‘I Won’t Get Convicted,’ Stabbing Defendant Says in Court

A stabbing defendant waived his right to independently test DNA evidence recovered from a crime scene, claiming “I won’t get convicted,” before DC Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz, on June 6.

Samuel Robinson, 44, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a stabbing that occurred at the Mount Vernon Square Metro Station on the 700 block of M Street, NW, on Feb. 6.

According to court documents, an individual who was later identified as Robinson was in a physical altercation with the victim on the Metro platform who sustained a stab wound to the head.

Robinson received a cut finger in the fracas and both individuals were transported to a hospital.

Parties are slated to return Aug. 26.

Prosecutors Offer Wired Plea in Shooting After a Robbery Gone Wrong

Prosecutors alerted DC Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz they’ve offered a wired plea deal to shooting defendant Marcus Cunningham and his co-defendant.

Cunningham, 19, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and carrying of a pistol without a license outside a home or business, for his alleged involvement in a shooting that occurred on the intersection of 17th and Euclid Streets, NW, on April 25. One individual sustained injuries during the incident.

According to court documents, the shooting stemmed from a drug exchange and shoe transaction that went wrong.

Cunningham allegedly threw a gun on the ground after the shooting, and attempted to flee the scene before he was detained by officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) after running west on Euclid.

During the hearing, the prosecution alerted Judge Leibovitz they extended a plea offer which required Cunningham to plead guilty to assault with intent to kill while armed, in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment. Through the deal, parties would agree to a sentencing range of 36-to-84 months.

Defense attorney Tammy Thom was unable to speak to her client about the plea offer prior to the hearing and requested a continuance.

The plea offer is wired to Cunningham’s co-defendant, Marcell Cradle. Prosecutors agreed to keep the offer which must be agreed to by both parties open until the next hearing.

The defense agreed to toll the indictment time, which allows the prosecution an extension to the indictment deadline for the amount of time the defense tolls.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on June 26.

Shooting Defendant Waives Right to Preliminary Hearing, Remains Detained

A shooting defendant waived his right to a preliminary hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Renee Raymond, on June 6.

Koby Ham, 25, is charged with endangerment with a firearm, assault with a dangerous weapon, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting. The incident occurred on June 2 on the 1300 block of Savannah Street, SE.

Prosecutors displayed surveillance footage of the incident, which depicted two individuals, one identified as Ham, shooting at a blue truck, occupied by two individuals ten times. No injuries were reported, but the truck sustained damage from five gunshots.

According to the prosecutor, at the time of his arrest, Ham was in possession of two firearms.

During the hearing, Charles Haskell, Ham’s defense attorney, alerted Judge Raymond he waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

Haskell requested Ham be released to his mother, claiming “he has never been in any trouble in his life.”

Haskell also highlighted his client had no violent history and being in jail was an “eye-opening experience.”

His lawyer wanted Ham released under GPS surveillance, pointing to his mom and sister who were in the court, and stated they are willing to assist him.

The prosecution argued the nature and circumstances of the shooting proves Ham poses a threat to the community. They said the shooting was a “random act of violence,” and Ham should not be released.

Judge Raymond denied the request stating she “agrees with the prosecution,” and there are “no conditions or combination of conditions [she] can order, which satisfies the safety of the community.”

Judge Raymond stated it was “fortuitous” no one in the vehicle was injured or killed during the shooting and found probable cause he shot at the victims.

Parties are set to reconvene on June 27 in front of DC Superior Court Judge Arthur Errol.

Jury Finds Shooting Defendant Guilty on Most Charges

Jurors in DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo’s courtroom reached a verdict on June 5 in a non-fatal shooting incident finding the defendant guilty on ten-out-of-12 charges. Ultimately, jurors acquitted Johnson of assault with intent to kill while armed and one possession charge, while convicting him of all others.

Tyrone Astorias Johnson, 43, was originally charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, aggravated assault while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, possession of a firearm by a convict,, carrying a pistol without a license, possession of an unregistered firearm, and possession of ammunition, for his involvement in a shooting that injured one individual. The incident occurred on Aug. 30, 2022, at the Starburst Plaza Park, a busy public space, on the 1500 block of Maryland Avenue, NE.

According to court documents and witness testimony, the victim suffered injuries to his legs and genitalia. He was wheelchair bound for a month and had to relearn how to walk again.

On June 3 in closing arguments, the prosecution stated it was a “grave misfortune” the victim encountered the defendant that morning.

