Parties Finish Closing Arguments in Homicide Trial

On Jan. 31, defense continued their closing statements and prosecution gave their rebuttal before DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo in a multi-week homicide trial.

Vorreze Thomas, 25, and his uncle Delonta Stevenson, 28, are charged with conspiracy, first-degree murder while armed, and two counts of assault with intent to kill, among other charges, for their alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Terrance Allen. The incident occurred on Jan. 18, 2021, on the 3000 block of Stanton Road, SE, and left two other individuals suffering from gunshot wounds.

All three victims were found inside a vehicle at the scene.

Thomas’s defense attorney, Howard McEachern, began his closing statements by stating that although many of the prosecution’s witnesses had testified, only one of them identified Thomas as being the driver of the green Volvo at the crime scene. This witness was one of the surviving victims of the shooting, who prosecutors claim is the individual they were attempting to kill.

McEachern argued that this witness had initially repeatedly denied identifying Stevenson or Thomas at the crime scene during his interview with the police. However, McEachern stated he had only later identified them as being there in order to be rewarded with more favorable sentencing for his ongoing criminal charges.

McEachern also disputed the prosecution’s DNA evidence by stating that “inside of the courtroom, DNA means nothing.” He elaborated that transfer DNA cannot be detected, so people could have their DNA falsely placed at a crime scene, and there is no way to determine how long DNA was at a location. \

McEachern concluded by stating that cell data tracking is not the same thing as GPS tracking, so the prosecution’s cell phone location evidence could only provide the jury with the approximate area Thomas’s phone was in, and could not place him at the crime scene with certainty.

The prosecution began their rebuttal by telling the jury that the defense was trying to distract them from the most incriminating evidence against the defendants.

The prosecution first reminded the jury that Stevenson’s girlfriend had been at the scene of the crime shortly before it occurred, along with two individuals who looked like the defendants. They stated that the clothing of the defendants was easily recognizable due to social media posts showing them wearing the same clothing that was seen on surveillance footage from the crime scene.

The prosecution responded to the defense’s questions regarding the reliability of the shooting victim’s testimony by stating that they were not asking the jury to believe him completely; instead, they wanted the jury to look at his testimony in relation to the other evidence.

They emphasized that even though the witness had not seen the surveillance camera footage from the day of the crime, his description of the events matched up perfectly with what occurred in the footage. The prosecution also argued that the witness had testified due to the guilt he felt after Terrence Allen’s death, and not because he expected any rewards from the prosecution.

The prosecution then responded to the defense’s arguments about the reliability of the DNA. They argued that there was no evidence of contamination in the case, and that the arguments that the defense was making about DNA should not be considered as evidence by the jury–they should only consider the DNA expert witness’s testimony.

Finally, the prosecution concluded by stating that although some types of evidence, such as DNA evidence and cell site data, needed expert testimony, other types of evidence did not. The prosecution told the jury that “You can look at footage and pictures and put two and two together,” and asked the jury to “hold the defendants accountable for using a firearm to settle whatever petty dispute they had.”

Jury instruction and deliberation began immediately after the closing statements and rebuttal.

Judge Denies Release in Homicide Case Amid Criminal History Debate

On Jan.30, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun denied the release request for a homicide suspect due to the nature of the crime and the defendant’s characteristics which favored detention.

Erin Sheffey, 28 is charged with second-degree murder, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involved in the murder of Kwiyon Maddox, 32, on Aug.15, 2021, on the 2100 block of 16th Street, SE.

During the hearing, defense attorney Rachel McCoy presented video evidence showing Maddox and an associate on a dirt bike speeding down 16th Street, SE, toward V Street, SE. McCoy argued that both individuals were armed and shot at Sheffey first, emphasizing the challenge in determining who fired the initial shot.

“It is clear that both individuals are armed. But you cannot see who shot first,” stated the defense. “Given that there are individuals on a vehicle and armed, it is the defense’s argument that the individuals on the dirt bike shot first,” McCoy added.

McCoy raised concerns about the investigation, highlighting the absence of video evidence showing the other side of the incident. She acknowledged the recovery of shell casings in the area but pointed out the lack of footage from the Good Hope Road area and 16th Street, SE.

