‘It was a Dumb Decision,’ to Have a Gun Says Defendant Acquitted in Metro Shooting

DC Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel sentenced a defendant who was acquitted of shooting charges by a jury but convicted on related possession offenses to three years of probation on March 27.

Daquan Toland, 25, was convicted by a jury on Oct. 1, 2025 on charges of carrying a weapon outside a home or business, possession of an unregistered firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. Charges are in connection with a non-fatal shooting incident that occurred at the intersection of M and 4th Streets, SW, Waterfront Metro Station on June 2, 2025. A victim was shot in the shoulder during the incident.

The prosecution asked Judge Israel to impose a sentence of two years imprisonment and three years supervised release for all charges. A stay away-order from the victim, along with the Waterfront Metro station was requested by prosecutors.

Judge Israel granted the stay-away order for the victim, but declined for the Metro station. The only grocery store in the area, Judge Israel stated, was near the Metro station.

Prosecutors stated that the injured victim was scared for their life during the shooting. According to prosecutors, a witness and her child have since moved out of the community after hearing the gun shots while playing in the park.

The prosecution stated that a second witness and her child were passed by Toland on an escalator in which he stated, “Don’t worry I’m not going to shoot you,” to the child.

The prosecution described the community as “a miserable place to live for some people.”

A sentence under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA), was opposed by prosecution, which allows people under 25 who are convicted of certain crimes to have their convictions sealed after they successfully complete their sentence and potentially offers a sentence under the mandatory minimum.

Jessica Willis, a stand-in attorney for Toland, alleged that Toland was robbed and shot at first during the incident. Willis continued by stating that the shooting was “frightening for everyone involved.”

According to Willis, Toland has done everything the court has asked him to do pending sentencing, including having a stable workplace and housing. Judge Israel released Toland on Oct. 2, 2025, the day after the jury returned their verdict.

Willis used Judge Israel’s words from a previous hearing for another case that day in her argument stating, “If we put this person in jail now we are disrupting their progress.”

Willis argued for a total of six months incarceration, all suspended in favor of one year’s probation. In addition, Willis asked for a sentencing under the YRA.

“It was a dumb decision,” Toland stated during his apology for the incident. Toland stated that he now has a two-month-old son that he cares for.

Judge Israel sentenced Toland to two years imprisonment for carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, six months for possession of an unregistered firearm, and one year imprisonment for unlawful possession of ammunition. All time suspended, in favor of three years supervised probation. All sentences are to run concurrently.

Judge Israel noted that Toland always looked “concerned” during the trial and was taking the trial seriously.

Judge Israel did not sentence Toland under the YRA, due to a previous conviction under YRA before and this incident was deemed an escalation of seriousness by her.

Toland must register as a gun offender following his probation.

No further dates have been set in this case.

Victims ‘Deserved to Go Home That Night,’ Prosecutors Say In 1997 Double-Homicide Trial Closings

Prosecutors argued before DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman on March 24 that victims in a 1997 homicide trial deserved to go home the night they were fatally shot.

Oscar Diaz-Romero, 47, is charged with two counts of second-degree murder for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Jose Noel Coreas-Carcaro, 22, and Jose Molina, 27, in a restaurant on the 2400 block of 18th Street, NW, on Aug. 9, 1997. After the shooting, Diaz-Romero left the United States and traveled to El Salvador, where he was extradited from in January 2025.

Prosecutors argued Diaz-Romero brought a revolver to a fist fight between two rival gangs and shot two individuals. Diaz-Romero made the decision to use a revolver and kill these two young men, prosecutors said.

“Whatever their faults, whatever their imperfections, they deserved to go home that night,” stated prosecutors.

Prosecutors reiterated the witness testimony, highlighting the statements from three other members of the defendant’s gang who were present at the bar when the shooting occurred. Their testimony placed Diaz-Romero at the scene and as the shooter, prosecutors argued.

Prosecutors reviewed handwriting in letters, bullet fragments, and identifying tattoos that they alleged connected Diaz-Romero to the crime. They emphasized that Diaz-Romero fled to El Salvador after the crime and changed his name from Oscar Salguero to Oscar Diaz-Romero as consciousness of guilt.

“He fled because he knew he did something wrong,” said prosecutors.

Prosecutors urged the jury to “do the only thing that justice demands,” and reach a guilty verdict on both counts.

Julie Swaney, Diaz-Romero’s attorney, urged the jury to acquit her client, arguing the prosecution failed to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. She questioned the credibility of key witnesses, highlighting inconsistencies in testimony, including differences in the fight leading up to the shooting and the gun used.

Given the inconsistencies, Swaney asked the jury how they could find the witnesses credible?

According to Swaney, the only part of the incident the three eyewitnesses agreed on was identifying Diaz-Romero as the shooter, because they needed to pin it on someone else. Since the eyewitnesses were suspects, it made sense for them to all accuse Diaz-Romero and shift blame away from themselves, Swaney claimed.

She highlighted the lack of physical evidence, including a gun, clothing, fingerprints, or DNA, connecting Diaz-Romero to the crime.

