Suspect Accused of Shooting Six After Nightclub Fight

Shooting defendant Rennwel Mantock appeared in a May 7 hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun.

Mantock is charged with six counts of assault with intent to kill while armed and six counts of the possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.

According to court documents, the 29-year-old defendant from Hyattsville, Maryland, was out late on April 26 at a nightclub on the 1200 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW where he allegedly assaulted six individuals – four males and two females.

Five of the victims are employees of the club. After Mantock was told to leave, he reportedly scuffled with security guards during which they punched him, dragged him down steps, and threw him to the ground.

Mantock responded by allegedly opening fire at the security guards. One other person was shot in the incident.

Mantock is believed to have tossed his gun under a car that was close to the scene. When questioned, Mantock allegedly told police where it was located.

The prosecution offered a plea deal to the defense, but the terms were not disclosed in court. The defense was granted continuance by Judge Okun in order for attorney William Patzig to go over the details of the plea with his client.

The next hearing is set for May 15.

Document: 2024 MPD Investigating Fatal Shooting of a 3-Year-Old in Southeast

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating the fatal shooting of a toddler that occurred on May 3 on the 2300 block of Hartford Street, SE.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the sounds of gunshots. A short time later, a three-year-old female was located at a nearby fire station on the 2400 block of Irving Street, SE, suffering from a gunshot wound. She was rendered aid until she was airlifted by Park Police to a hospital. Despite all life-saving efforts, she was pronounced dead.

The victim was identified as three-year-old Ty’ah Settles.

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: Updated with Additional Photos MPD Searching for Suspect in a Firearm Offense

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a suspect involved in the discharge of a firearm that occurred on May 2 on the 900 block of F Street, NE.

According to MPD documents, the suspect discharged a gun before fleeing the scene. There were no reports of injuries or damage to property.

The suspect was captured by surveillance cameras.

Anyone with information should reach out to MPD.

Document: MPD Makes Two Arrests in Shooting that Injured Dunbar Student

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of two individuals in connection to a shooting that occurred on May 3 at Dunbar High School, on the 100 block of N Street, NW.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of a shooting. There, they located a juvenile female victim suffering from a graze wound. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

As a result of the investigation, 18-year-old Zaharia Graves and a 17-year-old juvenile male were arrested and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a pistol without a license, and endangerment with a firearm.

This case remains under investigation. Anyone with knowledge should call police.

Document: MPD Arrests Woman for Fatal Shooting Inside Navy Yard Residential Building

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of a suspect in a homicide that occurred on March 31 on the 1100 block of 2nd Place, SE.

According to MPD documents, the incident occurred inside a residential building in the Navy Yard neighborhood. They responded to the sounds of gunshots, where they located 44-year-old Michael James Quander Jr suffering from gunshot wounds. He died at the scene.

On May 3, 31-year-old Prashawn Brady was arrested pursuant to an arrest warrant. She is charged with second-degree murder while armed.

The investigation revealed the incident is domestic in nature.

Judge Sentences Defendant to 16 Years in Prison for Killing, Evidence Tampering

A defendant will serve 16 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence for his involvement in a 2017 homicide.

John Jabar McRae, 40, was accused of killing Marty McMillan, 22, after he found McMillan in his home with his significant other.

McMillan and one of the women McRae was in a relationship with, were having sex at his apartment on the 2600 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE. According to court documents, McRae walked in the apartment almost directly after the two finished having sex and shot McMillan seven times, after which he left the property.

When he returned, McMillan’s body had been moved to a bedroom closet by McRae’s girlfriend, Shaniah Davis, who was also charged in the murder. McRae then wrapped up McMillan’s body, and dumped it on the Suitland Parkway, documents state. The body was found almost ten months later when a land surveyor discovered McMillan’s body by accident.

During the May 3 hearing, McMillan’s family provided victim impact statements to the court.

“The pain I endure is so immense,” McMillan’s mother said. “Marty was exceptionally bright… despite challenges, my son persevered.” She then went on to explain the search efforts that she and the family undertook, noting that at one point, she had even knocked on McRae’s door to ask for information about her son.

“You snatched my son away from me,” she said as she looked him in the eye. “No part of me will ever forgive you.”

