Convicted Homicide Defendant Requests New Trial

Following a conviction and the appointment of new counsel, a homicide defendant filed a motion for a new trial, claiming the case was mishandled by his previous attorneys.

Marvin Lopez, 43, was found guilty by a jury of premeditated first-degree murder and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 27-year-old Evelyn Arroyo on Dec. 24, 2014, on the 3900 block of 14th Street, NW.

Lopez was arrested in 2016 in El Salvador, his native country, and extradited to the District to face charges for the incident.

During trial, the prosecution relied heavily on cell phone records and witness testimony. They presented several messages between Lopez and Arroyo, showing multiple threats made by Lopez, such as “You’re going to die. I swear it” and “We’ll see each other soon”.

Following his conviction on Nov. 14, Rachel McCoy and Justin Okezie withdrew from the case, citing Lopez’s claims they were “ineffective… and whether this potential ineffectiveness resulted in [Lopez] being convicted.”

In a hearing on April 24, newly appointed defense attorney, John Machado, implied that the case wasn’t handled properly because Lopez felt McCoy and Okezie pressured him not to testify.

The defense in arguing for a new trial also suggested witnesses giving potentially dishonest testimony and requested an evidentiary hearing.

However, the prosecution argued, other than suspicion, there are no facts, that support the need for an evidentiary hearing.

Judge O’Keefe said he specifically told Lopez during the trial he had every opportunity, whether his lawyers agreed or not, to testify, and Lopez waived his right.

The judge continued the hearing to give the defense time to file paperwork to provide a good reason to delay sentencing and schedule an evidentiary hearing.

Parties will meet again on May 24.

Document: MPD Arrests Man in Southeast Shooting, Three Handguns Recovered

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced an arrest was made in connection to a shooting that occurred on April 12 on the 1600 block of 17th Street, SE. The arrest led to the recovery of three firearms.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of a shooting, where they located an adult female shooting victim. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment of injures.

On April 23, 38-year-old Anthony Moten Sr. was arrested and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of unregistered firearms and possession of unregistered ammunition.

Document: MPD Arrests Two Suspects for a January Shooting

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced a man and woman were arrested in connection to a shooting that occurred on Jan. 26 on the 400 block of Chesapeake Street, SE.

According to MPD documents, the suspects confronted the victim, inside of a residence, at the location. One of the suspects brandished a gun and fired, striking the victim. Both suspects fled the scene, and the victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries.

On April 23, 42-year-old Stephan Moorer and 40-year-old Natasha Mack were charged with assault with a dangerous weapon.

According to the investigation, the victim was familiar with the suspects.

Jury Finds Son Accused of Fatally Shooting His Father Not Guilty

Following a two-week trial on April 22, a jury of 12 returned a verdict in the case of a physical altercation-turned-shooting between a father and son.

Stephon Williams, 32, was originally charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol outside a home or business for his involvement in the shooting of his 49-year-old father Stephen Magruder on Sept. 11, 2020 on the 700 block of 51st Street, NE.

According to court documents, Williams shot his father in the chest after a verbal and physical altercation over five dollars worth of marijuana.

Throughout the trial, the prosecution provided eyewitness testimony from those in the apartment at the time of the shooting, including Magruder’s wife and young son. They testified that Magruder had been the initial aggressor and repeatedly struck Williams, who did not fight back and tried to flee.

Witnesses, including a previous victim of Magruder’s actions, testified to his involvement in multiple physical attacks, including beating his ex-wife, children, widow, and strangers.

Williams also took the stand, claiming Magruder had threatened to kill him during their altercation, and there had been a struggle for the gun, causing Williams to react in self-defense when he retrieved it.

“I wish it never happened,” said Williams, and expressed that he still missed his father.

In their closing statements, the prosecution argued that Williams shot his father out of anger and a desire for revenge, citing that Williams “didn’t have to pull the trigger” on Magruder, who was unarmed.

Williams’ defense attorneys, Jason Tulley and Kavua Naini, argued that Magruder had a history of violent tendencies towards others, and Williams feared for his life.

Following only a few hours of deliberations, the jury found Williams not guilty of second-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. However, he was found guilty of carrying a pistol without a license.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 12.

Shooting Defendant Rejects Multi-State Global Plea Offer

A defendant, alleged to be part of the Jacksonville Jewelers, a criminal gang in Florida, rejected a plea offer that would resolve multi-state charges before DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo.