The defense also argued that the evidence is neutral and insufficient to prove guilt. McCoy cited a 911 call mentioning a Black Kia, not linked to Sheffey, to support her claim. “The prosecution acknowledges that the evidence is neutral and not strong enough to prove guilt,” she added.

Sheffey’s criminal history was also a point of contention. McCoy asserted that his criminal record doesn’t raise significant concerns for someone his age. However, the government countered by discussing prior convictions involving firearms, drugs, and robberies, all coinciding with the time of the homicide.

McCoy said those arrests were not “papered,” meaning not prosecuted, and asked that the judge not consider them. “Please do not consider those no paper cases, because no paper was filed due to lack of evidence,” she stated.

The prosecution presented footage of an individual identified as Sheffey wearing a blue shirt and a baseball hat on V and U Street, moments before the dirt bike passed through and the shooting occurred. They argued that the defense’s video evidence fails to establish Maddox and his associate as aggressors.

“When you see a video with two people on a dirt bike, you can see that they are not the aggressors. The video shows that the dirt bike hit the floor first before the shooting happened,” prosecutors stated.

They contended that nine shots were fired in the area consistent with Sheffey’s location, and seven shots in the location where Maddox was, to support their claim that Sheffey shot first.

McCoy suggested an alternative scenario, arguing that the dirt bike could have fallen because Maddox and his associate shot first.

Judge Okun found this claim plausible and agreed with the prosecution to acknowledge Sheffey’s non-prosecuted arrests.

“I agree with the prosecution to give attention to the no paper arrests. The cases involved robberies, where the defendant’s DNA was found, all happening around the time of the homicide,” Judge Okun stated.

Judge Okun ruled in favor of detention, citing the serious nature of the second-degree murder while armed charge and the characteristics of the defendant.

The next status hearing is scheduled for March 15.

Shooting Defendant Accepts Plea Deal

On Jan. 30, a non-fatal shooting defendant accepted a plea deal extended by prosecutors in DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan’s courtroom.

Arnold Lawrance, 33, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his involvement in a non-fatal shooting incident that injured one individual, on Nov. 25, 2023, at the 1400 block of W Street, NW.

According to court documents, Lawrance shot the victim in the neck after the victim discovered that Lawrance had entered their apartment and taken property. The victim survived after being hospitalized.

During the hearing, defense attorney Wole Falodun alerted the court that Arnold was accepting a deal extended by prosecutors, which required him to plead guilty to one count of armed robbery in exchange for dismissal of all other charges, and the prosecution’s not seeking an indictment.

As part of the deal, according to court documents, the defendant will plead guilty to one count of armed robbery and the prosecution will not indict the defendant on any of the remaining charges, including unlawful discharge, and won’t recommend additional punishment beyond the maximum penalty, which is 30 years.

At the status hearing, the prosecution stated that had the case gone to trial, they would have proved Arnold’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Parties are slated to return for sentencing April 12.

Judge Weighs Granting House Arrest for Non-Fatal Shooting Defendant

On January 31, Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan requested additional time to decide if she would release a defendant involved in a non-fatal shooting to house arrest.

Eric Davis, 35, is charged with assault with the intention to kill while armed for his alleged shooting of a local restaurant employee. The incident occurred on the afternoon of May 30, 2023, on the 1400 block of H Street, NE.

Davis waived his right to a preliminary hearing, advised to do so by his defense attorney, Michael Bruckheim. Bruckheim proceeded to motion for Davis to be placed on house arrest in anticipation of further court appearances.

Bruckheim detailed how Davis would be able to reside at his girlfriend’s home in the District. Bruckehim described that not only had Davis been “providing for the household as a whole,” but he also demonstrated a keen interest in joining the military upon his potential release.

Bruckheim said Davis’ support system, drive for a career, and minimal criminal history suggest that he would be cooperative with his potential release conditions.

“This would be an opportunity for Davis to show that he can be compliant with the stricter form of release,” Bruckheim said.

According to the prosecution, however, Davis should remain held.

“There hasn’t been a change in circumstances” the prosecution argued. “House arrest will not protect the community.”

The prosecution pointed out the violent nature of the incident, which was captured by surveillance footage obtained from the restaurant, alleging that Davis knew the victim before the crime. There are “multiple angles” of camera footage that show a figure resembling Davis pulling out a gun and shooting the victim, the prosecution said.

