The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced an investigation into a fatal crash that occurred on Feb. 13 in the Petworth neighborhood. The incident involved a trash truck and an electric bicycle on Kansas Ave NW, resulting in the death of 26-year-old Kenny Jimmenez Rivera and critical injuries to one surviving victim. The trash truck, which initially left the scene, was later located in Hyattsville, MD, and the driver has been identified as the investigation continues.
DC Superior Court Judge Charmetra Jackson Parker denied a defendant’s release accused of a stabbing during a neighborhood dispute after she waived her preliminary hearing on Feb. 13.
Tara Bellinger, 40, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for her alleged involvement in a non-fatal stabbing in an apartment building. The incident took place on Feb. 10 on the unit block of Forrester Street, SW.
Defense attorney Louis Kamara alerted the court of Bellinger’s intent to waive her right to a preliminary hearing of the evidence which Judge Parker accepted.
The prosecution requested Bellinger remain held at the DC Jail while she awaits trial due to the seriousness and dangerous nature of the alleged crime. According to the prosecutors, the offense involved Bellinger using a knife in an argument with her neighbors and cutting one of the individuals’ hands.
The violent act coupled with the defendant’s close proximity the to the victims if released, it would be too much of a risk for Bellinger to be released, asserted prosecutors.
Kamara emphasized that Bellinger was a single mother with a minimal criminal history. He added that she had a stable job and income.
However, Judge Parker decided not to release Bellinger because she could because she could be a potential threat. The judge also raised concerns regarding whether Bellinger would return to court given the charges against her.
Parties are slated to reconvene on Feb. 27.
A defendant accepted a plea deal for a shooting that stemmed from a traffic dispute before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on Feb. 10.
Earl Harris, 45, was originally charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction greater than a year, carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, and obstructing justice. All charges carried an additional penalty for Harris committing a felony after at least two felony convictions.
The charges stem from his involvement in a shooting on Aug. 21, 2025 on the 1600 block of 23rd Street, SE. No injuries were reported.
At the hearing, the court formally arraigned Harris on the indictment charges against him and his attorney, Rachel Cicurel, entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf.
Following the arraignment, Cicurel informed Judge Brandt that Harris accepted a plea deal from prosecutors that required him to plead guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior crime of violence. The prosecutor, in exchange, dismissed the greater and remaining charges against Harris, and withdrew the additional penalties.
Judge Brandt confirmed that Harris understood the maximum sentences of 15 years in prison for the possession charge and 10 years in prison for the assault charge.
The prosecutor said if the case had proceeded to trial, they would have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that on the day of the offense, the victim’s vehicle hit Harris’. Harris then followed the victim and fired 11 shots in his direction.
Cicurel said Harris believed he fired seven shots, not 11. The prosecutor said they recovered 11 casings and 11 shots were audible in video footage.
Judge Brandt noted Harris’ testament but said the number of shots fired did not impact the charges he pleaded to.
Harris is scheduled for sentencing on April 10.
A non-fatal shooting defendant entered into a plea deal before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz during a status hearing Feb. 10.
Demarco Bates, 28, was originally charged with four counts of assault with intent to kill, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, two counts of destruction of property less than $1,000, and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance for his involvement in an April 10, 2024 non-fatal shooting on the 2700 block of Langston Place, SE. Two victims were injured during the shooting.
At the hearing, Bates’ attorney, Alvin Thomas, said his client accepted a deal from prosecutors that required him to plead guilty to two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to dismiss the remaining charges against Bates.
As part of the deal, parties also agreed to a sentence between seven-and-eight years of imprisonment, subject to Judge Kravitz’s approval at sentencing.
According to the prosecution, if the case had gone to trial, they would have proven that Bates, through transferred intent, assaulted two victims, though not the intended targets, with a dangerous weapon after firing 12 rounds towards a white sedan at the scene. Prosecutors said they would have tied Bates to the crime with DNA and ballistic evidence.
Judge Kravitz ordered a pre-sentencing investigation report and Bates will remain in custody until his sentencing.
Parties are scheduled to reconvene on April 10 for sentencing.
The District’s homicide count increased in a single day with four incidents.
