Preliminary Hearing Waived in Non-Fatal Shooting Case

On Feb. 20, before DC Superior Court Judge Eric Glover, parties agreed to waive a preliminary hearing for a defendant in a non-fatal shooting case.

Jamal Francis, 44, is charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a shooting that occurred on Feb. 15, on the 3000 block of Raleigh Street, SE. No injuries were reported.

According to court documents, two men were having an argument and had agreed to fight when the suspect allegedly pulled a gun and began shooting in the victim’s direction. The victim was not injured. After the suspect fled the scene, responding officers arrested him.

Francis’ defense attorney, Mark Rollins requested a waiver of Francis’ preliminary hearing, and Judge Glover accepted the motion.

Rollins also requested Francis be released, arguing that he only has one prior conviction dating back several years, and Francis is willing to follow a conditional release, such as GPS monitoring.

The prosecution opposed this motion, stating that regardless of Francis’ past convictions, his release would still endanger the community, citing the fact that the shooting occurred near a college campus.

Judge Glover agreed with the prosecution and denied the motion for release.
All parties are slated to return on Feb. 28 in DC Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur’s courtroom.

Document: Victim Identified MPD Investigating Homicide in Southwest

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating a homicide after human remains were discovered in a wooded area on Feb. 16, on the 4300 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SW.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of human remains. Upon their arrival, officers found adult male human remains in an advanced state of decomposition. The remains were transported to the Office of the Medical Chief Examiner, where the cause of death was determined to be gunshot injuries. This case is being investigated as a homicide.

The victim was identified as 29-year-old Leon Powell.

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 Seeks a Suspect and Vehicle in Southeast Shooting

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a suspect involved in a shooting that occurred on Feb. 17 on the 3400 block of 13th Place, SE.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of a shooting. They located a 10-year-old boy suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital for the treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

A suspect and suspect vehicle were captured by surveillance cameras nearby.

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

Document: Arrest Made After Northeast Homicide

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced an arrest was made in connection to a shooting that killed a man on Feb. 18, on the 1600 block of Rosedale Street, NE.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of a shooting, where they located an adult male shooting victim inside of a residence. He died at the scene.

The victim was identified as 35-year-old Darius Robinson.

The suspect fled the scene after the shooting, but officers were able to quickly apprehend him. Charles Demarco Best, 25, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. The investigation suggests the suspect and victim knew each other.

Document: MPD Investigating Homicide in Southwest

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating a homicide after human remains were discovered in a wooded area on Feb. 16, on the 4300 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SW.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of human remains. Upon their arrival, officers found adult male human remains in an advanced state of decomposition. The remains were transported to the Office of the Medical Chief Examiner, where the cause of death was determined to be gunshot injuries. This case is being investigated as a homicide.

The victim has not yet been identified.

Document: MPD Arrests a Suspect in the Fatal Shooting at McPherson Square

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced an arrest was made in connection to a shooting that killed a man on Oct. 1, 2023, at McPherson Square on the 900 block of 15th Street, NW.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of the sounds of gunshots. While searching the scene, officers located 56-year-old Leo Colter with gunshot wound injuries across from the location. He died at the scene.

On Feb. 16, 41-year-old Marques Johnson was arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed.

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 Arrests Man for Firing a Gun During a Dispute

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced an arrest was made in connection to a non-fatal shooting incident that occurred on Feb. 15 on the 3000 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the 500 block of Raleigh Street, SE, after hearing gunshots nearby. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male who stated he was involved in a verbal argument with the suspect in the 3000 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE. During the argument, the suspect shot at him with a revolver. The suspect ran into an apartment building on the 300 block of Raleigh Street, SE. Responding officers quickly arrested the suspect. There were no injuries reported.

Jamal Francis, 44, was arrested and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon.

Document: Victims Identified MPD Investigating Triple Homicide in Northeast DC

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating a fatal shooting that left three people dead on Feb. 14, on the 5000 block of Jay Street, NE.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of an unconscious person, where they located two women and a man dead from apparent gunshot wound injuries inside an apartment.

The victims have been identified as 58-year-old Renee Bigelow, 40-year-old Kimberly Stevens, and 59-year-old Leon Harper.

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: Updated MPD Arrests Gunman After Hours-Long Barricade

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) successfully negotiated the surrender of a gunman who shot three officers, initiating an hours-long barricade on Feb. 14, on the 5000 block of Hanna Place, SE. This is an ongoing investigation.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location to serve an arrest warrant on a suspect who was wanted for cruelty to animals. While officers were outside the door to the residence, the suspect fired multiple gunshots through the door, striking three officers. A fourth officer sustained injuries that were not gunshot related.

