Judge Denies Defense Motions to Reduce Charges in a Shooting

On Jan. 18, DC Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz denied two motions, presented by the defense for Charles A. Whitney, to remove endangerment with a firearm and destruction of property from his charges.

Whitney, 24, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful discharge of a firearm and destruction of property, among other charges, for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting on the 1500 block of Birney Place, SE, which occurred on Oct. 10, 2023.

“He was acting recklessly at the time,” said Leibovitz, citing evidence that Whitney stood in a location and fired a gun in the direction of the victim’s apartment and damaged the property.

The prosecution called on the victim, whose property was destroyed. The witness stated they she was sleeping in her apartment when she awoke to the sound of a gunshot, which went through their apartment and damaged their window and several walls.

The witness was worried about getting shot following the incident, stating that she did not know whether the shooter was still outside her apartment.

The prosecution also called the police officer who detained Whitney following the shooting who made an in-court identification of the suspect.

Whitney’s defense attorney, Quiana Harris, argued that there was no evidence of Whitney possessing a gun when he was detained by a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer.

The prosecution additionally called an evidence specialist who reviewed and documented the audio of the incident’s gunshots.

The defense claimed there could be an inaccuracy in the recording audio due to the location of the recording devices, and the possibility of two guns firing at the same time, suggesting the possibility of a second shooter.

As the proceeding concluded, Judge Leibovitz stated to the parties that the jury will likely find proof beyond a reasonable doubt that Whitney fired the bullet and damaged property.

The trial is set to continue Jan. 22.

Delay in Sentencing of Non-Fatal Shooting and Armed Carjacking Defendant

On Jan. 19, DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park accepted the defense’s request to delay the sentencing of a shooting defendant.

Antwann Carter, 25, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, and three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, with the offenses committed during release, for his involvement in an incident on the 2700 block of 22nd Street, NE, on July 21, 2019.

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) documents state that Carter attempted forced entry to multiple vehicles, assaulting and shooting individuals who confronted him. Two victims sustained injuries, which were not life-threatening.

On Oct. 25, Carter pled guilty to charges of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and carjacking, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges.

Upon Carter’s plea, the prosecution agreed to limit sentencing to five years for possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and seven years for carjacking. During the hearing, defense attorney Johnathan Armstrong requested a delayed sentencing, due to issues of communication with the Bureau of Prisons (BOP).

Both defense and prosecution indicated they understood Carter’s time served while awaiting sentencing would be credited in his plea deal, but BOP indicated to Armstrong that this was not the case.

Prosecution suggested that because Carter accepted the deal believing that his time served would reduce his sentence, the court should appoint a new attorney for Carter on the grounds of Armstrong’s “ineffectiveness.”

Judge Park requested a written status update outlining stances on the matter with BOP from both parties by Feb. 23. Park agreed to appoint a new attorney for Carter if Armstrong misrepresented sentencing information to the defendant.

The case will reconvene for a new, and ostensibly final, sentencing hearing on March 1.

Defense Challenges Video Identification During Preliminary Hearing in Triple Homicide Case

On Jan.18, video evidence and witness testimony was presented before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun to assess whether a homicide case can proceed to trial.

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

During the preliminary hearing, a detective with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) testified about Thompkins and Bryant’s alleged involvements in the shooting. The detective was questioned regarding surveillance footage that allegedly captured the defendants near the crime scene.

The video showed a black male with a heavy build, light colored t-shirt, short hair and black shoes walking toward the 1700 block of Euclid Street, NW, 13 seconds before the shooting. Shortly after, two black males, one wearing shorts and a black-sleeves shirt and the other wearing a black shirt and black pants, were seen walking towards Euclid.

The officer identified both individuals in the footage as Thompkins and Bryant.

Bryant’s defense attorney, Sylvia Smith, argued against identifying Bryant based on the video, emphasizing that no one could definitively say who it was. She highlighted that no eyewitness had described his appearance as the alleged shooter.

The detective mentioned Thompkins running in the video, holding his waistband as if holding a firearm. Smith countered by noting the video showed at least five individuals doing the same, challenging the specificity of the officer’s reports.

The detective reported the discovery of three types of shell casings at the crime scene, including 9mm, 40 caliber, and 45 caliber cartridge casings. He asserted that Thompkins’ DNA was found in several of the gun casings.