McMillan’s grandmother described how she turned her life around when her grandson had been born. “I’m a recovering addict, clean for 31 years… he gave me purpose,” she said. “When life got hard, I thought about that little baby.” She concluded her statement by telling McRae that she hoped he’d find God, and ask him for forgiveness.

McmIllan’s father kept his statement brief, simply requesting that justice truly be served for his son. “I don’t agree with this plea deal,” he said. “I want him to get the maximum.”

McMillan’s younger sister said she wanted McRae and his girlfriend “to feel the way we feel.”

Multiple cousins of McMillan joined on Webex to provide additional victim impact statements, after which counsel began discussing the sentencing.

“Marty’s case remained a missing person’s case for six months,” a prosecutor said. “At that point, he was just bones.”

Wole Faldoun, one of McRae’s defense attorneys, requesedt leniency on behalf of his client. “Nothing I say today will make this better,” he explained. “On behalf of Mr. McRae, I would like to extend my deepest apologies.”

Faldoun explained that while the family shouldn’t forgive his client immediately, he “hoped that with the passage of time, you can learn to do so.”

He concluded by explaining that McRae was truly sorry for what happened, and that his client had also struggled with substance abuse issues.

“I know there’s nothing I can say to change your hearts, but I am deeply sorry for the way things turned out,” McRae said.

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan sentenced McRae to 16 years for voluntary manslaughter while armed, and two years for tampering with evidence, which will be served concurrently. He will also get credit for time served since his arrest in 2018.

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

McRae has also requested to serve his sentence in a location other than the DC Jail, which is being evaluated by the Bureau of Prisons (BoP).

Davis, 23, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct justice and attempted tampering with evidence on March 9, 2022. She is set to be sentenced on May 24, 2024.

Defendant Sentenced to Ten Years for Botched Robbery, Homicide

A judge sentenced a homicide defendant to ten years of incarceration after hearing victim impact statements from the victim’s family and friends.

Deon Walters, 20, was sentenced after taking a plea agreement in which he pleaded guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter for his involvement in an October 1, 2020 shooting that left Arthur Daniels IV, 42, dead. The incident occurred on the 6000 block of 8th Street, NW.

Walters was originally charged with one count of first degree murder while armed before accepting a plea offer in February.

According to prosecutors, Walters and a co-defendant had contacted Daniels to purchase firearms, but instead set him up to rob him. “He had four-and-a-half hours to think about it,” counsel said.

“He looked up to the victim like a father,” said the prosecutor during the sentencing on May 3.

The prosecutor then showed surveillance video and audio of Daniels begging Walters not to shoot him. The video concluded with a shot being fired, and Daniels moaning in pain while Walters and his co-defendant ran away.

Prosecutors also shared screenshots of Walters’ Instagram messages and posts, in which the defendant was inquiring about buying a gun, and was seen multiple times showing off a handgun on the day of the shooting.

During the May 3 sentencing, several members of Daniels’ family spoke of their loss and the impact of losing their loved one to violence. His mother explained that she was told she “wasn’t supposed to be able to have children.”

“He was a miracle child,” she said. “Mr. Walters and others were involved in murdering and taking him away from me and my husband, his sister, and his children.”

Daniels’ mother concluded her impact statement by explaining that Walters’ maximum sentence of 11 years was “nowhere near enough.” “You took a father from his family, a son from his mother. There’s no time to heal all, it doesn’t,” Daniels’ eldest daughter said.

Daniels’ youngest daughter explained that while her father was not perfect, “he was repairing what he couldn’t give me when I was younger, and you took that from me. I hope you rot,” she said, “and that nothing good comes to you.”

Daniels’ uncle concluded the victim’s impact statements by looking Walters in the eye, and explaining that it was crazy to him that his family was in this situation.

“You see it in the news all the time, people getting killed, and you think, what’s going on?” he said. “You steal from and kill him because you won’t be disrespected? That’s weak.”

Daniels’ sister and two cousins also shared statements.

In Walters’ defense, Sylvia Smith, one of the defendant’s attorneys, explained that Walters was only 17 at the time of the shooting, and that he was working to change his ways.

“He has worked very hard to turn his life around,” she said. “While in jail, he has earned his diploma.”

She also argued Walters did not pull the trigger and said there were others involved. She reminded the court that in the video shown by prosecutors, Walters could be heard clearly trying to deescalate the situation.

