Homicide Defendant in 1992 Incident Denied Request to Remove GPS Monitor

DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe denied a Florida-based defendant’s request for the removal of electronic monitoring during release at a May 20 hearing.

Judge O’Keefe has previously granted the defendant’s motions to modify release conditions.

Ron Damon Wright, 49, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed and felony murder for the killing of Ricardo Burbano, 19, on March 31, 1992. The incident occurred near the 100 block of Q Street, NW. Wright was 17-years-old at the time.

According to court documents, Wright allegedly beat, tortured, strangled and stabbed Burbano to death, dumping the victim in Maryland. Burbano was found near the 900 block of Chillum Roach, Hyattsville, MD wrapped in a plastic sheet with duct tape and a blanket with cords around the neck, thigh and ankles.

According to an autopsy, the victim showed evidence of eleven instances of blunt force head injuries, two stab wounds to the chest and back, and three freshly extracted teeth, among other wounds.

In 2002, blood recovered from a stained carpet in Wright’s home likely matched that of the victim.

The defendant was arrested and charged with the murder of Burbano on August 19, 2022. It is unclear why there was a long delay leading to his arrest.

According to defense attorney David Benowitz, Wright runs a jet ski company in Florida and one of his responsibilities involves training employees to test equipment, give tours and make repairs.

He claimed that his client’s business has decreased 80 percent since being charged in this case, adding that wearing electronic GPS monitoring is part of the problem.

Benowitz stated that due to electronic monitoring, the defendant cannot go under water, which he argued is an important facet of Wright’s job.

The defense attorney said his client has been very cooperative with release conditions and has made zero attempts to flee. He added that Wright is married and has children in Florida.

The prosecution was against any modification to Wright’s release conditions, arguing that the defendant’s previous requests for modifying release conditions were granted.

According to prosecutors, Wright previously requested to change his release conditions to allow him to relocate to the state of Florida, to leave home confinement to work in his jet ski business, and to attend religious services. All of these motions were granted.

The prosecution emphasized that this case involves charges regarding the torture of a high school boy, whose family has attended every hearing and has been against the defendant being granted release.

“It seems counterproductive to justice,” said the prosecutor.

She argued that GPS monitoring causing Wright an inconvenience was not a reason to withdraw electronic monitoring from his release conditions.

Judge O’Keefe sided with the prosecution and denied Wright to remove his electronic monitoring.

In addition to ruling on the motion to modify release conditions, Judge O’Keefe and the parties set a trial date for September 8, 2025.

The next hearing is scheduled for Nov. 8.

Homicide Defendant Testifies, ‘I Was Mentally Deranged,’ When Telling His Story

Pleading to jurors before DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe, a homicide suspect testified he had no choice but to kill the victim.

“You were filled with rage that day,” shot back the prosecutor in a May 20 hearing.

Aaron Jackson, 30, is being charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed and a felony of carrying a dangerous weapon. Jackson allegedly stabbed Damohn Gill, 27, to death using a Dewalt folding knife on June 24, 2021 near the 3600 block of 22nd Street, SE.

Judge O’Keefe confirmed the defendant understood his rights before taking the stand.

“I have made the decision fully aware of what’s going on,” said Jackson.

Defense attorney Wole Falodun asked his client questions regarding his relationship with Gill, also identified as “Vito,” previous incidents with the victim, and the events surrounding the stabbing.

According to Jackson, he and Gill were childhood friends who met at camp when they were about eight-years-old. However, he claimed that their friendship changed in 2013 when Jackson’s younger brother “snitched” to police about an incident that led to Gill’s brother’s arrest.

He stated that in a conversation with Gill in 2015, Gill gave him an ultimatum either disclose his younger brother’s address or kill his younger brother.

Jackson explained that he did not want to be seen with his younger brother, but his mother posted an Instagram picture with the two siblings. Jackson believed Gill discovered this.

