The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of 19-year-old Kevin William Dorsey Jr. in connection with a homicide on Dec. 21 on the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. The victim, identified as 23-year-old Dennis Ziegler of Northeast, D.C., was found with a gunshot wound and later died at a hospital. Dorsey Jr. has been charged with Second-Degree Murder While Armed.
A defendant accused of a stabbing that left a victim with severe lacerations rejected a plea deal before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan on Jan. 7.
Osmin Vanegas Alvarez, 30, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, and possession of a prohibited weapon for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal stabbing on Dec. 29, 2024 on the 1400 block of New York Avenue, NE. The victim sustained severe lacerations to his arm, chest, and neck.
According to court documents, a verbal dispute between Alvarez and the victim allegedly escalated into a physical fight in which Alvarez stabbed the victim. Molly Bunke, Alvarez’s attorney, previously asserted at the preliminary hearing that Alvarez acted in self-defense.
On this occasion, Bunke informed parties her client rejected a plea offer from prosecutors. The prosecutor said if Alvarez pleaded guilty to aggravated assault knowingly while armed and assault with intent to kill, they would dismiss remaining charges and request the sentences run concurrently.
Judge Ryan confirmed with Alvarez that he rejected the plea deal and opted to proceed to a jury trial which the parties scheduled for Feb. 16, 2027.
Parties are scheduled to reconvene for a status hearing on May 6.
DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman sentenced a stabbing defendant to 48 months and 180 days of incarceration on Jan. 6.
Maurice Felder, 54, was convicted of assault with significant bodily injury, assault with a dangerous weapon, and possession of a prohibited weapon for his involvement in a stabbing that occurred on the 1900 block of 7th Street NW, on Nov. 10, 2024.
During the trial, Felder told the jury that the victim, who was part of a group of young intoxicated individuals, according to Judge Edelman, made derogatory comments about unhoused individuals to Felder, who was experiencing homelessness at the time.
During the hearing, prosecutors requested “a lengthy sentence” citing the seriousness of the offense. They stated he has not shown remorse for his actions, and his multiple past incarcerations have failed to deter him.
Matthew Rist, Felder’s attorney, asked for a three year concurrent sentence, stating that “Mr. Felder felt like he was in danger… he was doing his best at the time to get treatment for PTSD.”
According to Rist, Felder endured a rough childhood, highlighting his being shot, his mother being murdered, and Felder sustaining an assault that ended with his jaw being wired shut.
“He endured a great deal of trauma,” Rist stated, arguing Felder “didn’t even know he struck the victim.”
Rist insisted Felder was outnumbered by the victim and his friends.
“I know that Mr. Felder regrets deeply,” his involvement.
“I did believe I was acting in self-defense, but respect the jury’s decision,” Felder told Judge Edelman.
“I wasn’t trying to hurt the young man,” he added, stating “I’m sorry for my presence in your courtroom.”
Judge Edelman highlighted the seriousness of the offense, claiming “this could’ve ended differently.”
He argued Felder had no legal claim of self-defense. However, he said “the laceration was actually quite small,” and the victim asked prosecutors if the case could be dropped.
Judge Edelman also stated that he disagreed with the prosecution’s claim that Felder wasn’t remorseful, quoting a statement made by Felder to a presentence report writer in which he said “I just made a big mistake.”
Judge Edelman highlighted Felder’s “noticeable and sincere change,” according to a jail worker, despite his lifelong adversity, including mental health issues, drug abuse, and surviving domestic violence.
“Mr. Felder, I think you’re capable of doing better than you have,” Judge Edelman told him, imposing a 48 month sentence for each of the assault charges, to run concurrently, and 180 days for the possession charge, which will be served consecutively to the assaults.
No further dates were set.
DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson sentenced a defendant to 16 years of imprisonment on Jan. 6 for a murder that resulted from his shooting into a crowd of people.
James Outland, 27, and Bobby Gupton, 27, both pleaded guilty on April 4, 2025 to second-degree murder while armed for their involvement in the fatal shooting of 54-year-old Tavonayna Glenn on June 28, 2023 on the 700 block of 19th Street, NE. Glenn suffered one gunshot wound to her chest.