She also argued that her client was on electronic GPS monitoring for a separate matter at the time of the shooting, and that it could’ve been prevented had law enforcement done their job better.

When asked if he had anything to say before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan handed down his sentence, Walters apologized, explaining that by accepting the plea agreement, he was taking responsibility for his actions.

“I can’t imagine the strength it takes to speak after such a loss,” Judge Raffinan said. “Nothing I can say or do, no sentence I can impose that can bring back your father, your son, and your brother.”

Along with the 10-year sentence, Judge Raffinan also sentenced Walters to one-and-a-half years of probation, and five years of supervised release.

He will also receive credit for time served and be required to register as a gun offender upon release, pay $100 to the Victims of Violent Crime Fund (VVCF), and follow an intervention plan to prevent similar behavior in the future.

Smith also requested that her client be evaluated for Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA) sentencing. However, Judge Raffinan denied the request, stating that Walters must successfully complete his probation and supervised release.

Additionally, Smith requested that DNA testing not be part of her client’s intervention plan, stating that it was a “brazen violation of his civil and constitutional rights.”

Attorney Requests Severance for Client in Homicide Trial

Three co-defendants appeared for a status hearing before in a homicide case before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan.

Ronald Henderson, 18, Daveon Robinson, 17, and Derricko Johnson, 19, are charged with first-degree murder premeditated while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, among other charges, for their alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Justin Johnson, 16. This incident occurred on May 21, 2022, on the 2200 black of Savannah Terrace, SE.

During a May 3 hearing, Elizabeth Weller, the defense attorney for Robinson, asked to sever her client’s case from his co-defendants.

Prosecutors responded by saying they need more “time to investigate new charges,” and that they may find more defendants in the case.

Judge Raffinan agreed to let prosecutors investigate and return with a response at a future hearing.

On May 26, 2022, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to a shooting report on the 2200 block of Savannah Terrace, SE. Upon arrival, MPD officers located the juvenile victim. He was unconscious, unresponsive, and suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Parties are set to return for a status hearing on Aug. 23.

Jury Convicts Homicide Defendant

A homicide defendant was convicted of all charges on May 6 following a two-week long trial in DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe’s courtroom.

Eric Davis, 60, was charged with first-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his involvement in the murder of 41-year-old Theodore Riley on the 1600 block of Gales Street, SE, on July 19, 2021.

Throughout the trial, prosecutors provided evidence to the jury that depicted an individual, identified as Davis, interacting with Riley before the shooting, including a video that depicted them walking into the alley where Riley was ultimately killed.

Although no one ever identified Davis by name as the shooter, the prosecution argued that Davis is seen in surveillance footage lowering a ski mask before entering the alleyway with Riley. They claimed no one else was in the alleyway at the time of the shooting, and asserted Davis’ fleeing the scene proved his consciousness of guilt.

In their closings, the prosecution stated, “the evidence is clear that there is one person who endeavored to cover his tracks… one person who is seen exiting the alleyway… one person who is guilty for killing Riley and that is the defendant.”

However, Howard McEachern, Davis’ defense attorney, raised concerns stating “reasonable doubt is ringing all over the place,” arguing Riley could have been shot in the alleyway by another individual who jumped over the fence behind the alley.

He claimed the prosecution had offered “wild and crazy speculation” regarding the incident, and insisted Davis is not guilty.

Despite McEachern’s efforts, the jury found that the evidence clearly proved Davis was responsible for the crime, and convicted him on all charges.

Parties are slated to return for a sentencing Aug. 2.

Shooting Defendant Accepts Plea in Thrown Food Order Melee

Eric Davis, a 35-year-old resident of Lanham, Maryland, accepted a pre-indictment plea offer for a shooting in front of DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan on May 6.

Davis pled guilty to aggravated assault while armed, on condition that the government not indict him for the greater charge of assault with intent to kill while armed. He faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and or a $75,000 fine, with a minimum penalty of 5 years in prison.

According to court documents, on May 30, 2023, Davis shot an employee multiple times at a carryout restaurant in the 1400 block of H Street, NE.

The altercation started after Davis attempted to help his friend who was having difficulty making a food purchase. As the transaction progressed, the victim threw the food order at Davis, and he then threw it back. Surveillance video captures the moment Davis then pulled out a gun and shot the worker.