The direction of the shell casings at the crime scene showed the suspects’ flight path, which led MPD’s investigation to an apartment building on Ontario Road. A surveillance video from the apartment building revealed that, an individual identified as Bryant, spent about five minutes in the apartment, where, the detective argues, he changed his pants, shirt, and hat before exiting.

According to the detective, MPD conducted various searches in multiple properties connected to the defendants. He claims that at the Ontario Road address where Bryant was allegedly seen, and another undisclosed address, no firearms were recovered. However, at Thompkin’s address, multiple firearms were allegedly recovered. The addresses were confirmed based on mail matter and prescription bottles addressed to the defendants.

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

The preliminary hearing will continue Jan. 26.

Defense Asks Expert Witness About $35,000 Consulting Fee in Murder Trial

On Jan. 18, a defense attorney in a homicide trial before DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo asked an expert witness about his $35,000 consulting fee earned for testifying on behalf of the prosecution.

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.

The prosecution called a firearms expert to testify regarding four guns that were collected from the crime scene.

He explained how he examines “random characteristics” that show damage to a fired bullet, such as grooves and scratches, to determine whether the marks are associated with a particular gun. He claimed that the guns found at the crime scene closely matched the bullet evidence collected during the investigation.

During cross-examination, Stevenson’s defense attorney, Elizabeth Weller asked whether there was a precise scientific standard the expert used when determining if a gun and bullet are a match, or if the process was subjective.

He responded there was not a completely scientific process in that it had to do with his subjective examination by looking closely at ballistic evidence and making comparisons.

Weller then stated that in many courts, expert witness testimony like this would “not be allowed” as inconclusive.

Weller then asked the witness if he profited financially from testifying for the prosecution, to which he responded he made $35,000 working on this case.

In a redirect by the prosecution, the witness clarified that he was being paid for his knowledge and expertise in reviewing the guns and ballistic evidence from the crime scene, not to influence his testimony.

He also stated that he was not instructed by the prosecution to testify one way or another, and was not given any information about the case before his investigation.

The prosecution then called a Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) crime scene investigator who presented pictures she took of a vehicle allegedly used by the defendants, and pictures of guns, bullet fragments, and cartridges she had recovered. The prosecution handed her one of the guns from the crime scene to identify and hold up for the jurors to see, followed by a case of cartridges.

Lastly, the prosecution called up another DFS crime scene investigator. She stated that she had swabbed the cheeks of both defendants for DNA testing. During a cross examination, Weller questioned the witness regarding instances in the past where she had been reprimanded by her supervisors for mishandling or contaminating evidence.

Due to time constraints, the witness was unable to finish her testimony.

Parties are slated to return Jan. 22.

Lead Detective Gives Testimony in Road Rage Shooting Trial

A non-fatal shooting trial resumed with the lead detective’s testimony in DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt’s courtroom on Jan. 18.

Kenneth Davis, 45, is charged with six counts of possession of firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, one count of assault with intent to kill while armed against a minor, one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm.

The counts are related to his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting that left an individual suffering from a gunshot wound to the left shoulder, on May 19, 2021, on the 1600 block of Kenilworth Avenue, NE.

In her testimony, the victim, who said she was shot in a road rage incident with her two underage children in the vehicle, stated multiple times that she did not want to be a part of the trial and was worried about her and her children’s safety.

Marnitta King, Davis’ defense attorney, called the lead detective to testify regarding his involvement in the investigation of the incident. I

Initially, King questioned the detective about “racially insensitive” social media reposts he made in 2018, which he deemed “probably one of the biggest mistakes” in his career. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) disciplined the detective for the social media posts in 2019, but the detective did not specify the sanctions.

King questioned why the detective pursued tips from an anonymous hotline focusing on African American owners of a Gran Turismo Maserati vehicle. According to the detective, his decision was based on two of three witnesses recalling the dark complexion of the shooter.

According to the detective, he spoke with an employee at a Maserati dealership in Maryland, who recognized the vehicle and the suspect in the video published by Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and shared the vehicle identification number.

He acquired the information for the owner of the Maserati, who is allegedly Davis, and searched him on the MPD database to find an image.

The detective testified that, once he retrieved Davis’ driver license image, he displayed it to the victim in a photo array, and she identified Davis as the shooter.

