. NE. 

His defense attorney, Raymond Jones, submitted a motion asking the court to reconsider Gary’s detention, presenting 14 letters from supporters advocating for his release.

During the hearing, Judge Arthur, who had previously convicted Gary on drug possession charges earlier this year, commented, “The last thing Mr. Gary needed was to be in front of me on a new case after I just tried him on another matter.”

The prosecution was granted additional time to respond to the defense’s motion. Judge Arthur will review the submitted letters before making a final decision.

Gary will remain in custody until his next felony status hearing, scheduled for Oct. 15.

Judge Sentences Defendant to 54 Months for Shooting, Strangulation Incident

DC Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur sentenced a man on Sept. 19 for his involvement in an altercation that left one of three victims injured by a gunshot.

Joshua Goodwin, 34, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and felony strangulation for an incident that occurred on Feb. 24 near the 4600 block of Hillside Road, SE. 

According to court documents, the confrontation escalated into violence, with Goodwin discharging a firearm during a drunken argument.

Goodwin was sentenced to 40 months for assault with a dangerous weapon and 14 months for felony strangulation, with the sentences to be served consecutively. After completion, he will be in supervised release, and must register as a gun offender for two years.

Goodwin expressed a desire to reform, stating, “I am not a product of my environment… For me, my community, and my son, I will be a productive returning citizen.” He detailed his participation in a GED program, tutoring fellow inmates, and completing a Georgetown University course as part of his rehabilitation efforts.

Judge Arthur emphasized the seriousness of Goodwin’s decision to use a firearm during the altercation. “The choice to pull out a firearm and discharge it is of grave concern for me,” Judge Arthur remarked, rejecting the defense’s argument that the victims’ intoxication lessened Goodwin’s responsibility.

The court also granted a stay-away and no-contact order for all three victims, as requested by the prosecution.

No further dates were set. 

Judge Issues Bench Warrant For Stabbing Defendant

DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a stabbing defendant on Oct. 3, after his failure to appear in court. 

Billy Williams, 68, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury, threat to kidnap or injure a person while armed, and panhandling-aggressive. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in a stabbing incident on Dec. 7, 2023 that injured one individual. The incident occurred at the intersection of Rock Creek and Virginia Avenue, NW.

According to court documents, Williams called 911, and told responding officers he was approached by a white man on a scooter who physically hit and threatened him, resulting in Williams’ stabbing the individual. Williams allegedly confessed that he stabbed the victim in his upper neck.

On Sept. 24, Judge Di Toro issued a bench warrant for Williams, due to his failure to appear in court. The warrant was executed on Oct. 2, and Williams was released with the proviso that he attend the Oct. 3 hearing with his attorney. 

During the hearing, Judge Di Toro reissued a bench warrant due to Williams’ continuous failure to appear. 

A trial readiness hearing is scheduled for Oct. 18, 2024, and the jury trial is scheduled for Oct. 30, 2024.

Parties will reconvene when the bench warrant has been served. 

Judge Allows ID Evidence in Stabbing Case

DC Superior Court Judge Heidi Pasichow denied a motion to suppress evidence in a stabbing defendant’s case at an Oct. 2 motion hearing.

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 get drugs. He returned sometime later to the scene because believed he was not given all the drugs he paid for. 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 an individual he identified as the suspect, and called him by his nickname and legal name.

During the motion hearing, Reams’ defense attorney, Michelle Lockard, requested to suppress the identification on the grounds of due process, citing the procedures conducted by MPD were unnecessarily suggestive and unreliable.

According to Lockard, it was suggestive because, as the officer was holding the photo array, he had his thumb next to the suspect. 

She also said it was unreliable because the officer ad-libbed the instructions he gave to the victim about the procedure as opposed to precisely explaining it. She also argued the officer refused to let the victim look at the photo array again after identifying the suspect.

The prosecution objected arguing the approach was not unduly suggestive because the officer only rejected the request to see the photo array after the victim positively identified the suspect twice. 

The prosecutor further argued that it would have been impossible for the detective to point the victim toward a certain individual because Reams was not believed to be the suspect at the time.

Judge Pasichow denied the motion, arguing the line up is reliable due to the knowledge the victim had about the individual he picked out. Judge Pasichow also stated that there was nothing unduly suggestive about the process as a whole.

Parties are expected to return to court on Oct. 3.

Probation Officer Says Non-Fatal Shooting Defendant Violates Release Terms

An officer with the Pretrial Services Agency told DC Superior Court Judge Erik Christian that a non-fatal shooting defendant had allegedly violated his probation terms. The complaints came in an Oct. 3 hearing.

Ivan Holmes, 19, was convicted of carrying a pistol without a license and unlawful discharge of a firearm for his involvement in a non-fatal shooting on the 1500 block of 1st Street SW on Aug. 18, 2023. No injuries were reported. 

Holmes pleaded guilty to all charges on Nov. 29, 2023 and was sentenced to 24 months of incarceration, with 21 suspended, two years of probation, and three years of supervised release. 

On Sept. 20, a Community Supervision Officer (CSO) entered an order to show cause due to possible violations of Holmes’ probation.

During the hearing, the officer said that the defendant had been at a location where the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) allegedly found weapons which had not been disclosed to the probation officer. Furthermore, the representative also said that Holmes had been seen with an individual who was in possession of a weapon. 