According to court documents, several witnesses were able to identify Davis by comparing the surveillance footage and pictures of Davis. The footage also reveals that the victim was shot in the chest and stomach several times.

“It is just by luck that the victim was not killed,” the prosecution said.

Judge Raffinan said she would need to review the case further before deciding on whether to hold or release Davis to house arrest.

Parties are slated to return on May 2.

Detective Testifies in First-Degree Murder Preliminary Hearing

On Jan. 31, a preliminary hearing was held, where video evidence and witness testimony was presented before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt, regarding a homicide case.

Deandre Miles, 28, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Davon Fuller on Oct. 16, 2023 at the 1500 block of Maryland Avenue, NE.

According to Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) documents, officers responded to the location for the report of a shooting. When they arrived, they located Fuller with gunshot wound injuries. He was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

On Dec. 27, Miles turned himself into MPD’s Homicide Branch, where he was arrested.

During the hearing, prosecution introduced a MPD homicide detective who identified Miles in the courtroom, physically pointing him out.

Prosecution displayed multiple video and photo exhibits collected from nearby establishments to refresh the witness’ memory regarding the incident.

According to the detective, the surveillance videos show two individuals, identified as Miles and Fuller, interacting at a Safeway. In another video, the individual identified as Miles is pointing a handgun at Fuller. Fuller is seen with a newspaper in his left hand and a knife in his right hand.

According to court documents, during an interrogation with MPD,, Miles claimed that Fuller “charged” at him inside the Safeway. However, the video exhibits presented by the prosecution seem to contradict these claims, rather showing Miles and Fuller walking down an aisle simultaneously.

Additionally, the detective stated that when reviewing this surveillance footage during the initial investigation, he could hear Fuller say to Miles, “Stop following me.”

Miles allegedly has had other contacts with police as well as mental health issues.

Due to time constraints, the detective was unable to finish his testimony.

Proceedings are set to resume Feb. 1

Shooting Defendant Accepts Plea Offer

On Jan. 31, a shooting defendant accepted a plea deal extended by prosecutors in DC Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz’s courtroom.

Zaria Williams, 22, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for her involvement in a non-fatal shooting. The incident occurred on Sept. 15, 2023, on the 3900 block of Georgia Avenue, NW. No gunshot injuries were reported during the incident.

During the hearing, Williams’ attorney, Thomas Lester, alerted the court she was accepting a plea offer that required her to plead guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawfully carrying a pistol without a license, in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment.

The prosecutors stated that, had the case gone to trial, they would have proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Williams was the perpetrator and acted voluntarily. She did not act in self-defense.

Lester requested Williams be released as she awaits sentencing, arguing she was pregnant at the time of the incident, and stated she should be on probation rather than serve jail time.

Judge Leibovitz denied the request, due to the nature and circumstances of the offense.

Williams is scheduled for sentencing on April 5.

Judge Grants Motion to Suppress Evidence From Defendant’s Phone

On Jan. 31, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt granted the defense’s motion to suppress phone evidence that was collected in a murder investigation.

Koran Jackson, 23, Reginald Steele, 24, Tyiion Kyree Freeman, 24, Stephen Nelson, 22, and Aaron Dequan Brown, 27, are 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. They are also accused in a separate incident the same day which left a seven-year-old boy suffering from gunshot wound injuries on the 2400 block of Alabama Avenue, SE.

During the hearing, two evidence motions were discussed.

The first entailed four phone calls supposedly between defendant Freeman and an alleged associate. During the call, the individuals reportedly discussed firearms related to Lukes’ homicide.

The defense requested these calls ultimately be disregarded, arguing that this acquaintance was not proven trustworthy due to previous unrelated criminal offenses and, further, the calls were unintelligible.

Freeman’s defense attorney, Shawn Sukumar, said, “A statement that cannot be understood is not a statement.” Parties will continue discussing this motion at a later date.

Additionally, parties considered defense’s motion to suppress any information from defendant Steele’s phone, that was recovered before he was taken in for questioning. Sukumar argued that the police did not have probable cause to seize the device.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) lead detective testified on Jan. 25 that a search warrant was subsequently obtained for Steele’s phone, as he believed it contained evidence connected to the March 20 shooting.

