Judge Releases Defendant Despite ‘Less Than Stellar’ Compliance

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan denied the prosecution’s request to detain a murder defendant, who has had “less than stellar” compliance, during a hearing on Aug. 28.

Vanessa Bonaparte, 32, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for her alleged involvement in the death of 31-year-old Dwayne Boyd, which occurred on June 22 on the 3500 block of East Capitol Street, SE.

According to court documents, an individual, identified as Bonaparte, broke through the windows of a vacant apartment where she kept her possessions. Boyd and his significant other were in the apartment at the time. Bonaparte claimed the apartment was hers and that the pair had to leave even though they were squatting in a vacant unit, according to court documents.

Bonaparte, a one-time girlfriend of Boyd’s, became agitated and threatened to shoot them both to death before going to the kitchen and finding a knife. Boyd’s partner, who sought refuge in a bedroom, heard him say, “Ahhh, you crazy b****!” Then Boyd’s partner said she saw him bleeding profusely.

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responding to the scene found Boyd stabbed to death in a pool of his own blood.

Bonaparte, who has been released since July 31, has been non-compliant with her release conditions, according to a representative from pre-trial services.

Weighing the severity of Bonaparte’s charges, and her apparent inability to be compliant, the prosecution requested that Bonaparte’s release be revoked.

They assert that within the last week, Bonaparte tested positive during a scheduled drug test, and subsequently missed multiple drug testing appointments.

Bonaparte has also failed to report to scheduled drug treatment assessment and meetings with her case manager, according to the representative.

The prosecution voiced concerns about the battery level of Bonaparte’s GPS electronic monitor which was as low as “one percent” and not charged for “two-to-three days” at a time.

Bonaparte’s defense attorney, Kevann Gardner, argued that the defendant missed the scheduled drug testing due to her inflexible work schedule and switch in case managers.

Gardner indicated to the court that Bonaparte was compliant within the first week of her release, and the four attendance issues were all in the same week. Gardner asserted that Bonaparte requires time to adjust to the conditions of her release.

Bonaparte’s case manager confirmed that he had met with Bonaparte prior to the missed meetings, and that she had multiple opportunities to charge the GPS device. He told Judge Raffinan he tracked the defendant’s movement regularly, and according to the GPS, the defendant did not have any work conflicts.

The judge requested proof of employment but denied the prosecution’s request for her detainment.

Parties are set to reconvene on Sept. 10.

Homicide Defendant Pleads Guilty To Voluntary Manslaughter

A homicide defendant accepted a plea deal to a lesser charge before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan on Aug. 28.

Terrance Prue, 22, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license for his involvement in the killing of 39-year-old Bruce Wayne Gilmore. The incident occurred on the 300 block of 22nd Street, SE on June 5, 2019. Another individual sustained injuries during the incident, but survived.

During the hearing, James King, Prue’s defense attorney, alerted Judge Raffinan of his intent to accept a deal extended by prosecutors. The agreement required Prue to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges.

Through the deal, parties agreed to a sentencing range of eight-to-12 years of incarceration.

Prue’s sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 15.

Prosecutors Are Running a ‘Smear Campaign’ Against Homicide Defendant, Says Defense

Parties delivered opening statements, and witnesses testified in a contentious homicide trial before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on Aug. 27.

Ky’lee Palmer, 25, and Aaron Adgerson, 21, are charged with first-degree murder, assault with intent to kill, and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. In addition, Palmer is charged with destruction of property worth $1000 or more and tampering with physical evidence. All are alleged to be offenses committed during release. The charges stem from Palmer’s and Adgerson’s alleged involvement in a drive-by shooting that led to the death of 60-year-old Barron Goodwin on Feb. 12, 2020, inside a residence on the 800 block of 51st Street, SE.

In their opening statements, prosecutors argued “a bullet sliced through [a] window, pierced through [Goodwin’s] cap, and lodged in his skull,” killing him quickly. According to the prosecution, Goodwin, who is said to have been gay, was diagnosed with dementia, and moved in with his late-husband’s family following his death due to illness in 2019.

