Judge Says Prosecution Is ‘Out of Luck’ if They Don’t Meet DNA Testing Deadline in A Homicide Case

DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein ordered the prosecution to have DNA testing results by Nov. 8 in a Sept. 13 status hearing for a homicide case with three co-defendants.

Raymond Mathis, 36, Keshawn Lavender, 23, and Deandre Sams, 28, are charged with first-degree murder, attempted robbery while armed, and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. These charges stem from their alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Matthew Miller during an attempted robbery on Sept. 6, 2023 on the 200 block of M Street, SW. Two other individuals sustained injuries during the incident.

Mathis was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to the charges against him at the beginning of the hearing. The defense then requested that the prosecution be given a deadline for when they must have DNA testing results by.

Kevin Irving, Lavender’s defense attorney, told the court that he does not understand why the prosecution is not adhering to the court’s deadlines. According to Irving, this is the second time that the IPA hearing, in which defendant’s can assert or waive their rights to independently test the evidence, has been delayed due to the prosecution submitting new DNA for testing and waiting for the results.

Judge Epstein told counsel that the trial, which is set for Sept. 28, 2025, is not going to be pushed back. Epstein said if the prosecution cannot “get its act together” then they will be “out of luck.”

The prosecution was hesitant to agree to the Nov. 8 deadline proposed by Judge Epstein because they had hoped to do a third round of testing once their second round results come in at the beginning of October. Judge Epstein denied their request for a later deadline.

Parties are set to reconvene on Dec. 13.

Shooting Defendant, Who Left Victim Blind, Accepts Plea Offer

A shooting defendant accepted a plea deal extended by the prosecution before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein on Sept. 13.

Antron Belk, 18, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to murder while armed, carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, and unauthorized use of a vehicle. These charges stem from Belk’s alleged involvement in the non-fatal shooting of one victim on Feb. 25, 2023 on the 4400 block of Quarles Street, NE.

According to the prosecution, the shooting left the victim blind.

During the hearing, Christen Philips, Belk’s attorney, said her client intended to accept the plea deal put forth by the prosecution.

The deal required Belk to plead guilty to aggravated assault while armed and possession of a firearm in exchange for the dismissal of all other charges. The parties agreed to a sentence of 84 months incarceration with five years of supervised release.

Parties are slated to reconvene for sentencing on Nov. 15.

Stabbing Defendant Calls Victim a ‘Liar’

DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe ejected a defendant from the courtroom after calling a stabbing victim a “liar” on Sept. 12.

Tanade Warsame, 32, is charged with assault with significant bodily injury for his alleged involvement in stabbing an individual on May 4 on the 600 block of I Street, NW.

Prior to the parties picking a jury on Sept. 12, Warsame pleaded guilty to contempt of court. His remaining count is assault.

“You cannot bring a knife to a fist fight,” insisted the prosecution in opening statements, arguing that Warsame and the victim decided to fight after an argument in a dispute over a stolen hat. During the confrontation, Warsame allegedly escalated the situation, pulling a knife and stabbing the victim.

However, Brandon Burrell, Warsame’s attorney, disagreed. According to Burrell, a day before the incident, the victim took a hat from Warsame and did not give it back. According to Burrell, Warsame had a heated argument with the victim about the hat on the day of the incident, and said Warsame acted in self-defense after the victim threw a punch.

The prosecution called the victim to testify about the incident.

He said he took Warsame’s hat “in a playful way,” and intended to give it back. Burrell in redirect asked the victim if he bought the hat from Warsame, but the victim said no. After Burrell showed footage of the victim telling police that he had bought the hat, he still disagreed and explained that he probably misunderstood the officer’s questions.

Moments before the jury was excused for the day, Warsame in an emotional outburst audibly called the victim a “liar”.

Judge Pipe removed Warsame from the courtroom for losing self-control.

Trial will continue with the victim’s testimony on Sept. 16.

Homicide Defendant Charged with Obstruction, Potentially Delaying Trial

The prosecution alerted DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe that a homicide defendant is being indicted on four additional charges of obstruction of justice. The new developments were announced in a Sept. 13 hearing.