According to court documents, Outland, Gupton, and two additional unidentified suspects discharged their firearms into a crowd of people. Glenn was struck and killed with a bullet during the shooting.
Judge Dayson sentenced Gupton on Aug. 15, 2025 to 15 years in prison but delayed Outland’s sentencing because he requested to withdraw his guilty plea.
At the hearing, Judge Dayson confirmed with Outland that he no longer wished to withdraw his plea and wanted to proceed with sentencing.
The prosecutor requested a 24 year prison sentence, saying Outland’s actions caused “chaos, panic, and ultimately a tragedy.” They said the shooting could have killed 30 people because the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) recovered over 30 cartridge casings.
The prosecutor emphasized the dangerousness of “four armed gunmen spraying gunfire into a crowd of people.”
Additionally, the prosecutor said during Outland’s arrest in April 2024, MPD recovered a rifle-like firearm loaded with 47 rounds of ammunition. They asserted that the community narrowly avoided more murders the firearm could have caused.
Outland’s defense attorney, Howard McEachern, requested a 14 year sentence. McEachern asserted the prosecutor did not differentiate Outler from Gupton who received a lower sentence. Outland, unlike Gupton, had no prior criminal record, noted McEachern.
Judge Dayson asked the prosecutor why they believed Outler’s actions warranted a sentence higher than Gupton’s. The prosecutor said Outler’s conduct was “far more egregious” because he led the group in the video footage and possessed a rifle almost a year after the murder.
Outland addressed the court and apologized to the victim’s family and his own. He added that he’s a young father to three children and hoped to attend college after his incarceration.
McEachern also said Outland’s upbringing was unstable and his sister died four months prior to the shooting which caused him to spiral because she was his “rock.”
Judge Dayson noted Outland accepted responsibility and lacked adult convictions but said his actions “killed a random person” and could have injured more people. The judge sentenced Outland to 16 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Outland will be required to register as a gun offender in DC upon his release.
After Judge Dayson announced the sentence, McEachern expressed his dissatisfaction with the evidence that Outland’s conduct differed from Gupton’s. The prosecutor said video evidence showed Outland gathering the suspects for the shooting. Judge Dayson concluded that regardless of any difference in Outland’s role, her sentence would remain higher due to his later rifle possession.
No future dates were scheduled.
DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park granted a mistrial on Jan. 5 in a shooting case, following the jury’s inability to reach a unanimous verdict.
Nikia Cunningham, 31, and Bernard Vance, 31, are charged with robbery while armed, five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, possession of an unregistered firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, second degree cruelty to children, carrying a pistol without a license outside a home/business, and unlawful possession of ammunition. This stems from their alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting on the 300 block of Franklin Street, NE, on March 28, 2023. One individual sustained gunshot wounds during the incident.
Following a multi-week trial, jurors alerted Judge Park they were unable to reach a verdict on multiple of the charges. The jury previously acquitted Cunningham of assault with intent to kill while armed, and convicted Vance of tampering with physical evidence.
Throughout the trial, prosecutors attempted to prove that Cunningham, who had her child with her, accompanied Vance to an old friend’s apartment and shot the friend’s roommate in a robbery gone wrong. According to prosecutors, Cunningham was carrying the child on her hip as she allegedly shot the victim.
Parties are slated to reconvene Jan. 20.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of 33-year-old Derrick Carter, of Southeast, in connection with a shooting incident that occurred on Dec. 2 in the 1400 block of Canal Street, SW. Carter allegedly initiated an argument with a victim, produced a firearm, and fired a shot that did not strike her. He has been charged with Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (Gun).
Whether a murder defendant’s location could be identified by cell phone data resurfaced in a brief hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan on Jan. 5. The question is are different drafts of the cell phone analysis contradictory?
Terrance Stoney, 32, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Donte Tiller, 43. The shooting occurred at the intersection of Naylor Road and Southern Avenue, SE, on March 17, 2023
In trial last February an FBI agent who specializes in cell phone evidence testified he was able to locate Stoney’s cell phone near the incident at the time of the shooting.
