Judge Revokes Shooting Defendant’s Release

DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park revoked a shooting defendant’s release on Sept. 10, citing multiple release condition violations.

Mekhi Wilkins,18, is charged with carrying a pistol without a license, unlawful discharge of a firearm, possession of an unregistered firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, for his alleged involvement in a shooting that occurred on Aug. 20 on the 200 block of 37th Place, SE. An individual sustained non-threatening injuries during the incident.

According to court documents, the victim sought help from an officer away from the scene and was treated for minor injuries.

During the hearing, Judge Park alerted the parties he was revoking Wilkins’ release due to multiple alerts of noncompliance by a representative of the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA). It is unclear what conditions were violated.

Parties are slated to reconvene Oct. 11.

Fatal Shooting Suspect Proclaims Innocence

A homicide defendant pleaded not guilty at an arraignment on Sept. 10 in front of DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun.

Eliexander Lopez-Burgos, 24, is charged with premeditated first-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Carlos Blanco Fernandez, 38, on the 2200 block of New York Ave, NE, on Nov 16. 2023.

The lead detective previously testified that a witness had seen Lopez-Burgos in the suspect vehicle moments before Fernandez was shot and killed.

At the hearing, Kevann Gardner and Erin Griffard, Lopez-Burgos’ defense attorneys, alerted the court of his intention to plead not guilty to all charges and asserted his constitutional rights, including the right to a speedy trial.

A trial date was scheduled for November 2025.

Parties are slated to reconvene Nov. 15.

Homicide Defendant Pleads Not Guilty at Arraignment

A homicide defendant pleaded not guilty at an arraignment on Sept. 10 in front of DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun.

Juan Guerra, 32, is charged with second-degree murder for his alleged involvement in the fatal beating of 31-year-old Peter Miller III on the 900 block of Maine Avenue SW. Miller succumbed to his injuries on Oct. 11, 2021.

According to court documents, Miller sustained blunt force trauma to the head and neck. Guerra and Miller’s friend previously testified that Guerra told him to go to the apartment where they had been playing dice and located Miller face down on the couch.

At the hearing, Kevin Mosley, Guerra’s defense attorney, alerted the court of his intention to plead not guilty and asserted his constitutional rights, including the right to a speedy trial.

Parties are slated to reconvene Nov. 22.

Defense Says Detective’s Methods ‘Very Quick, Very Slick, and Very Nefarious’

Three closing arguments in a homicide case, presented by the prosecution and attorneys for two co-defendants, offered the jury conflicting interpretations of the facts in a trial before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on Sept. 9.

Ky’lee Palmer, 25, and Aaron Adgerson, 21, are charged with first-degree murder, assault with intent to kill while armed, and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. In addition, Palmer is charged with destruction of property worth $1,000 or more and tampering with physical evidence. The charges stem from the shooting death of 60-year-old Barron Goodwin on Feb. 12, 2020, on the 800 block of 51st Street, SE.

“While he was nodding off, his life was taken, his life was stolen, his life was ended in a barrage of gunfire from the defendants, Mr. Palmer and Mr. Adgerson,” a prosecutor said during the prosecution’s closing statement.

The prosecutor knocked on the jury box six times to mirror the number of times the gun was fired at the house where Goodwin was asleep on the couch. He played footage from a body-worn camera that depicted Goodwin lying in a pool of blood, with more blood spewing from his head.

The prosecution argued Palmer displayed a history of escalating domestic violence against his girlfriend, who testified she had an on-again-off-again relationship with Palmer at the time of the murder. They said Palmer organized a shooting at the house where his girlfriend and her brother lived in retaliation for their attempts to retrieve the phone Palmer had allegedly stolen from her the day before the murder.

According to the doctrine of transferred intent, Goodwin’s accidental killing constituted first-degree murder if the shooter or the vehicle’s driver intended to kill someone else in the house.

