Prosecutor Tells Judge Murder Defendants Face Dozens More Charges

A prosecutor said three co-defendants are facing an additional 75-to-100 potential counts during a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan on June 3.

Steven Metts, 18, Keondre Carroll, 21, and Jovontae Wallace,19, are charged with first-degree murder while armed, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, one count of robbery while armed and two counts of kidnapping while armed, for their alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 59-year-old Raymond Blanchard on January 23. The incident occurred on the 3000 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE.

Metts faces additional charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a rifle or shotgun outside a home or place of business, possession of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device and an additional count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.

Carroll is also charged with carrying a pistol outside a home or business, assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device.

According to court documents, Metts, Carroll and Wallace are alleged to have committed other violent crimes in the days surrounding Blanchard’s murder, including an armed robbery on a Metrobus at the intersection of Galveston Street, SW, and South Capitol Street, SE, on January 24.

Video from the Metrobus, as described by arrest documents, shows a man boarding the bus while being pursued by three others and saying to the driver, “They are trying to take my coat.” In the video, the three pursuers stop the bus by driving a vehicle in front of it, then board the bus with handguns and AR-15 style firearms amid the screams of passengers. After seizing the coat, the pursuers shoot at the bus multiple times while fleeing.

The prosecutor reported that she is working to separate the evidence related to the co-defendants’ other alleged offenses from the evidence pertinent to Ballard’s murder, in order to provide discovery information to the defense in a timely manner. She stated she’s unable to provide all discovery at this time, as multiple offenses remain under investigation.

At the prosecutor’s request, Judge Raffinan agreed that at the next hearing, phones would be checked outside the courtroom and WebEx — which is used to stream and record court proceedings — would be closed to the public due to safety concerns.

According to the prosecutor, photos of her and Metts, taken inside the courtroom, were posted online after a previous hearing, even though Marshals deleted photos from phones they confiscated during the hearing.

Parties are slated to meet on August 22 for a detention hearing.

Judge Grants One Shooting Defendant’s Request for Release

DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro granted a shooting defendant’s release from detainment during a felony status hearing on June 3.

Natasha Mack, 40, and Stephan Moorer, 42 are charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, for their alleged involvement in a non-fatal-shooting that occurred on April 3, on the 400 block of Chesapeake Street, SE.

According to court documents, two individuals, later identified as Mack and Moorer, confronted the victim inside of a residence and shot at her once. The pair can allegedly be seen entering and exiting the apartment building where the victim was staying.

Security camera footage from the apartment revealed that the two individuals were in the apartment when the shooting took place and can be seen leaving the apartment afterwards. The victim was able to identify Mack as one of the alleged perpetrators.

According to prosecutors, Mack acted as an aider and abettor to Moorer during the shooting. An aider and abettor is an individual that helps or encourages an individual to commit a crime.

During the hearing, Judge Di Toro discussed a motion for modification of detention, filed by Mack’s defense attorney, Erin Griffard, on May 31.

Through the motion, Griffard argued that Mack has “absolutely no history of violent contact,” and Mack’s only felony charge was in 2006 was for allegedly passing of bad checks. She also argued that being charged as an aider and abettor does not constitute the individual being detained.

The prosecution argued that Mack’s alleged involvement in the incident was reason enough for her to remain detained.

However, the defense rebutted, “Mere presence is not enough for the ‘aiding and abetting’ theory.”

Judge Di Toro granted the request, ordering Mack to remain in 24-hour home confinement, with an ankle monitor, and a “stay away and no contact order” from the victim.

Moorer will continue to be detained.

All parties are set to return on June 28.

Document: MPD Investigating Fatal Shooting in Northeast

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on June 1 on the 600 block of 18th Street, NE.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of a shooting, where they located a victim suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to a local hospital, where the succumbed to his injuries.

The victim was identified as 15-year-old Victor Bolden.

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 Investigating Fatal Shooting in Southeast

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on June 1 on the 700 block of Atlantic Street, SE.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of a shooting, where they located an adult male who was unconscious and not breathing suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim was identified as 38-year-old Gary Roberson.

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 Investigating Homicide in Southeast

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating a homicide that occurred on May 31 on the 1600 block of W Street, SE.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of a shooting, where they located three adult victims suffering from gunshot wounds. The victims were transported to local area hospitals for treatment. One of the victims succumbed to his injuries, while the other two, and adult female and an adult male, were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The victim was identified as 18-year-old Keith White.

