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Judge Cites ‘Seriousness’ of Shooting in Maintaining Release Conditions

DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park denied a shooting defendant’s request to modify her release conditions based on the “seriousness” of the offense.

Diamond Early, 31, is charged with one count of assault while armed and one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for her alleged involvement in a shooting which took place on July 31, 2023 on the 400 block of Kansas Avenue, NW.  

According to court documents, the victim told the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) that Early had “pushed her 6-year-old nephew hard in the face” as a response to a physical altercation between Early’s children and her own.

According to MPD’s report, the victim felt Early’s actions were “out of line” and confronted her. At that point Early allegedly shot and injured the victim. 

In an April 18 hearing, Early’s attorney, Antoni Jones, asked the court to remove Early’s GPS monitor, arguing she has been compliant since it was attached in November 2023. 

The prosecution stated that even though Early has been compliant, the monitor should stay on in the interest of public safety concerns. 

Judge Park denied the defendant’s request,  “Because of the seriousness of this case; that’s as far as I will go.”

During the hearing, parties alerted Judge Park they have been discussing plea negotiations since December 2023.

According to prosecution, the defense had made its latest counter offer to the plea the morning of the hearing.

As a result, the prosecution asked Judge Park for a continuance so they can review the proposal. 

“That’s fine, but let’s be done with this,” said Judge Park and he urged parties to come to a consensus for the next hearing.

The details of the plea offer were not specified during the hearing.

Parties are slated to return on May 8.

Defendant Testifies He Was ‘Afraid for My Life,’ In Homicide Trial

“I was afraid for my life,” said a homicide defendant during a jury trial on April 17 before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein’s courtroom. 

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

According to previous testimony by Magruder’s widow, the shooting was the likely result of a disputed five dollar marijuana transaction.

Jason Tulley, Williams’ defense attorney, called him to testify regarding his childhood and the events leading up to the shooting. Williams repeatedly stated his father “punched [him] at will,” and that he often used a “three-piece,” a reference to three punches delivered in sequence. He added that his father also punished him with a jump rope, belt, and stick.

“Every time he hit me I would cry as a kid, ”he said

Williams stated his mother was unaware that Magruder beat him repeatedly even though Magruder was accused of abusing her.

During his testimony, Williams said Magruder bragged about his involvement in beating a man with a chain.

Regarding the shooting, Williams stated after he got marijuana from Magruder. They got into a confrontation about five dollars and Magruder began punching Williams repeatedly. 

“He said he was gonna hurt me and kill me,” Williams told the court.

As Magruder was beating him, Williams said “I love you and I’m your son.” However, Magruder continued to punch him. Williams testified that, during the struggle, Magruder tugged at a fanny pack that Williams was wearing, causing a gun used to fall out of it.

Both men reached for the gun as Williams retrieved it. 

“I thought he was going to kill me,” testified Williams, adding that “everything happened so quick” and he “didn’t want to shoot [Magruder].” 

According to Williams, after the incident, he “left the area” and dumped the gun in a trash can. 

“I wish it never happened,” insisted Williams, expressing that he still misses his father. 

On cross-examination, the prosecution asked Williams about the time he spent with Magruder when he was a child. 

Williams said he met him occasionally as a child and sometimes spent weekends with his father, but they never lived together. He added that, as an adult, he occasionally spent time with Magruder at a recreational center. 

When asked what would cause his father to beat him, Williams shared that Magruder, “hit me even when I never argued.”  

According to Williams, during the killing he told Magruder he had the money. However, Magruder kept punching him. 

Following Williams’ testimony, Tulley called previous victim of a traffic assault by Magruder. 

According to the victim, in 2017, while cycling in the District of Columbia, he was assaulted by a man driving a silver SUV.

While waiting at a red light, the silver SUV “clipped” his bike and cut him off while yelling profanities at him.

The victim testified he continued biking, and at the next block the man driving the silver SUV pulled over and exited his vehicle. The driver grabbed a motorcycle chain from his trunk and started “swinging” at him.

According to the victim, the driver was, “just really angry.” 

He testified that, after being hit multiple times by the driver, he was able to get away. He photographed the license plate of the vehicle and called 911 as the driver left.

The victim testified that he suffered from severe bruising and internal bleeding due to the incident. 

He identified the suspect, who was prosecuted and pleaded guilty, as Magruder.

Parties will meet again for trial on April 18.

Defendant Rejects Two Plea Offers in 2021 Homicide Case

On April 17, a defendant rejected two plea offers relating to a 2021 homicide case before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt 

Idrissa Fall, 37, is charged with first-degree murder premeditated while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a prior convict, for his alleged involvement in the murder of Dara Northern, 29, on the 6100 block of 4th Street, NW, on July 18, 2021.

According to court documents, Fall is alleged to have shot Northern as she was sitting in the passenger seat of the vehicle of one of her friends. A witness statement explained that the two “appeared to have just had an argument.” 