In 2016, Jackson was shot three times in his stomach in Southeast DC allegedly by Gill, but never told the police who shot him “because snitches get stitches in my neighborhood,” he stated.

In 2017, Jackson was shot in the leg allegedly by Gill, who he also fired back at. He never told the police who shot at him.

“There’s consequences behind that,” stated Jackson, alluding to his argument that if you cooperate with police, you will likely die.

According to Jackson, he did not have much contact with Gill until he reached out in 2020 for Gill’s birthday.

“I told him that I gave my life to God,” stated Jackson, adding that he had left the streets.

The defense revealed Jackson’s criminal history to the jury, which included attempted robberies in 2017 and 2012, and unlawful possession of a firearm in 2017.

When questioned about the fatal incident, Jackson claimed he was going to meet up with his cousin outside his mother’s apartment to pick up free marijuana for his “lady friend.”

The defendant stated that he brought a two-inch knife with him that he typically used for cutting open a cigar to smoke weed with.

The defense showed surveillance footage in which Jackson, his mother and cousin, and Gill are all identified.

According to Jackson, Gill said to him, “What the f*ck are you going around here?” and would not embrace him with their typical handshake.

Jackson stated that he felt a gun near Gill’s waistband when he pulled him in for an embrace. He brought up Gill’s gun possession, and reported that Gill said, “So b*tch, you got a knife.”

The defendant also claimed that Gill said to him, “Ain’t no passes,” adding “I told you what I was gonna do if I see you again.”

According to Jackson, Gill punched him in the face and tried to reach for his gun. Gill then fell and got up, reaching for his gun again.

“I had no choice but to defend myself… I stabbed,” said Jackson.

Falodun asked his client why he stabbed the victim multiple times. Jackson replied, “I was afraid,” adding that after the first time he stabbed Gill, he saw Gill’s hand reach for his gun.

Throughout the defense’s questioning, Jackson was very emotional, choking up and crying. During the prosecution’s questioning, he was more stern and unemotional.

The prosecution asked Gill, “Is your testimony that you were emotional about this case?” and then presented Instagram evidence of Jackson a few days after the stabbing.

In the video, posted to Jackson’s Instagram account on June 27, he is shown singing a rap song. “I feel good, I can sleep knowing that a [n-word] that was trying to kill me aint trying to kill me no more,” Jackson could be heard saying.

Throughout his testimony, Jackson claimed he was “mentally deranged,” adding he had suicidal thoughts and had to receive therapy and take medications.

He stated that he did not want to “incriminate myself,” emphasizing that he “was not under oath,” during the interview with detectives.

The prosecution then stated that Jackson had been “hiding” from police for 98 days.

“During those 98 days, why didn’t you call the police?” said the prosecutor. Jackson stated that he and his family were receiving threats.

The prosecution also brought up the defendant’s jail calls, one of which Jackson reportedly tells his girlfriend within ten days of being in jail that they need to get married because of marital privilege.

Jackson claimed that he did not know why he said that, but mentioned that his girlfriend did not want to testify.

Another call supposedly revealed Jackson saying he would “hypnotize” the jury, but Jackson claimed that he might have said “swirlify,” but it is unclear what he meant.

Furthermore, the prosecution alluded to the jury that the defendant spent a lot of time reviewing evidence and “manufacturing” his defense, claiming that his self-defense argument was developed a year later.

The prosecutor read a letter that Jackson submitted to the Judge, but never mentioned that he felt a gun or that Gill implied he would kill him.

Jackson claimed that the letter was his “rough draft” and he never submitted it to the Judge. “It’s a scribble letter,” he stated.

The prosecution also brought up their belief that Jackson did not want his mother to testify, but she was subpoenaed to court. “I think I told her to plead the Fifth,” said Jackson.

They stated that Jackson sent a text to his mother on Mother’s Day saying, “If only you were there for me when I needed you most.”