Meanwhile, Nikki Lotze, Stoney’s attorney, questioned the data’s exactness and the agent acknowledged he couldn’t pinpoint Stoney’s exact location.
The jury deliberated for a week, finally alerting Judge Ryan they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict who then granted a mistrial on Feb. 19. Stoney, meanwhile, remains in custody since Judge Ryan concluded releasing him would be a danger to the community.
If the judge limits the contested cell phone testimony in the upcoming retrial, it could impact the prosecution’s case, which is now entering its third year.
“It’s the government’s ox that’s being gored,” said Judge Ryan of the controversy.
In October, Lotze filed a motion challenging the FBI’s analysis as inconsistent.
“The maps depicting arcs [ coverage areas] as currently configured should be excluded from evidence because testimony…at Mr. Stoney’s first trial differed with regard to whether phones could be found only inside the arc, or both outside or inside the arc,” argues the motion.
Increasingly used as technical evidence, cell phone data is essentially a form of triangulation in which a phone’s location can be most accurately plotted by analyzing its signal in relation to at least three transmission towers. Depending on the technology used, a cell phone in use can be detected to within a few hundred feet.
However, Lotze complained that there were ten drafts of the expert’s report. “That can’t be ignored,’ she said. “You can’t pretend that didn’t happen.”
The prosecutor said it was only necessary to show the jury the previous report used in trial and that there wasn’t an attempt to hide anything from the jury.
“That’s not something I was trying to do,” he said
Judge Ryan suggested he was inclined to rule based on precedent in the Willis case which allows expert testimony as reliable but open to challenge based on the weight of the evidence.
The next hearing on the cell site motion is set for March 20. Stoney’s trial date was moved up to Sept. 14, one week earlier than its original date.
A defendant testified that pressure from his attorney and family led him to accept a plea deal for a murder he did not commit during a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on Dec. 12.
Erin Sheffey, 30, was originally charged with second-degree murder while armed, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Kiwyon Maddox on Aug. 15, 2021 on the 2000 block of 16th Street, SE.
Sheffey accepted an agreement from prosecutors on March 28 that required him to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed in exchange for prosecutors dismissing all other charges. As part of the deal, parties agreed to a sentence range of seven-and-a-half-to-15 years of imprisonment that would run concurrent with Sheffey’s sentence in his US District Court case.
According to court records, a month after Sheffey accepted the plea deal, his attorney, Peter Cooper, filed a motion on April 29 to withdraw from the case due to a breakdown in communication. Judge Kravitz appointed Sheffey independent counsel–Adrian Madsen– to advise Sheffey regarding his request to withdraw his guilty plea.
At the hearing, Madsen called Sheffey to testify about his motion to withdraw his guilty plea. Sheffey said he requested Cooper as his attorney because he did a “phenomenal job” representing him in a previous case. However, Sheffey said after Cooper was appointed as his lawyer in this case, he never discussed the substance of the case, reviewed discovery, or any other materials with Sheffey.
According to Sheffey, Cooper presented him with the plea deal and said the sentence he received would not make a difference since it would run concurrent to his 18 year sentence from District Court.
Sheffey said Cooper told him it was “f*cking retarded to talk about going to trial.”
At a meeting at the DC Jail in March, Sheffey told Cooper he signed the plea agreement but had not made a final decision. The day he accepted the deal in court, Sheffey said Cooper never asked if he actually decided.
After Judge Kravitz read the factual offer of evidence from the plea agreement, Sheffey said he asked to speak with Cooper under the husher because the alleged facts were not true. “Judge Kravitz told me that I had to admit to something I didn’t do,” said Sheffey.
Madsen asked why Sheffey proceeded with the plea agreement at the hearing despite his innocence, Sheffey said his state of mind was to “hurry up and take a plea deal so [he] could get it over with.”