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 Investigating 2022 Shooting as a Homicide

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating a shooting, that occurred on the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road, SE, on May 10, 2022, as a homicide after a victim succumbed to his injuries.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of a shooting. There, they located a man suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries.

On Feb. 7, he succumbed to his injuries.

He was identified as 40-year-old Cesar Barrera.

The Office of the Medical Chief Examiner (OCME) ruled that the cause of death was complications of gunshot wounds, and the manner of death a homicide.

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 Arrests Man for Fatal Stabbing in Northwest

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of a man in connection to a fatal stabbing that occurred on May 26 on the 500 block of Harvard Street, NW.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of a stabbing, where they located 58-year-old Tommy Hudson with multiple stab wounds in front of a residence. He was transported to a local hospital, where he died.

The preliminary investigation determined he was stabbed inside of a residence in the same block.

On May 28, MPD arrested and charged 54-year-old Ted Anthony Brown with second-degree murder while armed.

The investigation revealed this offense was domestic in nature.

Document: MPD Investigating Fatal Shooting in Northwest

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating a homicide 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 in the road with gunshot wounds. He died at the scene.

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

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.

During Closings, Parties Disagree on Defendant’s Claim of Being ‘in the Wrong Place at the Wrong Time’

During the last day of trial for a non-fatal shooting incident, parties challenged whether the defendant demonstrated an intent to kill a victim. That despite a situation “where death could have easily resulted,” according to DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo. Both parties rested their case on June 3 and finished closing arguments.

Tyrone Astorias Johnson, 43, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault with significant bodily injury while armed for allegedly firing multiple shots at an individual. The shooting occurred on Aug. 30, 2022 at Starburst Plaza Park on the 1500 block of Maryland Avenue, NE.

According to court documents, the victim told a detective that the shooter asked him for a cigarette, but the victim responded he did not have one. The suspect then allegedly removed a firearm from his waistband area and began firing at the victim.

At the hearing, the prosecution called three Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers to the stand. Two of them testified that they responded to reported gunshots on Aug. 23, 2020 and interacted with the suspect.

One of the officers could not “say for certain” if the suspect was in the courtroom or not.

The prosecution played body camera footage of the officers who testified that the suspect was cooperative.

During one video, the prosecution alluded to the fact that Johnson received a phone call from his ex-girlfriend because one of the officers read three out of the ten digits of a phone number that was calling Johnson, which matched that of his ex-girlfriend’s number.

A third MPD officer, who also works in the Firearms Registration Branch, testified that Johnson did not have a valid license and was not registered as the owner of a firearm, according to a MPD database.

Following the officers’ testimony, the defense filed a motion for judgment of acquittal, arguing that the evidence presented by the prosecution failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Johnson was the perpetrator or had the intent to kill the victim.

Judge Demeo denied the motion, citing the proximity of the shooting, the number of shots fired, and the serious injuries suffered by the victim. She added that a reasonable juror could assume Johnson is guilty on all counts.

”Not once, not twice, but three times,” prosecutors said, Johnson shot at the victim, highlighting the incident originated “over some loose cigarettes.”

Throughout their closing, the prosecution played video surveillance of individuals identified as Johnson and his ex-girlfriend walking to and from Starburst Plaza at the time of the incident, and then going into the Pentacle Apartments. The prosecution narrated the series of events that are portrayed in the surveillance footage.

Furthermore, the prosecution mentioned that the defense would argue the victim never identified Johnson as a shooter, failing to recognize him in a photo array procedure performed about two hours after the shooting.

However, the prosecutor argued that the victim “was not given a position to accurately identify anybody” as he was “suffering grievous injuries” during the time he described two individuals to police immediately after being shot and when he was shown the photo array the morning of the incident at the hospital.

Additionally, the prosecutor asserted that the victim’s injuries were “the very definition of serious bodily injury,” specifying the victim was wheelchair-bound for a month and had to relearn how to walk. They emphasized that the victim was fired at from close range and sustained eight wounds from three gunshots.

“How do you judge a person’s intent?” asked the prosecutor when referring to the defendant’s motive to kill the victim. He advised the jurors to use their “life experiences, analytical skills, and common sense” in deciding the verdict of this case.