“These two men killed Barron in a drive-by shooting in broad daylight,” the prosecutor insisted, pointing at Palmer and Adgerson. The motive, the prosecutor argued, grew from a stolen cellphone that Palmer allegedly took from his then-girlfriend, Goodwin’s niece.

According to the prosecution, Palmer and Adgerson committed the murder in a stolen black Nissan Altima, which they allege was taken by Palmer. They added that an individual standing on a street corner where the crime occurred identified Palmer and Adgerson as the individuals in the car, stating he knew them from growing up in the same area.

Prosecutors argued that after the shooting, Palmer drove Adgerson to his house in northeast DC, before driving back to his other girlfriend’s house and setting the black Nissan on fire.

Months later, the prosecutor said, Palmer confessed to his pregnant girlfriend that “he shot an old man.”

“The evidence will show you these two men are responsible for killing Barron,” the prosecutor ended.

However, Sweta Patel, Palmer’s defense attorney, insisted that Palmer and Adgerson had nothing to do with the “tragic loss of an individual.”

“The [prosecution] wants you to convict Palmer on purely circumstantial evidence,” Patel insisted, adding that it will not show his involvement.

Patel argued Palmer’s then-pregnant girlfriend did not tell police about his alleged confession until two years after the actual incident, and the identification of Palmer and Adgerson by another witness only happened after he was arrested for an unrelated matter and “he had something to gain.”

“The [prosecution] wants you to convict this case on a smear campaign against Palmer,” Patel ended.

Likewise, Stephen LoGerfo, Adgerson’s attorney, emotionally proclaimed, “He did not shoot Barron Goodwin, and was not in the car that shot Barron Goodwin.”

He requested the jury disregard the prosecutors’ “conspiracy theory against Adgerson,” and the “unsteady foundation,” of their case.

Following opening statements, prosecutors called on Goodwin’s sister-in-law and brother-in-law, who testified their family took Goodwin in and provided care for him as he declined after being diagnosed with dementia.

The sister-in-law deemed Goodwin an individual with “a beautiful personality,” adding that he was easy to get along with. Given the loss of her brother in addition to her brother-in-law, she testified that “it was devastating… it happened one after the other.”

The witness argued she and her husband moved their family out of the jurisdiction shortly after Goodwin’s murder due to safety concerns.

Patel and LoGerfo questioned whether she was at home when the shooting happened. She testified she was at work, and did not see who shot Goodwin.

Although the wife wasn’t home, the husband testified he was, and explained that he “held Barron’s hand,” after he found him lying on the living room floor. He told the jury that when he first found Goodwin, he was still alive. He deemed Goodwin a “happy go-lucky,” individual.

Prosecutors also called on Palmer’s ex-girlfriend, and Goodwin’s niece, who testified about their “sometimes romantic” relationship. During her testimony, the witness attempted to conceal herself from Palmer by hiding behind the judge’s bench.

According to the witness, by February of 2020, she and Palmer had been in a relationship for one-to-two years, and he had met her family a few times.

The witness testified about the multiple injuries she endured during her relationship with Palmer, which included a broken lip and a black eye. She also testified that during an incident, Palmer pushed her over the railing in her front porch before macing her.

The day before Goodwin’s murder, the witness testified, she and Palmer got into an argument while they were out on a date, during which he forcefully took her phone. According to the witness, she had to walk home that night, and told her cousin to reach out to her and Palmer’s phones to try to get it back.

She testified she didn’t recall what the argument was about, but said that was around the time she found out Palmer had another girlfriend, who prosecutors claimed was three-months pregnant at the time with Palmer’s child.

According to the witness, she used an extra phone the family kept in the house to log into Instagram and send Palmer’s pregnant girlfriend a message, in which she asked, “Can you tell Kylee bring me my phone?”

The witness testified on the day Goodwin was murdered, she was home and heard four-to-five gunshots before she was alerted by her cousin who lived with them that Goodwin had been shot. She testified she didn’t remember who called 911, but officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) eventually showed up.

The witness told David Akulian, Palmer’s other defense attorney, that she hadn’t seen who shot Goodwin. As for the alleged domestic violence incidents that the prosecution provided evidence for, the witness testified she “never had him locked up” or pressed charges against him.