According to court documents, another witness who lived with the two had stated that the argument had allegedly spawned from the defendant’s “paranoia because the decedent had gay friends.”

The witness had also identified Fall as the victim’s ex-boyfriend.

At a previous trial readiness hearing on April 8, Fall had requested a week to consider two plea offers that had been previously extended to him by the prosecution.

Both plea offers would have Fall plead guilty to second-degree murder while armed.

As part of the first plea offer, Fall would also plead guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm.In exchange, all other charges against Fall in this case as well as a separate case would be dismissed.

The second plea offer would also have Fall plead guilty to second-degree murder while are, resulting in 19 years of incarceration. In exchange, the prosecution would agree to dismiss additional charges, and remove the hate crime element being pursued in this case.

Fall’s defense attorney, Wole Falodun, indicated that Fall intends to maintain his current trial date of Nov. 18, thereby rejecting both plea offers.

In response, the prosecution stated that the plea offers had expired with Fall’s rejection. Parties discussed dates for a motion hearing.
Parties are expected to reconvene on Oct. 1 for a motions hearing, and Fallis expected back in court on April 24 for a separate case with DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld.

Homicide Defendant Scheduled For Trial After Nine Years

On April 12, a homicide defendant whose case has been in adjudication for nearly nine years, received his trial date. 

George Edwards, 34, was charged with first-degree murder while armed, four counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, and five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Reginald Perry on Nov. 7, 2015, on the 1700 block of 8th Street, NW. 

On Sept. 8 2016, Edwards initially accepted a plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges. However, in November 2016, he filed a motion to withdraw the plea. 

Edwards was ultimately sentenced to 24 years incarceration and five years supervised release on Nov. 16, 2017. 

However, the DC Court of Appeals ruled last year that Edwards had the right to withdraw his original guilty plea.    

On Friday, the prosecution said Edward’s DNA was a likely match for samples found on several of the items tested, including two pistols, two magazines, blood in the vehicle, and blood on a baseball cap.

According to court documents, multiple firearms and other pieces of evidence were recovered from the scene and have been tested. 

Edwards waived his right to independently test these items before DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe. 

After almost nine years, the case is scheduled to be re-tried in October.

Parties are slated to return on Oct. 11 for a trial readiness hearing.

Homicide Defendant Rejects Plea Offer To Reduce Maximum Sentencing  

On April 17, DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe heard a first-degree murder defendant reject the prosecution’s plea deal. 

Da’John Blunt, 23, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the shooting of 34-year-old Kevin McDowell on the 2100 block of H Street, NE, on Aug. 19, 2023. 

The maximum sentence for Blunt’s charge of first-degree murder is 30 years in prison. The plea deal originally extended by the prosecution would lower the maximum sentence from 10-to -15 years, and stated the prosecution would not seek an indictment, but Blunt declined.  

Blunt confirmed he’d reviewed the offer with his defense attorney, Kevin Mosley, prior to the hearing. 

“I’ve had enough time to think about the offer,” Blunt said. 

Parties are slated to return on Aug. 2. 

Judge Orders Homicide Defendant Transferred From St. Elizabeths to DC Jail After Rejecting Plea

On April 17, a homicide defendant rejected a plea offer from prosecutors and was transferred from St. Elizabeths Hospital to the DC Jail.

Terry Thompson, 32, is charged with premeditated first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 64-year-old Christopher Callahan on May 15, 2023 outside a 7-Eleven on the 3900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SW.

Thompson was at St. Elizabeths for mental observation.

According to court documents and surveillance video, which was not shown in court, a verbal altercation ensued, after which an individual, identified as Thompson, struck Callahan over the head with a duffle bag while Callahan was sitting on his walker. 

Thompson then pointed the duffle bag, which contained a rifle, at Callahan’s head, before allegedly shooting and striking him. The individual, identified as Thompson, was seen walking away, coming back to the scene, and pointing the bag at Callahan’s head again as he laid on the ground, before fleeing the scene.

The prosecution told before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt that they had offered Thompson two plea deals prior to the hearing. 

Both plea offers would require Thompson to plead guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges.

According to prosecutors, had he accepted the first offer, parties would have agreed to a sentencing of  18-to-22 years of incarceration. 

Similarly for the second plea offer, parties would have agreed to a sentencing range of 14-to-26 years of incarceration. 

In exchange for both plea offers, the prosecution would drop all other charges and waive enhancements.

Pierce Suen, Thompson’s defense attorney, alerted the court he was rejecting both offers and requested a trial date.

After Thompson rejected the offers, the prosecution highlighted a report at the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) indicating Thompson mentally competent to stand trial. They stated, “The defendant does not need to be at St. Elizabeths moving forward.”