Jaylaun Brown, 21, is charged with seven counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, eight counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and aggravated assault knowingly while armed, for his alleged involvement in a mass shooting on Jan. 21, 2023 on the 1400 block of 9th Street, NW. The incident left seven individuals suffering from gunshot injuries.

According to court documents, Brown allegedly stole a firearm and began shooting upon entering a liquor store. Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) responded to the scene and found one victim suffering from two non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. According to MPD, Brown and the victim had been shooting at one another.

Brown is also facing unspecified charges in Florida for his alleged involvement in a robbery in August of 2023.

The plea offer extended to Brown required him to plead guilty to seven counts of assault with intent to kill while armed and aggravated assault, as well as the unspecified charge in Florida, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges.

In an April 23 hearing, Brown’s defense attorney, Terrence Austin, said he and Brown had spent enough time considering this offer.

“I have spoken with him [Brown] on both matters,” Austin said. “And yes, at this time he would like to reject the offer.”

The defense said Brown does not want to plead guilty to all charges in the DC case and would consider a plea offer if his Florida and DC charges were unwired.

Parties are slated to return on Aug. 2.

Homicide, Carjacking Defendant Accepts Plea Deal

A homicide defendant, who killed one and injured another, accepted a plea deal before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein.

Hahqwon Beale, 25, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed, two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a prior convict, and armed carjacking, for his involvement in a carjacking and shooting incident.

The shooting, which killed 43-year-old George Johnson, and injured another individual occurred on May 7, 2018, on the 800 block of Oglethorpe Street, NE.

Hours later, a pizza delivery man was carjacked and robbed of more than 300 dollars at gunpoint on the 400 block of Farragut Street, NW.

In October of 2022, DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee granted the defendant’s motion to sever the two incidents from one another, citing that, although the incidents occurred the same day, they were not directly after one another.

On Feb. 15, a jury convicted Beale of armed carjacking, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm in connection to the carjacking incident.

On April 23, Beale’s attorney, Julie Swaney, informed the court that the prosecution had extended a plea offer to resolve the murder incident, and Beale accepted it.

The deal required him to plead guilty to second-degree murder while armed, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges in connection to the murder incident. Through the plea offer, parties agreed to a 21-to-25 years of imprisonment, and will request for the carjacking charges to run concurrently.

He is also waiving his right to appeal the carjacking incident conviction.

According to the prosecution, they would have proved, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Beale was guilty by connecting him to the evidence collected at the scene.

Parties are slated to return July 26 for sentencing.

Judge Finds Probable Cause In Presentment Hearing for Defendant Charged with Shooting

DC Superior Court Judge Eric Glover found that the prosecution provided sufficient evidence to detain a shooting defendant in an initial presentment hearing on April 22.

Alonte Miller, 21, is charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a shooting that took place on Saturday, April 20 on the 3000 block of Stanton Road, SE and injured two females.

According to court documents, the shooting stemmed from a verbal and physical altercation regarding one of the victims refusing to “hook up” with Miller’s friend.

During his presentment hearing, Judge Glover found probable cause for the two charges Miller faces and ordered him detained pending further proceedings.

Parties are expected to return on April 25, 2024 for a preliminary hearing.

Shooting Defendant Who Told Victim, ‘I’ll Just Shoot You in the Face,’ Accepts Plea Deal

DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld accepted a guilty plea for a non-fatal shooting defendant, who told the complainant, “I’ll just shoot you in the face,” during an argument.

Donte Dawson, 32, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his involvement in two separate incidents, a non-fatal shooting on Sept. 29 and an assault with a dangerous weapon on Oct. 2, 2023, both occurring on the 400 Block of Melon Street, SE. No injuries were reported in either incident.

According to court documents, the argument on October 2 was about the shooting that occurred on Sept. 29, when Dawson shot a gun towards the ground in front of the complainant.

Dawson reportedly became agitated and stated to the complainant, “If I shot at you, why you not dead,” before raising a gun to her face stating that he was going to shoot her. A bystander tackled Dawson before police arrived.

During the hearing on April 23, Albert Amissah, Dawson’s attorney, stated that Dawson intended to enter a plea agreement with the prosecution.

The deal required Dawson to plead guilty to assault with a deadly weapon, with a maximum sentence of eight years, in exchange for the dismissal of all other charges.