The suspect then barricaded himself inside his residence and continued shooting sporadically throughout the standoff.

Members of the Emergency Response Team arrived on the scene and contacted the suspect by phone. After several hours of negotiation, the suspect surrendered.

As a result of the investigation, it was confirmed an involved member fired their weapon during the offense. The suspect was not injured. The use of force is being investigated by the Force Investigations Team.

Upon his surrender, the suspect identified himself to MPD as Julius James. After being booked on the charges, detectives determined his true identity is 48-year-old Stephen Claude Rattigan. He is known to have used Michael Rattigan as an alias.

Rattigan was arrested pursuant to the arrest warrant for animal cruelty. As a result of his actions during the attack on MPD officers and the detective’s investigation, he was also charged with felony assault on a police officer and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.

On Feb. 15, detectives executed a search warrant at the home where the barricade occurred. They recovered three handguns, two rifles, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and a bullet proof vest.

Document: MPD Investigating Triple Homicide in Northeast DC

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating a fatal shooting that left three people dead on Feb. 14, on the 5000 block of Jay Street, NE.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of an unconscious person, where they located two women and a man dead from apparent gunshot wound injuries inside an apartment.

The victim’s identities are being withheld pending a positive identification and next of kin notification.

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.

Mental Evaluation for Homicide, Robbery Defendant

On Feb. 16, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun continued a hearing following an order for a preliminary screening to determine a defendant’s competency.

Anthony Monroe, 17, and Marlan Smith Jr., 16, are charged with first-degree murder while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, felony destruction of property, and five counts of robbery, for their alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Antonio Cunningham on Sept. 11, 2023, on the 2300 block of Washington Place, NE, during an alleged armed robbery. The incident also left an adult male suffering from gunshot injuries.

Police reports allege that the defendants were involved in nine robberies, four of which happened on Sept. 11. They are alleged to have shot and killed Cunningham later that day. They were arrested on Oct. 25 in a vehicle that the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) alleges was stolen.

A preliminary screening to determine Monroe’s competency was ordered on the grounds that the defendant had “problems understanding or following procedures and cooperating with his attorney”.

Stephen LoGerfo, Monroe’s defense attorney, has stated that the medical report has not yet arrived from the Youth Services Center (YSC). As a result, the court could not come to a conclusion regarding his competency.

The matter is continued, and parties are set to reconvene on March 12.

‘I Forgive You, Even If You Don’t Care,’ Says Victim’s Mother During Sentencing

On Feb. 16, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun accepted a plea deal and sentenced co-defendants for their involvement in a homicide.

Malachi McFarland, 23, and Andre Smith, 26, were charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for their involvement in the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Kerry Odoms on April 15, 2021 at the 3300 block of 10th Place, SE.

On Oct. 30, 2023, both defendants accepted a plea offer extended by prosecutors, which required the defendants to plead guilty to one count of second-degree murder while armed in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges.

Through the agreement, parties agreed to a sentencing range of 12-to-18-years for McFarland and 16-to-18 years for Smith.

During the hearing, Odoms’ mother delivered a victim impact statement, in which she recounted how Smith frequented her house and how he “ate at my table, and wore my son’s clothes. He was treated like a son by me”.

She was agonized by the loss of her son, stating that “my children were supposed to bury me, not the other way around”. Odoms’ mother was also upset that the defendants never offered an apology and stated “I forgive you, even if you don’t care.”

The prosecution presented arguments in favor of sentences at the higher end of the range for both defendants.

The prosecutor argued that they were both “equally culpable” and that the proposed sentence of 18 years for McFarland and Smith was “extremely generous” while noting that “the behavior was just absolutely horrible”.

Prosecutors presented two videos of the incident, in which Smith can be observed firing at Odoms and then running. McFarland runs away from the gunshots, but then returns to shoot Odoms, ultimately killing him. Prosecutors state that “we will never know the motive,” in relation to the shooting.

Jessica Willis, McFarland’s defense attorney, addressed Odoms’ family and consoled them for their loss. They chose to share a letter from McFarland’s mom, which asked Malachi “how are you going to start to repair the harm?”

Willis noted that McFarland has taken many steps towards rehabilitation since being incarcerated, such as enrolling in college courses and taking classes on parenting skills.

She requested a 12 year sentence, stating that he was “uniquely deserving” of a lower sentence because of his “painful history” and willingness to change.

McFarland directly addressed the Odoms’ family and apologized for his actions, saying “I took your son away, and you can never get him back. There is no excuse”.

Thomas Key, Smith’s defense attorney, argued that Smith knew what he did was wrong, but nevertheless “two wrongs don’t make a right”.