Despite what the prosecution believed to be contradictory evidence to Jackson’s testimony, the defendant stated, “I have nothing to hide. Period,” adding “I don’t care what you ask me, I’m going to tell you the truth.”

The prosecution finished their cross-examination by arguing that Jackson was so upset that Gill banned him from his neighborhood and would not give him the “neighborhood handshake,” that he decided to kill him.

The defense rested their case. They await three witnesses in the prosecution’s rebuttal case.

Parties reconvene May 21.

Acquitted: Surviving Victim’s Friend Can’t Identify Deadly Shooting Suspect

Editor’s note: On May 30, a jury acquitted Devonte Brothers of all charges connected to the homicide of Deron Leake. Brothers is still being held on homicide charges in another case.

Deron Leake‘s friend since childhood, who was wounded in the shooting that took Leake’s life, failed to identify who shot them. The testimony was presented to the jury in Devonte Brothers‘ murder trial before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein on May 20.

Brothers, 29, 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, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a prior convict. These charges stem from his alleged involvement in a shooting at Cascade Park Apartments on the 4200 block of 6th Street, SE, on Oct. 17, 2019.

Leake, 27, also known as “Snoop”, was killed in the incident, and the friend of Leake’s who testified on May 20 was shot in both legs.

Like a previous witness in Brothers’ trial, the surviving victim of the shooting said that he belonged to a group of four close friends centered around Leake. According to this witness, all four of them bore the tattoo “BFMB,” signifying “Bleed for my Brothers.” The witness also identified himself as the godfather of Leake’s son.

On the day of the shooting, the witness said, Leake and he spent the afternoon together, drinking, smoking marijuana, and visiting Leake’s mother, whose birthday was that day.

The witness reported that he drove the group of four friends to Cascade Park Apartments, where, in the hallway of one of the buildings, they encountered two other young men of Leake’s acquaintance. Regarding Leake, the witness said, “He almost knew everybody.”

The witness identified one of Leake’s acquaintances by his light-colored eyes in a photo offered by the prosecution. About the other, who was the shooter, all the witness could say was that he was a brown-skinned man of medium complexion, almost as tall as the witness’ own height of six feet four.

According to the witness, Leake dapped the light-eyed man and offered his hand to the shooter, but his attempt at a handshake prompted an argument between Leake and the shooter.

The witness said he didn’t look closely at the shooter or follow the argument because his attention was focused on trying to get Leake and his other friends out of there.

“While you were in the hallway, were you trying to get out of the hallway?” the prosecutor asked for clarification.

The witness responded, “Get out of the whole neighborhood.”

According to the witness, the argument ceased once the four friends and the two other men all left the building, but a minute later the witness heard the shooter say, “Give me that,” or, “Hand me that,” asking the light-eyed man for a gun.

The witness reported that gunshots immediately followed.

“I heard the two first ones, and when the next one went off, I was hit,” the witness stated. “I got shot. I tried to run and fell.”

He said he couldn’t see his friends or anyone else in the chaos. “The whole time I was getting up and falling, they were shooting.”

The witness testified that he pulled out a pistol he was carrying and began shooting back from where he lay on the ground. When the gunfire stopped, the witness said he tried to get rid of his pistol before the police arrived, but he was arrested for illegal possession of a firearm and taken by ambulance to the hospital, where he spent nine days being treated for his injuries.

About Leake, the witness stated, “I didn’t know he was dead until I was in the hospital.” When the prosecutor asked what the witness was doing while the police prepared him to travel to the hospital, he answered, “Asking was my brother there,” referring to Leake.

In cross-examination, Brothers’ attorney, Dominique Winters, challenged the witness’ claim that he didn’t turn to see the shooter attacking Leake.

“If someone has a gun handed off to him in front of you and walks past you to get to your brother, you keep your back to him–that’s what you’re telling me?” Winters demanded.

“I wouldn’t have gotten shot on the left side of my leg if I’d been facing him,” the witness asserted as evidence that he was telling the truth.