Parties are slated to reconvene Aug. 28.

Defense Charges Negligence, Wants Dismissal in Double Homicide Case

A prosecution request to delay a double-homicide trial was met with charges of negligence by the defense and a motion to dismiss the case. The arguments were made in a hearing on Aug. 23 before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan.

Amarii Fontanelle, 20, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and aggravated assault knowingly while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Davonte Berkley, 19, and Reginald Lamont Cooper Jr. also 19. The shooting took place on the 1300 block of Congress Street, SE on Oct. 17, 2022.

Defense attorney Kevin Mosley expressed frustration, citing a ten month period during which the prosecution was unresponsive to his requests for information about DNA, firearms, and ballistics testing evidence.

Due to what he described as “the abandonment of prosecution,” he asked the court to dismiss the case. “They can re-indict the case if they want, but they did not act with diligence.”

The prosecution argued that the delays stemmed from an inability to find a lab to test evidence but a report would be provided by Sept. 6. Further, the prosecutor said they’d had difficulty locating and confirming witnesses.

Judge Raffinan ruled that “the [prosecution] did not exercise due diligence,” however given the value of the evidence, the judge granted the prosecution’s request for delay.

Mosley requested Fontanelle be placed on GPS monitoring and home confinement due to the lengthy delay while his client was incarcerated. Judge Raffinan initially agreed, but the request was denied following a Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) representative alerting the court that Fontanelle has outstanding charges in Maryland, and he is currently being held there.

Parties are slated to reconvene Sept. 13.

Shooting Defendant Admits Noncompliance, Probation Revoked

DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe revoked a non-fatal shooting defendant’s probation in an Aug. 23 hearing for noncompliance while on release.

On Jan. 29, 2021, Jordan Therman, 25, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his involvement in a shootout at a Shell Gas Station on the 4700 block of South Capitol Street, SE, which resulted in one person’s being hospitalized on May 2, 2019.

The prosecution expressed concern about Therman’s remaining on release due to his failure to comply with probation conditions. According to the prosecution, Therman missed multiple required meetings and failed to submit urine for drug testing.

During the hearing, Therman conceded that he’s been noncompliant. As a result, the judge revoked Therman’s probation.

The case is continued for sentencing to give the prosecution time to get a victim impact statement.

Parties are set to reconvene on Sept. 12 for sentencing.

Murder Defendant Pleads Not Guilty at Arraignment

A homicide defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges on Aug. 27 before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun.

Yazmin Owens, 24, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for her alleged involvement in the death of 26-year-old Nakysia Lemon-Williams on Nov. 14, 2023, on the 1900 block of Minnesota Avenue, SE.

During the hearing, Sylvia Smith, Owens’ attorney, alerted the court of her intent to plead not guilty, and asserted all constitutional rights, including the right to a speedy trial.

Parties are slated to reconvene Oct. 11.

Parties Agree Non-Fatal Shooting Verdict Depends on ID’ing Defendant

In their closing arguments on Aug. 26, the prosecution and defense in Marquez Beasley‘s non-fatal shooting trial before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein agreed that the jury’s verdict will depend on whether they trust witnesses’ identification of Beasley as the assailant.

Beasley, 32, is charged with two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, and three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. These charges stem from his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting incident that injured three individuals on Aug. 16, 2023, on the 900 block of Division Avenue, NE.

The prosecution and defense agreed that the incident began with a traffic accident caused by an unlicensed driver carrying two passengers in a Hyundai, who cut off an SUV on a turn. After the drivers stopped to exchange insurance information, the Hyundai’s driver was pistol-whipped and four shots were fired, striking one of the Hyundai’s passengers and a bystander.

According to the prosecution, one of the passengers placed a video call to their mother, who owned the Hyundai, and handed the phone to the driver of the SUV. The mother testified that she saw the driver for only a few seconds but recognized him as Beasley because she knew him from occasional interactions in the neighborhood and his social media posts as a local rapper.

“It only takes a few seconds to recognize someone who’s familiar to you,” the prosecutor said.

“Isn’t it possible that the person she saw may have looked like him, but she jumped to the conclusion that it was him?” asked John Machado, Beasley’s defense attorney.