The prosecution asserted that, had the case gone to trial, they would have proven beyond reasonable doubt that Dawson had shot in the victim’s direction on Sept. 29, and pointed a gun at her at a later date. They argued that there is no legal justification for Dawson’s action.

Judge Hertzfeld informed Dawson that he would also be required to register as a gun offender in the District of Columbia.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 28.

Shooting Defendant Waives Right to Preliminary Hearing, Then Detained

A shooting defendant waived his right to a preliminary hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Heide Hermann on April 22.

Theodore Williams II, 52, is charged with possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting that occurred on the 4000 block of Wahler Court, SE on April 18. No injuries were reported.

According to the prosecutor who proceeded with the case, Williams approached the complainant with a handgun pointed in his direction. As a result, the complainant yelled obscenities, causing Williams to retreat to his residence.

After running back to his own residence, the victim saw an individual, who was identified as Williams, point a handgun in his direction, firing a single shot, striking his door. A bullet fragment and shell casing were later recovered from the scene.

“No one was hit, thankfully,” he said, “but a bullet hole was found in the complainant’s door.”

According to Williams’ defense attorney, Megan Allburn, her client had a strained relationship with the complainant for almost seven years, explaining that there had been multiple arguments between the two, though none became physical.

She said the years of disagreement caused Williams’ family to leave the neighborhood and move elsewhere.

“My client’s family has lived in this neighborhood for 23 years,” said Allburn. “They are about to close on a new house elsewhere.” She alerted the court that in addition to the problems with his neighbor, Williams was also suffering separate trauma from losing two of his children in the past three years.

Allburn asked that Judge Hermann be lenient given the support from his family and his trauma.

According to the prosecution, the shooting wasn’t spontaneous. They alerted the court they had received cell-phone video from the complainant which allegedly showed Williams brandishing a firearm during an argument days before the shooting.

Judge Hermann explained that given the seriousness of the offense committed, and Williams’ criminal history, including multiple arrests for firearm and assault charges, she believed he is a threat to the community, and ordered him detained pending future proceedings.

Parties will reconvene for May 7.

Co-Defendants Charged in 60-Year-Old Man’s Death Waive Right To DNA Testing

Homicide co-defendants waived their right to independent DNA testing before DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe in an April 23 hearing.

Ky’lee Palmer, 23, and Aaron Adgerson, 19, are charged with first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, for allegedly shooting 60-year-old Barron Goodwin on Feb. 12, 2020, on the 800 block of 51st Street, SE.

Palmer is also charged with tampering with physical evidence, and destruction of property worth $1,000 or more, kidnapping while armed and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict.

During the hearing David Alkulian, Palmer’s defense attorney, and Michael Madden, Adgerson’s defense attorney, alerted Judge O’Keefe they were waiving their right to independently test DNA evidence.

The prosecution noted they did DNA testing on the victim’s burned vehicle, objects inside the vehicle and strands of hair. According to the prosecution, all results were inconclusive.

Judge O’Keefe addressed both defendants and directly asked them if they were sure they didn’t want any DNA testing, to which they both agreed.

Parties are slated to return Aug. 2.

Defendant Pleads Guilty to Post-Party Non-Fatal Shooting

A defendant accepted a plea deal, extended by prosecutors, in connection to a shooting before DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro on April 23.

Paul Poston, 30, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his involvement in a non-fatal shooting that occurred on October 29, 2023, at the intersection of O Street and Carrollsburg Place, SW. No one was injured during the incident.

According to court documents, Poston and his co-defendant, Gerald Day, 32, shot at the victim’s car after a fight broke out following a party.

Day rejected a plea offer by the prosecution on March 5 and asserted his right to a speedy trial.

However, Poston’s attorney, Peter Odom, alerted the court that Poston accepted the deal which required him to plead guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment on additional charges.

Judge Di Toro asked Poston questions to ensure he understood the terms of the plea agreement and the rights he was giving up.

Parties are expected to return for sentencing on June 26.

Judge Denies Motion to Suppress Evidence in Shooting Case

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan denied a shooting defendant’s motion to suppress statements made to law enforcement at the time of his arrest.

Ronnel Offutt, 35, is charged with four counts of assault with intention to kill while armed, six counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill while armed against a minor, and aggravated assault knowingly while armed for his alleged involvement in a mass shooting that injured multiple people at a bus stop on the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, on Feb. 4, 2019. Five individuals, including a 5-year-old girl, were injured.