Judge Brandt agreed, stating that due to Thompson’s competency, he would be required to be transferred to the DC Jail immediately.

“I’ve got no legal basis to keep him at St. Elizabeths at this point,” she said.

Pierce Suen alerted the court of his wish to withdraw from the case, requesting two months for the Public Defender Services (PDS) to find Thompson a replacement.

The prosecution opposed the request, exclaiming “This case needs to be set for trial,” noting that Thompson’s case has been delayed for nearly a year despite a timely indictment.

Judge Brandt ruled she would give the defense no more than 30 days to transfer the case to a new defense attorney.

A status hearing to set a trial date is scheduled for May 17.

Defendant Accepts Plea Deal for Shooting at Party

On April 17, a non-fatal shooting defendant accepted a plea deal in DC Superior Court Judge Heidi Pasichow’s  courtroom.

Tyequan Taylor, 27, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license outside of a home or business for his involvement in a non-fatal shooting on August 22, 2023, on the 500 block of Taylor Street, NW. No injuries were reported. 

According to prosecutors, Taylor assaulted three victims attending a social event after they confronted him about a brewing physical altercation with his girlfriend. Taylor then walked towards the front of the residence and shot a firearm in the air, before fleeing in a vehicle belonging to one of the individuals who confronted him.

Taylor accepted a plea offer extended by the prosecution, which required he plead guilty to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of unlawful discharge of a firearm, in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment. 

Judge Pasichow found Taylors’ plea to be “knowingly and voluntary” in accepting it.

Sentencing is set for July 11. 

Judge Continues Preliminary Hearing for Co-Defendants in Shooting Case

On April 17, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun continued a preliminary hearing for an assault with intent to kill case, agreeing to a defense request for additional time to prepare.

Nahvarj Mills, 31, and his co-defendant Devin Roberts, 30, are both charged with two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed with a firearm, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and contempt for violating a stay away order from the victim, for their alleged involvement in an attempt to shoot Mills’ ex-girlfriend on January 21 and January 23, at her home on the 700 block of 51st Street, SE.

During the hearing, Mill’s defense attorney, Brian McDaniel, requested more time to prepare for the preliminary hearing. Additionally, McDaniel requested Mills be released to home confinement and be monitored by a global positioning system (GPS).

The prosecution opposed the request due to Mills’ history of stalking, and disregard for the safety of the victim, Mills’ family, and the community.

Judge Okun denied Mills’ request for release and ordered he be held pending further proceedings.

Parties are slated to return May 24.

Suspect Accused in Wife’s Killing Rejects Two Plea Offers 

On April 17, a man accused of killing his wife rejected two plea offers extended by prosecutors before DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo.

Charles Terry Jr., 59, 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. 

The prosecution informed the court that they had previously extended two plea offers to Terry, which he rejected. 

According to the prosecution, the first plea would have resulted in Terry’s pleading guilty to second-degree murder with a sentence of 18 years of incarceration, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges. 

Likewise, the second plea offer extended would have resulted in Terry pleading guilty to second-degree murder with a sentencing range of 14-to-22 years. 

Joseph Yarbough, Terry’s defense attorney, acknowledged the prosecution’s representations. 

The defense expressed interest in proceeding with trial in November 2025. 

Parties are slated to return July 19.  

Document: MPD Searching for Suspect’s Vehicle in Brightwood Shooting

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s safety in the search of a vehicle involved in a shooting on April 15 on the 6200 block of 13th Street, NW.

According to MPD documents, the suspect was traveling in a gray Toyota Camry at the location when they began shooting from their vehicle at a driver and passenger on a moped.

The occupants of the moped were both struck by gunfire, causing them to crash. Officers located the shooting victims and the moped, which had previously been reported stolen, at the location.

A firearm was recovered from the female victim. They were both transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Both were placed under arrest.

The shooting suspect fled the scene in a gray four-door 2016 Toyota Camry with Maryland tag 7DD0282. It’s rear bumper is damaged and hanging off the right side.

The vehicle was captured by surveillance footage.

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

Victim’s Widow Testifies About Deadly Five Dollar Dispute Between Father and Son

On April 15, DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein heard testimony from a victim’s widow in a patricide trial allegedly sparked by an argument over five dollars’ worth of marijuana. 

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

According to court documents, Magruder’s wife and children were present at the time of the incident. 

She said she was putting her baby in his crib when she heard Magruder ask Williams for five dollars. She said she asked them to take their argument outside after Magruder became aggressive and began calling Williams names.

“My husband started punching Stephon and telling him to get out, get his stuff,” the witness stated. She described his punching Williams’ face, back, and chest while pushing him toward the back of the apartment, toward the bathroom and near the bedroom where the baby was sleeping. 

“I was trying to pull him off Stephon,” the witness explained. 