Judge Brandt stated that while officers had probable cause to initially stop and question Steele due to reasonable suspicion, they did not have enough information to warrant a seizure of his cell phone.

The court ruled in the favor of the defense request to suppress the phone. Judge Brandt emphasized the lack of communication between officers on the night of March 1, 2020, stating that there was no information shared between officers where Steele was detained, and the apartment complex on Alabama Ave, where the shooting took place. It boiled down to “overworked officers not communicating.”

Officers initially picked up Steele’s phone after noticing it was simply lying on the ground during his initial detention, not for reason of probable cause. Judge Brandt concluded, “The devil is always in the details.”

The court is set to proceed motions on Feb. 1

Defense Requests Additional Time to Review Shooting Defendant’s Probation Case

On Jan. 30, DC Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz granted a defendant’s request to focus on his status in an unrelated federal case before resolving probation in a 2020 shooting case.

Ronald Yarborough , 29, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his involvement in a non-fatal shooting that occurred on June 28, 2020 at the 400 block of 2nd Street, NW. He was also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a prior convict for being in possession of a firearm at the time of his arrest on July 23, 2020, at the same location.

On Dec. 22, 2020, Yarborough accepted a deal extended by prosecutors, which required him to plead guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm by a prior convict in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges, and dismissal of a misdemeanor case.

On May 3, 2021, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun sentenced Yarborough to 36 months for assault with a dangerous weapon and 18 months for unlawful possession of a firearm by a prior convict, the terms to be served concurrently.

He was also required to be on supervised probation for two years upon release.

On Jan 29, Yarborough allegedly violated his probation, and was detained in connection to an unrelated federal case. Donna Beasley requested Yarborough not be held in the current matter, arguing he should be permitted to continue with his probation and requested additional time to return once a proceeding is held in his federal case.

Parties are slated to return April 1.

Case Acquitted: Closing Statements Presented in Shooting Case

Donnell Tucker was acquitted of all charges on Jan. 31, 2024.

On Jan. 30, attorneys gave their closing statements in regards to a non-fatal shooting case in DC Superior Judge Robert Salerno’s courtroom.

Donnell Tucker, 27, is charged with one count of aggravated assault knowingly while armed, one count of burglary while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, one count of threatening to kidnap or injure a person, and one count of conspiracy for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting that occurred on March 28, 2023, on the 3400 block of 13th Place, SE.

On Nov. 6, 2023, Tucker’s mother, Tiaquana Chandler, 42, was convicted on conspiracy in connection to the shooting. She was acquitted of four other charges: first-degree burglary, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, soliciting a violent crime, and additional possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.

In their closing statement, the prosecution asked the jury to find Tucker guilty of all charges, arguing that the victim and an eyewitness identified him as the shooter during the attack. They added that Tucker’s birth certificate proved Chandler had a son named Donnell Tucker Jr. that matched the name and birthdate of an identification card belonging to the defendant, and matched the description given by witnesses.

Furthermore, the eyewitness testified to hearing the shooter shout, “Why’d you hit my mother?” while assaulting the victim.

Prosecution argued that inconsistent eyewitness testimony was a result of a language barrier that caused confusion during questioning. They provided police interrogation footage occurring right after the incident, where the eyewitness was “scared to the point she had to catch her breath” but was able to identify Chandler as one of the perpetrators.

“The only fair and just conclusion is to find him guilty,” prosecutors insisted.

In her closing statement, Tucker’s defense attorney, Marnitta King, focused on the description of the shooter according to witness testimony. King claimed “the only thing [the prosecution] has is the lineage” in response to Tucker’s birth certificate.

King rejected the prosecution’s assertion of a language barrier as the reason for the eyewitness’ testimony being “all over the place.” King held that the eyewitness “never changed her testimony,” in claiming Tucker was not the shooter.

She went on to assert that, according to eyewitness testimony, descriptions of the shooter’s height, hair length, and skin complexion did not match Tucker. In addition, photos of Tucker’s neck revealed no tattoo, which the eyewitness testified the shooter had.