The representative added that these violations are serious and they come with potential consequences.

CSO also added that there was a failure in reporting for drug testing, but that Holmes has started with his required community service hours.

Holmes’ attorney, Thomas Healy, informed Judge Christian that Holmes has been compliant with drug testing.

Judge Christian reminded Holmes of the importance of complying with all his probation terms.

No follow-up hearing has been scheduled.

Shooting Defendant Waives Right to Independent DNA Testing

A shooting defendant waived the right to independently test DNA evidence recovered at the crime scene before DC Superior Court Judge Erik Christian on Oct. 3.

Larry Carr, 20, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, five counts of possession of firearm during crime of violence, possession of unregistered firearm, and carrying pistol without a license outside home or business, for his alleged involvement in a shooting on Oct. 22, 2023, on the 100 block of Riggs Road, SW. One individual was injured.

At the hearing, the prosecution told the court about evidence that was collected from the crime scene, including a shell casing and a gun shaped skull knife. The prosecution stated no DNA testing has been done.

Carr’s defense attorney, Teresa Kleiman, informed the court that Carr decided to waive his right to independent DNA testing.

Parties will reconvene on Nov. 21.

Carjacking Defendant Pleads Guilty to Kidnapping

A carjacking defendant accepted a plea deal before DC Superior Court Judge Erik Christian on Oct. 3rd.

Kevin Weaver Jr., 32, was originally charged with unarmed carjacking of a taxicab driver, kidnapping of a senior citizen, and threat to kidnap or injure a person for his involvement in a carjacking that occurred on Sept. 10, 2023, at the intersection of 7th and Monroe Streets, NE. No individuals were harmed. 

During the hearing, Weaver’s defense attorney, Jay Mykytiuk, informed the court that Weaver would plead guilty to kidnapping and threat to kidnap or injure a person, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on Dec. 10 for sentencing.

Bullet Casing Evidence Questioned In A Jury Trial

During witness testimony Oct. 2 parties clashed on bullet casing location with the defense questioning if the evidence pertains to the shooting. 

Dennis Chase, 31, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm while armed, for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 30-year-old Anthony Orr. The incident occurred on Dec. 7, 2020, on the 400 block of Xenia Street, SE. 

Chase allegedly shot Orr and drove to Maryland where he attempted to hide and burn the suspected vehicle on private property. Eyewitness testimony proved Chase tried to break into a house in Maryland and hid evidence in their shed. 

A police officer previously testified that Chase was taken into custody in Maryland due to two outstanding warrants. 

Testimony was heard from a forensic scientist who collected the physical evidence from the shooting – including glass debris, the bullet and its fragments, suspected blood, and bullet casings. Imaging of the crime scene was also presented to the jury.

During the cross-examination, defense attorney Julie Swaney questioned the witness regarding a bullet casing, which was found across the street from all the other evidence in the intersection of the crime. 

Swaney argued that the casing was likely not a part of this crime scene because it was located across the street from the crime scene and was not squished by a vehicle.

This is plausible especially as the murder weapon was never recovered, Swaney said. 

After the shooting, Chase allegedly drove the car into the woods in Maryland.

 A police officer, who was the first to report the vehicle, also testified in court. The prosecutors displayed photographic evidence of the vehicle in the woods. 

The officer testified that when he located the vehicle, he ran the plate and found it was owned by a rental car company. In communication with them, he found that it was rented by Chase in the days leading to the shooting. Nothing valuable was found inside the vehicle. 

After Chase abandoned the car, the officer testified, he allegedly trespassed onto private property.  

A 911 phone call was played for the jury of the homeowner reporting Chase. The homeowner said Chase exhibited erratic behavior– walking without purpose and dancing in the cold.

The homeowner later called investigators a couple of days later when he found Chase’s belongings on his property. 

Parties are set to reconvene on Oct. 7. 

Shooting Defendant Accepts Plea Deal

A shooting defendant accepted a plea offer extended by prosecutors before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun on Oct. 2. 

Reginald Hughes, 29, was originally charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict, and carrying a pistol without a license for his involvement in a shooting that left a victim paralyzed. The incident occurred on Jan. 26, 2022, on the 700 block of Bonini Road, SE. 

During the hearing, Molly Bunke, Hughes’ attorney, said he was accepting the deal, which required him to plead guilty to aggravated assault knowingly while armed in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges. 

Through the deal, parties agreed to a sentence of 10 years of incarceration. 

The parties are set to reconvene Jan. 10, 2025.

Shooting Defendant Rejects Plea Offer

A shooting defendant declined a plea offer during a hearing on Oct. 3 before DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park.

Demarco Bates, 19, is charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting that occurred on April 10 on the 2700 block of Langston Place, SE. Two individuals sustained injuries during the incident.  

During the hearing, Bates’ defense attorney, Alvin Thomas,  affirmed his client’s decision to reject the prosecution’s plea offer during the hearing. If accepted, Bates would have pleaded guilty to the assault and firearm possession charges in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment. 

According to the prosecution, they are seeking more serious charges, including assault with intent to kill while armed, which would transfer the case from the Felony 3 calendar to the Felony 1 calendar, which may impact the previously scheduled trial date for January. 

A status hearing is scheduled for Nov. 14.