Swaney also addressed the prosecution’s claim that Diaz-Romero escaped to El Salvador and changed his name to hide from authorities. According to Swaney, Spanish last names usually consist of one name from the mother and one name from the father.

Diaz-Romero’s parents’ names respectively include “Diaz” and “Romero,” and when Diaz-Romero picked his last name when returning to El Salvador, he was adopting his family’s names, explained Swaney.

According to Swaney, Diaz-Romero was 14-years-old when he was brought to the US and was likely not the person who filled out Salguero as his last name on his immigration documents.

She told the jury to keep in mind the “reasonable doubt all over this case” when deliberating and asked them to find Diaz-Romero not guilty on both counts.

The prosecution acknowledged that inconsistencies were expected given the event occurred 28 years ago and argued that the evidence still pointed to Diaz-Romero.

Prosecutors rejected Swaney’s suggestion that they haven’t proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Diaz-Romero was the shooter. The witnesses only needed to testify to who shot and killed the victims. Despite inconsistencies in their testimonies, no one was inconsistent with identifying Diaz-Romero as the shooter.

Parties are slated to reconvene when the jury reaches a verdict.

After Ruling Probable Cause, Judge Releases Bus Stop Stabbing Defendant

DC Superior Court Judge Robert Hildum released a stabbing defendant to home confinement after finding probable cause in a hearing on March 26.

Ricky Wright, 41, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a stabbing at a bus stop at the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Upshur Street, NW on March 21. One victim sustained lacerations to the nose and forehead.

Prosecutors informed the judge that they had a preliminary plea offer extended to defense that would require Wright to plead guilty to attempted assault with a dangerous weapon and they would not indict him on any further charges. If he continued with his hearing today that offer would expire.

Victoria Bethel, Wright’s attorney, told Judge Hildum that Wright wanted to proceed.

Prosecutors called a Metropolitan Transit Police Department (MTPD) officer who testified that he received a call on the day of the incident around seven p. m. responding to a bus fight. Once at the scene, Wright had already been detained, and the police officer noticed the victim with blood all over his face.

The officer asked the victim what had happened, but the victim did not want to elaborate. According to the police officer, detectives found video footage that the men who were “mutually combating” on the bus before stepping off. During the investigation, they allegedly found a knife handle on Wright, but no blade.

Bethel cross-examined the officer asking if the bus driver was the one who called the police, to which he answered yes. She also asked whether the bus driver’s full attention was on the fight or the road. The officer told her that the driver had stopped at the bus stop and called the police about the fight.

Bethel argued that Judge Hildum should not determine probable cause because the only eyewitness was the bus driver who was focused on driving and not the fight, just a handle of a knife was found, and there is no proof of who the initial aggressor was.

Prosecutors argued the opposite because the bus was at a complete stop when the fight happened, the handle of a knife was found, and the bloody wounds that the officers witnessed on the victim.

“Although we don’t know who started it, we know who got the worst of it,” asserted Judge Hildum as he found probable cause against Wright.

Bethel argued for release of because Wright has medical issues that are not being properly addressed at the DC Jail, including his ostomy bag to collect bodily waste and lower back pain. Wright’s father told Bethel that he also is diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, and paranoid schizophrenia. Bethel believed that he would be more functional if he was back in the community.

Prosecutors argued that he be held because he stabbed someone at a bus stop, which is a busy location he is a danger to the community, particularly with his prior criminal history including assault.

Judge Hildum released Wright on 24-hour home confinement with exceptions to receive medical care and to go to court. Judge Hildum told Wright, “I will not reconsider this under any circumstances” if he violates the conditions of release.

Parties are slated to reconvene on May 5.

Judge Orders Compliance For Mental Health Stabbing Suspect

DC Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel ordered a stabbing defendant to comply with mental health release requirements in a hearing on March 24.

Edward Cox, 55, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal stabbing that occurred on the 2200 block of Savannah Terrace, SE on Dec. 2, 2025.

According to court documents, Cox allegedly stabbed his romantic partner with a box cutter while under the influence of alcohol and marijuana, accusing the victim of being unfaithful. The victim sustained one stab wound to the wrist.

Judge Israel asked Joseph McCoy, Cox’s attorney, if he had been compliant in managing his mental health, which was a requirement placed on him when he was released on Dec. 5, 2025. Cox was told to comply with any mental health recommendations from the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA).

The judge stated she received a notice of non-compliance in late January, which McCoy did not address.

Judge Israel ordered Cox to connect with urgent care for mandated mental health management. McCoy said that he would walk Cox down to the PSA in the courthouse to ensure he follows through.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on Sept. 10.

Judge Severs Charges For Carjacking Defendant

DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe severed charges into two separate trials for a carjacking defendant on March 27.

Kwesi Pyne, 20, is charged with armed carjacking, assault with intent to commit robbery while armed, five counts of robbery while armed, seven counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of carrying a pistol without license outside a home or business, possession of unregistered firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, first-degree theft, second-degree theft, destruction of property less than 1,000 dollars, unlawful entry of a vehicle, unauthorized use of a vehicle during a crime of violence, and misdemeanor receiving stolen property.

