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Document: MPD Seeking Suspects in Northwest Homicide

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) are searching for the suspects involved in a fatal shooting during an armed robbery of a business that occurred onMarch 27 on the 5100 block of Georgia Avenue, NW.

According to MPD documents, the two suspects brandished handguns and entered the business at the location. The suspects demanded property and money, and the victims complied. During the robbery, one of the suspects fired their gun, striking one of the victims. He was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

The victim was identified as 41-year-old Phillip Prendergast.

The suspects were captured by surveillance footage.

MPD offers a reward to anyone that provides information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for each homicide in the District.

Witness Testifies a Homicide Defendant ‘Created a Girl Page’ to Stalk his Victim

On March 28, a homicide defendant’s ex-coworker testified about the suspect’s alleged gang involvement before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan. 

Oscar Ramos, 34, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and assault with intent to kill while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 50-year-old Pedro Alvarado Melendez. The incident occurred on May 28, 2015, on Interstate 295 North at Exit One, in Southwest DC. The incident left another individual suffering from non-life-threatening injuries. 

The prosecution called on an ex-coworker of Ramos, who testified he is an ex-gang member. 

Ramos is alleged to belong to the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang, but the prosecution was prohibited from mentioning his specific involvement by Judge Raffinan. 

The prosecution mentioned the witness’ nervousness and apprehension to being in the courtroom, stating he was “shaking like a leaf,” with his head down and avoiding eye-contact. However, he was able to provide an in-court identification of Ramos. 

The witness was employed as a dishwasher at Cadillac Ranch where he met Ramos, who was employed as a cook. The witness claimed he and Ramos would spend time together outside of work, “about a couple days a week.”

The witness recounted times when he and Ramos used to hang out, stating that on one occasion, the witness and Ramos spoke about the murder of Ramos’ father. The witness claimed that after Ramos’ father was killed, he moved to Boston. 

Ramos is alleged to have left El Salvador with the intent to kill his father’s alleged killer, who he claims is Alvarado.   

Ramos allegedly told the witness he was a part of a gang and offered the witness a chance to join him. At first, the witness claimed he refused, but after about a year, accepted Ramos’ invitation.  

According to the witness, on another occasion, they were parked outside of an apartment complex in Alexandria, Virgina, when Ramos pointed out that was where he began to follow Alvarado leading up to the incident. “He[Ramos] said that was the place he started following the dude[Alvarado],” the witness stated. 

He[Alvarado] was the one that did it,” he said, “he killed his[Ramos’] father,” the witness stated. 

According to the witness, in an attempt to get closer to Alvarado, Ramos “created a girl page and started texting” Alvarado through Facebook.

According to the witness, Ramos “created a girl page and started texting the dude,” and was allegedly able to get Alvarado’s address by posing as a woman on a phony Facebook account.  

The witness stated that when Ramos began following Alvarado, Ramos was in his friend’s car, with two other individuals. Ramos allegedly told the witness he and another individual shot into Alvarado’s car, killing him and injuring another passenger. 

According to the witness, he knew the surviving victim, adding it was his father’s cousin. 

In cross examination, Ramos’ defense attorneys, Rachel McCoy and Camille Wagner, questioned the witness about the benefits he’s received from the prosecution for his compliance to testify in court.

The witness claimed he received about $15,000, which helped pay for him and his family to move to a safer location. Also, the witness claimed the prosecution would help him obtain an S-visa. 

According to U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services, an S-visa can be obtained when an individual has assisted a law enforcement agency as a witness, allowing the law enforcement agency to submit an application for a Green Card on behalf of the witness. 

McCoy questioned the witness about his involvement with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as a confidential informant. 

McCoy argued that as an informant, you cannot engage in gang activity, which the witness allegedly continued to do. 

According to the witness, he was kicked out of the confidential informant program because he was “engaging in illegal activities” and “dealing with weed and stuff.”

When McCoy asked the witness why he continued to engage in illegal activities, the witness stated he “did it for his own safety.”