Joshua Allen, 33, is charged with first degree murder premeditated while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict, and carrying a pistol without license outside a home or business for his alleged involvement the fatal shooting of Delonte Johnson, 28, on June 11, 2021 on the 4600 block of Hillside Road, SE. Another individual sustained injuries during the incident.

According to the prosecution, the new charges stem from two incidents when Allen allegedly contacted a witness who was slated to testify in his trial, and asked the person to lie.

The first incident allegedly took place between Dec. 15, 2022 and Jan. 31, 2023 and the prosecution alleges that Allen sent a letter to the witness. The second incident allegedly occurred between June 9 and Aug. 10, 2024 and the prosecution says Allen, who was detained at the time, called the witness from other inmates’ accounts as well as a case manager’s.

Allen’s lawyer, Kevin Robertson, alerted the court that Allen was pleading not guilty to these four counts.

Meanwhile, the defense motioned to consolidate the new charges with Allen’s original ones. The trial is currently set for Oct. 7. The prosecution does not believe it needs to be delayed.

Judge O’Keefe asserted that he needs a few days to consider if the current trial date should stand.

Parties are slated to reconvene on Sept. 20.

Stabbing Defendant Accepts Plea Deal

A stabbing defendant accepted a plea offer extended by the prosecution before DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro on Sept 16.

A’quino Boyd, 36, is charged with assault with an armed weapon for his involvement in a non-fatal stabbing that occurred on the 1800 block of Benning Road, NE, on Aug. 11. One individual sustained a stab wound to the chest with a knife.

During the hearing, defense attorney Sara Kopecki informed the court that her client intended to accept a plea offer extended by the prosecution. It would require Boyd to plead guilty to attempted assault with a dangerous weapon in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment on greater charges.

The prosecution requested that Boyd be sentenced the maximum amount for his offense.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on Nov. 1, for sentencing.

‘There’s A Blood Feud That Runs Deep,’ Judge Says in Sentencing Co-Defendants to More Than 100 Years For Shooting Spree

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt sentenced Tyiion Freeman to 108 years incarceration and Koran Jackson to 164 years on Sept. 13 for their involvement in a 2020 shooting spree that resulted in multiple injuries and one death.

Freeman, 25, and Jackson, 24, were convicted on July 10 of conspiracy, first-degree premeditated murder while armed, four counts of assault with intent to kill, five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol without a license, three counts of tampering with physical evidence, and four counts of possession of an unregistered firearm. The charges stemmed from the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Malachi Lukes on March 1, 2020, on the 600 block of S Street, NW, that also left another juvenile injured.

Freeman was additionally convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict.

Jackson was also convicted of four counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, six counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license. The charges stemmed from a non-fatal shooting on Feb. 22, 2020, on the 700 block of Farragut Street, NW, that injured two individuals, and a shooting on Feb. 24, 2020, at the intersection of 9th Street and Rhode Island Avenue, NW, that injured three individuals.

The sentencing of a third co-defendant, 33-year-old Stephen Nelson, was delayed until Sept. 19 due to undisclosed circumstances.

Reginald Steele, 25, and Aaron Brown, 28, are currently facing charges based on their alleged involvement in the incidents.

“He was smart, bold, and filled with compassion,” Lukes’ mother told the court about her son during a victim impact statement.

“What legacy of yourself would you like to leave behind?” she remembered asking him mere days before he was killed.

“I’ve done good work, Mommy, but I want to make a difference,” Lukes said.

Lukes’ mother attested that he had already made a difference by age 13.

“I’ve seen tears form in congregants’ eyes as he blessed them with his sweet singing,” she said.

According to Lukes’ mother, 125 friends and family members attended a candlelight vigil after Lukes’ death to memorialize his life and protest gun violence.

“We can no longer walk the street with the confidence that we will not become the victims of gun violence,” the prosecutor read from a victim impact statement by a neighborhood association. “Some families have moved from the neighborhood for fear of being outside their homes at the wrong moment.”

“It was a mass shooting, literally waiting until the kids were corralled in a parking lot and then shooting them as they ran away,” the prosecutor said regarding the assault on Lukes and his friends. “There could have been four more bodies.”