“Nothing about the defendant’s situation is ‘in the wrong place at the wrong time,’” referring to the defense’s opening statement argument.

“You have the power to hold the defendant accountable,” the prosecutor said to the jury.

As the prosecutor finished his closing arguments, the defendant was seen shaking his head.

Joseph Fay, Johnson’s defense attorney, reminded the jury that Johnson was “in the wrong place at the wrong time,” during the incident.

He stated that a gun from the incident was never found and his client’s ex-girlfriend testified to never having seen him with a gun.

He addressed the testimony of Johnson’s ex-girlfriend, agreeing with the prosecution that “she has a lot going on,” but arguing she told the truth when she was “corroborated by other evidence.”

He affirmed to jurors that she suffers from memory loss, acknowledging her medications for her mental illnesses.

Fay played video surveillance from Starburst Plaza and postulated to jurors, “there’s one person you can see who does not go running” after the shooting. He is referring to an individual who was seen leaving the crime scene by bicycle, but was never found or questioned by the police.

“Who does not run when a shooting starts?” questioned Fay.

Moreover, Fay described the wounds the victim suffered in his legs and genitalia and stated “those wounds just don’t line up,” expressing doubts in the victim’s testimony of how he was shot.

In their rebuttal, the prosecution stated “this is a case about what the evidence proves,” adding it all points to one person — Johnson.

The parties await for the final verdict as the jury begins deliberations.

Judge Refuses to Remove Electronic Monitoring from Murder Defendant

“This is the bare minimum to make sure for people in the community that there’s some assurance of their safety,” stated DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe in denying a motion by Naquel Henderson’s defense attorney to have his electronic monitoring removed.

Henderson, 26, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, conspiracy to commit a crime of violence, four counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, and five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Michael Taylor on Jan. 12, 2019, on the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE.

Arrest documents report that Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to the report of a shooting and found three victims suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Two of the victims, an adult and a juvenile, survived with serious injuries, but Taylor was pronounced dead after lifesaving efforts failed.

Henderson is one of five co defendants in the case. Two of them–Stephon Evans, 23, and Tavist Alston, 30–have accepted plea deals, while two others–Alonzo Brown, 27, and Carlos Turner, 26–are still awaiting trial.

Lisbeth Sapirstein, Henderson’s attorney, asked Judge O’Keefe to remove Henderson’s electronic monitoring because DC Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) has repeatedly reported Henderson as being in violation of his stay-away order when Uber drivers have taken him through the stay-away zone, despite his requests that they take a different route.

“He called me right after getting out of the Uber. He asked, he begged the guy not to drive by the stay-away location, and the Uber driver didn’t listen,” Sapirstein told Judge O’Keefe regarding Henderson’s most recent reported violation.

“There have never been any allegations in this case, either while Mr. Henderson was incarcerated or after he was released, that he has attempted to make any contact with the complainants or their families,” Sapirstein argued.

“Witnesses are being threatened,” the prosecutor stated in opposition to Sapirstein’s motion. “This information just came to us in the last 24 hours. I haven’t been able to vet it, I haven’t been able to investigate it, but it is of concern.”

“Maybe it’s the two folks who have already been convicted,” Judge O’Keefe responded in his refusal to take the allegations of threats into account in his decision regarding Henderson’s conditions of release.

Judge O’Keefe denied Sapirstein’s motion, pointing out that defendants facing charges like Henderson’s are rarely released from detention under any conditions, let alone freed from electronic monitoring.

“We’re talking about a mandatory minimum of 30 years in jail. That would scare anyone,” Judge O’Keefe countered when Sapirstein argued that Henderson was not a flight risk.

At Sapirstein’s request, Judge O’Keefe agreed to amend Henderson’s stay-away order so that PSA would not report it as a violation if he momentarily passed through the stay-away zone.

Judge O’Keefe also denied a motion for severance from Sapirstein, which would have allowed Henderson to be tried separately from the other co-defendants in this case.

Henderson’s trial readiness hearing is scheduled for April 25, 2025. The parties have agreed to go to trial sooner if an earlier date opens up.

Murder Defendant Considering Plea Offer

Damon L. Clark’s attorney, Quo Mieko Judkins, asked DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe on May 31 for more time to consider a pre-indictment plea deal offered by the prosecution.

