Carjacking Defendant Waives Right to Preliminary Hearing

A carjacking defendant waived his rights to a preliminary hearing on Sept. 10, before DC Superior Court Judge Renee Raymond.

Antoine Lee Johnson, 34, is charged with armed carjacking and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, for his alleged involvement in an incident that occurred on July 22 on the 3300 block of 6th Street, SE.

According to court documents, the victim reported to police that the suspect, who was later identified as Johnson, put a gun to the victim’s head and forced him to leave the scene. The victim’s vehicle was located moments later, and Johnson was arrested.

During the hearing, Anthony Smith, Johnson’s attorney, alerted the court of his intent to waive his right to a preliminary hearing. Smith further argued that Johnson’s mental health played a role in his actions.

Smith requested Johnson be released with GPS monitoring as he awaits further proceedings, stating Johnson would be willing to seek mental health assessments and treatment as necessary.

However, the prosecution objected to the request, citing the nature and circumstances of the incident.

Judge Raymond agreed with the prosecution, and denied Smith’s request for Johnson’s release.

The parties are slated to continue plea negotiations.

Parties are set to return on Sept. 30.

Judge Allows Stabbing Defendant to Complete Probation, Despite Non-Compliance

DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park allowed a stabbing defendant to complete probation on Sept. 12, despite multiple non-compliance reports.

On Sept. 8, 2022, Chantel Thomas, 28, pleaded guilty to attempted assault with a dangerous weapon for her involvement in a stabbing on the 5000 block of Queens Stroll Place, SE, that occurred on March 21, 2021.

On Feb. 8, 2023, she was sentenced to 15 months, with 12 months suspended. Judge Park also sentenced her to 18 months of probation, with three years of supervised release.

During the hearing, Judge Park noted Thomas was arrested for non-compliance in late August.

Charles Haskill, Thomas’ attorney, argued Thomas had been fully compliant with all of her probation requirements before her re-arrest. However, a report from her probation officer stated she had tested positive for alcohol , failed to show up for further testing, and failed to pay court-ordered fees.

All parties agreed an admonition was sufficient, and requested she continue on probation.

Judge Park reminded Thomas that she only had a few weeks left on probation and ordered her to comply with the conditions.

No further dates were set.

Judge Orders Competency Screen for Shooting Defendant

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan issued an order to undertake a mental competency evaluation to for a shooting defendant on Sept. 10.

Daveon Robinson, 17, is charged with conspiracy, four counts of assault with intent to murder while armed, four counts of possession of a firearm during crime of violence, for his alleged involvement in a shooting incident that occurred on Jan. 2, 2023, on the 2200 block of Alabama Avenue, SE. Two individuals sustained injuries.

Defense attorney Elizabeth Weller requested a mental health screening of the defendant, to which the prosecution had no objection.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on Sept 19 for a mental observation hearing.

Document: UPDATE MPD Investigating Fatal Crash in Northeast

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced an ongoing investigation into a fatal crash in Northeast. The preliminary findings show that the incident occurred on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, around 6:41 p.m., when the operator of a 2012 Infiniti FX35, moving at a high rate of speed on Eastern Avenue, Northeast, failed to obey a red traffic light signal at the intersection of Bunker Hill Road.

The vehicle then collided with a 2022 Hyundai Tucson that was correctly crossing the intersection following a green light. After the initial impact, the Infiniti lost control, crossed the double yellow lines, and hit a 2024 Fengyuan Rossi scooter carrying two females. The force of the collision ejected the two females from the scooter and sent the Infiniti into a nearby tree where it came to a final stop in a field.

DC Fire and EMS personnel at the scene quickly responded, taking the driver of the Infiniti and one of the females from the scooter to a local hospital for necessary care. The second woman on the scooter was tragically pronounced dead at the scene by the attending personnel.

The victim has been identified as 21-year-old Maryori Daniela Sanchez-Marchan of Riverdale, MD. MPD is urging anyone who has any information regarding this incident to contact them at (202) 727- 9099 or text their tip to the Department’s TEXT TIP LINE at 50411.

Document: MPD Investigating Fatal Shooting in Southeast

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced their ongoing investigation into a fatal shooting incident that took place in Southeast.

