Defendant Waives Right to Preliminary Hearing

A shooting defendant waived his right to a preliminary hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Heidi Herrmann on July 10.

Antonio Lucas, 46, is charged with aggravated assault knowingly while armed and possession of a firearm in a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting on May 2 on the 3800 block of Jay Street, NE. One individual sustained injuries during the incident.

According to court documents, an individual, identified as Lucas, allegedly got into an altercation with the victim over a car. The victim walked away in an attempt to de-escalate the situation, but the individual, identified as Lucas, continued to follow. The victim eventually stopped and another altercation ensued, where the victim was shot in the right thigh and fled the scene to find police assistance.

The victim later pointed the defendant out in a photo array saying he was “more than 100 percent sure that was him,” according to court documents.

At the hearing, Bruce Cooper, Lucas’ defense attorney, alerted the court he was waiving his right to a preliminary hearing, and requested he be released as he awaits further proceedings.

However, the prosecution opposed the request, saying the defendant continues to pose a danger to the community.

Judge Herrmann agreed, holding the defendant.

Parties are slated to return on July 18 in front of DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro.

Victim of Gang Shooting Remembers the Incident ‘Vividly’

During a conspiracy murder and gang affiliation trial, a surviving victim testified before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun on July 11 that he remembered the shooting “vividly.”

Mark Price, 29, and Antonio Murchison, 31, are charged with first-degree murder while armed, five counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, seven counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, conspiracy, and seven counts of criminal gang affiliation. The charges stem from their alleged involvement in a shooting on July 16, 2018, on the 5300 block of 53rd Street, NE in the Clay Terrace neighborhood. The incident left 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson dead and four other individuals with gunshot wounds.

Price and Murchison are alleged to belong to the Wellington Park Crew, which prosecutors claim is a gang that commits crime throughout the District.

During the hearing, two witnesses of the shooting were called by the prosecution –one was the victim, and the other drove him to the hospital after the incident,

The victim said he was walking through the courtyard of an apartment complex when he heard tires screeching and saw people getting out of a car. He recounted that there were a lot of people in the area and began running when he heard gunshots.

He explained he didn’t fully remember the entire incident but recalled falling down a flight of stairs. When he tried to get up, he saw that he was bleeding but did not know where he was shot.

The victim discovered he was shot four to five times in the groin and both legs. Due to his injuries, he underwent physical therapy and has still not regained feeling in his left foot. He was limping when he walked into the courtroom.

He additionally stated that he had no reason to suspect that the gunshots were targeted at him for any reason.

Parties are slated to return July 16 to continue the trial.

Stabbing Defendant Pleads Not Guilty at Arraignment

A defendant pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from a stabbing incident before DC Superior Court Judge Erik Christian on July 11.

Dontrell Harrison, 48, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault with significant bodily injury for his alleged involvement in a stabbing on April 22 on the 300 block of Livingston Terrace, SE. One individual sustained injuries during the incident.

At the hearing, Camille Wagner, Harrison’s defense attorney, alerted the court he was pleading not guilty, and asserted his right to a speedy trial.

Parties are slated to return on Sept. 9.

Stabbing Defendant Pleads Not Guilty at Arraignment

On July 10, before DC Superior Court Judge Andrea L Hertzfeld, Jabed Sami pleaded not guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury, and possession of a prohibited weapon in connection to a stabbing incident.

Sami is alleged to have thrown a knife at the victim’s head, causing a laceration, after he believed he was stealing from his store on Oct. 4, 2023 on the 5000 Block of Benning Road SE.

According to court documents, Sami allegedly followed the victim around the store with a knife in hand. After exchanging some words, the victim moved towards the exit of the store and knocked some items onto the ground and attempted to flee. Sami then allegedly threw the knife at the victim.

However, according to Sami’s statement to police, when he confronted the victim, he told Sami he was going to kill him. As the victim was leaving, according to Sami, he tried to steal more items and that is when Sami accidently threw the knife at him, and the victim fell and hit his head on a pillar.

Parties are set to meet on Aug. 23.

Homicides Increase 20 Percent from May to June

In DC, there has been a 20 percent increase in homicides from May to June, according to D.C. Witness data.

As of July 11, D.C. Witness data shows 18 homicides in June, an uptick from the 15 homicides recorded in May. Among the 18 homicides, 16 currently have no suspects.

Of the eight wards, the most homicide incidents happened in Ward 7.