Following the detective’s testimony, both parties rested their case.

Parties are slated to return Jan. 22 for closing arguments.

Homicide Defendant Agrees to Plea Deal

On Jan. 18, a homicide defendant accepted a plea deal extended by prosecutors in front of DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun.

Anthony Lewis, 25, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, for his involvement in the shooting of 19-year-old Camero Clemons. The incident occurred on the 600 block of Otis Place, NW, on May 18, 2022.

Clemons succumbed to fungal pneumonia on June 4, 2022, prosecutors say, as a result of the gunshot wound.

During the hearing, Julie Swaney, Lewis’ attorney, stated that Lewis intended to enter into a plea agreement with the prosecution.

The deal required Lewis to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed; the penalties range from a 30 year maximum to a five year minimum sentence. The defendant’s attorney requested a sentence of 130 months.

Lewis accepted the plea agreement, and told Judge Okun he understands that he waived his right to an indictment, independent DNA testing of the evidence, trial, and appeal.

Parties are slated to return on Apr. 5 for a sentencing.

Shooting Defendant Accepts Pre-Preliminary Plea Deal

On Jan. 18, in what was supposed to be a preliminary hearing, a shooting defendant accepted a plea deal extended by prosecutors in front of DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe.

Carlson Mackall, 21, was originally charged with assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his involvement in a non-fatal shooting that injured an individual on May 1, 2023. The incident occurred on the 4000 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE, at a bus bay outside the Minnesota Avenue Metro Station.

During the hearing, William Alley, Mackall’s defense attorney, alerted Judge O’Keefe the parties had come to an agreement, and Mackall would be pleading out.

The deal required Mackall to plead guilty to aggravated assault while armed, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges and the prosecution not seeking an indictment. Parties agreed to a 60 month sentence.

Mackall accepted the plea agreement, and told Judge O’Keefe he understands he’s giving up his rights to a preliminary hearing, a trial, appeals, and DNA testing.

Parties are slated to return March 15 for a sentencing.

Eyewitness to Car Crash Testifies About Fleeing Murder Suspects

On Jan. 17, a witness testified in a homicide trial before DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo that she personally witnessed two men swerve their car into another before fleeing the scene with a rifle.

The prosecution called an eyewitness to the car crash prosecutors claim was caused by Thomas and Stevenson fleeing the shooting scene. The witness explained that the crash occurred outside of the apartment complex where she lived, and she was able to see it from her second story window.

She further explained that she heard a screeching sound, which prompted her to go to her window, where she saw a black car swerve into another car, impacting both cars and pushing them into the middle of the street.

Then, she saw two men exit the vehicle from the driver and passenger side. Although their backs were turned to her, she claimed that she could see that the passenger appeared to be holding a long rifle. She claimed the passenger was a black male that had long blond dreadlocks with black roots, and that both the passenger and the driver were wearing all black clothing.

According to the witness, the pair ran into a wooded area behind an apartment complex after leaving the vehicle where the witness lost sight of them.

During cross-examination, Stevenson’s attorney, Stephen LoGerfo, asked the witness whether her apartment had an outdoor camera and if it captured the accident. She responded that she did possess a camera, but that it had a limited view and was only focused on her car.

During their redirect, the prosecution questioned the witness about her description of the passenger, claiming that she had never mentioned that he had blond hair during her grand jury testimony. The witness did not elaborate about the discrepancy.

The prosecution then called a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sergeant who had been in the area in an unmarked car when he heard several gunshots nearby, and viewed a “getaway car” leaving an apartment complex. He pursued the car until it eventually came to a halt, leading the officer to approach the vehicle with his gun drawn. The officer explained that the vehicle then took off again, and he lost sight of it.

Parties are expected to reconvene Jan. 18.

Opening Statements Delivered in Non-Fatal Shooting Trial

On Jan. 17, opening statements and witness testimony were given in a non-fatal shooting trial before DC Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz.

Charles Whitney, 24, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful discharge of a firearm and destruction of property for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting that occurred on the 1500 block of Birney Place, SE, which occurred on Oct. 10, 2023.

“We will ask you to find the defendant guilty of unlawful endangerment, unlawful discharge, and destruction of property,” the prosecution said.

The prosecution explained that on the day of the incident, two apartments were struck by gunfire, with one of the bullets traveling through the window of one apartment and exiting an adjacent apartment.