On the evening of Sept. 10, 2024, at precisely 7:03 pm, officers from the Sixth District responded to a reported shooting at the 4500 block of Benning Road, Southeast. Upon arrival, the officers discovered an adult male victim of the shooting.

Despite the immediate transportation of the victim to a local hospital by DC Fire and EMS personnel, and all the lifesaving measures taken, the victim unfortunately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

The victim has been recognized as 33-year-old Jonathan Jackson, a Southeast resident.

The MPD encourages anyone with information relevant to the incident to refrain from action but to contact the police by calling (202) 727-9099 or by texting information to the Department’s Text Tip Line at 50411. The MPD offers a reward up to $25,000 for any information that facilitates the arrest and indictment of any individual or group responsible for a violent crime committed in the District of Columbia.

Eyewitness Says Murder Victim and Shooter Were ‘Hostile’ Hours Before A Shooting

One eyewitness told a jury in DC Superior Judge Marisa Demeo’s courtroom that a murder defendant and victim had a “hostile” interaction hours before the shooting, during a hearing on Sept. 11.

Darius Anderson, 23, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and two counts of carrying a pistol without a license for his alleged involvement in shooting of 30-year-old Israel Mattocks on the 3900 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE, on June 15, 2022.

Prosecutors called on another eyewitness, who testified she watched the murder happen. She confirmed that Mattocks was a regular at the store where he was shopping the day of the crime. She also claimed that although Mattocks and the shooter encountered each other earlier in the day, there was no indication that things would escalate to the extreme, including threats.

According to the eyewitness, she and Mattocks were exiting the store together when he was shot. The shooter was outside to the right of the front door, armed, waiting for Mattocks to walk outside. The eyewitness then ran, and could not identify the shooter because of a ski mask the person was wearing throughout the entire day.

Prosecutors also called on the lead detective from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), who testified he responded to the crime scene and collected surveillance footage which clearly shows events that led up to the crime and more broadly the actual crime occurring, although the camera view is not directly pointed towards where the crime had occurred.

The officer testified evidence from Anderson’s Lyft ride and surveillance footage that shows him leaving his apartment complex and arriving at the crime scene at the same time footage from the scene first reveals his presence.

A scientist from the Department of Forensic Scientist (DFS) testified they responded to a firearm retrieval in July of 2022. According to the scientist, the firearm’s serial number had been scratched off in one of the two locations where it is visible on the gun.

Trial will continue on Sept. 16.

Stabbing Defendant Accepts Plea Deal

A stabbing defendant accepted a plea agreement extended by prosecutors on Sept. 9, before DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park.

James Williams, 41, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his involvement in a stabbing on Aug. 7, on the 1300 block of Missouri Avenue, NW. One individual sustained injuries to his backside.

According to court documents, the stabbing stemmed from a physical fight between Williams and the victim, before Williams stabbed the person twice on the back.

At the hearing, Susan Ellis, Williams’ attorney, alerted the court of his intent to accept a plea deal, which required him to plead guilty to attempted assault with a dangerous weapon in exchange for the prosecution’s not seeking an indictment.

Parties slated to reconvene on Oct. 31 for sentencing.

Judge Sentences Stabbing Defendant to Four Years

DC Superior Judge Jason Park sentenced a stabbing defendant to four years on Sept. 9, citing the severity of the victim’s wounds and his extensive history of theft and robberies

James Campbell, 43, was convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault with significant bodily injury for stabbing an individual multiple times on July 19, 2023, near the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Warder Street, NW.

During the hearing, the prosecution requested Judge Park sentence the defendant to 40 months for the assault with a dangerous weapon charge, as well as 20 months for assault with significant bodily injury, citing the nature and circumstances of the incident.

The prosecutor explained their request was based on the fact that the defendant lied to police about what happened, his lack of remorse, and antisocial behaviors.

Campbell claimed the prosecution did not litigate his case correctly, and requested a lighter sentence than the prosecution asked.

Judge Park sentenced Campbell to 48 months for the assault with a dangerous weapon charge, and 24 months for the assault with significant bodily injury. The sentences will run concurrent to one another, and Campbell will be required to serve three years of supervised release.

No further dates were set.