The charges stem from Pyne’s alleged involvement in the following incidents:

Armed carjacking at the 900 block of Randolph Street, NW on Oct. 30, 2023,
Assault with intent to rob at the 3100 block of Mount Pleasant Street, NW on Feb. 7, 2024,
Armed robbery at the 3600 block of 16th Street, NW on Feb. 7, 2024,
Theft from auto with gun stolen on Feb. 10, 2024,
Theft on Feb. 12, 2024,
Armed robbery at the 3200 block of Mount Pleasant Street, NW on Feb. 12, 2024.

Pyne’s attorney, Bryan Bookhard, filed a motion to sever counts on Sept. 22, 2025. He argued that each incident is not related to each other, as the charges are not based on the same act or connected together. Therefore, they should not be tried under the same case.

In court, Judge Pipe said that the armed carjacking charge was very different from the others and asked the prosecutor about the weight of evidence connecting Pyne to the incident. The prosecutor said that the vehicle that was carjacked was found in the parking lot of Pyne’s apartment building.

Judge Pipe noted that Pyne lived in an apartment building and the vehicle in the parking lot did not necessarily link to his unit. Based on this, Judge Pipe felt that severance was warranted for the armed carjacking, two counts of possession of firearm during a crime of violence, and robbery while armed. Parties set a trial date for Sept. 9 for these charges.

Judge Pipe asked the parties about the evidence relating to the remaining incidents. The prosecutor said that he has stronger identity evidence for the other incidents because the description of the clothes of the perpetrator and Ring camera footage matches up.

Pyne’s attorney, Bryan Bookhard, argued that “Everybody wears Nike” in the community, so it could have been someone else on camera.

Judge Pipe decided to try the rest of the incidents under one trial because they were interconnected, because it appears that the same firearm was used for several of the incidents.

Parties are slated to reconvene on April 10.

Investigator Denies Knowing Homicide Evidence Was Destroyed

A forensic scientist who responded to the scene of a fatal shooting testified that she was not aware that evidence was destroyed during trial before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on March 26.

Jaime Macedo, 24, is charged with first-degree felony murder while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, attempt to commit robbery while armed, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for his alleged involvement in a July 5, 2023 fatal shooting of 25-year-old Maxwell Emerson on the 600 block of Alumni Lane, NE on the Catholic University of America campus. Emerson sustained one gunshot wound to the abdomen.

The investigator, who works at the Department of Forensic Science (DFS), continued her testimony from the previous day. On cross-examination, she testified that she and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) lead detective in the case collaboratively chose to designate a laptop, Airpod case, and wallet as personal property in the case, not evidence. The lead detective has been the subject of an internal MPD sexual misconduct investigation.

Macedo’s attorney, Rachel Cicurel, asked the investigator whether she knew that the case would be investigated as a robbery when she decided to classify the items as personal. The investigator denied knowing this. Cicurel also asked whether she knew that the three items were ultimately destroyed by MPD, to which she had no knowledge.

A lieutenant and investigator for Catholic University’s Department of Public Safety said he provided surveillance video to MPD when they requested it. The prosecution asked the lieutenant to identify the geographical location of a variety of video clips that depict Macedo and Emerson walking together. Footage begins tracking Macedo and Emerson outside of the Brookland-CUA Metro station at 7:32 a. m. The pair then walked on Michigan Avenue, NE and arrived on Catholic University’s campus adjacent to Gibbons Hall just after 7:50 a. m.

Prosecutors also played a video clip that depicts Emerson tackling Macedo after which Emerson falls to the ground and Macedo allegedly flees the scene at 7:59 a. m.

On cross-examination, Macedo’s other attorney, Jessica Willis, asked the lieutenant whether there was any footage that he did not provide to MPD. The witness said that he only provided MPD with the footage from the time and location they requested.

The first responding MPD officer testified his body-worn camera was activated and working properly when he arrived at the scene. The prosecution played a clip of the officer’s arrival in which he is heard telling someone over the phone that the victim was being loaded into an ambulance.

Willis confirmed that there were campus police officers already on scene when the MPD officer arrived.

An analyst for the US Secret Service testified to extracting data from Emerson’s phone using specialized data collection software. The prosecution presented select pages of the extraction report to the jury. The analyst confirmed that each item pointed out had the unique identification number of the phone in question.

During cross-examination, Willis confirmed with the analyst that the phone records included a Starbucks receipt from the day prior to the shooting. The defense previously questioned Emerson’s mother about whether he went to Starbucks and left their group on this day.

The prosecution called four separate witnesses that manage surveillance camera footage for establishments around Catholic University. All of them provided MPD with requested footage.

One of the witnesses, who works at the Dominican House of Studies, identified footage that shows the parking lot of the building. In a clip played for the jury, a person said to be Macedo can be seen running into this lot.

In other clips played for the jury, Macedo walked towards the Brooklyn Metro station around 7:40 a. m. the morning of the incident. In all these clips Macedo was allegedly identifiable by the bright red Crocs shoes he was wearing.

Parties are slated to reconvene on March 30.

Defendant Accused of Killing Wife Waives Right to DNA Testing

A man charged for allegedly killing his wife waived his right to independent DNA testing before DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson on March 26.