If the mother’s identification of Beasley wasn’t a mistake, Machado said, there were several reasons for her to lie. She might have been hostile to Beasley, who she said in her testimony was a member of a crew. She might have wanted the notoriety of accusing a local celebrity. Or she might have wanted to distract attention from letting an unlicensed person drive her car, causing an accident.

Machado noted the mother first said she never allowed the unlicensed driver to take her car but later said she sometimes let him.

“When she is presented with the evidence of something that she absolutely said that contradicts something she said earlier, she suddenly has no memory of it,” Machado argued.

Machado suggested the mother might have persuaded the Hyundai’s driver and passengers after the incident to identify Beasley as the assailant.

“You think they had an ax to grind and wanted to come in here and pin something on Mr. Beasley that he didn’t do?” the prosecutor asked in his rebuttal. “What incentive did they have to do that?”

The prosecutor pointed out that the Hyundai’s driver and one passenger picked out Beasley from a photo array.

Machado said both witnesses were uncertain whether they had the right person.

According to Machado, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective who conducted the photo array suggested to one of the witnesses that she might say her confidence level in identifying Beasley was five on a scale of one to ten. The detective added, “I don’t want to put words in your mouth.”

The witness said her confidence level was “one-and-a-half or two.”

Even though it wasn’t the case, the detective allegedly told the witnesses the prosecution wouldn’t go forward unless they agreed. That’s because he wanted their identifications to support his arrest warrant for Beasley, according to Machado.

“The detective wants this conclusion–tunnel vision–and won’t see any evidence to the contrary,” Machado told the jury.

Machado said one of the witnesses described the assailant to the police as having a goatee, and another said he was recognizable from a tattoo in the middle of his forehead. Social media posts of Beasley from the time of the incident show him with a full beard and without a forehead tattoo.

“You have people who don’t want to be here, maybe because they know this has gone too far,” Machado said about the witnesses.

The prosecution and defense both said the shooting victim who was a bystander, not involved in the traffic accident, testified to seeing gunshots coming from the window of a passing vehicle.

The prosecutor said Beasley, after getting out of the SUV, fired shots while standing on the sidewalk. He suggested the bystander was mistaken in thinking the shots came from a vehicle.

Machado said there was no reason to dismiss the bystander’s testimony. He argued that the shots could have come from someone who hadn’t been in the traffic accident.

Even if Beasley was the driver of the SUV and had fired the shots, Machado said, he couldn’t be convicted of assault with intent to kill because of the way the shots were aimed. They had gone into the ground or struck victims in the legs.

The prosecutor said the Chevy Tahoe Beasley owned resembled the SUV in the traffic accident, based on surveillance video footage.

A witness who impounded Beasley’s Tahoe testified to signs of repair on the front left bumper, which was the part of the SUV in the traffic accident that collided with the Hyundai, according to the prosecutor.

Machado said he had photos of Beasley’s Tahoe’s front left bumper after the incident, and it was undamaged.

According to Machado, the prosecution had dismissed his photos by saying the resolution wasn’t good. He invited the jury to compare his photos to the prosecution’s and decide which had better resolution.

“Please consider the sloppy tunnel vision of the detectives in this case, and please come back with the only reasonable, rational verdict you can in this case: not guilty,” Machado told jurors.

The prosecution ended by noting the three witness identifications of Beasley and the similarities between Beasley’s Tahoe and the suspect vehicle.

“What are the odds that this is all just a big coincidence?” asked the prosecutor.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene when the jury comes to a verdict.

Hospitalized Witness Delays Carjacking Trial

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan granted prosecutors’ request to delay a trial just as arguments were set to begin because the victim, who is the prosecution’s key witness, was in the hospital on Aug. 26.

Daquan Jackson, 28, is charged with unarmed carjacking for his alleged involvement in the theft of a scooter on March 3 on the 1000 block of H Street, NE.

According to court documents, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers detained Jackson while attempting to drive a scooter after removing its driver.

“The reason for the hospitalization is that [the witness] is the victim of another crime,” the prosecutor said.

“Unrelated to Mr. Jackson?” Judge Raffinan asked.

“We have no reason to believe it is connected,” said the prosecutor.