“I felt pressured to take this plea deal,” said Sheffey because Cooper reportedly threatened to not represent him if he rejected the plea deal. Sheffey said he also felt pressure from his family and friends.
Sheffey also testified that part of the reason he accepted the deal was because Cooper told him prosecutors might involve one of his friends in the case.
Madsen played multiple of Sheffey’s phone calls from the DC Jail. The day of the plea, March 28, Sheffey told his mother on the phone that he was not responsible for the murder. In another call from April 5, Sheffey told his mother he no longer wanted to take the plea deal and that he accepted the deal to prevent his friend’s involvement.
Sheffey reiterated on the stand that he took the plea deal because he wanted the process to be finished.
During cross-examination, the prosecutor confirmed that Sheffey understood the process of receiving a new lawyer and chose not to fire Cooper. Sheffey said he did not fire Cooper because he thought the situation would improve.
Sheffey told the prosecutor that Cooper briefly discussed the risks of proceeding to trial but never mentioned the benefits of the plea deal.
The prosecutor displayed the plea agreement and recitation of facts in court and confirmed with Sheffey that his signature was on the documents. The prosecutor pointed out that the agreement Sheffey signed said “I have discussed it with my attorney.”
The prosecutor asserted Sheffey was familiar with the process of accepting a plea deal because he previously pleaded guilty in a misdemeanor case in the DC Superior Court. Madsen confirmed during his re-direct questioning that Sheffey’s misdemeanor plea did not involve a written proffer of facts.
Sheffey told the prosecutor his conversation with Cooper about another person’s involvement in the case occurred when he signed the agreement. Sheffey said “I felt very pressured” to sign the deal after that. The prosecutor confirmed Cooper simply told Sheffey that information.
“The day of the plea, I was still in my head if I wanted to do it or not,” said Sheffey when the prosecutor confirmed he never told Cooper he did not want to proceed with the guilty plea. Madsen confirmed during redirect that although Sheffey signed the paperwork, he asked Cooper not to file it until he made a final decision.
Judge Kravitz asked Sheffey directly why he wanted to withdraw his plea. “In that plea deal, the stuff that they accused me for, I feel like I didn’t do,” said Sheffey.
Sheffey concluded his testimony, but time constraints prevented the prosecution from calling their witness, parties presenting arguments, and Judge Kravitz ruling on the motion.
The prosecutor plans to call Cooper to testify when parties reconvene on Jan. 9, 2026.
DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman sentenced a murder defendant who confessed to the victim’s family on social media to 12 years of imprisonment on Dec. 19.
Shaun Brown, 25, pleaded guilty on Oct. 10 to voluntary manslaughter while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon for the fatal shooting of 47-year-old Dametrics Evans on Oct. 25, 2021 on the 4900 block of G Street, SE. Evans suffered from a gunshot wound to her back and an additional victim sustained a cervical spine injury.
The case was dismissed by prosecutors in June 2022, but reopened in January 2025 after Brown confessed to the murder during an Instagram live video.
As part of the plea deal, parties agreed to a sentence range of ten-to-12-and-a-half years of imprisonment.
At sentencing, Evans’ oldest daughter said at first she had sympathy for Brown but “he actually got away with it and really just wanted everyone to know.” The daughter said “you don’t take people you didn’t put here, you’re not God.”
Another one of Evans’ daughters said her mother meant everything to her and that she “will never again feel her arms around” her.
Evans’ oldest sister thanked everyone involved in the case for bringing the family closure so they “can feel somewhat whole again.”
A granddaughter of Evans told Brown “I hope you have time to think about it, because what you did was very wrong and you took somebody very special to us.”
“Grandma was the one thing that kept us happy, that made us feel safe…we could go to her whenever we needed her,” said the granddaughter.
Evans’ nephew, present on Webex, said Brown “shooting at an older female was completely unnecessary and doesn’t feel very masculine.”
After Evans’ family spoke, the prosecutor acknowledged “I don’t think I can say words more powerful than what the family has said.”
“The case was dismissed, the defendant had an opportunity to get away with it,” said the prosecutor. According to the prosecutor, Evans’ family provided the Instagram live video evidence for prosecutors to reopen the case.