The prosecutor stated that the victim, who has undergone multiple surgeries and still requires more, is left with one eye and must wear a colostomy bag. The victim will give his impact statement in Spanish at the sentencing.

At the hearing, Judge Raffinan informed Davis that he was surrendering his right to trial in accepting the plea deal. Davis, assisted by his attorney, Michael Bruckheim, said he understood the agreement and accepted the terms.

Davis’ sentencing will be held on July 26.

Judge Finds Probable Cause, Despite ‘Not Overwhelming’ Evidence

DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun found probable cause that a defendant was the perpetrator in a homicide, even though the evidence was “not overwhelming.”

Eliexander Lopez-Burgos, 24, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 38-year-old Carlos Javier Blanco Fernandez. The incident occurred on Nov.16, 2023 on the 2200 block of New York Avenue, NE.

Lopez-Burgos himself was the victim of a shooting on Nov. 14, near the homicide location.

The lead detective from the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Homicide branch previously testified at an April 11 hearing that Lopez-Burgos’ vehicle, which was a distinct dark Chrysler Cross Country van with gray sliding doors, was seen at the scene of Blanco Fernandez’s murder.

According to the detective, multiple witnesses stated that the shots came from the passenger side of the vehicle, and a witness had seen Lopez-Burgos in the passenger seat ten-to-15 minutes before the murder.

On May 3, the detective testified that Lopez-Burgos had been arrested in December of 2023 in Denver, CO, in a vehicle that matched the description of the suspect vehicle, which was registered to the defendant.

The prosecution argued the case has “unusual circumstances,” adding that when Lopez-Burgos was arrested in Colorado, the prosecutor flew to participate in a preliminary hearing before a Federal Judge, who made a probable cause finding.

In their arguments before Judge Okun, the prosecutor stated that Lopez-Burgos “did not leave DC after he was shot, but rather he left after the homicide with the car seen at the scene,” adding that the van was everywhere, including the scene of Lopez-Burgos’ shooting, the murder scene, and his arrest.

However, Kevann Gardner, Lopez-Burgos’ defense attorney argued that the prosecution didn’t “even come close” to meeting the probable cause requirement, adding there is no evidence to prove that the suspect was the shooter.

“They provided more evidence that he’s not the shooter,” Gardner proclaimed, insisting that the only reason he was arrested is because “the prosecution and MPD are relying on rumors” from the witnesses at the scene.

He argued that Lopez-Burgos fled the District because “he could’ve died… he doesn’t feel safe in DC,” following his shooting.

Despite Gardner’s arguments, Judge Okun found that the prosecution met the probable cause standard, despite “not overwhelming” evidence. According to Judge Okun, the prosecution has “significant circumstantial evidence.”

In a “relatively close call,” Judge Okun denied the defense’s request for release, agreeing with the prosecution that he poses a flight risk and dangerousness, despite not having a criminal history.

Parties are slated to reconvene July 19.

Defendant Sentenced in ‘Active Shooter’ Incident That Wounds Good Samaritan

DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan sentenced Tyrone Taylor, 37, to eight years in prison for what the prosecutor described as an ‘active shooter’ event that terrorized at least four victims and seriously wounded another.

According to court documents on July 22, 2023, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) police responded to a caller who said someone had threatened him with a gun on Kingman Island, a man-made, wooded preserve in the Anacostia River.

In the May 3 hearing, the prosecutor described Taylor as responsible for that assault as well as a series of events in the secluded area that day as characteristic of an ‘active shooter.’

Using a 9mm handgun, the prosecutor says Taylor accosted two fishermen at gunpoint, then two hours later encountered an individual who thought Taylor might need help. While the Good Samaritan said he wasn’t calling police but summoning assistance, Taylor responded by opening fire.

The prosecutor played body-worn camera video of the victim’s rescue as he was lying on a table with first responders attempting to stop the bleeding from life-threatening wounds in the abdomen and left-leg.

Later, according to the prosecution, Taylor pointed a gun at a juvenile who ran in fear and stopped two people who all hid together “cowering in fear” from the sounds of gunfire. All in all, said the prosecutor, Taylor exhibited “deadly and volatile behavior.”

The prosecutor also pointed out that Taylor had an extremely violent criminal history. The offenses going back to 2005 included an armed robbery conviction and a manslaughter conviction in 2016.