Parties are slated to return on March 29 for a motions hearing regarding testimony for a representative from Meta. 

Prosecution Suggests ‘Catfishing’ Ploy in 2015 Murder Case

On March 27, opening statements in a murder case suggested a possible “catfishing” ploy to track and trap a murder victim. Such schemes aim to entice gullible individuals into romantic relationships on social media sites then manipulate them.

Oscar Ramos, 34, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and assault with intent to kill while armed for his alleged involvement in the shooting of 50-year-old Pedro  Alvarado Melendez on May 28, 2015, on Interstate 295 North at Exit One, in Southwest DC. The incident left another individual suffering from non-life-threatening injuries. 

During his opening statement, a prosecutor accused Ramos of using a “phony Facebook account” as a catfish ploy to communicate with the Melendez. Ramos was allegedly “pretending to be a woman named Rosa Lopez” and that the Facebook account was closed “within a few hours” of the a murder.

The prosecutor said the bogus account was used for “finding the decedent, getting close enough to him, and murdering him.”

The woman, whose identify was allegedly stolen in the scam, testified when she discovered a Facebook account using her photo, she asked the company for an explanation.

Melendez’s son testified that he had seen his father using Facebook to look at “pictures of women and news articles.”

The prosecutor told the jury that Melendez dropped his son off at school and was heading to his workplace down Interstate 295 when a man fired at the vehicle killing Melendez.

It would be “the last day Pedro Melendez would know,” the prosecutor said displaying a photo of the victim and of Melendez’s former brother-in-law who was injured in the incident. Melendez and his wife were divorced at the time of the shooting.

On May 31, 2015, Maryland authorities found a car that had been set on fire alongside a highway. A license plate identified Ramos as the owner.  

Defense attorney Camille Wagner attacked the prosecution’s case, describing it as “speculation and guesswork.” She said the prosecution is asking the jury to “jump to conclusions. [However] Mr. Oscar Ramos is innocent.”

Wagner said the jury is “not going to see” significant evidence related to firearms, DNA testing, and cell site data. She also questioned the credibility of prosecution witnesses who she says are gang members and have “every motive to lie.” Earlier, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan, who is hearing the case, granted a motion that prohibited the prosecution from specifically mentioning the defendant’s alleged involvement in a gang.

The trial is slated to continue on March 28.

Judge Holds Shooting Suspect Accused in Traffic Melee

On March 26, DC Superior Judge Renee Raymond found probable cause, agreeing with the prosecution, to hold a non-fatal shooting defendant for his alleged involvement in a traffic dispute.

Adrian Lee, 49, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for allegedly shooting a victim twice in the chest in an incident that occurred on April 18,2023, on the 700 block of Gresham Place, NW.

During the hearing the prosecution said Lee should not be released given the nature of the offense and because of a prior conviction for voluntary manslaughter when he stabbed a victim in the heart.

According to court documents, Lee was called by a woman who was driving a GMC SUV that struck a Tesla sedan on the 2800 block of Sherman Avenue, NW. He responded to the scene presenting an insurance card for the SUV as demanded by the victim.

After the victim discovered the card was expired, Lee and the woman absconded. The victim pursued Lee in his car and when Lee got to his house, he allegedly pulled out a gun and shot the victim.

He was taken to Howard University Hospital by his wife to receive extended treatment for severe injuries.

At the hearing, the prosecution showed video footage of the victim’s car and a person identified as Lee approaching it. Police were able to determine Lee as a suspect by obtaining his auto insurance card and following up on an anonymous tip.

However, the defense argued that there was no clear identification by the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) investigating detective that Lee was the shooter. Further, the defense said the police should have determined who actually caused the accident more thoroughly.

Parties are slated to return to court on April 9.

Preliminary Hearing Delayed Due to Plea Offer in Shooting Case

On March 28, in what was supposed to be a preliminary hearing, the prosecution offered a non-fatal shooting defendant a plea deal, before DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe.