The victim testified he went through the park because he was going home after seeking hospital treatment for an unrelated matter.

According to the victim he noticed a man sleeping on a bench and asked if he needed help.

During the encounter, the victim testified Johnson came along asked him for a cigarette but he declined saying he didn’t have any which triggered the shooting.

“I was trying to help someone and then I got shot,” said the victim.

Throughout the trial, the prosecution presented a large amount of video surveillance and body camera footage to jurors.

Body camera footage minutes after the shooting shows the victim saying a Black man, accompanied by a White female with blonde hair, shot him. In the footage, he can be heard telling officers he saw the Black man and White woman take off towards the Pentacle Apartments, which was corroborated by surveillance footage.

Despite being presented a photo, the victim never identified Johnson as the shooter, according to a detective’s testimony. The photo array was shown to the victim by the detective less than three hours after the shooting as the victim lay in a hospital bed.

Johnson’s ex-girlfriend’s was largely uncooperative during testimony

She said, “I’ve tried to block this out of my brain and move on,” stating lost her son and is homeless because of the incident.

In openings, defense attorney Joseph Fay claimed the only reason Johnson was at the park to begin with was because his girlfriend at the time, although trying to quit smoking, wanted a loose cigarette.

Fay said the ex-girlfriend suffers from memory loss. When asked by the prosecutor if she could see and locate Johnson, she stated, “I don’t see him at all.” “No sir, he’s not in this courtroom,” she said.

In video surveillance, the ex-girlfriend is identified with an individual said to beJohnson before, during, and after the shooting. She testified to having never seen Johnson with a gun, and claimed she had her back turned away from Johnson when she heard the sound of gunshots at the park.

In his closing remarks, Fay reminded the jury that Johnson was “in the wrong place at the wrong time,” emphasizing that a gun was never recovered in connection to the incident.

Fay also claimed that there was insufficient evidence to prove that Johnson had an intent to kill the victim. Conversely, the prosecution cited the gruesome injuries suffered by the victim.

Parties are slated to reconvene for sentencing Sept. 6.

Defense Says Jail Stabbing Defendant ‘Cloaked in Innocence’ During Trial Opening

In opening arguments before a jury in DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro’s courtroom on June 5 the defense claimed a stabbing suspect is “cloaked in innocence.”

Antoine Donvell Johnson, 28, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury, and unlawful possession of contraband in a penal institution, for his alleged involvement in a stabbing that occurred at the DC Jail on the 1900 block of D Street, SE. The incident occurred on Jan. 15.

Both parties agreed that the victim would not be testifying in the trial and they would instead rely on eyewitness testimony and the video footage.

According to the prosecution, video footage from the DC Jail depicts an individual, identified as Johnson, in a physical fight with the victim with Johnson throwing the first punch. Officers went to the scene and used pepper spray to control the situation. The victim was found with multiple stab wounds, in his arms, stomach, face and sustained very large gash on his head. He was treated in the jail infirmary.

Both parties agreed that the victim would not be testifying in the trial and they would instead rely on eyewitness testimony and the video footage,

The prosecution stated that throughout the trial, the jury will see video footage of the fight, a knife thrown, and officers running to the scene as well as the victim’s blood “spilling onto the floor,” and covering his clothes.

Matthew Rist, Johnson’s defense attorney, reminded jurors that “the Constitution cloaks [Johnson] in innocence” even when incarcerated and that he will hold the jury to its promise of impartiality.

He requested that the jury pay attention to the body language of the victim who made a “visible gesture” when Johnson entered the hallway and “aggressively confronts him” before the fight occurs.

Rist also described a third inmate that approached Johnson and the victim while fighting who looked like he was “holding something in his pocket.”

Finally, Rist stated that Johnson had no motive to harm the victim and only acted in self-defense.

Parties will return June 6 to begin presenting evidence and witness testimony.

Document: MPD Arrests a Woman for an Armed Carjacking Offense

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of a woman involved in an armed carjacking on May 15 on the 100 block of Kenilworth Avenue, NE.

According to MPD documents, the victim agreed to meet the suspect at the location to conduct a transaction. The victim exited their vehicle, and the suspect entered the vehicle, pointed a gun at the victim, before fleeing the scene with the victim’s vehicle. It has now been recovered.

She’ri Mykalie Bell, 20, was arrested and charged with armed carjacking. At the time of her arrest, she was found to be in possession of a handgun, which prompted additional charges of carrying a pistol without a license, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of an unregistered firearm, and possession of unregistered ammunition.