Winters played body-worn camera footage of Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers interviewing a person alleged to be the witness in a hospital bed immediately after the shooting.

In the clip, the hospital patient says, “So by the time I turned around, the dude was in my brother’s face. All I heard was pow.”

The witness affirmed that he was the patient in the footage but said he didn’t remember making that statement.

“You’re not willing to identify the wrong person as the shooter,” Winters suggested to the witness. “You’re not willing to risk identifying the wrong person.”

To both statements, the witness responded, “Yes.”

In redirect examination, the prosecutor nudged the witness toward acknowledging different motives for his reticence about the shooter’s identity.

“If you had seen anyone pointing a gun at Deron [Leake], what would you have done?” the prosecutor questioned the witness.

“They would have been shot,” the witness replied.

“Who would have shot them?” the prosecutor asked for clarification.

“I would have,” the witness stated.

“If you could have seen the shooter, would you have told the police who shot your brother?” the prosecutor inquired.

After a moment’s hesitation, the witness answered, “No.”

“Could you see the shooter?” the prosecutor followed up.

Without any hesitation this time, the witness denied it.

The trial is scheduled to resume on May 21.

Shooting Defendant Accepts Plea Deal

A defendant accepted a plea deal in a shooting case before DC Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz, agreeing that “there was no legal justification for the shooting”.

Raymond Robinson, 43, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his involvement in a non-fatal shooting incident that left one individual injured on Feb. 10 in a residence on the 1800 block of Alabama Avenue, SE.

On May 20, Nikki Lotze, Robinson’s attorney, alerted the court he was accepting a deal from the prosecution.

The plea deal required Robinson to plead guilty to assault with significant bodily injury and carrying a pistol without a license in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment.

Prosecutors also agreed to limit their sentencing request to 19 months.

According to the prosecution, had the case gone to trial they would have proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Robinson was the perpetrator, stating that when officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrived at the scene Robinson was standing over the victim, who was “on the floor covered in blood.”

Parties are slated to return Aug. 9 for sentencing.

Judge Finds Probable Cause in Shooting Case, Orders Defendant Detained

DC Superior Court Judge Eric Glover found probable cause that a defendant was the perpetrator in a shooting, before ordering he be detained pending future proceedings.

Keith Walker, 30, is being charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting that occurred on the block of 3100 Buena Vista Terrace, SE on March 7. The shooting left one victim with a gunshot wound to his ankle, following a physical altercation.

On May 17, prosecutors called on the lead detective from the Metropolitan Police Department testified that Walker turned himself in to police when an arrest warrant was issued in early May.

According to the detective, the victim’s ‘baby mama”, who was present at the scene, made a phone call to 911 after the shooting occurred. In the phone call, the detective said the victim is heard speaking to an individual named, “Dallas,” though neither Walker nor the victim have been identified as Dallas.

Tamara Jones, Walker’s defense attorney, argued that “Dallas” is not Walker’s nickname and is an entirely different person.

Jones claimed the phone call merely shows an argument between the individual and the victim, but none were ever identified as Walker.

According to the detective, Walker was identified as the shooter by the victim based on his “red eyes” and dreads.

The defense claimed it was an “erroneous identification of an unreliable source,” seeing as how the shooter had his face covered with a ski mask.

Nonetheless, Judge Glover found the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to meet the requirement for probable cause, and ordered Walker continue in detention, deeming him “a danger to the community.”

Parties will reconvene June 20.

Document: MPD Investigating Officer-Involved Shooting

The Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Internal Affairs Bureau are investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred on the 2400 block of Virginia Avenue, NW, on May 18.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for a welfare check, and requested assistance from the Behavioral Health’s Community Response Team for an individual in crisis.

The Response Team determined the individual was an immediate danger to himself or others and needed to be transported for an evaluation.

As MPD officers attempted to handcuff him, he produced a knife and stabbed an officer. Another member deployed a taser, which did not take effect. At that time, another officer discharged their firearm and struck the suspect.