Charles Terry Jr., 61, is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly strangling and beating his wife, 39-year-old Lennette Clark, in their home while their two children were present. The incident occurred on Jan. 30, 2023 on the 1500 Block of Anacostia Avenue, NE.

Judge Dayson asked prosecutors to list physical evidence that could be tested for DNA. According to the prosecution, the Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) issued a collection report and the Crime Scene Services unit (CSS) produced evidence logs.

These documents list the physical evidence from the crime scene that could be tested for DNA. The items listed include a blood card, nail clippings, sexual assault kit, vehicle, vehicle parts, keys, cards, shorts, other clothing items, wet and dry swabs from vehicle parts, and parts of a knife.

As of the hearing, prosecutors had not tested any of the evidence but said they might. Under the Innocence Protection Act (IPA), defendants have the right to independently test DNA. Judge Dayson accepted Terry’s waiver of these rights.

Parties are slated to reconvene on May 29.

‘He Was Not Just a Cousin, But a Brother,’ Victim’s Cousin Testifies on First Day of Trial

Family members and a friend of three fatal crash victims testified during the first day of trial before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on March 24.

Nakita Walker, 46, is charged with three counts of second-degree-murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and fleeing a law enforcement officer for her alleged involvement in a March 15, 2023 car crash that fatally injured 43-year-old Mohamed Kamara, 23-year-old Jonathan Alberto Cabrera Mendez, and 22-year-old Olvin Josue Torres Velasquez on Rock Creek Parkway.

Velasquez’s first cousin was called as a witness, emotionally describing him as a “hardworking man” who took care of her and the rest of his family.

“He was not just a cousin, but a brother,” she said.

A close friend of Kamara’s represented him as “hardworking and just persistent,” chronicling how Kamara left Sierra Leone for the US to financially support his young daughter, wife, and nine siblings. The night of the crash, Kamara was driving for a ride share service, while Mendez and Velasquez were passengers.

Menendez’s mother described her son as her “right hand” in taking care of their family. She explained that he and Velasquez were friends whose families lived in the same building.

Walker and members of the jury were visibly emotional during the testimonies from the victims’ families.

In the prosecution’s opening statement, they characterized the crash which “broke [the victims’] bodies” as the consequence of Walker’s alleged intake of alcohol and marijuana, as well as the car’s high rate of speed.

“The death of these three people is the consequence of this choice – these choices,” the prosecution said.

In contrast, Walker’s attorney, Albert Amissah, said the crash was “an accident” that was neither “malicious” nor “intentional.” In his opening statement, Amissah focused on discrediting a key prosecution witness, Walker’s ex-boyfriend and passenger in her vehicle during the crash. Amissah called him “not reliable, not credible, and not trustworthy,” alleged that he had a firearm on him, and questioned why he ran from the scene of the crash.

“Why leave if you’re innocent,” Amissah said.

The prosecution called a US Park Police officer, who said he stopped Walker’s black Lexus around a minute before the crash for driving “faster than highway speed” and not stopping at a red light. The officer testified that he observed what appeared to be alcohol in the vehicle when conducting the traffic stop. Amissah asserted the alcohol was solely being consumed by the other passenger. The officer also retrieved marijuana from the passenger.

The Park Police officer testified that Walker told him she had been speeding to get home to her 10-year-old son who was home alone. However, as he asked for both Walker and the passenger’s IDs for the second time, Walker drove off. The officer testified that due to policy, he was not able to chase after the vehicle.

The Park Police officer said that between 47-seconds-to-one-minute after, he received a call for a crash and responded to the scene, identifying Walker as the driver.

On cross-examination, Amissah questioned the officer about his process in locating the other passenger and asked why he fled the scene. The officer explained that he issued a lookout for the passenger at the crash scene and after the individual was located by another officer, he identified him. The passenger, Walker’s ex-boyfriend, was detained but never placed under arrest.

Amissah also asked the officer whether there was a Modelo beer bottle found in the vehicle the victims were in, which the officer confirmed.

Another witness who works for the US Park Police was designated as an expert in crash reconstruction. The expert used model cars to recreate what he believed to be the direction of the crash. He based his analysis on pavement marks on the scene and debris on the Lexus’ tires.

While Amissah asked the expert if gouges in the pavement could be caused by the driver breaking, the expert ultimately said this was “very unlikely.”

The prosecution also called a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer who responded to the crash scene. The prosecution showed the jury his body-worn camera footage that showed him assessing the Honda that the victims were in. In the video, the officer noted that the victims appeared to have already succumbed to their injuries.

Parties are slated to reconvene on March 25.

Judge Denies Releasing Stabbing Defendant After Probation Violations

DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe denied release for a defendant who stabbed his brother after he violated the terms of his probation in a hearing on March 23.

Manuel Yeager, 41, was sentenced on Jan. 9 to three years in prison, all suspended, in favor of one year of probation for assault with a dangerous weapon. The charge stemmed from a stabbing on the 2300 block of Q Street, SE on June 3, 2025.

According to court documents, Yeager stabbed his brother in the shin after an argument.