Clark, 27, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting and killing 46-year-old Jimmy Thomas, Jr., the 1200 block of Mount Olivet Road, NE during a verbal altercation on March 8.

The plea deal would require Clark to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed, which would carry a sentence of seven-and-a-half-to-15 years’ incarceration. In exchange, the prosecutor would not seek indictment on any greater charges stemming from the facts of the case.

Parties are slated to meet again on July 23.

‘There’s Two Families Whose Lives Have Been Impacted by This,’ Says Defense Attorney in Homicide Sentencing

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt ordered a WebEx streaming of a sentencing to end due to a victim’s family’s “disrespectful” comments, as she sentenced a homicide defendant to 18 years of incarceration.

David Botchway, 21, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Andre Baker on Aug. 5, 2023, on the 1200 block of U Street, NW.

Through the plea deal, parties agreed to a sentencing range of 16-to-20-years of incarceration.

During the sentencing, which had previously been rescheduled six times, prosecutors displayed surveillance footage and an Uber driver’s dash cam footage that depicted the incident. The dash cam portrayed 13 shots fired, as surveillance footage detailed Botchway approaching Baker at a bus station and shooting him multiple times.

“This is just an execution style murder,” said the prosecutor, adding, “If I had a penny for every time we say this is a tragic case… this is a tragic case.”

“He was just shooting all over the place,” the prosecution insisted, stating “this is not a war zone, this is Washington, D.C.”

As for the shooting, the prosecutor argued “it could have taken many more lives,” citing the multiple individuals who were in the vicinity of the incident.

“[Baker] was just begging for his life… the circumstances, the crime itself, what he inflicted is absurd,” the prosecutor cried.

“[Botchway] is young enough to spend some time [in prison] and come home to make something of himself. We can’t say that about Baker,” the prosecution insisted.

“It’s really hard for anyone to spend a day in jail,” he argued, but was firm that Botchway had “benefited” from the plea deal, despite his criminal history being “not good.”

The prosecution told Judge Brandt that Baker’s family was “vehemently against” the plea deal, as they requested a 20 year sentence.

“There’s two families whose lives have been impacted by this,” said Kevin Mosley, Botchway’s defense attorney.

“This is a terrible decision that he made… he is the most devastated young man I’ve had to visit at the jail,” he claimed, stating Botchway is “emotionally torn up about what he did.”

“The thing he feared the most he perpetrated,” Mosley insisted, arguing that Botchway had been a victim of gun violence and had always worried about becoming a homicide victim.

“What he did is terrible,” Mosley said, citing that untreated trauma, drinking, and machismo played a part in Botchway’s decision making.

“He’s a sweet young man. He’s trying to be something that he’s not,” he stated, requesting Judge Brandt order “the trauma treatment he is in such desperate need of,” as he asked her to impose a 16 year sentence.

“I’m responsible for taking another person’s life… I don’t expect forgiveness,” Botchway told Judge Brandt, adding he’s dedicated to his recovery.

Following Botchway’s statement, Baker’s family member stated “The family won’t and don’t forgive him,” adding they considered his actions an execution because “that was an overkill.”

“He should struggle,” she proclaimed, adding “What he did was wrong.”

“In sentencing days, no one wins,” said Judge Brandt, expressing her sorrow for Baker and Botchway’s mothers, adding “one lost a son to the grave, and one that is losing her son to prison… neither expected that.”

“I can sympathize, and I can even empathize,” she told the parties, however, “ I can’t make a decision based on emotion.”

“This was not like you, to do something like this,” Judge Brandt told Botchway, citing his family’s letters to the court in which they expressed shock and confusion for his actions.

“In your young years, you’ve walked through some trauma… more than people your age,” she added, stating “the videos are worth a thousand words. You walked up to that bus stop and unloaded a gun.”

“He is NOT the victim,” one of Baker’s family members told the court through the WebEx chat.

“I’m struggling,” Judge Brandt said, stating the range “might as well be the same number to me… taking away the liberty is the punishment.”

“On behalf of the citizens of the District of Columbia, I accept your apology,” Judge Brandt told Botchway, before ordering her courtroom clerk to shut down the WebEx streaming due to “disrespectful comments flooding in,” which included comments such as “this is bulls***.”