Officers rendered aid and transported the individual to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The injured officer was treated on scene and transported to a local hospital.

Jonathan Jefferson, 28, was arrested and charged with four counts of assault on a police officer.

The shooting remains under investigation.

Anyone with information should reach out to MPD.

Defense Files Motion to Change Release Conditions in Second-Degree Murder Case

On March 8, a homicide defendant motioned to have release conditions temporarily modified before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun.

JD Wheeler, 23, is charged with second-degree murder, first-degree cruelty to children, second-degree cruelty to children, carrying a pistol without license, possession of an unregistered firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, tampering with physical evidence and contempt of court for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of his son, 23-month-old Legend King Wheeler. The incident occurred on the 2300 block of Chester Street, SE on Nov. 24, 2021.

According to court documents, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) responded to the location for the report of a shooting, where they located a juvenile male victim suffering from an apparent accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound. The firearm, which was registered to JD, had been unsecured inside the residence.

Aubrey Dillon, JD’s defense attorney, requested that his release conditions be amended to allow him to travel to Miami with his two cousins.

Dillon noted that the cousins both have stable jobs that require background checks, and that he would not be asking for the release conditions to be changed if he believed that Wheeler wanted to go to Miami to party.

The prosecution argued that the victim’s family has a right to be heard regarding the modification of JD’s release conditions.

Judge Okun is giving the prosecution until March 11 to respond to the request, at which time he will rule on the motion.

Parties are slated to return Sept. 6.

Defendant Rejects Plea Deal in Homicide Case

On March 8, a plea deal was rejected by a homicide defendant before DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe.

Alonzo Brown, 26, and Naquel Henderson, 25, are charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and conspiracy to commit a crime of violence in connection to the death of 21-year-old Michael Taylor on Jan. 12, 2019, on the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE.

The prosecution offered Brown a plea deal, which required him to plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges.

Through the agreement, the parties would have agreed to a sentence of eight-to-13 years of imprisonment.

Steven Kiersch, Brown’s defense attorney, alerted the court that Brown rejected the plea deal.

During the hearing, parties also addressed issues relating to violations of release and a stay-away order for Henderson.

The prosecution referenced a report from Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) that reported marijuana use and three missed check-ins. The judge stated that these concerns would be addressed at a later date.

A trial readiness hearing is set for May 3.

Document: MPD Arrests Suspect in Southeast Shooting

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced an arrest was made in connection to a shooting that occurred on April 10 on the 2700 block of Langston Place, SE.

According to MPD document, officers responded to the listed location for the report of a shooting. They located an adult female suffering from a gunshot wound. She was treated at the scene for a graze wound.

On May 17, 27-year-old Demarco Darrell Bates was arrested and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon.

Document: MPD Searching for Suspect in Southeast Shooting

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the community’s assistance in identifying a suspect involved in a shooting on May 4 on the 2800 block of Alabama Avenue, SE.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the sounds of gunshots. There, they located an adult male suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

The suspect was captured by surveillance.

MPD offers a reward to anyone that provides information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for each violent crime in the District.

Document: MPD Arrests Man for October 2022 Homicide

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced an arrest was made in connection to a homicide that occurred on Oct. 14, 2022 on the intersection of L and 11th Street, SE.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of an assault. They located an individual suffering from blunt force injuries. He was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on Nov. 3, 2022.

The victim was identified as 61-year-old Thomas Gray.

An autopsy revealed the cause of death was complications of blunt force trauma, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.

On May 17, 54-year-old Oliver Gomes was arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed. The investigation revealed that the suspect and the victim were known to each other.

Document: MPD Searching for Suspect Vehicle in Southeast Shooting

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a suspect’s vehicle involved in a shooting on May 16 on the 200 block of 37th Street, SE.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the sounds of gunshots. There, they located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

The suspect’s vehicle was captured by nearby surveillance footage.