The prosecutor played the video at sentencing, in which one of Evans’ daughters commented “You kill my mom and send a request.” Brown responded in the video “They closed the case though, you feel me, they couldn’t find no evidence.” Brown added “F*ck you, f*ck your mother. I don’t care no more.”
The prosecutor requested Brown serve ten-and-a-half years of imprisonment for manslaughter and two consecutive years for assault, followed by supervised release. They described Brown’s actions and comments as “reprehensible.”
Brown’s attorney, Michael Bruckheim, said “I wish I could offer words of comfort to the family,” but acknowledged they might not be receptive as Brown’s counsel.
“That was horrible,” said Bruckheim regarding the video confession. At the time of the confession, Bruckheim said although there was not a pending case against Brown, he was aware of his actions and carried them with him. After the case was reopened against Brown he admitted to his actions, said Bruckheim.
Bruckheim showed Judge Edelman Brown’s certificates of completion from a variety of classes during his incarceration. “Brown wants to be an example of how not to be and what not to do” when he returns to the community, said Bruckheim.
“He’s deeply remorseful of the actions he took, the words that he said, and the things that he did,” said Bruckheim.
Bruckheim read a letter in which Brown took responsibility for his actions and apologized. Brown said he hoped the knowledge gained from his classes would improve his decision making.
Bruckheim requested a total sentence of ten years of imprisonment for Brown. In addition, Bruckheim asked Judge Edelman to grant Brown the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA), which allows people under 25 who are convicted of certain crimes to have their convictions sealed or cleared after they successfully complete their sentence and potentially offers sentencing flexibility for the defendant.
Judge Edelman noted Brown was 21 at the time of the murder and said his conduct during and after the incident showed his immaturity. The judge granted Brown the YRA as a future benefit and incentive for Brown to successfully serve his sentence, but noted he did not lower Brown’s sentence with the YRA.
“I don’t know if there are enough adjectives to describe the conduct here and its effects…dangerous, reckless, violent, disastrous,” said Judge Edelman. Brown was “as insensitive as possible” in the video confession, expressed the judge.
Judge Edelman noted Brown showed prospects for rehabilitation and had no disciplinary infractions during his incarceration which was rare at the DC Jail.
The judge sentenced Brown to ten years for manslaughter and two consecutive years for assault, followed by five years of supervised release. Brown will be required to register as a gun offender in DC upon his release.
No further dates were set.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced they are investigating a homicide that occurred on Dec. 31 on the 200 block of 37th Street, SE. Officers found two adult males with gunshot wounds; Darnell Bassett, 31, was pronounced dead, and there is 1 surviving victim with life-threatening injuries.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of 16-year-old Keyonte Johnson, alleged to be involved in the fatal shooting on Dec. 5 on Morse Street, NE. The victim, identified as 20-year-old Roy Lee Bennett Jr., was found deceased at the scene. Johnson has been charged as an adult with First-Degree Murder while Armed.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced an arrest in the fatal shooting of Christopher Rashad Riles, 32, which occurred on May 17 on Irvington Street, Southwest. Royale McGlenn Jr., 19, has been charged with First Degree Murder While Armed (Premeditated) and was taken into custody by the MPD’s Fugitive Unit on Dec. 29.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced they are seeking assistance in identifying a suspect involved in a shooting incident on Dec. 28 on the 400 block of 8th Street, NW. The altercation began inside an establishment and escalated when the suspect struck the victim with a pistol and later discharged the weapon, causing property damage. The suspect fled the scene and was captured on surveillance footage.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced they are investigating a homicide that occurred on Dec. 23 on Congress Street, SE. The victim, identified as 30-year-old Devonta Prince Williams, succumbed to his injuries on Dec. 28. No suspect information is available at this time.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced they are investigating a homicide that occurred on Dec. 27 in the alley adjacent to the 4400 block of Jay Street, NE. The victim, identified as 49-year-old Junior Almozard of Northeast, DC, was found with gunshot wounds and later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