Hearing Rescheduled Due To Defendant’s Physical, Mental Health Issues

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan rescheduled a homicide defendant’s hearing due to health problem on Sept. 11.

Khalid Claggett, 40, is charged with first- degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm, for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Isaac Aull Jr, 30. The incident occurred on June 11, 2021 on the 1600 block of Franklin Street, NE.

According to court documents, Aull sustained fatal injuries to the neck, torso and leg, resulting in his death.

During the hearing, Judge Raffinan alerted the parties that US Marshals stated Claggett had not shown up to the courthouse due to a medical issue.

Defense attorney Howard McEachern stated that the defendant’s post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) evaluation and report would be available in December.

Pending doctor’s confirmation of meeting with the defendant, parties are scheduled to reconvene on Dec. 9 for a status hearing.

Defense Challenges Mentally Competent Finding For Homicide Defendant

A defense attorney disputed a psychiatrist’s assessment that a homicide defendant is mentally competent since they never met in person. The argument came in a Sept. 10 hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe.

Darryl Thompson, also known as Darryl Tompkins, 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 threats to kidnap or injure a person.

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

In the hearing, a psychiatrist opined that Thompson wasn’t mentally ill but did have antisocial personality disorder, meaning those with the condition may act impulsively without regard for their own safety or the safety. However, the witness said the disorder doesn’t mean Thompson is mentally incompetent to stand trial.

Dana Page, Thompson’s attorney, disputed that conclusion in that it did not come from personal interactions with Thompson. Instead, Page claimed, the psychiatrist came to the conclusion after reviewing reports from two evaluations conducted by doctors from the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), which she argued found Thompson incompetent multiple times in the past few years.

The psychiatrist agreed, and stated he did not perform a competence assessment instrument for standing trial (CAI) on Thompson before finalizing his opinion.

He stated his opinion was derived from a number of sources including a report written by another doctor.

According to Page, the other doctor has numerous credibility issues. In 2019, according to Page, a federal court judge found the doctor’s testimony unfit because it contained extreme racial opinions and deviated from psychological testing manuals.

Thompson still believes that his rights are infringed under the Fifth Amendment protection against double jeopardy. He wrote that he had been tried for the same crime twice, despite the case not having gone to trial. Additionally, he also concluded that the doctor was unreliable because he had not conducted an interview with him. His written comments were read into the record for Judge O’Keefe.

Parties reconvene for another mental hearing on Sept. 20.

DC Homicides, Non-Fatal Shootings Down Sharply From July to August

There were 11 homicide incidents with 15 victims in August as well as ten non-fatal shooting events wounding ten people, according to D.C. Witness data compiled on Sept. 6. That’s a 50 percent drop from July’s total of 22 homicides and a decline of more than 61.5 percent from the 26 non-fatal shootings reported for July.

There was one double homicide during the month occurring on Aug. 3. The MPD is investigating a shooting that claimed the lives of 33-year-old Antonio Williams, of Capitol Heights, MD, and 18-year-old Terrell Osbourne Jr., of Northwest. Two others were wounded in the incident. Rewards of $25,000 each are being offered for information about the crime.

Also on Aug. 3, thirty-eight-year-old Davon Mangum was fatally shot on the 1500 block of Butler Street, SE. He died at the scene on Aug. 3. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is searching for a suspect and a $25,000 reward is being offered in the case.

A murder victim has been identified as 32-year-old Ronald Williams of Northeast, DC. On Aug. 28, MPD officers discovered his body with a gunshot wound on the 3200 block of 9th Street, NENE

A $25,000 reward is also being offered for information in the case.

On Aug. 30, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to a report of a stabbing at the 3800 block of South Capitol Street, Southeast. Police found Tiffany Parker, 42, suffering from multiple knife wounds that proved fatal. Adrian Morgan, 64, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. That was the one arrest made in a homicide investigation last month.

On Friday, Aug. 2, MPD officers responded to the 600 block of Division Avenue, NE for a report of a shooting. The victim said she was involved in a verbal argument with one of the suspects who got a firearm from a second individual then began firing at the victim. No one was injured and the suspects fled.