MPD offers a reward to anyone that provides information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for each violent crime in the District.

Parties Introduce Last Minute Evidence in Three Co-Defendant Murder, Conspiracy Trial

At the culmination of a months-long murder conspiracy trial, both the prosecution and the defense submitted evidence at the last minute in hopes of bolstering their respective cases.

On May 16, the defense teams renewed their motion for judgment of acquittal shortly thereafter the presentation of new evidence, but DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt was quick in denying the motion on behalf of the co-defendants.

Koran Jackson, 23, Tyiion Kyree Freeman, 24, and Stephen Nelson, 33, are three of five individuals charged with multiple counts of conspiracy, assault with the intent to kill while armed, first-degree murder while armed, carrying a pistol without a license, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence in connection to the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Malachi Lukes on March 1, 2020, on the 600 block of S Street, NW. The shooting also left a second juvenile victim located in the vicinity suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the right leg.

Throughout the trial, the prosecution has attempted to connect Jackson, Freeman, and Nelson to additional shootings that occurred on Feb. 22, 2020, Feb. 24, 2020, and a second shooting on March 1, 2020. The prosecution alleges a firearm conspiracy among the defendants in which they aimed to obtain and use specific weapons in Lukes’ homicide.

The case also involves alleged co-conspirators Reginald Steele, 24, and Aaron Brown, 27.

Nelson’s attorneys called on the mother of one of Nelson’s children. She testified to knowing him since 2016, and having a daughter with him in 2019.

Defense attorney Lisbeth Sapirstein questioned the witness about her relationship with Nelson, how often she would spend time with him, and whether or not she knew him under another alias, like his suspected nickname throughout the case known as “Boogie.”

The witness stated she did not know Nelson as “Boogie,” nor did she know of the alleged co-conspirators, including Freeman and Jackson.

The prosecution later pulled up a Facebook message exchange from November 2019 between the witness and Nelson, and pointed out that “Boogie” was in his username.

The witness stated that they were not Facebook friends at the time, so she wasn’t sure what any of his aliases may have been.

Additionally, the witness stated that she would see Nelson about “three to four days a week” in 2019 and 2020 because he would go over to her house and typically spend the night.

“I was in love [with Nelson],” the witness testified, adding that although she was “head over heels in love,” she had certain rules in her household because she is a mother and has young children.

“He know I don’t allow that,” the witness stated, addressing that Nelson’s friends would not be allowed in her house with Nelson because she did not want her children around them.

Images of an individual identified as Nelson pictured with guns in his possession were presented by the prosecution after the witness testified that she had never seen Nelson with a firearm in-person before.

The prosecution also mentioned that Nelson and another woman had a child one month after the birth of Nelson and the witness’ daughter. She was unable to identify Nelson’s location in a video of Nelson in another individual’s bed.

The prosecution suggested the witness was not exposed to Nelson’s “other side”, the “side where he carried guns,” in addition to not knowing where Nelson would be or what he would be doing the other “three to four days a week” that they were not together.

Freeman’s attorney, Andrew Ain, argued for the admission of a letter therefore, re-opening his case which he originally rested on May 15.

The letter claims two officers presented different stories about the retrieval of two items of evidence, including Freeman’s phone, that went missing in March 2024 when the prosecution was preparing to admit this evidence during trial.

In the letter, dated March 27, 2024, one officer stated that the missing evidence was later found in the evidence department of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) by another officer.

However, the officer who located the evidence had previously reported that it was found in a locked desk drawer in his office.

Freeman’s defense argued the letter should come in because it relates to the chain of custody during the investigation.

The prosecution stated that the letter should not come in “unsanitized,” arguing that parts of the letter should be redacted as they believed some of the information was redundant and irrelevant to the defense’s argument.

Judge Brandt stated she would choose which information would and would not be redacted from the letter “Because you guys can’t seem to do the one thing I need you to do – to work it out yourselves.”

“I take a more cautious, narrower view,” she stated.