Offutt’s defense attorney, Janai Reed, argued a lack of probable cause at the time of Offutt’s arrest in that officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) showed up at his home at 3 am not providing sufficient reason for his arrest.

They also raised concerns about Offutt’s taking pain medication for a previous injury at the hospital, before an interview with the police.

Reed further argued detectives coerced Offutt during questioning. She claimed they misled him by suggesting he needed to sign paperwork before receiving information and failed to inform him of his right to refuse a buccal swab to connect his DNA to other evidence recovered at the scene.

According to court documents when one of the detectives asked Offutt if he was informed of his rights he stated “No, oh wait yeah yeah”.

The defense illustrated Offutt’s confusion when he said, “I need to talk to somebody, I need to figure out what’s going on.”

On April 23, Judge Raffinan denied the defense’s motion to suppress Offutt’s statements during his interview and information from his buccal swab, declaring that there was probable cause to arrest Offutt.

Additionally, Judge Raffinan indicated that she did not find that police coerced Offutt and all statements made during his arrest and interview were voluntary.

According to court documents, Offutt is “no novice to the criminal system” and Judge Raffinan noted his extensive criminal history.

Parties are slated to return on July 27 and trial is set for Sept. 8.

Witness Describes Path of Suspect Vehicle in Murder, Conspiracy Trial

Prosecutors in a murder, conspiracy trial continued to build their case by introducing GPS data that tracked a suspect vehicle as it moved to a crime scene and was finally abandoned.

Later in the April 22 hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt, police presented firearm evidence in an effort to link the suspects to weapons used in the shooting.

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

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

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

The prosecution recalled an FBI agent to authenticate Global Positioning System (GPS) data points for the suspect vehicle, a 2016 Kia Soul, from March 1, between the hours of three am and three pm. The car was stolen from a rental company and was equipped with a tracking device.

The agent confirmed that the vehicle stopped at multiple locations, including the 1800 block of Bruce Place, SE, and the 2600 block of Douglas Road, SE, which are alleged to be homes of Jackson and Freeman.

The GPS data points also showed stops at a BP gas station, and “various routes before circling around the area prior to coming back to the 9th Street address,” traveling westbound and stopping on the 600 block of S Street, NW, around the time that Lukes was shot. Finally, the vehicle traveled towards the 500 block of Lamont Street, NW, where it was abandoned.

The agent stated that each GPS data point was peer-reviewed by one of his colleagues, and double-checked to confirm consistency.

The prosecution also called an MPD detective who executed a search warrant on May 29, 2020 on the 1800 block of Bruce Place, SE. During the search, a baseball cap and a firearm were recovered. The prosecution alleges the firearm was used by one of the defendants in Lukes’ homicide.

According to the detective’s testimony, Jackon was present at the residence, along with eight other individuals. At the time, Jackson and another individual had pending arrest warrants and were taken into custody.

Another officer testified he ran background checks on each of the defendants, along with Steele and Brown. The results confirmed none of them were cleared to carry firearms, despite multiple weapons recovered in their homes.

In addition, the firearm that was recovered during Jackson’s search warrant was not registered in DC.

Parties are set to return April 23.

Domestic Violence Defendant Pleads Not Guilty

A non-fatal shooting defendant in a domestic quarrel pleaded not guilty to a five-count indictment before DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro on April 23.

Antonio Harrison, 48, is charged with unlawful discharge of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm by a prior convict, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of an unregistered firearm, and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting on July 17, 2023 at the 900 block of 21st Street, NE. No one was injured during the incident.

According to court documents, Harrison fired several rounds into the air after confronting the victim for having a romantic relationship with someone else. Harrison and the victim were separated, but they had known each other for more than 20 years and shared two children.

During the hearing, Harrison’s defense attorney, Kavya Naini, told the court that Harrison pleaded not guilty to every charge and asserted his right to a speedy trial.

Parties are expected to return to court on May 22.

Document: MPD Makes Arrest in Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm Offense

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of an individual for his alleged involvement in a shooting that occurred on April 22 on the 1700 block of Independence Avenue, SE.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the sounds of gunshots. They discovered evidence of gunfire, but no victims or damage to property.

MPD’s Real Time Crime Center examined camera footage that helped advance the investigation, and they identified 18-year-old Amontae Moody as the suspect. Moody was charged with unlawful discharge of a firearm and possession of an unregistered firearm.

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