“I apologize to the victim’s family and to my family,” said Smith.

Judge Okun addressed Odoms’ family saying “This is absolutely a very, very tragic situation. No matter what I do today, you are never going to get your son back, and for that, I am sorry.”

When sentencing McFarland, Judge Okun stated that it was “not something that McFarland started, but he surely finished it”. However, Judge Okun also noted that “actions speak louder than words” and that McFarland’s current actions are that of someone who wants to change.

McFarland was sentenced to 14 years of incarceration and 5 years of supervised release.

“It is clear to me that Smith started this completely unprovoked,” said Judge Okun, adding that he has not made any effort to turn his life around.

Smith was sentenced to 18 years of incarceration and 5 years of supervised release.

There were no further dates set.

Case Acquitted: Judge Limits Expert Testimony in a Murder Case

Tierra Posey was acquitted of all charges on March 20, 2024.

On Feb. 16, DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo partially granted a motion, filed by the prosecution, to allow a ShotSpotter expert to provide testimony, with limitations, in a homicide trial.

Tierra Posey, 24, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license outside of a home or business, for her alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Tia Carey on Jan. 6, 2020, on the 3700 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE.

At the motion hearing, the prosecution argued that the witness, a representative for ShotSpotter, should be allowed to discuss triangulation technology, which is the timing and distance of the shots that were fired from a particular location.

Posey’s defense attorneys, Kevann Gardner and Quiana Harris, argued that if the witness was admitted, the specialist should only be able to testify on a scientific basis of what ShotSpotter is.

Judge Demeo ruled that the witness would be admitted with certain limitations to testify about ShotSpotter’s ability to pinpoint the source of gunfire but not extrapolate with their opinions.

Judge Demeo also allowed the prosecution to have the witness testify about security footage related to the incident.

Parties are slated to return on March 4.

Defendant’s Mental Issues Cause Major Delay in Fatal Stabbing Case

On Feb. 16, parties agreed to a 90 day delay in a homicide defendant’s case before DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo, due to his health issues.

Steven Schwartz, 85, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of his 81-year-old wife, Sharron Hilda Schwartz. The incident occurred in their residence on Dec. 10, 2023, on the 1300 block of Corcoran Street, NW.

Schwartz’s defense attorneys, Kobie Flowers and Jacqueline Cadman, informed the court that Schwartz remains unable to speak coherently, emphasizing that no mental health evaluation has been completed.

Judge Demeo found no substantial progress in Schwartzs’ condition and suggested a 90 day delay. However, she noted that if there was an improvement in Schwartzs’ condition then a hearing could be scheduled earlier.

Both parties were unopposed to the suggestion.

Parties are slated to return May 24.

‘You Have Robbed Me of My First Born Son,’ Said Victim’s Mother at Sentencing

On Feb. 16, before DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo, a defendant was sentenced to 12 years in prison with a mandatory five year minimum for his involvement in a homicide.

Jamaarr Morgan, 23, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, for his involvement in the shooting death of Jacques Benjamin Russ, 44, on Dec. 14, 2021, on the unit block of 61st Street, NE.

On July 12, 2023, Morgan accepted a plea extended by prosecutors, which required he plead guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter while armed, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges. The parties agreed to follow the DC Voluntary Sentencing Guidelines on the count, which is a sentencing range of seven-and-a-half to 15 years due to Morgan’s lack of criminal history.

During the sentencing, the prosecution presented a written statement by Russ’ mother on how the fatal shooting of her son had impacted her.

“You have robbed me of my first born son,” said the statement, adding that Russ’ mother cannot help but cry when she thinks of how her son, who was blind, died in the street alone.

Morgan’s defense attorney, Dana Page, argued for Morgan to be sentenced under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA), which allows youth offenders’ cases to be virtually sealed if they successfully complete all sentencing requirements.

Page emphasized Morgan’s history of mental illness, adding that he has been a victim of a stabbing and two shootings. She argued that he acted in self defense when shooting Russ.

The prosecution argued against this, citing the evidence significantly undermining the claim he acted in self defense.

The prosecution noted that Morgan was suspended from every school that he attended, had a history of repetitive lying, and committed the offense in spite of strong family support.

Judge Demeo questioned Morgan’s capacity to be rehabilitated, doubting that the work that was done on Morgan’s part would lead to prevention of other offenses.

The judge ultimately decided against sentencing Morgan under YRA guidelines, and imposed 12 years incarceration and five years of supervised release.

In addition, Judge Demeo required Morgan to participate in a program to improve his mental illness and register as a gun offender for two years following his release.

No further dates were set.

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