She said Magruder punched Williams so hard he fell at the bedroom entrance. When Williams followed the witness and Magruder back into the living room, the witness stated that she could see that Williams’s mouth was bleeding.

The witness testified that Magruder then pushed Williams insisting, “Get your stuff.” 

“Stephon yelled, ‘You’re not going to keep punking me or laying your hands on me,'” the witness recounted. 

At that point, the witness became emotional and the proceedings were briefly recessed.

When the witness returned, the prosecutor asked what names Magruder had called Williams. “He called him the B-word,” she answered. “He said to get the f*** out and called him a dopehead.” The witness said Williams didn’t make any comment or fight back. 

The widow told the jury she was standing behind Magruder, still trying to pull him away from Williams, when Magruder pushed Williams into the bathroom. She said she looked around Magruder and saw Williams pointing a gun at Magruder, who put up his hands. 

“His hands were up but I heard the pop. It was the same second,” the witness testified. She said she then dove into the bedroom next to the bathroom to check that her baby was okay.

“I remembered seeing Stephen on the ground. That’s all I could think of,” the witness said when the prosecutor asked her why she hadn’t told the police detective at her interview immediately after the incident that she had seen Magruder and Williams fighting. “But as time went on, yes, I remembered everything.”

In cross-examination, Williams’ defense attorney, Jason Tulley, asked the witness to confirm that the five dollars under dispute was to pay Magruder for giving Williams some of the marijuana Magruder kept in a box on the stove. 

“I wouldn’t know,” the witness said repeatedly.

“I would not know that,” the witness said again when Tulley asked if Williams had been afraid of Magruder. 

She confirmed Williams didn’t fight back when Magruder punched him, but instead started crying, saying, “Dad, I got your five dollars,” and, “Dad, stop. Dad, stop.” 

When Tulley said, “His voice was scared, right?” the witness answered, “Yeah.”

Tulley showed the jury footage from police body-worn cameras from officers who responded to the scene. In one video, Magruder’s widow tells an officer, “I ran to the living room and I heard a pop,” while in another, she tells an officer apparently contradicting her in court testimony, “I didn’t see it. I heard it.” 

Tulley also replayed footage of the witness in an interview room at the police station after the incident. 

During a monitored call to a friend before the widow’s police interview, she says, “No, I heard it. I guess it had to be in the f***ing bathroom.” Later, during the interview, the detective asks, “Did you see Stephon with the gun?” and the witness responds, “I didn’t see it.”

Tulley questioned the witness if Magruder had ever physically abused her.  The couple was married when the witness was 18 and Magruder was 41. Tulley referred to records of the witness having a bruised eye when police responded to their home to resolve domestic disputes. The witness said she did not remember although she previously testified there were issues in the marriage.  

In the redirect, the prosecutor asked the witness if there were other parts of her testimony today, besides seeing the gun, that she hadn’t mentioned in the police interview. The witness confirmed that her police interview hadn’t included testimony that Magruder punched Williams or that Williams had started crying and hadn’t fought back.

In earlier testimony, she described Magruder and Williams’ relationship as “a rocky father-son relationship,” but asserted she had never seen any physical conflict between them before the shooting.

“He treated me with respect–he was never disrespectful to me. We had a good relationship,” the witness said about her interactions with Williams.

According to the witness, Williams had asked to stay with Magruder and his family following the death of a mutual friend.

“They were grieving and bonding,” the witness testified regarding the days leading up to the shooting. 

The witness recounted bringing Magruder home from his job on the night of the shooting. 

The trial will resume on April 17.

Document: MPD Arrests Man for a Northwest Shooting

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of an individual in connection to a Jan. 30 shooting that occurred at the intersection of Q Street and Connecticut Avenue, NW.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of a shooting, where they located an adult male victim, inside a vehicle, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

On April 15, MPD arrested and charged 56-year-old Rodney Baggott with assault with intent to kill.

Document: MPD Seeks a Suspect in a Shooting in Southeast

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a suspect involved in a shooting that occurred on April 7 on the 2400 block of Elvans Road, SE.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to a local hospital where two adult male shooting victims were seeking treatment for non-life-threatening injuries. The investigation determined the shooting occurred on the 2400 block of Elvans Road, SE.

The suspect was captured by surveillance cameras.

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: MPD Investigating Fatal Crash in Northwest

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating a traffic incident that resulted in the death of a pedestrian on April 11 near the Howard University campus.

According to MPD documents, the preliminary investigation revealed that an Audi was traveling northbound on 6th Street, NW, from Howard Place, NW, at a high rate of speed. The vehicle struck a parked car and continued towards Fairmont Street, NW, where it failed to negotiate the left turn and mounted a curb, striking a man who was on or near a crosswalk.

The pedestrian was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the Audi was transported with minor injuries.

On April 15, the man died from his injuries. He was identified as 18-year-old Mohamed Samura.

Anyone with knowledge of the incident should call MPD.