Building their case, the prosecution showed the jury CCTV surveillance footage of an individual, who they identified as Whitney, approaching an apartment building, removing a firearm from his waist, raising his arm, shooting the gun and then running away.

The prosecution also presented a bullet fragment found in the apartment, showed damage to the unit as well as shell casings found at the scene of the crime.

Quiana Harris, Whitney’s defense attorney, argued he is not guilty, and he was merely using his lawful right of self-defense to protect himself and two other women from an apparent drive-by-shooting.

“Whitney acted reasonably and justifiably,” Harris insisted.

Harris described the scene, acknowledging that the area where the alleged crime happened is an open community with no security. She argued that crime is common in the area, and added that there are threats of violence and gunshots often.

Harris added that Whitney, who grew up in the neighborhood, knew that these types of incidents are “life or death,” stating Whitney allegedly saw a gun pointed at him from a vehicle. When shots were fired, he fired back, attempting to defend himself and the two female bystanders.

Following opening statements, prosecutors called on a sergeant with Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer to testify.

According to the officer, he collected evidence at the crime scene in an effort to corroborate the prosecution’s arguments.

Harris cross examined the officer about his crime scene report which indicated there were two different types of shell casings recovered at the scene– 40 mm and 9 mm. Due to time constraints, the sergeant was unable to conclude his testimony.

Parties are slated to return Jan. 18.

Shooting Defendant Pleads Not Guilty During Arraignment

On Jan. 16, a shooting defendant was arraigned on nine counts in front of DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park.

Shawnette Greene, 47, is charged with three counts of possession of firearm during crime of violence, one count of armed robbery, one count of aggravated assault knowingly while armed, one count of assault with intent to commit robbery while armed, and 3 counts of accessory after the fact.

She’s charged for her alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting that left an individual suffering three gunshot wounds to the upper left leg, on Feb.13, 2023, on the 200 block of Allison Street, NW.

During the hearing, Hannah Claudio, Greene’s defense attorney, alerted the court she was pleading not guilty to all counts and asserted her constitutional rights, including the right to a speedy trial.

Parties are slated to return on Feb.15.

Annual Homicide Rate Increased Nearly Fifty Percent Since 2015, D.C. Witness Data Shows

While judges expressed their concerns about the troubling rise of crime in the city, and the city council tried to come up with solutions, 2023 turned out to be a record-setting year for homicides in DC since 1997.

D.C. Witness has monitored homicides in the District since 2015, and our data shows that there was a significant increase from 2017 to 2021, before slightly decreasing in 2022, and hitting a peak in 2023. In eight years, DC’s homicide rate increased nearly fifty percent.

Figure 1.

Figure 1 depicts the change in numbers throughout the years that D.C. Witness has been tracking.

According to D.C. Witness data, there were 173 homicide incidents in the District in 2015, with 178 victims. However there were 256 incidents in 2023, with 278 victims, indicating a 47.97 percent increase in homicide incidents in eight years, and 56.18 percent increase in homicide victims.

Of the 278 homicide victims in 2023, 243 died from gunshot injuries, with less than half of the guns used by the arrested individuals recovered.

With the increase in homicide incidents in 2023, came an increasing number of juvenile defendants, either tried as adults or children, and juvenile victims. In 2023, there were a total of 23 juvenile homicide victims, with ages ranging from five-months-old to 17-year-olds.

The number of juvenile arrests also increased in 2023, with several tried as adults. One of them, 18-year-old Lorinzo Thompson, who was 17 at the time of the incident, is alleged to have shot and killed 14-year-old Niko Estep on Nov. 3 on the 2600 block of 14th Street, NW.

During a detention hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo stated the case has an “extremely troubling set of circumstances,” citing Thompson’s mother’s alleged presence during the incident. She also mentioned his two pending juvenile cases, whose circumstances were not discussed in open court, with the judge arguing that his alleged involvement in Estep’s death was when he was on release from the other two juvenile cases.

Judge Demeo echoed multiple judges’ statements who deemed juveniles’ actions as troubling.

Most notably in the deaths of victims under the age of 18 was five-month-old Kenneth Geo Walton, who was located unconscious and unresponsive on Feb. 11, on the 4000 block of Massachusetts Avenue, NW. He succumbed to his injuries on Feb. 18, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) ruled his death a homicide, stating that he died from complications of blunt force trauma. An arrest has yet to be made in relation to the incident.