Ward 1 – One homicide
Ward 2 – One homicide
Ward 3 – Zero homicides
Ward 4 – Two homicides
Ward 5 – Two homicides
Ward 6 – Two homicides
Ward 7 – Six homicides
Ward 8 – Four homicides

Leslie Gains, 55, who was in her daughter’s car when Kayla Brown, 22, allegedly stole the car on the 100 block of Irving Street, NW on June 3. Brown, 22, is charged with unarmed carjacking.

According to court documents, officers chased down the stolen vehicle, which had crashed into the US Attorney’s Office on the 600 block of D Street, NW. Gaines was found in the car and died moments later.

On June 1, Victor Bolden, 15, was shot and killed on the 600 Block of 18th Street, NE. Officers with the Metropolitan Police Department responded to reported gunshots and found Bolden suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

The MPD has yet to name a suspect.

In June, there were also 20 non-fatal shooting incidents with 25 victims, including an incident on June 23 at approximately 2:10 a.m. The MPD responded to the report of a shooting on the 2400 block of Elvans Road, SE, finding a juvenile male suffering from a non-fatal gunshot wound. He was transported to the hospital for treatment.

Shooting Defendant Receives Approval for 60-day Drug Treatment Program

DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun granted a Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) request to transfer a shooting defendant to an in-patient treatment, during a July 10 hearing.

Tejan Bah, 34, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with significant bodily injury, and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, among other charges, for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting that occurred on Nov. 27, 2021, on the 2200 block of 25th Place, NE. One individual sustained gunshot and stab wounds during the incident.

A representative from PSA requested Judge Okun order Bah be placed in a 60-day drug treatment program.

Michelle Stevens, Bah’s defense attorney, requested that her client be released, so he could self-report to treatment.

The prosecution objected, arguing Bah has failed to self-report in the past.

Bah is scheduled to start his treatment at the facility on July 12.

A new court date will be scheduled when Bah concludes his treatment.

Witness, Who Drove Surviving Victim to Hospital, Testifies to Being Homicide Defendant’s ‘Good Friend’

A witness, who testified to driving a surviving victim of a mass shooting to a hospital, testified to being friends with defendant before a jury in DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun’s courtroom on July 10.

Prosecutors called an individual, who is currently incarcerated for unrelated reasons, to testify to driving a surviving victim to the hospital, as he was trailed by police officers.

According to the witness, he and the victim grew up in Clay Terrace together.

The police searched the witness’ car at the hospital and no weapons were seized.

The witness said he’s known Price since middle school, adding they are “good friends,” despite not talking since before 2018.

Prosecutors also called a resident from Clay Terrace whose younger brother was friends with Wilson. According to the witness, she was in the area at the time of the shooting, but cannot identify the shooters because they were wearing masks.

Trial is slated to resume July 11.

Stabbing Defendant Enters Not Guilty Plea at Arraignment

During his arraignment, one of four co-defendants entered a not guilty plea July 9 for a jailhouse stabbing before DC Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur.

Dionte Anderson, 25, was arraigned on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon with a sharp object, unlawful possession of contraband in a penal institution, and carrying a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a stabbing that occurred on May 5 at the DC Jail on the 1900 block of D Street, SE.

Anderson is charged alongside Ndiaye Elhadji, 24, Tyrone Hawkins, 22, and Dion Lee, 24.

According to court documents, the four suspects allegedly stabbed another inmate, and a corrections officer was injured trying to break up the melee at the jail.

Anderson’s defense attorney, John Machato, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

The prosecuting attorney offered Anderson a wired plea agreement that requires all four co-defendants to plead guilty to attempted assault with a dangerous weapon. In exchange all other charges will be dropped.

If the offer is rejected, the prosecution may seek to charge the defendants with assault with intent to kill given the victim was stabbed in the head.

Anderson was being held at the DC jail while he awaited trial for the murder of 31-year-old Adrian Mack, but he has since been transferred to Northern Neck Regional Jail.

All four defendants were slated to meet for a status hearing before Anderson’s arraignment, but Lee is currently being held in Kentucky and Hawkins refused to get on the bus.

Parties are set to return on Aug. 5.

Document: MPD Investigating Fatal Motorcycle Crash

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating a fatal crash, involving a motorcycle, that led to the death of the motorcycle driver – 33-year-old Marvin Anthony Williams. The incident occurred on June 27 on the 500 block of Eastern Avenue, NE.

Document: MPD Seeking Suspects in Shooting

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating two suspects in connection to a shooting that injured an individual on July 10 on the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

Document: MPD Searching for Suspect in Triple Shooting

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a suspect in connection to a triple shooting that occurred on June 30 on the 6100 block of Banks Place, NE.