Sara Kopecki, Jackson’s defense attorney, asked Judge Raffinan to dismiss the case for lack of prosecution. Judge Raffinan denied the motion.

Kopecki argued DC law requires the prosecution to make their request in writing to delay a trial. Since the prosecution had not submitted a written request and didn’t know when the witness would be available, Kopecki asked Judge Raffinan to allow Jackson home detention instead of jail.

Judge Raffinan denied Jackson’s release and gave the prosecution until the end of the day to submit the request for a delay in writing.

Judge Raffinan dismissed the jurors who had been selected on Thursday for the trial. She plans to reschedule the trial once the prosecution knows when the witness will be able to come to court.

Parties are set to reconvene on Aug. 30.

Defendant Requests New Attorney in a Matricide Case

A homicide defendant requested a new attorney be appointed to his case weeks before trial is scheduled to begin before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan on Aug. 23.

Seth Andrews, 35, is charged with first-degree murder for his alleged involvement in the death of his mother, 67-year-old Hazel Evans, on the unit block of 35th Street, SE on July 16, 2020.

According to court documents, an autopsy revealed that Evans’ injuries were consistent with strangulation.

During the hearing, Andrews requested Judge Raffinan dismiss his attorney, Kevin Mosley, because of a breakdown in their relationship.

Judge Raffinan ordered Mosley to find a new attorney from the Public Defender Services (PDS) by Aug. 29.

Defendant Receives 60 Day Sentence for Strip Club Stabbing Incident

DC Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno sentenced a defendant involved in a stabbing incident at an adult entertainment venue to 60 days of incarceration during an Aug. 27 hearing.

Abraham Urrutia Castillo, 29, was found guilty of simple assault for his involvement in a stabbing incident on Nov. 23, 2023, at the club featuring strippers on the 2300 block of Wisconsin Avenue, NW. A bouncer was hospitalized after sustaining injuries.

Court documents revealed that Urrutia Castillo allegedly stabbed the victim, who worked as a bouncer, following an altercation over the defendant’s behavior toward a waitress. Prosecutors argued that Urrutia Castillo acted aggressively, grabbing the waitress’ arm, which led to his removal from the premises.

During the sentencing, the prosecution highlighted the severity of the attack and requested a period of supervised release to ensure community safety. Urrutia Castillo’s defense attorney, Damon Catacalos, argued that his client acted in self-defense and lacked prior convictions. Catacalos emphasized Urrutia Castillo’s commitment to making positive changes.

Judge Salerno sentenced Urrutia Castillo to 60 days in confinement, followed by nine months of supervised probation, with conditions to avoid further altercations. Urrutia Castillo was also ordered to pay $100 to the Victims of Violent Crime Victims Fund and to stay away from the club where the incident occurred.

No additional court dates were scheduled.

Shooting, Pistol Whipping Suspect Pleads Not Guilty, Gets Offer

A suspect accused in a shooting and beating of three victims appeared before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun in an Aug. 26 hearing.

Juaval Huff, 29, is charged with four counts including carrying a pistol without a license and possession of an unregistered firearm in regards to an incident that occurred on April 22 on the 300 block of 40th Street, NE.

Huff’s attorney, Gregg Baron, pleaded not guilty on his client’s behalf and asked for a speedy trial while asserting his constitutional rights.

According to court documents, an altercation started when Huff allegedly disrespected one of the three victims. As the event unfolded, Huff reportedly pursued the trio, pistol whipping one in the back of the head, then the other two ran away. Huff allegedly fired at one of the individuals, then pistol whipped the initial victim again.

Baron asked Judge Okun to step-down Huff’s pretrial release conditions and remove his GPS monitor. The judge declined based on a rearrest though “there’s a decent chance” of a change in his release status in the future.

Meanwhile, the prosecutor put forward an offer that would require Huff to plead guilty to carrying a pistol without a license in return for not seeking an indictment.

The deal will expire before the next hearing in the case, which is set for Sept. 25.

Suspect Pleads Not Guilty in Shooting Over Instagram Post

A suspect accused of a shooting over a social media post pleaded not guilty before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun in a hearing on Aug. 26.