King pointed out that even as witnesses testified in court, “no one, at any time, pointed to the defendant in this courtroom,” to identify him as the shooter, including the victim. The existence of Tucker’s birth certificate did not prove his involvement, according to King, and she held that “Tiaquana’s son” did not mean the defendant was the only child of Chandler’s.

In concluding her argument, King reminded the jury that the burden of proof falls on the prosecution. She asked the jury to “look at what evidence [the prosecution] didn’t present.” King asked, “Where’s the DNA evidence?” in observing the strongest evidence presented by the prosecution was limited past proving Tucker’s identity.

Prosecution finished with a rebuttal, claiming the victim suffered serious head trauma that could impact memory of the shooter’s appearance. They reiterated that there is no evidence of Chandler having other children in DC and that Chandler’s address was listed on Tucker’s identification card, implying they lived together.

With the conclusion of closing statements, the jury was presented with the case.

Homicide Defendant’s Lawyer Argues Against Phone Records

On Jan. 29, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt heard testimony from a detective and reviewed evidence in a continued motions hearing.

Koran Jackson, 23,Reginald Steele, 24, Tyiion Kyree Freeman, 24, Stephen Nelson, 22, and Aaron Dequan Brown, 27, are 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 incident also left a seven-year-old boy suffering from gunshot wound injuries.

Prosecutors called a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective who responded to the incident.

He noted the description of the premises and found a firearm, casing, and a spent bullet were recovered at the scene.

Even though Steele didn’t initially run from police he was not compliant when officers told him to stop, according to the detective and an officer saw Steele’s phone on the ground and kept it as evidence.

The detective explained the reason for seizing Steele’s phone was to establish his presence at the premises during the incident, but his attorney, Megan Allburn, said it wasn’t clear who authorized the seizure.

The prosecution was able to reach out to the officer who stopped Steele at the crime scene to confirm the time of his police encounter.

Meanwhile, an officer who spoke with the seven-year-old victim’s mother, said she had not shared her description of the shooter with “dreads.”.

The prosecution motioned to introduce a responding officer’s body worn camera footage showing another detective’s initial questioning of a person in dark-colored clothing during a stop as evidence which shows a timeline. An officer in the body worn camera footage states a second suspect has been stopped.

Judge Brandt expressed concern about the absence of an officer to authenticate the footage.

“It’s a bit troubling that he’s not here to testify,” Judge Brandt said. “A lot of the time, a body worn camera speaks better than a live witness.”

An officer in the body worn camera footage is seen questioning a suspect, and communication over the radio states a second suspect has been stopped. Prosecution argued that it developed probable cause due to aiding in establishing a timeline of events following the incident.

Judge Brandt has not made a final ruling of the motions discussed.

Parties will return Jan. 30.

Probable Cause Found in Co-Defendant Murder Cases

On Jan. 30 DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan found probable cause that two homicide cases had sufficient evidence to go to trial.

Deangelo Opey, 31, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the death of Anthony Weathers, 25, on the 300 block of V Street, NE. Weathers was found by responding officers on the 2000 block of 4th Street, NE, on Oct. 31, 2012.

Gregory Smithwick, 31, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the death of Vernon Davis, 34, on the 1900 block of 3rd Street, NE, on Sept 13, 2013.

Opey and Smithwick are co-defendants due to the prosecutors’ belief that Smithwick killed Davis because he was potentially a witness in a case against Opey.

In this continued preliminary hearing, Judge Raffinan found probable cause for both Opey and Smithwick. She stated that there are multiple witness testimonies placing Opey at the scene of the crime, including a witness who testified that Opey confessed to him for the murder of Weathers.

Additionally, there was evidence based on text messages between Smithwick and Davis, including one that said “call me when you about to leave,” followed by a call between the two individuals. Other witness testimony claimed Smithwick confessed.

Opey’s defense attorney, Paige Resnick, requested he be released, stating that he has previous work experience and has aspirations of starting his own company. Additionally, the defense argued that Opey would have stable housing and support within his community, while attending mental health treatments and finishing his GED.

Judge Raffinan, denied this request and ordered Opey remain detained as he awaits further proceedings. The prosecutors presented facts of previous release violations and gun charges in 2019 and 2023, indicating that Opey has had compliance issues.

Smithwick’s defense attorney, James King, requested he be released, arguing that, prior to his arrest for this case, Smithwick had been on supervised release for 36 months because of a previous conviction, and he had no violations to his release.