Stabbing Defendant Found Guilty Less Than 30 Minutes After Closing Statements

On day two of a bench trial, DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park found a defendant guilty of stabbing a person who was trying to offer the defendant help.

James Campbell, 43, was found guilty of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault with significant bodily injury for his involvement in a non-fatal stabbing on July 19, 2023, that occurred near the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Warder Street, NW. One individual sustained injuries during the incident.

According to witness testimony, Campbell was found sitting near a roadway in a state of apparent medical duress. The victim, who was riding his bike in the area, approached Campbell in an attempt to help him, but the interaction quickly became physical. Campbell allegedly went after the victim.

According to the victim, Campbell grabbed the victim’s bike, but the victim pushed it against him and hit Campbell in the head, causing a laceration. Campbell then pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim in the arm.

On July 9, the prosecution closed with saying that while Campbell may not have wanted help, many in the area could tell he needed it. The victim tried to help Campbell, the prosecution stated, “but his reward was a stab wound to the arm.”

The prosecution recounted the victim and eyewitness’ testimonies, focusing on the witness’ account, stating that it corroborated the victim’s story.

The witness said he was on a walk near the scene when he saw Campbell under some sort of medical duress. He said he went to help but the victim got there first.

He said he heard the victim asking Campbell if he was okay, needed help, or needed water. He said the victim sounded concerned, not threatening.

The witness said he watched Campbell jump up and start going at the victim. He saw the victim back up into the street, Campbell followed. The witness said he watched as Campbell brandished a knife to stab the victim.

The incident was recorded on the witness’ phone, and correlates directly with the victim’s testimony.

The prosecutor argued that Campbell’s actions were voluntary and on purpose. He said Campbell was aware of what he was doing, which was proven by the witnesses’ description of Campbell consistently following and going after the victim.

The victim’s injuries were found to be significant because it required hospitalization, as well as four internal and six external stitches for the stab wound.

After the prosecution, Campbell gave his closing argument, restating that he acted in self-defense. He argued that the victim used his bike as a weapon against him, repeatedly.

According to Campbell, he tried to withdraw from the altercation, telling the victim “you hit me, you touched me, you can’t do that, just leave me alone, get away.”

Campbell said he was pushed to the ground and pinned down. He said the victim was the aggressor.

The prosecution responded with video footage that showed that Campbell was “clearly the aggressor.” The victim had tried to leave by riding away on his bike, but Campbell would not let go of the bike.

Judge Park stated that if only the victim and Campbell had testified, his decision could have been different because both accounts of the story were strong. However, he stated the witness account was “the most important testimony,” as it corroborated the victim’s story.

Parties are scheduled to return Sept. 9 for sentencing.

Victim Shares Disbelief that ‘Milk Crate Would Lead To A Life Or Death Situation’

On July 10, DC Superior Court Judge Andrea L Hertzfeld imposed an eight year prison sentence for a defendant convicted in connection to a non-fatal shooting that stemmed from a disagreement regarding a milk crate.

Diandre Caesar, 30, was convicted by a jury on April 9 of two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and two counts of possession of a firearm in a crime of violence for a non-fatal shooting that occurred on June 28, 2022, on the 2200 block of New York Avenue, NE.

Video surveillance showed an individual, identified as Caesar, throw a milk crate over a fence and into the drive-through lane of a McDonald’s while he was mowing the lawn of a nearby parking lot.

One of the victims, who found his path blocked by the milk crate, left his car to throw the crate back over the fence. He attempted to drive away, but Caesar allegedly retrieved the milk crate and threw it back over the fence, striking the victim’s vehicle.

An argument ensued, and dash camera footage from the victim’s car captured Caesar and two victims exchanging insults. When the victims, who were in the car with their infant, drove away, Caesar fired four shots at their vehicle. No injuries were reported.

At the sentencing, prosecutors asked Judge Herzfeld to sentence Caesar to 11 years in prison due to the severity of his crime, stating Caesar was a “grown man who knows the difference between right and wrong.”

To support the sentencing request, the prosecution called one of the victims to give a witness impact statement. The victim emphasized that his infant child was in the car when the shooting occurred and that Caesar “knew my son was in the car — a one-and-a-half year old baby.”

The victim admitted that he “[wasn’t] victimless” in what happened and had his child not been in the car he too would be advocating for Caesar to receive the minimum sentence of five years.

