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Defendant Pleads Not Guilty to Three Carjackings at Arraignment

A carjacking defendant pleaded not guilty before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno on Aug. 2. 


Dennis Vanison, 29, is charged with armed carjacking and carrying a pistol without a license for his alleged involvement in three carjacking incidents. The first occurred on the 2400 block of Wagner Street, SE on May 2, and the following two occurred on the 3300 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE on May 3. 

According to court documents, an individual identified as Vanison and another suspect stole the first victim’s white Chrysler while he was making a DoorDash delivery on May 2. Vanison was not the suspect who pointed the firearm at the victim, according to prosecutors. 

The next day, according to court documents, a separate victim called the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) when they found Vanison unresponsive at the wheel of their family vehicle. The driver’s door and trunk were open, and a firearm was on the floorboard.

At the hearing, Jesse Winograd, Vanison’s defense attorney, alerted the court of his intent to plead not guilty to all charges and asserted his constitutional rights, including the right to a speedy trial. 

Parties are slated to reconvene on Aug. 14. 

Murder Defendant Doesn’t Appear, Case Delayed

A homicide case was delayed due to the defendant’s failure to appear in court before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun on Aug. 2. At issue was a death in the family.

Andre Johnson, 31, is charged with second-degree murder for his alleged involvement in a vehicular accident which resulted in the death of 19-year-old Madison Jones, which occurred at the intersection of 11th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, SE on June 6, 2023.

At the hearing, US Marshals alerted Judge Okun that Johnson had not gotten on the bus to be transported from the DC Jail to the courthouse. 

Kevann Gardner, Johnson’s defense attorney, alerted the court it was due to his father’s death on Aug. 1, and added he is planning to file a motion for Johnson’s temporary release to attend his father’s funeral.

Parties are set to reconvene Sept. 9.

Teen-Age Tryst Leads to Shooting, Says Prosecution

Defense attorney Matthew Rist told  DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt at a hearing on Aug. 2 that his client Antoine Johnson‘s constitutional right to due process has been violated in the wake of a shooting.

Johnson, 28, is charged with two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, unlawful discharge of a firearm, possession of an unregistered firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. These charges stem from his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting on May 21, 2023, on I-695 southbound near exit 2B. No injuries were reported from the incident.

According to court documents about the shooting, the victim was the father of a 17-year-old boy who was found in bed with his 14-year-old girlfriend earlier the same day by the girl’s parents. They called the police to arrest the boy, but the police arrested the girl’s father for assaulting the boy and allowed the victim to drive his son home. 

A police officer present at that arrest testified that he recognized Johnson there from a previous arrest and heard him say to the girl’s mother, “Auntie, I got this.” Court documents state that police body-worn camera footage showed an individual identified as Johnson telling the girl’s mother, “We ain’t doing no talking. I’ve seen his face.”

The victim and his son told police they saw a white sedan following them as they drove away. When both vehicles were slowed by heavy traffic, the driver of the white sedan shot at the victim, shattering the front side windows on the victim’s car and leaving five bullet holes in the driver’s side doors.

According to arrest documents, the victim’s son described the shooter’s distinctive facial tattoos to police and testified to having seen him earlier at his girlfriend’s residence.

Judge Brandt called the Aug. 2 hearing because the deadline to file motions for Johnson’s Sept. 16 trial had passed without any filings from either party.

Rist said he plans to file a motion arguing that the late disclosure of the cell site data information is a constitutional violation, stating it is too close to the trial date for the defense to make any effective use of the information. If Judge Brandt denies the motion, he will need to find an expert witness to testify regarding cell site data.

Rist said he expected to receive DNA testing results by the end of the day on Aug. 2. The prosecution said they may need to call an expert DNA witness, depending on what the results indicate.

The parties agreed to reconvene in a week to determine whether the Sept. 16 trial date is still feasible.

The next hearing in this case is scheduled for Aug. 9.

Document: MPD Investigating Fatal Shooting in Northeast

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating the fatal shooting of 14-year-old David Bailey, which occurred on Aug. 1 on the unit block of Tuckerman Street, NE. A second individual sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the incident.

Document: MPD Arrests Additional Suspect in 2023 Southeast Shooting

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the Aug. 1 arrest of 19-year-old Eric Sheffield, who is charged with first-degree murder while armed, for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Kenneth Barksdale. The incident occurred on Dec. 16, 2023 on the 1200 block of 44th Place, SE.

Previously, on July 31, MPD announced the arrest of 18-year-old D’Andre Montgomery for his alleged involvement in the incident.