Likewise, on March 16, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) responded to the 1300 block of Morris Road, SE, for the report of an unconscious and unresponsive infant, with no signs consistent with life. The infant was identified as seven-month-old King Phelps, and no arrests have been made.

DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld has also deemed various juvenile defendant’s actions troubling, including a juvenile girl that was charged with the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Naima Liggon on Aug. 27 on the 1900 block of 14th Street, NW.

The girl, who accepted a plea deal on Dec. 4, has requested she be released multiple times, with the request being denied due to the dangerousness and circumstances of her case.

However, Judge Hertzfeld granted another juvenile defendant’s motion for release in connection with the deadly carjacking incident on Oct. 28 that left 13-year-old Vernard Toney Jr. dead on the 600 block of D Street, NW.

She released the boy following weeks-long psychiatric evaluations at a District facility due to behavioral issues leading up to the incident and while he was detained at the Youth Services Center (YSC) in the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS).

Although the homicide numbers are high, arrests have lagged behind. In 2023 alone, only 90 arrests were made in connection to the 256 homicide incidents, meaning that suspects have not been apprehended in nearly 65 percent of homicide incidents last year.

Figure 2.

Figure 2 depicts the similar percentages for arrests throughout the years.

In 2023, the DC Council responded to the uptick in crime by passing legislations like the Safer Stronger Amendment Act of 2023 and Addressing Crime Trends Now Act (ACT Now) of 2023, which aimed to address the safety challenges and the penalties for violent crimes in the District.

The legislation leaves the question of how the city council and mayor’s attempts to control the rise in crime in 2023 will affect 2024’s numbers.

Document: Southeast Shooting Leaves Man Dead

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating a shooting that killed a man on Jan. 16 on the 2400 block of S Street, SE.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of a shooting, where they located a man with gunshot wound injuries inside a residence. He died at the scene.

The victim was identified as 23-year-old Javonni Anthony Coleman.

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.

‘You Took My Mother From Me and My Sisters,’ Victim’s Daughter Says at Sentencing

On Jan. 12, a homicide defendant was sentenced to 13 years of incarceration by DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun.

Christian Monge, 27, was originally charged with second-degree murder while armed and carrying a dangerous weapon outside a home or business for his involvement in the fatal stabbing of 31-year-old Brittanie Clark on Aug. 31, 2021, on the 5000 block of First Street, NW.

According to court documents, the incident stemmed from an altercation between Clark and Monge’s girlfriend.

On Sept. 13, Monge accepted a deal to plead guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter while armed, in exchange for dismissal of all other charges. Parties agreed to a sentence of 13 years incarceration and five years of supervised release.

During the sentencing, several members of Clark’s family delivered victim impact statements, highlighting the pain and suffering her loss has brought to their family. Many of them stated they wanted to know why Monge did it, with Clark’s aunt saying, “Why? It shouldn’t have gone that far,” referencing the altercation between Monge’s girlfriend, Monge, and Clark.

“You really hurt me,” she added, saying, “You took away the most important person in my life.”

Many of the family members also mentioned Clark’s three girls, who they say need their mom every day, and he took her from them by force. “What if someone did that s**t to your sister, your brother… karma is coming. It’s coming, just know that, you can laugh all you want,” said Clark’s sister, as Monge appeared to smirk during the proceeding.

In an emotional statement, Clark’s daughter, who witnessed the stabbing, said “You took my mother from me and my sisters…I’m hurt.”

“I don’t think he understands that what he did is wrong,” she insisted, adding that she thinks about it every day.

Following the statements, prosecutors stated Clark’s loss has left a hole in her family’s hearts, adding that one of the few reasons they agreed to the plea deal was to ensure Clark’s daughter and the other juvenile present at the time of the incident did not have to endure the trauma that comes from testifying in front of a jury.

Prosecutors said that Monge comes from an unstable family, and has inflicted the same pain on three young girls.

They argued that Monge, in recorded jail calls, tried to shift blame on his girlfriend saying, “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.” The prosecutor insisted that the only reason he’s in the position he’s in is because of his actions in an “unnecessary act of violence.”