According to King, Smithwick is also involved in helping his community and runs a company where he teaches other members of his community how to be landscapers. King also argued that Smithwick would have support from his family and would stay with family members if released.

Judge Raffinan, found that he has the ability to comply with supervision and granted Smithwick’s release. During his release, Smithwick is required to be in home confinement until the next status date, have a GPS monitor, call the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) twice a week, and is prohibited from possessing or using a firearm..

Opey is slated to return Feb. 21, with Smithwick returning March 6.

Defense Says Witness Committed the Crime

On Jan 29, a defense attorney claimed a witness was actually the perpetrator in a homicide in a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein.

Elhadji Ndiaye, 24, is facing charges of first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, robbery while armed, tampering with physical evidence, destruction of property, and obstruction of justice for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Travis Ruth on the 2700 block of Jasper Street, NE on Jan. 18, 2019.

According to Ndiaye’s defense attorney, Nikki Lotze, the victim’s family believes a witness in the case killed Ruth.

The witness, who testified during the trial, was a friend of both Ndiaye and Ruth.

Lotze argued that the witness couldn’t even look the victim’s family in the eye and say what actually happened on the night of the incident including the day their friend got shot.

Two days after the shooting, a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer responded to a call about a vehicle fire. The officer’s body camera footage from Jan. 20, 2019 showed a burned Honda Accord, in which the shooting allegedly occurred two days earlier.

Surveillance footage from a nearby building was able to capture the moment the car was set on fire, but not reveal the individual who set it.

The next witness called to the stand was from MPD’s K-9 Patrol Unit to discuss evidence of a gun at the scene of the shooting.

The officer’s partner, a firearm detection German Shepherd, traced an odor near the front seam of the driver seat, which was the area in which Ruth was allegedly shot. But, there was no gun recovered from the scene.

The prosecution rested their case and the defense will be calling in one more witness to testify.

Parties are set to return Jan. 30.

Judge Dismisses Murder Case Against One Defendant

On Jan. 26, parties finished pleading two homicide defendants’ cases before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun in a preliminary hearing. In the end, Judge Okun found probable cause that Jalonte Nathaniel Thompkins committed a crime but not Renza Bryant.

Thompkins, 32, and Bryant, 37, were charged as co-defendants for first-degree murder while armed for their alleged involvement in the shooting of James Morgan, 34, his brother Jamal Morgan, 30, 42-year-old Vincent Martin, and two surviving victims. The incident occurred on the 2500 block of Ontario Road, NW on Aug. 5, 2023.

The hearing resumed with the prosecution finishing their cross examination of the lead detective from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), who highlighted the large number of gun shell casings recovered from the scene suggesting there were additional firearms involved in the incident beyond the two handguns that were recovered.

Shortly after the detective’s testimony, the defense called an investigator from the Public Defender Services (PDS) responsible for reviewing evidence of the incident and assisted in creating a hand drawn diagram which outlined locations of various shell casings found at and around the crime scene.

Bryant’s defense attorney, Sylvia Smith, asked the investigator to explain the process of mapping out the gun shell casings diagram, who said it was based on a report. The prosecution said that visiting a crime scene months after the incident took place cannot give an exact depiction of the event since the crime scene is likely to have changed over time.

Prosecutors also reviewed surveillance footage of Unity Park where there appears to be a confrontation between the victims and the defendants. After reviewing the footage, the prosecution argued that both defendants and one of the victims appeared to be armed.

The prosecution suggested that both Thompkins and Bryant conspired to ambush the three victims, but the defense said there is zero evidence that supports the idea of a planned attack.

In the surveillance footage, an individual identified as Thompkins can be seen riding a scooter which is the same one that an individual identified as Bryant can later be seen on scooting away. That same scooter was later found in the Ontario Road apartments.

Prosecutors say this is not a case of self-defense due to the location of the multiple gunshot wounds found on the victims’ bodies. For all three victims, multiple gunshot wounds were found on their back and side suggesting they were trying to get away from the perpetrators.

According to Smith, the identification of a second suspect does not match the description of Bryant and he cannot be charged for simply being in the vicinity of the crime. Smith also pointed to the lack of Bryant’s DNA recovered at the scene, while Thompkins DNA was found on several shell casings.