Victim’s Mother Begs Judge, ‘Make Sure He Can’t Do It to Anyone Else’s Child’

The mother of a homicide victim spoke in opposition to a plea deal that would sentence her son’s shooter to 13-and-a-half years in prison during a hearing in front of DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on Aug. 2.

Delonte Jackson, 25, was originally charged with two counts of first-degree murder while armed, armed carjacking, three counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, and three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his involvement in the death of Artavarn Wagner, 44, on March 3, 2022, on the 1700 block of Gales Street, NE. 

Through his defense attorney, Megan Allburn, Jackson pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed on Aug. 2 as part of a plea deal. In exchange, the prosecution agreed to dismiss all other charges and to ask Judge Brandt for a 13-and-a-half-year sentence to run concurrently with a federal prison term of unspecified length that Jackson is already serving for felony possession of a firearm and ammunition. 

“He needs life without parole, since we don’t have the death penalty,” Wagner’s mother said about Jackson. “He shot my child like a dog. He ran him down and shot him like a dog.”

“I’ve had three ministrokes because of this. My health is bad,” Wagner’s mother told the court. She detailed mental health struggles suffered by Wagner’s children that she attributed to Wagner’s killing.

“I beg Your Honor to take into account the damage he has done out here and make sure he can’t do it to anyone else’s child,” Wagner’s mother urged Judge Brandt.

“I can only imagine–I can’t imagine what Ms. Wagner and her family have gone through,” Judge Brandt said. “I do believe Ms. Wagner said some things that Mr. Jackson needed to hear.”

The maximum sentence Jackson could receive for a voluntary manslaughter charge is 30 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine of $250,000. 

Judge Brandt told Jackson that she will decide at his sentencing whether to impose the sentence agreed in the plea deal. Since the plea follows Rule 11(c)(1)(c) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, Jackson has the right to withdraw his guilty plea if Judge Brandt does not accept the sentencing request.

“This is a process. I’m sure I’ll hear more at the sentencing, but we aren’t there yet,” said Judge Brandt.

In their proffer of facts, the prosecution said that surveillance video showed Jackson approaching Wagner on the street, chasing him into an alley, and shooting him multiple times before driving off in Wagner’s vehicle.

According to the prosecution, Jackson was wearing a court-ordered GPS monitor that showed him to be at the locations where Wagner’s vehicle was spotted on surveillance video during the hours following Jackson’s shooting. 

The prosecution said that DNA and firearm evidence corroborated their case against Jackson.

Under oath, Jackson said that the proffer of facts was accurate.

Allburn asked Judge Brandt to postpone Jackson’s sentencing until after November, to allow Jackson to complete the educational program he is pursuing at the DC Correctional Treatment Facility (CTF).

The sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 13.

Document: MPD Arrests Suspect in 2022 Northeast Homicide

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of 33-year-old Domonic Tabron, who is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of 23-year-old Brittany Palmer.

The incident occurred on July 9, 2022, on the 1600 block of New York Avenue, NE.

Defendant Pleads Not Guilty to Murdering Neighbor After Grill Dispute

Irv Duff Jr. pleaded not guilty through his defense attorney, Kevann Gardner, at his arraignment before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on Aug. 2.

Duff, 33, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, and obstruction of justice for his alleged involvement in the death of Darnell Gibson, 26, on Aug. 1, 2023, on the unit block of Forrester Street, SW. 

According to court documents, Gibson was fatally shot while confronting a man who had knocked over his barbecue grill. The sounds of 23 gunshots were detected at the scene of the incident.

The trial is scheduled for April 8, 2025.

Parties are set to reconvene on Oct. 7.

Judge Considers Severing One Suspect in a Multi-Defendant Juvenile Murder Case

DC Superior Court Judge Kendra Briggs told a juvenile’s attorney she is holding a motion to sever her murder case from four other girls in abeyance during an Aug. 1 hearing. 

The juvenile, a 13-year-old girl, is one of five girls aged 12-to-15-years-old charged for their alleged involvement in the fatal beating of 64-year-old Reggie Brown. The incident occurred on Oct. 17, 2023, on the 6200 block of Georgia Avenue, NW. 

She and a 15-year-old girl were arrested on July 18 for their alleged involvement in the incident.

The other three, a 12-year-old and two 13-year-olds, were originally arrested on March 28 and 29 for their alleged involvement. 

Eduardo Ferrer, the girl’s attorney, requested she be severed from the group of five,stating that the previously scheduled trial date of Aug. 20, does not permit her defense team time to properly prepare and she “won’t have the defense she deserves” if she’s tried with the rest of the girls. 