“This was a Sunday afternoon when people were praying, while this guy was preying on kids,” the prosecutor said in requesting the court to give Freeman a 110-year sentence.

“The devastation that Mr. Jackson has brought on his victims and the community cannot be overstated and deserves a lengthy sentence,” the prosecutor said while asking Judge Brandt to sentence Jackson to 163 years.

Andrew Ain, Freeman’s defense attorney, and Brian McDaniel, Jackson’s defense attorney, requested 30-year sentences for their clients, the mandatory minimum for first-degree murder.

“This is significantly below the guidelines, but I don’t believe the guidelines were created for cases at the extreme end, and this case is at the extreme end because of how the charges stack up,” Ain said.

“I would note that our sentencing guidelines are not mandatory but discretionary,” said McDaniel. “I believe Mr. Jackson is an individual who is capable of rehabilitation.”

The prosecutor argued there were no mitigating factors to justify short sentences, while there were two aggravating factors to justify long sentences – the murder was premeditated, and the victim was a child.

“This court as a whole has a 98 percent compliance rate with the sentencing guidelines,” said Judge Brandt.

She said it was especially important to apply the guidelines faithfully in this case because the prosecution’s evidence had shown the conflicts motivating the shootings were still ongoing.

“That’s a blood feud that runs deep, and it’s not over,” Judge Brandt said about the issues between the neighborhoods. “The length of the sentence sends a message to the community that this kind of violence can’t be tolerated.”

“I’ve tried to temper mercy into this sentence because, if I didn’t, the numbers…” said Judge Brandt, her voice trailing off. “It’s with a heavy heart that I sentence you.”

Judge Brandt gave Freeman and Jackson each 45 years for the charge of first-degree murder. They received 14 years for each count of assault with intent to kill against a child.

Jackson received 12 years for each count of assault with intent to kill while armed against an adult and five years for each count of assault with a dangerous weapon.

Since these charges are all crimes of violence, the DC sentencing guidelines state that the sentences should run consecutively.

Freeman received an additional two years for unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict.

Each charge of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence carries a sentence of five years, but the guidelines allow them to merge, adding a total of five years to each defendant’s sentence.

The sentences for carrying a pistol without a license, tampering with physical evidence and possession of an unregistered firearm didn’t extend Freeman’s and Jackson’s prison time because the guidelines allow them to run concurrently with the sentences for other charges.

Judge Brandt required Freeman to pay $1800 and Jackson to pay $3264 to the Victims of Violent Crime Fund by Dec. 31, 2075.

“You don’t usually hear someone say they look forward to being transferred to the [Federal] Bureau of Prisons [BOP] as a fresh start, but Mr. Freeman does,” Ain said.

At Ain’s request, Judge Brandt recommended Freeman for the Bureau Rehabilitation and Values Enhancement (BRAVE) program.

“Program content focuses on developing interpersonal skills, behaving prosocially in a prison environment, challenging antisocial attitudes and criminality, developing problem solving skills, and planning for release,” according to BOP documents.

Judge Brandt told Freeman and Jackson that they have 30 days to file appeals.

No further hearings are scheduled in these cases.

‘You Made A Big Mistake,’ Says Judge Sentencing Stabbing Defendant

A stabbing defendant pleaded guilty to simple assault and attempted possession of a dangerous weapon in a misdemeanor plea agreement on Sept. 13, with DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld presiding. .

Victor Mejia, 52, pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charges of simple assault and attempted possession of a dangerous weapon to remove the felony charges of assault with a dangerous weapon. Mejia pleaded guilty to stabbing a co-worker on the 4000 block of Cathedral Avenue, NW at a business establishment on Oct. 13, 2023.

During the hearing, the prosecution said a jury would have found Mejia guilty of the act, even if he had not pleaded guilty, because the stabbing followed an argument when Mejia attacked his coworker with a knife, resulting in the victim’s needing several stitches. The prosecution said Mejia endangered all workers present with his actions.

The prosecution asked for Mejia to be sentenced to 90 days for each count but suspended the time so long as Mejia remains in compliance with probation for one year. The prosecution said the court’s probation resources to provide anger management counseling could help him learn from the experience.