Document: MPD Arrests Man for Shooting in Northeast

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of an individual in connection to a shooting that left a woman critically injured on June 4 on the 1800 block of West Virginia Avenue, NE.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of sounds of gunshots. There, they located a woman inside of a crashed vehicle with a gunshot wound. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries.

As a result of the detectives’ investigation, 40-year-old Israel Beairs was arrested and charged with assault with intent to kill while armed.

Document: MPD Arrests Suspect in Southeast Gun Offense

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of an individual in connection to an unlawful discharge of a firearm that occurred on May 12 on the 3200 block of 23rd Street, SE.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location to investigate the sounds of gunshots. Officers recovered spent cartridge casings from the scene, and video of the offense.

The video, MPD says, showed the suspect exiting their vehicle and discharging a firearm into the air before entering a residence. No injuries or property damage were recovered.

On June 4, 33-year-old John Phillip Birdine III was arrested and charged with endangerment with a firearm and unlawful discharge of a firearm.

Document: Female Arrested in a Northwest Carjacking

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating a traffic crash that occurred at the intersection of 6th and D Street, NW, and killed one individual, on June 3.

According to MPD documents, a woman walked away from her family at Washington Hospital Center as a Mazda SUV pulled up to the front of the hospital and the driver exited to obtain a wheelchair for her passenger. As the driver obtained the wheelchair, the woman entered the vehicle and drove away with the passenger still inside.

A few moments later, the Mazda was traveling on the 400 block of 6th Street, NW. The suspect attempted to turn left onto D Street, NW, but failed to negotiate the turn and crashed into the building of the Offices of the US Attorneys. The suspect exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot, but was apprehended immediately by a MPD captain.

The passenger was transported to a local hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries. She was identified as 55-year-old Leslie Marie Gaines.

Kayla Kenisha Brown, 22, was arrested and charged with felony murder, kidnapping, and carjacking.

The incident continues to be investigated. An autopsy will be conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) to determine the cause and manner of death.

Document: MPD Seeking to Identify a Suspect in Fatal Shooting in Northwest

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is asking for the community’s assistance in identifying and locating a suspect in connection to a fatal shooting that occurred on May 29 on the unit block of Hanover Place, NW.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of a shooting. There, they located a man, on the road, with gunshot wounds. He died at the scene.

The victim was identified as 34-year-old Maurice Downing.

The suspect was captured by 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 homicide in the District.

Document: MPD Searching for Suspect in a Southeast Shooting

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s help in locating and identifying a suspect in connection to a shooting that occurred on May 20 on the 800 block of Yuma Street, SE.

According to MPD documents, the suspect, who was in a moving vehicle, fired a handgun and struck the victim as they were walking at the location. The suspect fled the scene, and the victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

The suspect was captured by 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.

Shooting Defendant Found Incompetent to Stand Trial

In a mental observation hearing on June 5, DC Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz addressed a defendant who was deemed incompetent to stand trial based on an evaluation from the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH).

Kevin Harrison, 23, is charged with carrying a pistol without a license, possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, possession of an unregistered firearm, unlawful discharge of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition for his alleged involvement in a shooting that occurred on June 26, 2023, on the 2100 block of 8th Street, NW.

According to court documents, in an interview with a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective, Harrison stated he was walking to a CVS store when a driver looked at him, turned his car around and came after him. The defendant stated he shot at the vehicle because he feared for his life.

At the hearing, Judge Leibovitz referred to a June 4 letter from the DBH which recommended a full competency evaluation of the defendant.

On May 29, a forensic psychologist evaluated the defendant, with his attorney present, in a 50-minute interview.

According to the DBH letter, “It is the [forensic psychologist’s] opinion that Mr. Harrison lacks a factual understanding of the proceedings against him, as well as the ability to consult with counsel with a reasonable degree of rational understanding.”

Additionally, the DBH letter stated that Harrison presented “slow processing speed” and “reported experiencing recent hallucinations.”

After addressing Harrison’s health assessment, defense attorney Patrick Nowak requested for his client’s release conditions to be modified, advocating for a curfew to be enforced as opposed to sole home confinement under GPS monitoring. Harrison has been placed under GPS monitoring since July 3, 2023.

Nowak also added that his client would like to get a job.

Judge Leibovitz was unwilling to change most of Harrison’s release conditions beyond GPS monitoring, however, she granted him the ability to leave his home to participate in any activities related to a job search.

Parties are slated to return June 11.