At the hearing, Yeager waived his preliminary hearing for an unrelated new case against him before Judge Pipe heard arguments for Yeager’s release in the stabbing case.

Yeager’s attorney, Brandon Burrell, requested that Judge Pipe release Yeager, saying his client was not a flight risk, has no bench warrants and no Bail Reform Act (BRA) convictions.

Judge Pipe stated that after Yeager’s initial release, he immediately went from the jail to the victim’s house, disobeying the court’s orders. Yeager also never checked in with the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA), said the judge.

For those reasons, Judge Pipe revoked Yeager’s release for violating his probation.

Parties are slated to reconvene on March 26.

Judge Gives Prosecutors More Time to Respond to Stabbing Defendant’s Request For Release

DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld continued a hearing for the prosecution to respond to a release motion on March 24.

Antonio Halfacre, 37, and Trevon Randolph, 27, are charged with aggravated assault while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon for their alleged involvement in a stabbing on Feb. 15 on the 1800 block of Central Place, NE. The victim sustained two stab wounds to the upper back, a fractured hand, and multiple injuries to his upper body.

Alvin Thomas, Randolph’s attorney, filed a release review motion on Feb. 22 in response to the denial for his client’s release at the preliminary hearing on March 16.

Parties did not present arguments for release, as Judge Hertzfeld wanted the prosecution to respond in writing by the end of the week.

According to Neveen Hammad, Halfacre’s attorney, they are still waiting for the prosecution to turn over the audio footage of a 911 call made from the scene. Prosecution stated they would turn over the 911 call to Hammad once they received the audio.

Hammad also mentioned that she and Halfacre are open to plea negotiations with the prosecution despite rejecting a plea offer at the preliminary hearing.

Parties are set to reconvene on March 30.

Defense Says Homicide Evidence Received, ‘Drip, Drip, Drip’

Defense lawyers claimed the prosecution failed to disclose relevant evidence in a homicide and asked DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan to dismiss the case on March 25.

James Lewis, 48, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a prohibited weapon, and three counts of contempt for his alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of Brenea Franklin, 30. The incident occurred at the 1100 block of Bellevue Street, SE on Jan. 30, 2021.

Lewis’ attorney, Damayanti Desai, finished her cross-examination of a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective in the investigation who revealed that police believe that Lewis was living in his van at the time it was seized.

Then in redirect, the prosecution questioned the detective about photos of the crime scene, showing it was clear Franklin had been in the van based on its contents.

Then, Desai and Lewis’ other attorney, Mani Golzari, argued their motion filed on March 17, to dismiss the case because of the prosecution’s failure to disclose relevant evidence to the defense.

Golzari claimed the “discovery seems to be coming in a drip, drip, drip” manner and not in a timely fashion. He said that when the prosecution requested surveillance videos from a property manager they “had a duty to disclose them” to the defense.

The prosecution stated they did not turn over some of the videos because they lack relevance.

Golzari argued that the defense looks for different elements than the prosecution and they cannot determine what could be relevant to the defense.

Judge Ryan said while he understands Golzari’s point, the prosecution does not have to turn over everything in their possession.

Golzari went on to explain that one of the surveillance videos was sent as a YouTube link hidden in another part of the evidence. In addition, according to Golzari, there were other videos disguised on the YouTube channel and it’s unreasonable to think he would find them.

Golzari also told the court that the videos were not turned over as required. Judge Ryan asked the prosecution to explain and they did not have a good answer but the material must have, “slipped through the cracks.”

Judge Ryan acknowledged that there were clear issues with disclosure of evidence and said he will rule on the defense motion to dismiss when the parties reconvene next week.

Desai also argued to suppress evidence that was obtained through what they believe was an unlawful detention on Feb. 24, 2021 before Lewis’ arrest. Desai stated Lewis felt he was not free to go as he was a “Black man interacting with armed officers.”

Later that day he was questioned at the police station, but Desai argued that Lewis was not initially “Mirandized” about his legal rights when he was questioned.

The prosecution argued the police only asked Lewis “mere booking” questions before he was Mirandized and under Terry Stop doctrine police had reasonable cause to briefly detain Lewis without violating his rights.

Desai also argued that the seizure of Lewis’ van and phone were unlawful under the Fourth Amendment’s protection against illegal search and seizures. Since the MPD were aware Lewis was living in the van and unauthorized entry into a home is considered the “chief evil” in violating the Fourth Amendment.

Golzari intends to file another motion to dismiss on the grounds of prosecutorial misconduct.

Parties will reconvene on March 31 to continue to discuss motions.

Case Acquitted: Prosecutors Say Stabbing and Sexual Assault Victims, ‘Weren’t Bothering Anyone’

Editor’s Note: Darryl Myers was acquitted of all charges by a jury on March 27, 2026.

The prosecution argued that two individuals weren’t bothering anyone before one was sexually assaulted and another stabbed in a trial before DC Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna on March 26.

Darryl Myers, 52, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, misdemeanor sexual abuse, and simple assault for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal stabbing at Dupont Circle near the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and 20th Street, NW on June 7, 2024. One victim sustained four stab wounds and another victim was sexually assaulted.