Henry Escoto, Mejia’s defense attorney, said Mejia is “very, very remorseful” and the actions were “out of character.”

“I am very sorry about this,” Mejia said. “I will never again get in a situation like this.”

Judge Hertzfeld said she believed Mejia had understood the severity of his actions and had been law-abiding “as far as I can tell” up until the stabbing.

“You made a big mistake here,” Judge Hertzfeld said.

In considering that Mejia had been under court supervision since the incident, Judge Hertzfeld ordered the 90 days Mejia would serve on each count to be suspended so long as Mejia complies with probation for three months.

No further dates were set.

Judge Steps Down Detention, Prosecution Offers Plea to Co-Defendants

DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld presided over a co-defendant’s felony status hearing and ascertainment of counsel on Sept. 13, acknowledging both defendants have been in compliance with pretrial requirements and recognizing the extension of a misdemeanor plea offer.

Da’mon Price, 31, and Raven Trimble, 30, are charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for their alleged involvement in a stabbing that occurred on June 22, at the intersection of West Basin and Ohio Drive, SW. One individual sustained injuries during the incident.

Price is also charged with robbery in connection to the incident.

According to court documents, two individuals, later identified as Price and Trimble, stabbed the victim, before Price allegedly stole property from her car. Police officers located the defendants as they attempted to flee the scene.

The prosecution also stated for the record its extension of a misdemeanor plea offer. While the prosecution did reveal details, the defense asked for more time to review the conditions.

Price and Trimble have reportedly been in compliance with their pretrial regulations, including the requirement of wearing electronic location-monitoring anklets. Their attorneys argued to change their release conditions, including the removal of the ankle monitors.

The prosecution did not argue against Trimble’s being able to remove his ankle monitor, yet expressed concerns for Price as he allegedly fought arrest and attempted to flee.

Judge Hertzfeld ordered the change in release conditions for Price and Trimble, removing the electronic monitors. She stated that it will support access for each defendant to continue working or search for new employment.

Parties are slated to reconvene Oct. 3.

Document: Updated MPD Investigating Southeast Homicide

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced an ongoing investigation into a fatal shooting that occurred in Southeast.

On Sunday, September 15, 2024, around 2:43 a.m., officers were called to a residence on the 2300 block of Marion Barry Avenue, Southeast, following a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, the officers found an unconscious adult male victim with a gunshot wound. Despite the arrival of DC Fire and EMS, the victim showed no signs of life and was declared dead at the scene.

The victim has been identified as 36-year-old David Washington of Southeast, DC. The suspects of this crime were caught on surveillance cameras near the scene.

MPD is calling for anyone who can identify the suspects or who has information about this incident to contact them at (202) 727 -9099 or text their tip to the Department’s TEXT TIP LINE at 50411. MPD is offering a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this homicide.

Shooting Defendant’s Competency Challenged, Co-Defendant Wants Severance

A shooting defendant’s attorney alerted DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe on Sept. 13 that the he intends to contest a mental competency finding.

Christopher Hinton, 20, and Kevin Harrison, 23, are charged with carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, possession of an unregistered firearm, unlawful discharge of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, for their alleged involvement in a shooting on June 26, 2023 on 2100 block of Georgia Avenue, NW. No injuries were reported.

According to police documents, officers watched the defendants flee the scene and were arrested. Hinton was allegedly carrying a concealed firearm while Harrison attempted to throw a gun under a vehicle. Both were unregistered firearms with large amounts of ammunition.

Harrison’s attorney, Patrick Nowak, requested the court vacate the trial date in light of Harrison’s mental health exam results. Although a report from the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) revealed that Harrison is competent to stand trial, Nowak alerted the court he disagreed and would be seek an his own expert to for an evaluation.

Andrew Ain, Hinton’s attorney, requested the co-defendants be severed in order to guarantee that the contested behavioral findings didn’t affect Hinton’s trial date.

Harrison’s release conditions were also adjusted to accommodate a sentence from a new case so he would be allowed to participate in community service while on home confinement and GPS monitoring.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene to further discuss severance on Sept. 27.

Document: MPD Investigating Northeast Homicide

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced it is investigating a fatal shooting in the Northeast district of Washington D.C.