Judge Denies Triple Homicide Defendant’s Request for Release

DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun denied a homicide defendant’s request for release, deeming her a danger to the community, during a June 5 hearing.

Nakita Walker, 44, is charged with three counts of second-degree murder for allegedly crashing into a car occupied by Mohamed Kamara, 43, Johnathan Alberto Cabrera Mendez, 23, and Olvin Josue Torres Velasquez, 22, on March 15, 2023, on Rock Creek Parkway near the intersection of 26th Street and P Street, NW. Walker is also charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and fleeing from an officer.

According to court documents, Walker was originally stopped by a police officer for recklessly driving on Rock Creek Parkway, before she allegedly fled the stop and crashed into the vehicle occupied by the victims. Walker’s blood alcohol level was reported to be well beyond the legal limit.

During the hearing, Albert Amissah, Walker’s defense attorney, requested she be released to 24-hour home confinement with GPS monitoring to allow her to access health care for injuries sustained during the incident.

“I’ve had enough time to reflect,” Walker told Judge Okun, stating that during the year of incarceration she has had limited access to the resources she needs to help her heal.

“I do my best,” she stated, adding “I’ve kept my head up and I know I’d do well in home confinement.”

“I suffered severe injuries through this accident as well,” she claimed, requesting he release her.

However, prosecutors objected to the request, stating that Walker was on probation for two prior driving under the influence (DUI) offenses at the time of the incident. She also stated the defendant knowingly fled a traffic stop in the minutes leading up to the crash.

Judge Okun sided with the prosecution, stating that he’s “pleased to hear” she’s participating in multiple programs at the jail, but that the circumstances of the incident, and her prior convictions, prove she continues to be a danger to the community.

Following Judge Okun’s ruling, Amissah told Judge Okun “she really just wants proper treatment,” and argued she had a valid license at the time of the crash but no longer.

“She almost hit and killed the police officer” before killing Kamara, Cabrera Mendez, and Torres Velasquez, Judge Okun retorted.

Parties are slated to return July 26.

Judge Warns Defense About Foregoing Preliminary Hearing if Delays Continue

DC Superior Court Renee Raymond advised a shooting defendant’s attorney he might have to waive his client’s right to a preliminary hearing if delays continue.

Michael Owusu-Sakyi, 48, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in a shooting which occurred on April 10 on the 1700 block of Fairlawn Avenue, SE. One individual sustained injuries from the incident.

According to court documents, the suspect, later identified as Owusu-Sakyi, fired at a woman outside her residence. Following the shooting, the suspect told the victim he thought she was someone else.

Jeremy Feldman, Owusu-Sakyi’s defense attorney, alerted Judge Raymond in a June 5 hearing they were not prepared to go through with the hearing.

“This is a long time between when [the case] came in and a preliminary hearing,” Judge Raymond said, citing the five continuances since April.

The defense assured the court this would be the final postponement for the preliminary hearing, stating the parties continue to be in plea negotiations.

The judge was adamant about this being the last postponement, stating if they were not prepared by June 18, the defense should be “prepared to waive” the defendant’s right to a preliminary hearing.

Feldman affirmed he will be prepared by the next date.

Parties are set to reconvene on June 18.

Non-Fatal Shooting Defendant Waives Right to Preliminary Hearing, Ordered Detained

DC Superior Court Judge Renee Raymond ordered a shooting defendant remain held in jail as he awaits further proceedings, during a June 5 hearing.

Desean Delaney, 31, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in a shooting which occurred on April 8 at the 200 block of Florida Avenue, NE within the NoMa-Gallaudet metro station.

According to court documents, an individual, later identified as Delaney, got into an altercation with a woman after she didn’t respond to his advances. He allegedly brandished a handgun; the victim then pushed his hand away, which caused the suspect’s gun to fire. No injuries were reported.

At the hearing, Elliott Queen, Delaney’s defense attorney, alerted the court he planned to waive his right to a preliminary hearing.

Queen requested his client be released to 24-hour home confinement, stating he has abundant support in the community, pointing to eight of Delaney’s family members in the court, to ensure he complies with conditions set for release.

“This is his first contact with the criminal justice system,” Queen said, claiming Delaney does not have any prior criminal history.

The prosecution objected to the request, stating the nature and circumstances of the offense proves Delaney is a danger to the community.

“I was struck by the information in the[police report] and equally struck today,” Judge Raymond said, stating the prosecution’s evidence against Delaney is strong.

Judge Raymond denied the defense request.

Parties will reconvene on June 28 in front of DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld for a status hearing.