The prosecution objected stating that as of now, all girls’ cases are joined and should be tried together. They also stated that, although a trial date is scheduled for Aug. 20, it is still unclear if trial will occur. 

The prosecutor requested Judge Briggs not make a decision until the trial date, stating that if the trial does occur they can revisit the request to sever at that time. However, she added, if the trial is delayed the girl should be tried with the rest of the group. 

Judge Briggs agreed, and stated she would not make a ruling until it is clear whether or not the August trial happens. 

The prosecution reminded the defense a plea offer is open until Aug. 19, though the details are unspecified.

Parties for this juvenile are slated to reconvene Aug. 26. The rest of the group is scheduled to appear Aug. 20.

Murder Defendant Will Independently Test DNA Evidence 

In a hearing on Aug. 2, before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan, William Ransford, 59, asserted his right to independently test DNA evidence

Ransford is charged with first-degree murder and second-degree murder for his alleged involvement in the fatal strangulation of Debra McManus, 39, at the 400 block of Trenton Street, SE on Oct. 23, 1993. He was charged with the decades old murder after his DNA was discovered on the victim’s sock.

It was unclear what items would be included in the testing. 

Parties are slated to meet again on Dec. 17.

Judge Tells Prosecution: Release Witness Names to Defense in Murder Case 

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan ruled that the prosecution in a murder case release the names of witnesses to the defense team before the trial in an Aug. 2 hearing.

Terrance Prue, 23, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, and three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Bruce Gilmore, 39. The shooting occurred on the 3500 block of 22nd Street, SE, on June 5, 2019. Another individual suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

At the hearing, James King, Prue’s defense attorney, alerted Judge Raffinan that the prosecution had not released the names of three witnesses to the defense team. 

According to King, documents from the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) interviews with the witnesses indicating they spoke to Gilmore before his death, and he told them that if he died Prue’s co-defendant Miguel Gibson, 21, would be the one responsible. 

King argued that the prosecution has waited long enough to release the names, and that he needs an opportunity to do additional investigation. 

“We’re now at trial readiness,” King said. “These names should be disclosed immediately.”

The prosecution argued that releasing the names could put the witnesses in danger as they come from a small community and could face retaliation. They want to release the names on Aug. 21 instead, closer to the trial date, which is scheduled for Sept. 4. 

After Judge Raffinan’s inquiry, the prosecution said no direct threats have been made thus far.

In light of the start date of the trial, Judge Raffinan ordered that the prosecution release the names of the witnesses by Aug 5. She also ordered that the names not be revealed to Prue by King to alleviate concerns for the witnesses’ safety.

Parties are slated to reconvene on Aug. 21.

Murder Defendant’s Case Dismissed 

Prosecutors alerted DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan they had filed to dismiss a homicide defendant’s case during an Aug. 2 hearing. 

Khalil Khalilov, 34, was charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of Anvar Guliyev, 36, on July 17. The stabbing occurred on the 1800 block of Wisconsin Avenue, NW.

Khalilov was brought to the courthouse despite the case being dismissed the night of Aug. 1

Judge Raffinan informed Khalilov he would be released. 

No further dates were set.

Murder Defendant Denied Release For The Second Time 

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan denied a murder defendant’s request for release on Aug 2, after initially being denied by DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun in April.

Lavar Hunter, 19 and his co-defendant Jayvon Thomas, 20, are charged with first-degree murder while armed for their alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Anwar Wingate, 24. The shooting took place on the 2100 block of 8th Street, NW on Nov. 19, 2021.

According to court documents, surveillance footage showed Wingate in a “vulnerable” state, highly intoxicated and stumbling. Two individuals, later identified as Thomas and Hunter, allegedly planned to rob Wingate to steal his gun. 

Thomas and Wingate fought briefly and Hunter was the one to fatally shoot Wingate, according to court documents.

At the hearing, Hunter’s defense attorney, Lisbeth Saperstein, requested that Judge Raffinan reconsider Judge Okun’s decision to hold the defendant. Saperstein argued that Hunter is currently enrolled in a college program and has a supportive family, as well as no criminal record. 

Members of Hunter’s family appeared in court and provided Judge Raffinan with a letter asking for his release. 

“There would be no danger to the community,” said Saperstein, adding Hunter would agree to be placed on home detention with a GPS monitor. 

The prosecution argued that nothing had changed from the last court date. They insisted that Hunter’s family and college education pursuits were not new, and he remains a danger to the community. 

“Both of those things were true before the crime occurred,” the prosecution said.

Judge Raffinan found that the nature of the offense and the weight of the evidence “favors detention.” 

Parties are slated to meet again on Oct. 24.