Anthony Goncalves, 51, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting that occurred on Nov. 29, 2023, on the 3900 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE. A 14-year-old boy sustained life-threatening injuries from the incident. 

According to court documents, Goncalves allegedly shot the victim nine times while the victim was waiting at a bus stop.

During the hearing, Christen Romero Phillips, Goncalves’s defense attorney, alerted the court the prosecution had extended a plea offer to her client and they needed additional time to discuss it.

The prosecution stated that if Goncalves accepted the offer, he would plead guilty to one count of aggravated assault while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment. 

As part of the deal, the parties would agree to a sentence of nine-to-twelve-years of incarceration.

Parties are slated to return April 24.

Judge Detains Two Homicide Defendants During Initial Presentment Proceeding

On March 27, DC Superior Court Judge Heide Herrmann found probable cause for two homicide defendants making their initial court appearance and ordered them detained.

Tyree Bratcher, 17, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the death of 18-year-old Tyreek Moore on Jan 22, 2024 on the 4600 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE. 

According to court documents, Moore was shot after picking up a friend from school. Court records also show images of individuals exiting a Black BMW and entering a vehicle identified as the defendant’s car, and images of the defendant’s car approaching the victim’s car minutes before the murder.

At the hearing, Aubrey Dillon, Bratcher’s defense attorney, argued that he was not a knowing or willing participant in the murder and that his client was under duress from gunmen from the black SUV who entered his car.

The prosecution argued the defendant was not coerced, stating that there was footage of Bratcher conversing with the individuals in the black BMW minutes before the murder.

The judge reasoned that the timeline of events leading up to the murder did not suggest that the individuals who entered the defendant’s car from the BMW was a random event and that there was some familiarity between Bratcher and the BMW driver.

“I find the nature of the offense is extremely concerning, it was in an area where many people could have been hurt,” said Judge Herrmann.

Bratcher will return to court April 25, in front of DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan. 

Judge Herrmann also suspended the public from a presentment hearing for 32-year-old Lashawn Washington, who is charged with first-degree murder while armed – felony murder, and kidnapping, among other charges, for her alleged involvement in the fatal disappearance of 25-year-old Chyna Crawford. The incident occurred on Oct. 23, on the 4000 block of South Capitol Street, SW. 

Judge Herrmann suspended the public from the Webex meeting due to safety concerns over members of the public recording and live streaming court proceedings.

Parties are slated to return on April 5, before DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe.

Suspect in Peace Corps Worker Homicide Denied Release, Waives Independent DNA Testing

On March 28, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun found that a homicide defendant “knowingly and voluntarily” waived his right to independently test DNA evidence. 

Dearay Wilson, 28, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 53-year-old Jeremy Black. The incident occurred on June 29, 2021, on the 1400 block of R Street, NW. 

Black, a former Peace Corps worker, was eulogized by the National Peace Corps Association as an individual whose life work was, “[p]romoting understanding between people” in challenging parts of the world.

“He played guitar and trumpet, was a triathlete and a skier; he took up karate with his two sons.” the statement continued.

According to prosecutors, Wilson was one of multiple individuals who exited a white Chevy SUV at the location and unleashed a “barrage of bullets,” which fatally injured Black. Wilson has been the only individual arrested and charged in connection to the incident. 

During the hearing, Thomas Healy, Wilson’s defense attorney, alerted the court he was waiving his right to independently test DNA evidence recovered from the crime scene. 

Prosecutors told the court that they had tested various items, including cartridge casings, disposable gloves, and a t-shirt with suspected blood on it, which closely matched Wilson as part of the mixture of individuals’ DNA or the sole match. 

Before the hearing concluded, Healy requested Judge Okun release Wilson, stating he has been detained for a while and has no significant criminal history. He pointed out the large community support, citing the more than ten individuals in attendance for the proceeding. 