During her closing argument, another one of Myers’ attorneys, Kristin McGough, argued that Myers acted in self-defense. “The only reason there is stabbing is because [Myers] airway was being cut off,” McGough told the jury.

McGough described the stabbing victim putting Myers in a tight chokehold during the fight and argued that the stab wounds were consistent with Myers trying to escape. She pointed out that the victim told the grand jury he had his attacker in a chokehold but changed his story to say he only held Myers’ chin during his testimony earlier in the trial.

“Why are we telling lies?” McGough asked the jury.

She also stated that, even if Myers was the first aggressor in the situation, once deadly force was used against him, he had a right to self-defense.

McGough pointed out other inconsistencies in the victim’s testimony, including lies about being a Navy medic, the number of drinks he had that night, and the number of stab wounds he sustained. She noted that on their own, the lies might seem insignificant, but that together they build up on one another.

“Even feathers get heavy when you have enough of them,” McGough said and urged the jury to find Myers not guilty on all charges.

The prosecution said that the day turned “violent and disturbing” when Myers walked away from the stabbing saying, “I got that mother f*****.” They explained the victims were just sitting in the park, catching up on each other’s lives.

“They weren’t bothering anyone,” the prosecution stated. The prosecution argued that Myers was the aggressor and caused the fight, stating that he had no right to self-defense.

“If you come up to a woman in a park and sexually abuse her and something arises from that situation, you caused that to happen,” the prosecution told the jury.

They said that Myers’ arms were free during the fight and that he never tried to pull the victim’s arms away or retreat, choosing to stab him. The prosecution also emphasized the locations of the wounds, arguing Myers stabbed the victim in the neck, back, thigh and leg, going for the neck first.

“Those are decisions,” the prosecution stated.

The prosecution also asked the jury to consider why Myers didn’t initially claim self-defense when police questioned him. They pointed out that Myers initially claimed he didn’t know how he injured his hand and then a month later, he had a story for how it happened.

“That is not reliable,” the prosecution stated.

The prosecutor told the jury to focus on their recollections of the evidence, stating it wasn’t a coincidence that Myers “just happened to be out the night of the attack, blocks away, with a cut on his hand that he gave a false story about.”

“The evidence you have is beyond a reasonable doubt,” the prosecution told the jury and urged them to return a guilty verdict.

Prior to closing arguments, the prosecution cross-examined a retired emergency medicine doctor and asked the doctor questions about the locations of the stab wounds. The doctor indicated that the stab wound on the victim’s neck was near a major blood vessel.

According to the prosecution, the victim’s wounds were still bleeding long after he arrived at the hospital. Based on the victim’s medical records, the doctor stated he had a “significant elevation” to his lactate level, which is indicative of shock.

The prosecution also asked the doctor whether the victim was intoxicated and the doctor said according to medical records, the victim was. The doctor said that he believed the victim had four-and-a-half-to-seven drinks.

Additionally, the doctor stated the victim also had a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 15, meaning he was alert and awake. The GCS is a scale used to measure a person’s level of consciousness.

On re-direct, one of Myers’ attorneys, Lauren Rennecker, asked the doctor to elaborate on the relationship between lactate levels and shock. The doctor explained that when the body doesn’t get enough oxygen, lactate levels increase. The doctor noted that lactate levels can increase for various reasons and that while high lactate levels are consistent with shock, it’s “hard to pin down.”

When Rennecker asked the doctor about the GCS score, he stated that “most people would have a GCS of 15 while intoxicated” and that it didn’t change his opinion on the number of drinks the male victim consumed.

The prosecution followed up with a question about the lactate levels after the defense’s re-direct. They asked if the shock could be caused by blood loss, to which the doctor said, “you can have a shock state and not an elevated level.” The prosecution asked the question again before the doctor answered yes.

Parties will reconvene when the jury reaches a verdict.

Witness Identifies Person Said to be Homicide Suspect

The prosecution called a witness who identified the defendant as the suspect in a homicide case to the stand before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on March 25.

Jaime Macedo, 24, is charged with first-degree felony murder while armed, attempt to commit robbery while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Maxwell Emerson on the 600 block of Alumni Lane, NE on July 5, 2023.

The prosecution called a witness who knew Macedo personally and identified him t authorities. She said that, upon seeing a flyer on Instagram with a picture of the suspect, she was “99% sure” that the suspect was Macedo, based on the suspect’s face, stature, hair, and the Crocs shoes he wore.

According to the acquaintance, she knew Macedo because her best friend is dating Macedo’s older brother. She said she has known his family since 2011.

The acquaintance subsequently called a homicide tip line at the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and provided the information she knew about Macedo, later having an in-person meeting with detectives. The jury was shown video footage of this meeting, in which the acquaintance identified a person said to be Macedo in multiple images.

She then pointed to Macedo in court, identifying him as the person in the pictures she saw.

Another eyewitness, a construction worker testified he saw the aftermath of the shooting from a nearby rooftop where he was working. He, through a translator, described the moment he heard the gunshot and, looking up, saw a man lying on the ground while another man picked up a weapon and ran away.