The prosecution displayed Instagram text messages from Palmer to Adgerson half an hour before the shooting, in which Palmer arranged to pick up Adgerson with the stated purpose of going to get something to eat.

Instead of getting food, the prosecutor argued, Palmer drove Adgerson to Palmer’s girlfriend’s home, where Adgerson fired at the house from the car window.

The prosecution noted Adgerson allegedly deleted all the Instagram messages between Palmer and him from his phone after Goodwin died.

“Why would you do that?” a prosecutor asked the jury. “You do that because you shot up a house and killed someone, and you want to cover your tracks.”

The prosecution said, after driving Adgerson home, Palmer lit a fire inside the car used for the shooting, to destroy evidence.

Palmer confessed the shooting and the burning of the car to the mother of his child three months after the incident, she told Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives in 2022.

“He was crying because I was telling him that I was going to leave him if he didn’t tell me the truth,” the mother of Palmer’s son told detectives, according to the prosecution. At the time of Palmer’s alleged confession, she was seven months pregnant with their child.

A prosecutor explained to the jury that both Palmer and Adgerson are guilty of Goodwin’s death if they carried out the shooting together, even if only one of them fired the gun.

If the jury believes they did the shooting but doesn’t believe they intended to kill anyone, they can be found guilty of second-degree murder instead of first-degree.

Michael Madden, one of Adgerson’s defense attorneys, insisted his client is not guilty because he wasn’t there.

“By not guilty, I mean he wasn’t in the car. He wasn’t driving around with Ky’lee Palmer, and he wasn’t shooting up a house,” said Madden.

“There’s one trial for Mr. Adgerson, and there’s another going on in the same room with the same characters for Mr. Palmer. They are, however, completely different trials,” Madden told the jury. “A guilty verdict against one defendant does not mean a guilty verdict against the other.”

Madden argued that the only witness who claimed to have seen Adgerson in the car with Palmer was unreliable because he gave testimony while facing prosecution for an unrelated offense and while serving time for that offense.

“Most of the time, when the homicide branch gets help, the person who provided the help gets help, too,” said the lead detective in the case in a videotaped interview with the witness from 2020 that Madden played for the jury.

According to Madden, the witness claimed to have heard the gunshots while getting a haircut at a barbershop during that interview, which occurred moments after his arrest in an unrelated shooting. Madden argued the witness didn’t claim to have seen Palmer and Adgerson driving to the shooting until he was interviewed by the same detective again in 2022.

Madden argued that, if the witness actually saw Palmer with someone on the way to the shooting, it might not have been Adgerson. He pointed out that the mother of Palmer’s child testified that Palmer told her he was with a different friend, not Adgerson, during the shooting.

“Mr. Adgerson had absolutely no motive to kill anyone in the house,” Madden said. “They didn’t even know him.”

According to Madden, the cell site data the prosecution used to argue Palmer and Adgerson drove to Palmer’s house was consistent with their driving to other places, including Palmer’s residence at the time.

“That’s the [prosecution] cherry-picking, cherry-picking various plot points from their evidence, and telling you it’s proof beyond a reasonable doubt, which it’s not,” Madden said.

David Akulian, a defense attorney for Palmer, questioned the reliability of witnesses’ testimony during his closing argument.

“We’re going to go to all the places where [the lead detective] suggests evidence to the witnesses. It’s very quick, very slick, and very nefarious,” Akulian said.

Akulian noted that the lead detective interviewed the mother of Palmer’s child in 2020, but it wasn’t until 2022, when Palmer was charged with assaulting her and she left him, that she reported his alleged confession of Goodwin’s shooting to the police.

Akulian argued that the questions the lead detective asked her in 2020 gave her the information she needed to invent a false confession from Palmer in 2022 that matched the facts of the case.

He said she repeatedly claimed not to remember information during her testimony in the trial. According to Akulian, she was trying to take back her 2022 testimony.