In response to the surveillance footage, Smith pointed out that there is zero interaction between Bryant and Thompkins, highlighting that the defendants don’t even know each other.

There were numerous witnesses on the scene, none of which mentioned seeing a man with a white shirt and a tan hat, a description that matched the clothing Bryant can be seen wearing in surveillance footage on the night of the incident.

Smith said the government and law enforcement are only speculating Bryant’s alleged involvement in the shooting.

Although the evidence suggesting Bryant’s involvement in the shooting is limited, prosecutors mentioned the DNA link between Thompkins and a recovered gun shell cartridge found at the scene. In addition, witnesses described the shooter as being a black male with long dreadlocks past shoulder length, which is similar to Thompkins description.

The prosecution maintains that circumstantial evidence in this case can be just as strong as direct evidence.

Thompkins defense attorney, Michelle Stevens, argued that the description of the shooter provided by a witness does not match Thompkins’ description it only suggests that he was present.

Regarding Thompkins DNA found on the shell casing, the defense states it represents very “preliminary testing” and should not be viewed as completely accurate. Furthermore, DNA can be shed and it’s possible that a shell casing rolled and picked up Thompkins DNA indirectly.

Judge Okun found probable cause that Thompkins was involved in the shooting, but did not find probable cause for Bryant’s involvement. Judge Okun dismissed all charges against Bryant and he ordered he be released from the jail.

Following the probable cause ruling, Stevens requested Thompkins be released awaiting further proceedings, arguing he has strong family ties in the community and record of employment. Prosecutors opposed the request, stating he poses immense danger to the community.

Judge Okun ordered Thompkins be detained awaiting trial, stating that there is no combination of release conditions that would ensure the safety of the community.

Parties are slated to return April 5.

Shooting Defendant Pleads Not Guilty During Arraignment

On Jan. 29, a non-fatal shooting defendant pleaded not guilty during an arraignment in the courtroom of DC Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno.

Johnathan Dawkins, 42, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm by a prior convict, and threat to kidnap or injure a person, for his alleged involvement in a shooting that took place on the 700 block of G Street, SE, on April 24, 2023. No injuries were reported.

According to court documents, Dawkins allegedly fired six shots in the direction of the victim. After being interviewed by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the victim revealed that they had talked to Dawkins earlier that night, and claimed the interaction escalated to the point that Dawkins told the victim “ I’ll shoot you right now”.

According to the victim, the two had met a year prior and the hostility Dawkins demonstrated was due to money lost in a craps game.

Dominique Winters, Dawkins’ defense attorney, alerted the court he pleaded not guilty to all charges, and asserted his constitutional rights, including the right to a speedy trial.

While awaiting trial, Dawkins continues to comply with pretrial release conditions.

A status hearing has been scheduled for Feb. 21.

Juvenile Defendant’s Release Denied Due to ‘Two Very Serious Crimes’

On Jan. 29, DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld denied a juvenile’s request for release as he awaits further proceedings due to his previously being sentenced for “two very serious crimes”.

The juvenile, a 15-year-old boy, is charged with armed carjacking, assault with intent to commit robbery, robbery, and assault with a dangerous weapon, for his alleged involvement in a carjacking and non-fatal shooting incident on Jan. 12.

According to Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) documents, a male victim was sitting inside a vehicle on the 1900 block of 14th Street, SE, when three suspects approached, assaulted, and robbed him at gunpoint. Two of the suspects took the victim’s vehicle.

Shortly after, one of the two suspects in the vehicle exchanged gunfire with an unknown person on the 3300 block of Benning Road, NE, before being struck by gunfire.

During the hearing, prosecutors alerted the judge that they had just been assigned the case and would be requesting additional time to review all evidence before making a decision about extending a plea offer. However, the attorney for the juvenile requested a trial date for the matter.

In addition, the defense attorney requested the juvenile be released pending trial, arguing that he’s currently held in a medium security level at the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) and is working with personnel to maintain that status.

Prosecutors objected to his release, stating that the juvenile is serving sentences at the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) for two cases, which were not discussed in court.

A trial date was set for Feb. 12.

Parties are slated to return Feb. 8 for a trial readiness hearing.

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