The eyewitness said in body-worn camera footage to officers on the scene that he could not confidently say the weapon was a gun, instead describing it as a “black thing.” However, he insisted in front of Judge Kravitz that it was, in fact, a gun and claimed to have said it was a “black weapon” to the responding officers on the day of the shooting.

The eyewitness also testified that the man he observed running away from the scene was dressed in all black and tennis shoes.

During the eyewitness’ testimony about what he saw the suspect holding, a translation issue resulted in the interpreter’s being replaced.

The eyewitness utilized the word “escuadra,” referring to the triangle shape of the weapon he saw. In an attempt to explain, the interpreter described this as a weapon with a clip, prompting Judge Kravitz to determine that a new interpreter was necessary.

Judge Kravitz instructed the jury to ignore parts of the original translator’s testimony, saying that she used her own explanation, and reminded the new interpreter that, “What I expect you to do is simply translate…verbatim without editorializing.”

On cross-examination, Macedo’s attorney, Jessica Willis, noted that the eyewitness originally told MPD officers on scene that the suspect was white. He confirmed that he believed that the man running away from the scene was white, not Hispanic, saying, “He was as white as this sheet of paper.” The eyewitness said that he beleived this description based on the hair color and skin color of the man he observed.

Another witness was an officer at the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA). Due to previous defense motions to preclude previous conviction information about Macedo for the jury, the prosecution had the officer omit his job title and very vaguely describe his duties.

The officer stated that he arrived at Macedo’s residence for a meeting between 7:45 a. m. and 8 a. m. the morning of the incident. However, Macedo wasn’t there, and the officer waited in his car for him to arrive. The officer stated that he noticed Macedo was sweaty when he arrived for the meeting at around 8:30 a. m., and that he was wearing a black t-shirt and shorts.

Prosecutors asked the officer about Macedo’s demeanor, which the officer described as “normal, calm.” The officer testified that Macedo claimed he was coming back from seeing a friend, which is why he was late to the meeting.

During cross examination, Willis confirmed with the officer that the interaction between him and Macedo lasted around five minutes.

A surveillance footage custodian testified and, during his testimony, he stated that he pulled footage from cameras surrounding the area where he worked and provided the footage to MPD. Prosecutors showed screenshots and some short clips from the footage for the court.

Prosecutors claimed that the footage captured Macedo’s trip to the Brookland-CUA Metro station before the incident occurred.

During questioning, prosecutors asked the video custodian to identify the streets in the footage as well as the direction the camera was facing. In one of the clips, a man was captured taking his pants off, revealing shorts underneath. According to court documents, the man was identified as the suspect by MPD.

Another witness was a campus police officer at the Catholic University of America, who testified to pulling the unconscious victim from a bush and administering CPR. He also said he looked in the victim’s wallet to find any medical cards or signs of affiliation with the university to find an explanation for the victim’s condition.

He stated he didn’t do anything further with the wallet when questioned by prosecutors.

A crime scene investigator from the Department of Forensic Science (DFS) also testified. The investigator retrieved physical evidence including a phone with a purple case, a book bag, broken glasses, and an airpod. Prosecutors also had the investigator identify and show the jury Emerson’s clothing that was retrieved from the hospital after he was brought in for treatment.

Due to time constraints, the officer was not able to finish her testimony, and it was continued to the next day.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on March 26.

Carjacking Defendant Still Mentally Incompetent, but Restoration Continues

DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro ordered a carjacking defendant to continue efforts that demonstrate his mental competency at a hearing on March 23.

Demetrius Johnson, 27, is charged with armed carjacking for his alleged involvement in a carjacking with pepper spray that left an injured victim on Nov. 4, 2025, on the 3000 block of Hayes Street, NE.

According to court documents, Johnson reportedly approached the victim’s car while he was parked and attempted to open the door. As Johnson walked away, the victim reported that he got out of his car to confront him. The victim stated Johnson engaged him in a fight, allegedly pepper sprayed him in the face then drove off with the vehicle.

At a hearing on Jan. 22, Judge Di Toro ordered Johnson to attempt restoration after a report from the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) deemed him incompetent. To stand trial, Johnson must understand the charges against him and be able to aid his attorney in his defense.

According to the most recent report filed by DBH on March 20, Johnson was still incompetent and recommended additional mental evaluation and participation in the agency’s Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program.

Based on the report, Judge Di Toro said that Johnson does not require hospitalization but needs continued evaluation and treatment.

Parties are set to reconvene on May 12.

Case Acquitted: ‘I Felt Him Hitting Me, Not Knowing Each Hit Was Him Stabbing Me,’ Stabbing Victim Testifies at Trial

Editor’s Note: Darryl Myers was acquitted of all charges by a jury on March 27, 2026.

A victim who was stabbed four times testified during a trial before DC Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna on March 24.

Darryl Myers, 52, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, misdemeanor sex abuse, and simple assault for his alleged involvement in a stabbing on June 7, 2024, in Dupont Circle. One individual sustained four stab wounds to the neck, back, and leg. Myers allegedly sexually assaulted another victim.