Akulian showed footage of the lead detective interviewing the witness who claimed to have seen Palmer and Adgerson in the car on the way to the shooting. While asking the witness if he knew what the shooting was about, the lead detective suggested it might be related to Palmer’s girlfriend – Goodwin’s niece – and “someone she had to deal with.”

“You just saw what [the lead detective] did in a recorded video. What do you think he did unrecorded, when nobody’s watching?” Akulian asked the jury.

“[The lead detective] had numerous unrecorded interviews,” Akulian said. “[He] began feeding [the witness] information less than a month after the shooting.”

“He [the incarcerated witness] even said that on cross examination,” Akulian added, “agreeing that [the lead detective] was giving him information that he didn’t used to have.”

“The [prosecution] bought his testimony. They gave him five years for 13 pulls of a trigger,” Akulian said, referring to the unrelated offense for which the witness was sentenced between his police interviews in 2020 and 2022. “Only five years. I wonder why that is?”

Akulian showed footage of the witness telling the lead detective he had symptoms of mental illness.

“Ninety seconds of telling the police, ‘I hear voices all the time’–not true,” said Akulian. “[The witness] is willing to say things that aren’t true to get what’s in it for him.”

Akulian noted a gun matching the shell casings found at the scene of the shooting and in the burned car was discovered when police stopped three men for driving with an open container of alcohol later in 2020. He argued the lead detective ignored those men’s possible connections to Goodwin’s death.

“You didn’t hear from [the lead detective],” Akulian pointed out to the jury. “Out on medical leave–sure. But the fact remains, you didn’t hear from him.”

“We know that she did not seem particularly happy to be here,” a prosecutor said about the mother of Palmer’s child during the prosecution’s rebuttal.

He attributed her unhappiness to testifying against Palmer in his presence, saying, “This is the father” of her child.

“She did not say to you, ‘That didn’t happen.’ She didn’t say, ‘I lied before.’ She didn’t say, ‘I made it up,'” the prosecutor pointed out.

The prosecutor advised the jury to watch the entire video of the lead detective’s 2020 interview with the witness who later claimed he saw Palmer and Adgerson driving to the shooting. According to the prosecutor, that was the lead detective’s only contact with the witness before his sentencing, and the witness didn’t give the lead detective any useful testimony then.

“There’s absolutely no evidence that [the witness] was a cooperator,” the prosecutor said.

Judge Brandt instructed the jury and ordered them to report on Sept. 10 to begin deliberations.

Parties are set to reconvene when a verdict is returned.

Shooting Defendant Remains Released, Despite Arrest in Federal Case

DC Superior Court Judge Erik Christian allowed a shooting defendant to remain on probation despite his arrest in an undisclosed federal case on Sept. 10.

Joseph Robinson, 25, was originally charged with assault with intent to commit robbery while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, and two counts of possession of a firearm during crime of violence for his involvement in a shooting that that took place on the 1200 block of 13th Street, NE on July 7, 2021 which resulted in the death of Zaire Taylor. Robinson also suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Robinson was additionally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his involvement in a shooting that took place on May 8, 2021 on the 2000 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, SE. One individual sustained non-life threatening injuries.

Robinson accepted a plea on Dec. 14 2021, that required him to plead guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and carrying a pistol without a license, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges.

On May 19, 2022, Robinson received a suspended sentence of 15 months, and was required to serve three years of probation.

During the hearing, Robinson’s probation officer told Judge Christian that Robinson remains in compliance with his probation requirements, despite being arrested in connection to a federal case earlier this year.

Parties are slated to reconvene Dec. 11.

Judge Issues Bench Warrant for Suspect in Police Shooting

DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun issued a bench warrant with no bond for a shooting defendant due to his failure to appear in court on Sept. 6.

On Dec. 20, 2022, Davon Easton, 31, pleaded guilty to attempted assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict for his involvement in the shooting of a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer on Jan. 23, 2022, on the 1300 block of Spring Road, NW. As officers pursued Easton, he fired several shots at them. In the encounter one officer suffered a graze wound in the head. He was treated and released.