“You will not be disrespectful in a courtroom,” Judge Brandt told people in the gallery.

“Good luck,” she told Botchway as he was escorted out by Marshals.

Murder Defendant’s Attorney Files Motion for His Release

Defense attorney Kevin Mosley argued in a motion filed on May 30 that his client, Jelani Cousin, could be released from jail to stay with his mother pending trial without risk of flight or danger to the community.

Cousin, 18, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Ashlei Hinds on Jan. 1 at a hotel on the 4000 block of Military Road, NW.

According to arrest documents, Cousin was attending a party in a hotel room with several other young people when an altercation took place. Cousin allegedly fired a handgun at the hotel room door from the outside, striking and killing Hinds on the opposite side of the door.

In his motion to modify Cousin’s release conditions, Mosley stated that Cousin has lived in DC his entire life and has many family and community members willing to attest to his character.

Mosley pointed out that Cousin’s mother, who has offered to house him with electronic monitoring, originally brought Cousin to the police station so that he could turn himself in two days after the incident for which he is being charged.

During a hearing on May 31, the prosecution asked DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe for more time to respond to the motion.

Mosley told Judge O’Keefe that one of the US Marshals who usually transports Cousin between the DC Jail and the DC Superior Court habitually harasses Cousin and calls him “the New Year’s Guy,” based on the date of the shooting for which Cousin is charged. Judge O’Keefe expressed willingness to end the harassment.

The next hearing is scheduled for June 28.

Convicted Murderer Refused to Get Off the Bus for Sentencing

After being found guilty of murder, Terrell Poe failed to appear for his sentencing hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe on May 31.

Poe, 37, was convicted by a jury on Feb. 15 of first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and illegal possession of a firearm with a prior conviction greater than one year for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 30-year-old Christopher Washington on Sept. 23, 2020, on the 400 block of Southern Avenue, SE.

On the morning of the sentencing, Poe took the bus from the jail to court, but a US Marshal reported that “[he] refused to get off the bus.”

Poe’s attorney, Marnitta King, told Judge O’Keefe that Poe was also refusing to meet with her.

King stated that Poe’s family had been receiving threats, and that hostile individuals had found Poe’s Presentence Investigation (PSI) report publicly available online and posted it to Poe’s Instagram account.

At King’s request, Judge O’Keefe agreed to seal Poe’s PSI report.

The prosecution argued that Poe should be assigned a criminal history score of five, based on prior convictions for burglary and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. King told Judge O’Keefe that she plans to respond to the prosecution’s argument in writing.

The parties are slated to meet again on June 14. If Poe does not show up to this sentencing hearing, they will have to push the date back again.

Murder Suspect Wants Trial Delayed Over Fair Jury Concerns

Before DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo, defense attorney Dominique Winters filed a motion on May 30 to reschedule a July 20 trial because her client didn’t think a racially balanced jury would hear his case.

Kenneth Wayne Stewart, 62, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon for allegedly stabbing 54-year-old Courtney Jones to death on July 23, 2020 at the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

According to court documents, the defendant allegedly assaulted the victim in a van after an argument. Police found Stewart walking on a highway allegedly with a bloody knife that had pieces of flesh on it.

At the hearing, Winters stated that her client wanted a jury that represented a fair cross section of the community as guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment, even if it meant postponing the trial date until next year and being detained for longer than anticipated.

Winters stated that “Black jurors were severely underrepresented” in recent trials at the DC Superior Court, pointing out two trials where 13.7 percent and 20 percent of the jury pool were black. The DC Public Defenders commissioned an analysis showing that black jurors were underrepresented by 10.5 percent relative to the city’s population.

Dozens of felony cases during COVID were decided by panels with too few black members say the defendants. Legal action has been pending for two years to get the outcomes reconsidered. Meanwhile, the DC Superior Court says its jury selection process is effective and unbiased.

According to Winters, the issue is something her client “feels strongly about” and is “not willing to waive.”

“I understand it’s an important issue for him,” acknowledged Judge Demeo.

The prosecution opposed the motion, expressing a desire to start trial right away since the next potential trial date is November 2025 and the defense could always appeal the case.

Judge Demeo ordered the parties to file written briefs and will rule on the motion of continuance next week.

The parties are slated to return on June 3.

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