Dayquan Henderson, 22, was arraigned on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and assault with a dangerous weapon against a minor in relation to an incident that occurred on the 300 block of Anacostia Road, SE on May 11.

According to court documents, a group of individuals was arguing about a previous dispute over Instagram when Henderson, who is closely related to one of the group, was advised of the conflict and allegedly started shooting from a balcony, though no one was injured.

Through his attorney, Wole Falondun, Henderson pleaded not guilty to all the charges and a status hearing was set for Sept. 19 before DC Superior Court Judge Lynn Lebovitz.

Attorney for Murder Defendant Wins Delay for Preliminary Hearing

DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun granted the request of Oliver Gomes‘ attorney, Sara Kopecki, to reschedule his preliminary hearing from Aug. 23 to Oct. 8, giving her time to prepare a response to the prosecution’s evidence.

Gomes, 54, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal beating of 61-year-old Thomas Gray on Oct. 14, 2022, at the intersection of L Street and 11th Street, SE.

An autopsy determined the assault caused Gray’s death on Nov. 3, 2022, according to court documents.

Court records state that Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers found Gray unconscious on the sidewalk. A witness told them an assailant struck Gray with a plank of wood during an argument.

Gray identified Gomes as his attacker to MPD detectives during an interview on Oct. 19, 2022, at George Washington University Hospital, according to arrest documents.

At the hearing, Kopecki agreed that Gomes will allow the prosecution’s investigator to take a swab of his DNA at the preliminary hearing. Gomes has refused to allow the swab without his attorney present.

Parties are set to reconvene on Oct. 8.

Imposing 25 Year Sentence, Judge Says ‘Stupid’ Fails to Characterize Murder Defendant’s Actions

DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein sentenced a defendant to 25 years to reflect the seriousness of the crime, six years after the victim’s death in a hearing on Aug. 23.

Hahqwon Beale, 25, was convicted of first-degree murder while armed, two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a prior convict, and armed carjacking, for his involvement in a carjacking and shooting incident.

The shooting, which killed 43-year-old George Johnson, and injured another individual occurred on May 7, 2018, on the 800 block of Oglethorpe Street, NE.

Hours later, a pizza delivery man was carjacked and robbed of more than $300 at gunpoint on the 400 block of Farragut Street, NW.

A victim impact statement was read of a family member who said that Beale had no regard for human life since he shot into a crowd of people and said Johnson’s mother died from the circumstances being “too stressful to go on.”

“George won’t be here to see his daughter walk across the stage and graduate. He told her he’d walk with her on the stage. I think you ruined your life by committing this crime,” the statement said.

Prosecutors played audio that showed Beale boasting his actions.

“I’m not even mad at myself, I’m proud. When I go back they’re gonna remember me,” Beale said in the audio.

Julie Swaney, Beale’s defense attorney, said Beale grew up without stable environment with his father incarcerated and his mother in and out of jail, and that it hasn’t been easy for someone who didn’t attend a lot of school. Swaney asked for Beale to be sentenced to 21 years. Swaney described Beale’s actions as senseless, stupid and horrific.

“I don’t think stupid begins to capture it,” Judge Epstein said.

Judge Epstein categorized the incident as a mass shooting because of the 22 casings on site, plus vehicles and houses being damaged and one other injured person.

He said there’s a reason that carjacking sentencing carries such hefty terms. He added that the two convictions for not showing up to court previously show his lack of care about rules.

“He just didn’t care about the rules and didn’t want to be held accountable for his actions,” Judge Epstein said.

No further dates were set.

Metro Murder Suspect Won’t Independently Test DNA Evidence

A murder defendant waived his right to independently test DNA evidence before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein on Aug. 23.

Tyriq Williams, 32, 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 20-year-old Terry Clark on Jan. 7, on the 1200 block of Half Street, SE.

According to court documents, the incident occurred at the Navy Yard Metro Station where the victim’s body was found under a sheet. Witnesses told police they did not see an altercation before some saw the victim collapse following what they identified as a “pop.”

Surveillance footage showed an individual, identified as Williams, follow the victim out of the station while moving his hand around in his pocket.

Parties are slated to continue May 16, 2025.

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