During the hearing, Easton, who is on probation, failed to appear in court for a hearing. A representative from the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) said Easton has failed to contact the agency since July 1, and they have been unable to reach him.

The prosecution said Easton has failed to show up for drug testing as part of his supervised release as well.

Judge Okun issued the bench warrant with no bond, saying the fact that Easton has not been in contact with CSOSA for two months is enough reason to do so.

Parties will reconvene once the bench warrant is executed.

Shooting Defendant Waives Right to Independent DNA Testing

A shooting defendant waived her rights to independently testing DNA evidence recovered from a crime scene in a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Erik Christian on Sept. 10.

Ni’jhae Curry, 33, was indicted for assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, endangerment with a firearm, two counts of carrying a pistol without a license, and possession of a prohibited weapon, for her alleged involvement in a shooting on Oct. 17, 2023, on the 900 block of Sycamore Drive, SE. No injuries were reported.

According to court documents, Curry confessed to assaulting an individual and firing a gun at the victim, but missed. Curry stated she and the victim had a history of arguments that culminated in the shooting.

During the hearing, the prosecutor revealed that the prosecution had completed DNA analysis on recovered firearms including an AR-15 rifle and a Springfield Armory gun. They also tested a black iPhone with a blue case.

Jordan Love, Curry’s defense attorney, alerted the court of her intent to waive her right to DNA testing, acknowledging that DNA testing could either indicate her innocence or guilt.

Parties are slated to reconvene Oct. 11.

Juvenile Homicide Defendant Won’t Go to Court, Trial Delayed

DC Superior Court Judge Kendra Briggs told a juvenile suspect’s attorney to remind him that “it is not optional to come to court,” during a Sept. 6 hearing.

The 16-year-old boy is charged with second-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, endangerment with a firearm, carrying a pistol without a license, possession of an unregistered firearm, and possession of unregistered ammunition for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 14-year-old Avion Evans on April 4 at the Brookland Metro Station on the 800 block of Monroe Street, NE.

According to Judge Briggs, the boy refused to attend court in-person after the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) alerted him they didn’t have enough computers and staff to have him appear remotely.

Judge Briggs instructed William Howell and James Brockway, the boy’s attorneys, that if DYRS can’t provide resources for the child to attend court remotely, he must take part in person.

During the hearing, Judge Briggs also told parties she received notice that previously ordered evaluations of the juvenile couldn’t be completed until next week.

Due to the delays, the trial, which was slated to begin Sept. 17, was vacated.

Parties are slated to reconvene Sept. 25.

Stabbing Defendant’s Release Revoked

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt revoked a stabbing defendant’s release following reports of multiple violations of court imposed conditions in a hearing on Sept. 10.

Dennis Bowler, 56, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed for his alleged involvement in a stabbing incident on May 24 on the 3000 block of Rodman Street, NW. One individual sustained injuries during the incident.

During a Sept. 6 hearing, Judge Brandt issued a bench warrant due to Bowler’s failure to appear in court and a report from the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) that stated he was accused of tampering with his GPS monitoring device.

During that hearing, the prosecution also alerted the court that a witness had told them they saw Bowler chasing the victim, for whom he has a stay away and no contact order, in an alleyway while stating the victim “deserved to get stabbed.”

On Sept. 9, Jason Clark, Bowler’s defense attorney, requested he be released back to the community, arguing that if he remains detained for a long period of time he will lose the housing he recently acquired.

However, the prosecution insisted his inability to comply with release conditions and the safety of the community demonstrate the need to detain him as he awaits further proceedings.

“This is quite unfortunate,” Judge Brandt told the parties, stating she had given Bowler a chance, despite the prosecution’s objection. “The court believed at the time, and still does now, that his drug dependence plays a role in his actions,” she added.

Due to his noncompliance, Judge Brandt ordered he be detained.