“One of those bullets was five inches away from my child’s car seat,” the victim stated. He emphasized that despite the jury finding Caesar not guilty of child cruelty, the child’s life was put in danger.

Both the prosecutor and victim in their statements emphasized that the argument that preceded the shooting was “silly” and did not justify Caesar’s actions.

Prosecutors argued that even though Caesar claimed that he had been spit on by the victim, his reaction was “not rational.”

“Never did I think a milk crate would lead to a life or death situation,” the victim told Judge Hertzfeld.

Caesar’s defense attorney, Joseph Fay, stated that going from never having been incarcerated to “a five year minimum [was] a steep price to pay.”

Fay went on to say that the pre-sentencing report recommended therapy and mental health services, which were appropriate. However, the sentence that was recommended was not, and that the representations of Caesar’s character were not accurate.

Fay argued that because Caesar had no prior convictions the prosecution’s recommendation of 11 years was unreasonable. Fay stated that Caesar did “nothing that would warrant the sentence [that] the [prosecution] is asking for.”

Fay emphasized that the five year mandatory minimum sentence “more than met the requirement for society.”

Caesar’s sister, who appeared via WebEx, gave a statement in support of her brother.

His sister, a recent graduate of Berkeley Law School, said Caesar’s run in with the justice system in 2011, where he was falsely accused was the “reason why [she] went to law school in the first place.”

She asked Judge Hertzfeld to employ the minimum sentence sharing that he has “fought hard not to become a stereotype,” and emphasized that he is “not a threat to the community and more importantly not a threat to children.”

She shared that their mother has been on dialysis for 16 years and her family “needs him home.”

“Anything beyond the minimum is excessive,” but, “no matter what time he gets he is going to come out a better man,” she stated.

A friend of Caesar also gave a statement, requesting that the minimum sentence be imposed, stating that he “know[s] how important every minute of every day is for him.”

A pastor and youth leader connected to Cesar’s family also requested that Judge Hertzfeld impose the minimum sentence.

In her ruling, Judge Hertzfeld recognized that it was difficult “to square [the statements] with what happened,” but that what Caesar did was incredibly dangerous. She stated that the “fact of the matter is there could’ve been a dead child” due to Caesar’s actions.

Judge Hertzfeld imposed a sentence of 60 months for possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and 18 months for each count of assault with a dangerous weapon. The sentences would be served consecutively. Cesar must also serve three years on supervised release.

Caesar is also required to register as a gun offender in DC within one year of his release.

Judge Hertzfeld told Cesar he “was very lucky” for all the family support that he had with him in court and in his life. She said that such support could bode well when he is released back into the community.

‘His Jaw Was Just Hanging,’ Officer Describes Shooting Victim During Homicide Trial

A jury in DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun’s courtroom heard July 9 testimony from an officer who described the injuries of another victim regarding a 2018 mass shooting that claimed the life of a 10-year-old girl.

Mark Price, 29, and Antonio Murchison, 31, are charged with first-degree murder while armed, five counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, seven counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, conspiracy, and seven counts of criminal gang affiliation. The charges stem from their alleged involvement in the shooting on July 16, 2018, on the 5300 block of 53rd Street, NE in the Clay Terrace neighborhood. The incident left 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson dead and four other individuals with gunshot wounds.

During the hearing, the prosecution called an officer from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), who said he escorted a surviving victim to the hospital.

According to the officer, the victim was shot in the mouth, resulting in his inability to cooperate with MPD.

“His jaw was just hanging,” recalled the MPD officer of the victim’s injury.

Through body-worn camera footage, which was shown in court, the officer can be seen collecting a bullet fragment, which was recovered by surgeons from the victim’s face.

The prosecution then called on a resident from Clay Terrace who was present the night Makiyah was killed.

According to the witness, she had arrived home moments before the incident occurred. As she was closing her front door, a bullet hit the glass of her storm door, causing it to shatter. She testified she allowed people to take shelter in her home from the gunfire.

“All I heard was screaming,” said the resident.

The neighbor could not recall much else from the night and was not able to testify to anything else.

Trial is slated to resume July 10.

Homicide Defendant Pleads Not Guilty in Domestic Homicide

Desmond Thurston pleaded not guilty before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on July 10.

Thurston, 46, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, burglary, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of his romantic partner Patricia Johnson, 52, on Oct. 1, 2023, on the 4000 block of 13th Street, SE.

According to court documents, Thurston and Johnson had a history of domestic disputes, including calls to the police 48 hours before the alleged incident. Johnson had also filed a restraining order that Thurston had not yet been served.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on Aug. 5.