However, Judge Brandt ultimately decided to admit the letter in its entirety. She would be “extremely surprised” if the document is the deciding factor for the jury, given the abundance of information that has been presented.

In response, the prosecution decided to reopen their case and called a forensic scientist with MPD.

The analyst stated that she extracted data from Freeman’s phone, creating a report on June 8, 2020 that was over 18,000 pages long. The report contains material such as location data, texts, videos, and call logs.

According to the witness, the analysis of Freeman’s phone and its original data does not change, reaffirming the prosecution’s assertion the chain of custody was intact.

With the new evidence, all three defense teams renewed their motion for judgment of acquittal.

Judge Brandt rejected the motion, stating that the new witness testimonies and new evidence do not pose great weight. She concluded, as before, the defendants would likely be found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Parties will reconvene May 28.

Homicide Defendant After Rejecting Plea Asks For More Time

A homicide defendant was offered a plea, but requested more time to review, after originally rejecting it following a short discussion with his attorney at a May 17 hearing.

Charles Robert Lewis Jr., 33, is charged with first-degree murder for his alleged involvement in the death of Mark Carter, 55, on Oct. 15, 2022 on the 600 block of Southern Avenue, SE.

According to court documents, on the day of the incident, Carter was found lying flat and face downward in the middle of the street with his pants and underwear below his knees. The victim’s face was covered in blood and his eyes swollen shut.

The plea deal requires Lewis to plead guilty to second-degree murder, with a sentencing range of 12-to-18 years.

Defense attorney Brandi Harden requested more time with her client as she wants to make sure he understands the terms of the plea agreement, despite his original rejection of the deal before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein.

Harden also stated that Lewis Jr. would like to make an inquiry about the first-degree murder charge versus the plea deal.

Parties will reconvene May 30.

Judge Sentences Murder Defendant to 24 Years, Victim’s Family Wanted More

A homicide victim’s brother told DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo , “It should be a life for a life,” before a homicide defendant was sentenced to 24 years of incarceration.

DaJuan Bell, 45, was originally charged with first-degree murder premeditated while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, obstruction of justice, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict in connection to a shooting that claimed the life of 34-year-old Davon Childs on Dec. 10, 2021, on the 2000 block of 14th Street, NE.

Another individual reportedly lost his eye during the incident, which occurred after a dispute over the ownership of a shared apartment.

On March 1, Bell accepted an offer that required him to plead guilty to second-degree murder while armed and aggravated assault while armed, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges.

On May 17, Childs’ older brother delivered a victim impact statement, in which he told Bell, “You crushed me, man.”

“You should never see the light of day again, it should be a life for a life,” he added.

Judge Demeo intervened and told Childs’ brother to only direct comments to her.

He apologized and concluded by saying, “He took my heartbeat away.”

According to the prosecution, Bell was high when the incident occurred he be that he be sentenced at the high end of the guidelines.

“I don’t think Bell is a bad person, he just did a bad thing,” the prosecutor added. She also recognized Bell had just buried his child prior to the shooting.

Michael Bruckheim, Bell’s defense attorney, stated “How do you apologize for taking a life?”

“He knows that what he did was wrong and is going to take away a lot of his years,” he added.

Bell apologized to the victims and their families.

“I’m sorry to my family, I was inconsiderate, selfish frankly,” said Bell.

Judge Demeo stated Bell was taking a significant step by taking accountability. She also acknowledged that Childs’ family did not agree on the sentencing guidelines outlined in the plea agreement and asked the court for a higher sentence.

However, she ruled that the guidelines offered “a fair and appropriate sentence.”

Bell was sentenced to 24 years for the charge of second-degree murder while armed and 12 years for the charge of aggravated assault while armed, which will be served concurrently.

Upon release, he will serve five years of supervised release, will be required to register as a gun offender in DC, and will pay $200 to the Victims of Violent Crime Fund (VVCF).

No further dates were set.