However, the prosecution objected to the request, arguing he’s charged with the “most dangerous and highest charge possible in the District,” and adding that the other individuals responsible for the crime have yet to be apprehended. 

Judge Okun agreed with the prosecution, and stated that no condition or combination of conditions of release would guarantee the community’s safety. 

Parties are slated to return June 28. 

Judge Grants Defense Request to Reschedule Murder Trial

On March 27, defense attorney Joseph Yarbough requested to reschedule a July 2025 trial date before DC Superior Court Judge Micheal O’Keefe.

Samuel Mack, 57, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license, for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 35-year-old Erica Ward. The shooting occurred in an apartment on the 4700 block of Benning Road, SE, on Dec. 30, 2020.

Mack’s defense attorney requested a new trial date because he had another trial during that time period. Judge O’Keefe agreed to the request to reschedule the trial date.

After all parties discussed their availability, a new trial date was scheduled for Aug. 4, 2025.  

The next status hearing is set for Oct. 11.

Document: MPD Makes Arrest in a 1990 Homicide

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced an arrest was made in connection to a homicide that occurred on March 28, 1990, on the 500 block of M Street, NE.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to a shooting at the location, where they located 34-year-old Norman Rich inside of a residence, with gunshot wound. He died at the scene.

As a result of the detectives’ investigation, 66-year-old Sheila Brown was indicted and arrested for charges including second-degree murder and obstruction of justice.

The investigation revealed the case was domestic in nature.

Document: MPD Arrests Man for Northeast Shooting

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced an arrest was made in connection to a Feb. 28 shooting on the 1300 block of Okie Street, NE.

According to MPD documents, the victim reported he was walking through the location, when a suspect exited the passenger’s side of a car and demanded his property. He refused and attempted to run away. The suspect then shot the victim. He was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

On March 27, 34-year-old Jaymario Kirksey was arrested and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. At the time of his arrest, a gun was recovered and he was occupying a stolen vehicle. As a result, he was also charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle and carrying a pistol without a license.

Document: MPD Investigating Shooting Leaving One Dead, Two Injured in Southeast

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating a homicide that left one person dead and two individuals injured on March 27 on the 3400 block of Stanton Road, SE.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of the sounds of gunshots. A short time later, officers were notified of three victims, all with gunshot wounds, seeking treatment at a local hospital. An adult male and a juvenile male were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The third victim, 26-year-old Amaru Cureton, succumbed to his injuries on March 28.

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 Releases Video, Photos of Southeast Shooting Suspects

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the suspects involved in a shooting on March 25 on the 2800 block of Alabama Avenue, SE.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the sounds of gunshots, where they located evidence of gunfire. The detective’s investigation revealed the victims arranged a meet-up with the suspects, using social media, to sell property. During the meeting, there was an attempt to rob the victims and shots were fired. A victim was located at the hospital seeking treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.

The suspects and vehicle were captured by nearby surveillance cameras.

Document: MPD Makes Arrest in 2023 Southern Avenue Shooting

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced an arrest in connection to a shooting that occurred on Jan. 10, 2023, on the 2900 block of Southern Avenue, SE.

According to MPD documents, the victim was driving in the area when the suspect vehicle approached and opened fire, striking the victim. The victim drove himself to an area hospital for the treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

On March 26, 23-year-old Daquan Carter was arrested and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of an unregistered firearm.

Document: Arrest Made in Woman’s Disappearance

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced an arrest was made in connection to the suspicious disappearance of a woman in the District on Oct. 26.

According to MPD documents, 25-year-old Chyna Crawford was reported missing on Oct. 26 to MPD. She was last seen Oct. 23 on the 4000 block of South Capitol Street, SW.

An initial investigation by detectives of the Missing Persons Unit suggested suspicious circumstances surrounding the disappearance.

As a result, on March 26, 32-year-old Lashawn Washington, was indicted on several charges, including first-degree murder – felony murder, kidnapping, and obstruction of justice.

The case remains under investigation.