“I got that mother f*****r,” Myers yelled as he fled the scene, claimed prosecutors in opening statements. “The scene in which one victim was sexually abused, and another was stabbed repeatedly in the neck, back, leg, and thigh,” elaborated the prosecutor.

Prosecutors continued by describing the timeline of the incident and how the two victims went to Dupont Circle to hangout. At the circle, prosecutors said Myers approached them yelling, “You don’t know what to do with that white butt, give me that white butt.”

As Myers got closer, the victims began to panic and tried to de-escalate the situation. Despite their attempt at de-escalation, one victim ended up sexually assaulted and “frozen in fear”, and the other victim stabbed numerous times.

After the stabbing victim was transported to the hospital, he quickly identified the perpetrator. Prosecutors believed that there was, “absolutely no room for doubt.”

Hannah Shankman, Myers’ attorney, asserted there were too many “questions, inconsistencies, and unknowns” regarding this case for prosecutors to push the “guilty narrative.”

“The [prosecution’s] story is flawed, and there is not enough evidence to prove Darryl Myers’ guilt,” Shankman asserted to the jurors.

Prosecutors called the sexual assault victim to testify. She told the court that she and the stabbing victim started their night at a jazz bar having a few drinks and a light dinner before they biked to Dupont Circle to hangout. At Dupont Circle, the victim said they had a few more drinks and sat around the fountain talking.

As the two of them sat in the grass they heard a man yell, “you ain’t gonna f*** this white b**** in my park.” The victim recalled giggling as a reaction to the fear she felt. Then, she stood up and walked toward the sidewalk when she felt a presence on her butt.

“His touch was in between a light touch and a slap, but it was deliberate,” the victim recalled as prosecutors asked her about being touched that night. The next thing she remembered was turning around to get to the sidewalk and seeing the suspect and her friend in a stand off before they were both rustling on the ground.

She told the court that she stood there, “frozen in fear,” as she thought her friend was being beat up.

“He got me,” was the next thing the victim remembered hearing her friend say as the suspect ran away and her friend tried to get up. Her friend was limping and holding his neck, soaked in blood, the victim described. She helped her friend get on his bike so he could ride home and get help.

“I thought my friend was going to die,” recalled the victim.

Lauren Rennecker, another one of Myers’ attorneys, cross-examined the witness and asked the victim how much she drank that night, in which she answered, “ a martini, a tequila shot, and three-to-four beers.”

After the stabbing victim went to the hospital, Rennecker noted that the assault victim told police the suspect was “six two in height, bald, Black man, wearing a running shirt and shorts.”

Rennecker questioned her description because during prosecutors questioning, the victim testified that the defendant was wearing a gray shirt and jeans.

The victim confirmed that she previously said the suspect wore shorts.

Prosecutors asked the assault victim whether testifying was hard, she said it was extremely difficult, “because it was extremely traumatic, I thought my friend was going to die.”

Prosecutors then called the stabbing victim who recalled meeting his friend at a jazz bar for dinner and drinks before riding bikes around town and ending up at Dupont Circle. The stabbing victim reiterated his friend’s testimony about having a few more drinks at the circle and hanging out.

While they sat in the grass facing the fountain, the victim said he and his friend heard a man’s voice from the trees. The suspect said, “you don’t know what to do with that white butt, give me that white butt,” according to the victim.

After hearing this voice, the victim became more alert and told his friend to get up and go to his bike so they could leave. As he began to stand up, the suspect started yelling and calling him the n-word saying, “don’t you get up.”

“I felt like he was watching and waiting to take action,” the stabbing victim testified.

The stabbing victim recalled seeing the suspect grab his friend by the neck and smack her butt. Then, the victim said he pulled his friend by the wrist and told her “go to my bike.” He remembered as she was getting to the bike, the suspect punched him out of nowhere. The victim then punched and kicked the suspect asking, “why are you doing this?”

The next thing he remembered was being on the ground and trying to get the suspect in a headlock to control him. The suspect freed his arms and swung at the victim.

“I felt him hitting me, not knowing each hit was him stabbing me,” the victim told the court.

The last stab was to his hip which made his “leg shoot straight out.” In that moment, the victim said he knew he was stabbed, he pushed the suspect off of him, and yelled, “OH HE GOT ME.”

Then, the victim said he went home, blacked out, and “thought this was the end.”

Prosecutors showed body-worn camera footage from a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer entering the victim’s hospital room, asking if Myers was the suspect who stabbed him. The victim identified Myers in a photo on the officer’s phone and said, “that’s him, I don’t know him but he assaulted my friend and attacked me.”

As a result of time constraints, the defense will cross-examine the stabbing victim when parties reconvene the next day.

The prosecutors also called an eyewitness who was in Dupont Circle at the time because he was homeless at the time and often slept there. When the eyewitness arrived at the circle he saw two men rolling around in the grass and then heard a loud “OHHH AHHH,” after that, the man on top started to flee.

As the man was fleeing the scene the eyewitness heard him say, “I got him good, I got that mother f*****r real good.” The eyewitness felt like the individual “almost got a big rush from” whatever had just occurred.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on March 25.

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