The incident occurred on Sunday, September 15, 2024, at approximately 8:25 a.m., when officers were called to the 400 block of 50th Street, Northeast. There, the officers found an unconscious adult male victim in the alley of the location, suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite attempts by the DC Fire and EMS teams who were called to the scene, the male was pronounced dead.

The MPD emphasized that the victim has not been identified yet.

In case of any knowledge related to this incident, the MPD has urged people to call the police at (202) 727 – 9099 or text a tip to the Department’s TEXT TIP LINE at 50411. As part of stimulus for information that can lead to the perpetrator of the crime, the MPD offers a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

Document: MPD Investigating Northeast Homicide

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced an ongoing investigation into a homicide that occurred in Northeast on September 14, 2024.

On the mentioned date, at roughly 5:08 a.m., MPD officers responded to reports of an injured man in the 2200 block of Adams Place, Northeast. Upon arrival, they found an unconscious adult male victim suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite the efforts of the DC Fire and EMS unit who attended the scene, the man showed no signs of life and was subsequently pronounced dead.

The victim was later identified as 44-year-old Erik Mewborn, a resident of Northeast, DC.

For anyone with information on this fatal incident, the MPD has urged them to take no action but to report it to the police at (202) 727-9099 or text their tip to the Department’s TEXT TIP LINE at 50411. MPD currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone who can provide information that results in the arrest and conviction of the suspect or suspects responsible for a homicide committed in the District of Columbia.

Document: MPD Investigating Southeast Homicide

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the investigation into a homicide in Southeast Washington DC, involving the shooting of an adult male resident.

On Sunday, September 15, 2024, at around 2:43 A.M., the MPD responded to a reported shooting at a place of residence on the 2300 block of Marion Barry Avenue in Southeast DC. Upon arrival, officers found an unconscious adult male suffering from a gunshot wound.

The victim, who displayed no visible signs of life, was pronounced dead at the scene by responders from the DC Fire and EMS. The man was later identified as 36-year-old David Washington, a resident of Southeast DC.

The MPD has called upon any individuals with knowledge relevant to this incident to refrain from intervening directly. Instead, they are urged to contact the MPD at (202) 727-9099 or to submit a tip by texting the department’s TEXT TIP LINE at 50411. The department is offering a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone providing information leading to the arrest and conviction of the party or parties responsible for any homicide within the District of Columbia.

Document: MPD Makes Second Arrest in Fatal Shooting in Northeast

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced a second arrest connected to a fatal shooting in Northeast Washington, D.C.

The incident took place on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at 12:30 a.m., with Sixth District offices responding to the 4500 block of Sheriff Road in Northeast. The officers found an adult male, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

The victim has been identified as 38-year-old Ricky Canty, from Temple Hills, Maryland.

The MPD announced that the first arrest related to this incident was made on Wednesday, August 14, 2024. The Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, acting on a D.C. Superior Court arrest warrant, arrested an 18-year-old male from Northeast, DC for First Degree Murder While Armed -Felony Murder. At the time of the offence, he was still a juvenile but is being charged as an adult.

On Friday, September 13, 2024, a second arrest was carried out under a DC Superior Court warrant. Members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested 18-year-old Lawrence Bradshaw, Jr. of Southeast, DC. He was taken to the Homicide Branch and was charged with First Degree Murder while Armed -Felony Murder.

Document: MPD Investigating Southeast Homicide

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced that they are currently investigating a fatal shooting in Southeast. The event occurred on Thursday, September 12, 2024, around 3:10 a.m., when officers responded to reports of gunfire in the 300 block of Parkland Place, Southeast.

Upon their arrival, the officers found an unconscious male adult victim. The man was pronounced dead at the scene by DC Fire and EMS, upon finding no signs of life. The decedent has been identified as 32-year-old Alphonzo Glascoe of Southeast, DC.

The MPD seeks assistance from anyone with knowledge about the incident, urging them to call police at (202) 727-9099 or text them on the Department’s TEXT TIP LINE at 50411. Notably, the MPD offers a reward of up to $25,000 for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for a homicide in the District of Columbia.

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