The prosecution requested Judge Brandt order mental health assessments for Bowler, stating that a neighbor alerted them of a conversation with Bowler, in which he raised multiple mental health concerns.

However, Clark stated he didn’t believe the assessments were necessary at this point, but will request them if he deems them necessary at a later time.

Parties are slated to reconvene Nov. 7.

Psychiatrist Testifies Homicide Defendant Competent to Stand Trial

A psychiatrist, who was called to testify following a murder defendant’s attorney’s contesting the doctor’s findings, deemed the suspect competent to stand trial on Sept. 9, before DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe.

Darryl Tompkins, 35, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, three counts of unlawful possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, three counts of carrying a pistol without a license, obstruction of justice, and threat to kidnap or injure a person.

The charges stem from his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Edward Roberts Jr. and 23-year-old Tyler McEacheren. Roberts was shot and killed on the 3500 block of 14th Street, NW, on July 30, 2016. McEachern was shot and killed on the 3100 block of Buena Vista Terrace, SE, Aug. 29, 2016.

A psychiatrist certified in adult, child and forensic psychiatry testified as an expert witness after conducting two competency evaluations on Tompkins. According to the psychiatrist, he conducted an interview with Tompkins in 2021, and one in 2023, which focused on health evaluations and reports from the DC Department of Corrections. The expert witness incorporated both evaluations into the testimony.

The doctor described the interview with Tompkins as a “pleasant, professional interaction.” During the interview, the witness deemed Tompkins competent, because he had a good factual understanding of the legal system and had the ability to rationally consider legal scenarios.

The prosecution argued that Tompkins is competent to stand trial because his beliefs regarding the trial and how his attorneys have handled his case are reality-based, not delusional, and he has a sufficient understanding of legal matters.

The defense, led by attorney Dana Page, focused on a competency evaluation from 2018, which found Tompkins mentally incompetent and led to a mental competency restoration. Despite the previous incompetentcy finding, the witness maintained Tompkins is currently competent, noting that Tompkins understood critical aspects of his case, such as the severity of the charges.

Due to time constraints, the doctor’s testimony was cut short.

Parties are slated to reconvene Sept. 10.

Suspect Claims Sex worker Threatened Him With a Gun, Shooting Followed

Parties delivered opening statements for a shooting trial on Sept. 9 before DC Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur.

Jerry Tyree, 46, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict, unlawful possession of liquid PCP, and unlawful possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, for his alleged involvement in a shooting that took place on Nov. 29, 2023, on the 5900 block of Foote Street, NE.

During their opening statements, prosecutors claimed the shooting stemmed from Tyree’s soliciting sex from the victim. When things went awry after they smoked a cigarette laced with PCP and Tyree allegedly removed a condom the victim requested he wear, the prosecutor argued Tyree accused the victim of stealing his money before firing a shot.

The prosecutor claimed nearby surveillance footage depicted the incident but did not showthe shooter’s face. He argued a male figure is seen exiting the building and fleeing the scene.

However, Sara Kopecki, Tyree’s attorney, argued the shooting occurred during a struggle between the victim and Tyree due to the sex worker’s requesting additional money halfway through the act and brandishing a handgun to threaten Tyree.

According to Kopecki, the gun was fired during the struggle, injuring the individual. She claimed that Tyree panicked, grabbed the gun and fled the scene.

Prosecutors called a witness, who testified she was in the building when she overheard an argument and threatening comments from a male’s voice. As she approached her door, the witness testified she heard a gunshot.

The witness added she called 911 and ran to her kitchen window, where she saw a figure leaving the building. She located the victim in the hallway.

The trial will continue Sept. 10.

Document: MPD Investigating Fatal Crash Involving Pedestrian in Northeast

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced an ongoing investigation into a fatal traffic crash involving a pedestrian in Northeast.

On Tuesday, August 20, 2024, roughly around 9:52 p.m., a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle in the 4000 block of Minnesota Avenue, Northeast. The individual was crossing the road outside of a designated crosswalk when a stolen Hyundai Elantra, moving southbound on Minnesota Avenue, hit her and then escaped the scene.