In January, Taylor pleaded guilty to charges of assault with intent to kill, assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. The prosecutor asked Judge Ryan for sentences of eight respectively on the first two charges, and seven years on the third count.

Speaking on Taylor’s behalf, attorney Carrie Waletz said, “No doubt this was a volatile situation that could have been worse.” However, she said that Taylor was “very much on the edge” after being targeted by gunfire many times, and, by his own account, wounded five times.

The problem was compounded, says Waletz, by Taylor’s “self-medicating” with street drugs which she called a “recipe for disaster.” Waletz went on to describe Taylor’s challenged family background without a father who also wound up in the criminal justice system,

Judge Ryan had ordered a mental competency evaluation for Taylor which concluded he was fit to stand trial in spite of thinking the judge described as paranoid-like and “not entirely logical.”

Taylor apologized for the crime; however, he said, “Everyone in this room doesn’t know what the victim was doing.” And Taylor said he feared for his life. “Why was my space violated?” he asked as the victim approached.

In passing sentence, Judge Ryan said, “This man you shot suffered a great deal….You created a great deal of havoc.”

Taylor will serve eight years for the assault with intent to kill charge, seven years for assault with a deadly weapon and eight years for possession of a firearm in a crime of violence for eight years. The sentences are to run concurrently. All that followed by three years of supervised release and a $300 payment to victims of crime fund.

April Sees Steep Spike in DC Homicides, Non-Fatal Shootings

According to D.C. Witness data, there were 17 homicide victims and 42 non-fatal shooting victims in April, as reported from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

April data shows a nearly 55 percent increase in homicides and a approximately 163 percent increase in non-fatal shooting victims from the previous month’s totals, which were 11 homicides and 16 non-fatal shootings, respectively.

Further, there were 17 reported incidents with at least one death in April.

During the same period there were 24 non-fatal shooting incidents with at least one victim.

In April, there were a total of 59 victims in 37 incidents. Several of the incidents happened as a result of disputes.

On April 4, the MPD announced a 16-year-old was arrested and charged with the fatal shooting of Avoin Evans, 14, at the Brookland Metro Station in Northeast, DC.

According to court testimony, video footage shows two groups of kids, which included Evans and two of his friends, fighting. The shooter, who was standing away from the melee, pulled out a gun from his waistband, pointed it at Evans and fired.

On April 27, police responded to a stabbing on the 100 block of T Street, SW. The victim, Marin Gross, 41, died from his injuries. Forty-nine-year-old Wali Shabazz was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the case. The pair knew each other and were involved in a workplace dispute that escalated into a homicide, according to an MPD release.

In an April 23 incident, officers responded to a reported shooting on the 4800 block of North Capitol Street, NE, where they located an adult male and a five-year-old girl suffering from gunshot wounds. They were transported to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries.

The suspect was identified as 29-year-old Alante Partlow who reportedly knew the victims. He has an outstanding arrest warrant and is charged with aggravated assault while armed. MPD is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information in the case.

Responding to an April 8 shooting, MPD officers located an adult female victim in a stolen car on the 1500 block of North Capitol Street, NE. She was treated for non-life threatening injuries. Another woman was shot in the incident and also treated for non-life threatening injuries.

According to an MPD release, the pair, identified as 23-year-old Sydney Johnson, and Makayla Robinson, 19, got into an argument, pulled out guns and shot at each others,

Police charged the pair with unauthorized use of a vehicle and are looking for other suspects in the crime.

Document: MPD Investigating Fatal Crash Involving a Pedestrian in Northwest

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating a traffic crash that resulted in the death of a pedestrian on May 2 on the 7500 block of 16th Street, NW.

According to MPD documents, a woman was crossing the street outside of the crosswalk at the location, when a vehicle, which was driving northbound, struck her. The vehicle remained on the scene, and the pedestrian succumbed to her injuries there.

The victim was identified as 31-year-old Heidy Rocio Lovo Marquez.

Anyone with information about the incident should call the police.

Document: Decedent Identified MPD Investigating Southeast Homicide

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating a homicide that occurred on May 1 on the 1300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of a shooting, where they located 32-year-old Thomas Carlos Felder suffering from gunshot wounds. He died at the scene.

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.