Anthony Matthews, Monge’s defense attorney, rested his arguments based on the sentencing memorandum, which is not public, but added that Monge has a young daughter who he wants to support, and she is his motivation moving forward.

Monge asserted his right to not make a statement before the court.

Judge Okun expressed his condolences to the family, adding that the “senseless crime” should not have ended the way it did, adding that it was “uncalled for, unprovoked, and unnecessary.”

“It’s a very concerning crime to me,” he stated, arguing it’s not Monge’s first time stabbing someone. He referenced Monge’s 2015 conviction for stabbing someone in Maryland, for which he now has to serve back-up time due to his conviction in Clark’s death, which occurred while he was released on probation in Maryland.

“Part of me thinks this is not enough time,” claimed Judge Okun, adding that he understands the prosecution’s reasoning for agreeing to the deal.

Prosecutors requested Monge serve the District’s sentence consecutively to the time he has to serve in Maryland, arguing that it’s reasonable due to it being two separate incidents with different victims.

The request was granted, and Judge Okun ordered Monge to participate in anger management, mental health assessments and treatment, and substance abuse assessments.

“For your sake, for your kid’s sake, and community’s sake, I hope you’re never here again,” said Judge Okun.

No further dates were scheduled.

Defendant Accepts Plea Deal in Non-Fatal Shooting Case

On Jan. 16, a non-fatal shooting defendant accepted a plea offer extended by prosecutors in front of DC Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz.

Ernest Conyeir, 34, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his involvement in a shooting on Oct. 18, 2023, on the 1500 block of Alabama Avenue, SE. The incident left one individual suffering from gunshot wounds.

According to court documents, the shooting occurred after a verbal altercation between Conyeir and the victim. The victim was shot in their right forearm and left shin, and walked to a medical center where he received treatment.

During the hearing, Conyeir accepted a deal that required him to plead guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment. He was also required to plead guilty to armed robbery in connection to an unrelated matter.

Based on the deal, parties agreed to a seven-and-a-half to nine-year range for sentencing.

“In the end, it’s not going to matter that much as your sentence is going to be seven-and-a-half years if I accept this agreement,” Judge Lebovitz said, referencing the sentencing guidelines for the original charges.

Conyeir will also be required to register as a gun offender.

Sentencing is scheduled for March 8.

Probable Cause Found in Homicide Case and Defendant Detained

On Jan. 16, DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein found probable cause that a homicide defendant must stand trial.

Tremone Jackson, 20, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Charles Towles on the 1400 block of L Street, SE on Nov. 4, 2023.

The prosecution began by calling the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) lead detective on the case to testify about surveillance footage captured on the afternoon of the shooting.

The detective explained that the shooting occurred at a public housing complex and the video captures Townes arriving at the location then having a physical altercation with an individual in a red hoodie as they exit the facility. The individual in the red hoodie was identified by the detective as Jackson. After the altercation, there is observable gunfire.

Townes is then seen lying flat on the ground, as the individual police identify as Jackson, along with one other person, run away quickly from the scene.

During cross-examination, Jackson’s defense attorney, Russell Hairston, pointed out Jackson isn’t seen with a weapon when he went into the building,

Additionally, Hairston questioned the detective whether Townes was seen with a weapon, specifically asking if it is clear in the footage. The detective explained that he since learned that Townes did not have a firearm on him at the time of the shooting, and agreed that simply from the footage, it is unclear if Townes was armed.

The detective explained Jackson and Townes knew each other, and were having a dispute before things became physical, allegedly regarding Jackson’s girlfriend.

Hairston also argued the individual originally seen entering the building, who has been identified as Jackson, could be different than the person seen arguing with Townes. That’s based on surveillance footage showing the suspect going briefly back to his vehicle. Hairston argued that another person could have left the vehicle, and it may not have been Jackson.

Hairston said there is no probable cause given no positive identification, and not knowing if Townes had a firearm.

However, Judge Epstein found probable cause in this case, and there is enough evidence to go to trial. He explained there’s no physical evidence Townes was armed or that the shooting was in self-defense.

Hairston then requested Jackson be released since this is his first criminal offense, and his lawyer said he has very strong family support.

The prosecution argued Jackson should be detained. They explained he shot someone in broad daylight, an extremely dangerous act.

Judge Epstein agreed with the prosecution that Jackson should be detained.

Parties are expected to reconvene Jan 19.

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