The pedestrian was promptly taken to a local hospital with critical injuries. Following this, the Hyundai Elantra was recovered by MPD.

On Sunday, September 8, 2024, the pedestrian ultimately succumbed to her injuries and was declared deceased.

The victim was identified as 39-year-old Tiffany Amanda Pippen, who did not have a fixed residential address.

MPD is asking anyone with information about the incident to get in touch with police at (202) 727-9099 or send a tip to the department’s Text Tip Line at 50411. No action should be taken by the individuals.

Shooting Defendant Requests Release, Cites Prosecutorial Delays

A shooting defendant’s attorney requested DC Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur release his client in a hearing on Sept. 9, citing prosecutorial issues delaying a trial.

Keith Walker, 30, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in a March 7 shooting on the 3100 block of Buena Vista Terrace, SE, where an individual was shot in the ankle.

During the hearing, Walker’s attorney, Tamara Jones, requested his release on bond, arguing that the prosecution’s decision to conduct DNA testing delayed the trial, which was previously scheduled to begin Aug. 20. The lawyer asserted that Walker should not remain in custody due to the postponement.

Judge Arthur denied the request, stating that no material change in circumstances justified Walker’s release. He added the prosecution’s decision to conduct DNA testing was legitimate and not an attempt to delay the trial.

However, he gave the attorneys time to provide their arguments in writing.

Parties are slated to reconvene Sept. 18.

Probable Cause Found, Stabbing Defendant Denied Release

DC Superior Court Judge Renee Raymond found probable cause that a defendant was the perpetrator in a stabbing on Sept. 6.

Chackell Anderson, 40, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, robbery, and robbery while armed for his alleged involvement in a stabbing on Sept. 3 on the 1900 block of 17th Street, SE. One individual sustained stab wounds, and another was assaulted.

According to police reports, officers were flagged down by one of the victims holding the right side of his body attempting to control a puncture wound. They were directed to the home of Anderson’s ex-girlfriend who claimed he assaulted the two, punching her in the face and stabbing the other individual.

Prosecutors called on a responding officer from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) who testified the victims said Anderson was their attacker.

Defense attorney Russell Hairston claimed there were multiple inconsistencies in the officer’s testimony as well as failing to sign the affidavit, and argued his “convoluted” information should not play as role in finding probable cause.

Judge Raymond disagreed stating the testimony was “quite clear,” and found that there was enough “clear and convincing evidence to establish probable cause.”

The defense then requested release, citing Anderson’s job with Green Energy, no contact with the criminal justice system since 2022, and his willingness to comply with any “stay aways” or conditions that the court would impose.

The prosecution replied that “2022 wasn’t that long ago.” She argued that his limited contact with the court was the result of being in jail for 16 months as he “couldn’t commit crimes while incarcerated,” while serving a sentence from another crime similar to the current charges.

The court agreed, stating “there are no combinations or conditions that would ensure the safety of the community,” and ruled that Anderson be detained.

Parties are expected to reconvene on Sept. 20.

Hearing Rescheduled Due to Defendant’s Illness

DC Superior Court Judge Renee Raymond delayed a stabbing defendant’s preliminary hearing due to his illness and subsequent hospitalization on Sept. 9.

Ethan Cunningham, 20, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in an incident that occurred on July 10 at the DC Jail on the 1900 block of D Street, SE. One individual was stabbed, and sustained an injury to the neck and lower back.

The defendant is also charged with three counts of felony murder while armed, first-degree burglary while armed and other counts for his involvement in the death of 38-year-old James Curtis on May 10, 2022, on the 2600 block of Stanton Road, SE.

Thomas Healy, Cunningham’s attorney, stated he would visit hims in the hospital, and requested the Judge set a new hearing date.

Another hearing is scheduled for Sept. 17, but parties will reconvene earlier if the defendant’s condition improves.

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