The MPD is looking for a vehicle that was stolen after a shooting on Aug. 13. The suspects approached the victim on the 3100 block of Naylor Road, SE. One fired a handgun striking the victim who was treated at a local hospital.

Eighteen-year-old Mekhi Wilkins of Northwest, DC, was arrested on Aug. 21 and subsequently charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for a shooting that occurred the day before on the 200 block of 37th Place, SE. The victim was getting out of a vehicle when she realized she had been shot. She was treated for minor injuries.

Murder Defendant Pleads Not Guilty at Arraignment, Rejects Plea Deal

A homicide defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges and rejected a plea deal extended by the prosecution on Sept.11 before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt.

Roy Jordan, 22, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of possession of a firearm by a convict, and possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, for his alleged involvement in the shooting of 29-year-old Gary Lavon Love III on the 4600 block of South Capitol Street, SW, on Nov. 20, 2023.

Donell Thomas, 33, is charged with accessory after the fact for assault with intent to kill while armed for his alleged involvement in helping Jordan avoid prosecution.

Marnitta King, who was standing in for Antoini Jones, alerted the court of Jordan’s intent to plead not guilty to all charges.

The prosecution stated they had offered Jordan a plea deal, which expired in August, that would require him to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges.

King stated the defense requested additional time to discuss the offer, but the prosecution opposed it, which led to rejecting the deal.

Parties are slated to reconvene Nov. 21.

Stabbing Trial Delayed For Lack of Jurors

DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe delayed a stabbing defendant’s trial for a day because there weren’t enough jurors available for the proceeding on Sept. 11.

Tanade Warsame, 32, is charged with assault with significant bodily injury and contempt for his alleged involvement in a stabbing on May 4, on the 600 block of I Street, NW. One individual sustained injuries to his chest.

According to court documents, the stabbing was related to the victim’s owing Warsame $10, after buying a hat earlier that day. During the dispute Warsame demanded money back from the victim. After the victim claimed he didn’t have the money, he walked into an alleyway with his hands up as if ready for a fight. At that point, the defendant allegedly stabbed him in the chest.

Parties were slated to pick a jury today, but Judge Pipe, who is standing in for DC Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz, stated there were not enough jurors in the court’s jury pool to begin the selection.

Additionally, there was an outstanding warrant issued for a witness who failed to appear to testify. US Marshals had to locate him twice, according to Judge Pipe, and put a GPS tracker on him Aug. 23.

Judge Pipe told the parties the witness will remain on release and is expected to appear to testify when trial occurs, or Marshals will arrest him.

All parties will reconvene for jury selection on Sep. 12.

Judge Mandates Full Competency Evaluation in Carjacking Case

DC Superior Court Judge Heidi Pasichow granted a carjacking defendant’s request for a full mental competency evaluation on Sept. 11, following a recommendation from the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH).

Xavier Ellis, 32, is charged with carjacking and kidnapping for his alleged involvement in an incident that occurred on the unit block of New York Avenue, NE, on Oct. 26, 2023.

According to court documents, an individual, later identified as Ellis, stole a vehicle in DC while its owner slept in the passenger seat, before driving to Maryland.

Ellis’ defense attorney, Susan Ellis, requested Judge Pasichow follow DBH’s recommendation for a full competency evaluation. The prosecution agreed, and Judge Pasichow issued an order.

The prosecution also informed Judge Pasichow that a global plea offer has been extended to the defense, but is currently on hold from the record due to concerns about Ellis’ ability to understand the proceedings. The details of the plea were not mentioned.

The case is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 11.

Murder Defendant Remains on Release Pending Proof of Compliance

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan denied the prosecution’s request to revoke a homicide defendant’s release and place her in-patient drug treatment during a Sept. 10 hearing.

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.

Bonaparte, who has been on release since July, was cited in three reports for non-compliance after failing drug tests. During the hearing, the prosecution requested Judge Raffinan revoke her release and order placement at an in-patient drug program.

Kevann Gardner, Bonaparte’s defense attorney, objected, and asked that Judge Raffinan give Bonaparte a chance to participate in the Pretrial Services Agency’s (PSA) drug treatment while on release.

Jude Raffinan granted the defense’s request to remain in the community, and ordered the defendant to comply with treatment requirements and other release conditions.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on Sept 26.

Search