According to D.C. Witness data, Feb. 11. marked the deadliest day so far this year with four lives lost in less than 24 hours. This increase is more than the total number of homicides recorded for the entire month of January.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services (FEMS) responded to a report of smoke in a hallway on the 1400 block of Rhode Island Avenue, NW.
On the scene, firefighters extinguished a small fire, and located Syden Hussain, 40, who was unconscious. Hussain suffered from blunt force trauma and thermal injuries. The investigation remains ongoing.
In another incident, officers responded to a report of a shooting in front of an apartment complex on the 4100 block of W Street, NW. They found Rayven Edward, 34, and a 10-year-old girl suffering from gunshot wounds. The woman was pronounced dead and the 10-year-old girl was taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. A second child was also located on the scene uninjured.
MPD determined that the suspect, Stephon Jeter, 35, fled the scene in a black pickup truck. The suspect crashed his vehicle, and he later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The case is also being investigated by MPD Homicide detectives.
Authorities also reported that a person was making threats with a firearm on the 3700 block of Hayes Street, NE. When US Marshals arrived, the suspect allegedly pointed a gun at them. In response, US Marshal Julian Bailey, 43, discharged his weapon, killing the suspect.
DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan detained a murder defendant who was non-compliant with the conditions of his release at a hearing on Feb. 5
William Ransford, 62, is charged with first-and-second-degree murder for his alleged involvement in the fatal strangulation and sexual assault of Debra McManus, 39, on the the 400 block of Trenton Street, SE on Oct. 23, 1993.
According to court records, Ransford was detained from his arrest on Aug. 18, 2022 until Judge Ryan released him on June 25, 2025.
At the hearing, the prosecution claimed that Ransford had not been compliant with the terms of his release. They said he failed to report that his GPS tracker was out of power and he had not taken a drug test since Dec. 23, 2025.
Court records indicate a notice of Ransford’s non-compliance was first filed on Aug. 7, 2025, less than two months after his release.
Ransford’s attorney, Dana Paige, claimed there was a miscommunication because Ransford was supposed to be supervised by the Pretrial Services Agency’s (PSA) Specialized Supervision Team (SST), but was not. According to Paige, Ransford could not be on GPS monitoring and simultaneously supervised by SST, which they were unaware of.
Additionally, Paige wanted Judge Ryan to consider Randsford’s cognitive decline.
Judge Ryan said Ransford’s cognitive deficit wasn’t obvious, but his non-compliance with the terms of his release was. Therefore, the judge revoked Ransford’s release and recommended that he be held at the Central Treatment Facility (CTF) and complete a drug program.
The parties are set to reconvene April 17.
DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe allowed parties to postpone a stabbing defendant’s sentencing after she was charged with a new case in another jurisdiction during a hearing on Feb. 9.
Tamara Francis, 36, pleaded guilty on Oct. 30, 2025 to attempted assault with a dangerous weapon for her involvement in a stabbing during a domestic dispute on Sept. 15, 2025, on the 1400 block of Belmont Street, NW.
According to court records, Francis failed to appear for her original sentencing on Jan. 9 and as a result, Judge Pipe issued a bench warrant. US Marshals executed the writ on Feb. 5, detained Francis, and parties rescheduled sentencing.
At the new sentencing, Francis’ attorney, Chantal Jean-Baptiste, asked for another delay to “work out” the details of the sentence with the prosecution.
The prosecution informed Judge Pipe that Francis was recently charged in an unrelated matter in Manhattan, New York. Jean-Baptiste and prosecutors wanted more time to review the new case before Fracis is sentenced.
Judge Pipe granted the request and scheduled a new sentencing date for Feb, 24.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced that on Feb. 10, a suspect, Frederick Douglas Smith III, 33, allegedly breached a home on the 2300 block of Q St, SE. During a struggle with the homeowner, the victim discharged a registered shotgun, injuring Smith. He was taken into custody and transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Smith was charged with Burglary I.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced that a suspect is in custody for a homicide that occurred on Feb. 2 in Columbia Heights. The victim, 27-year-old Nyesha Walden-Hatcher, was found deceased from a gunshot wound in a residence on the 3100 block of 16th Street, NW. Tyjuan Bazemore, 35, was arrested in Middletown, CT, and will be extradited to Washington, D.C., where he will face charges of Second-Degree Murder While Armed.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of 30-year-old Abdul Fields, of Southeast, DC, in connection with a shooting incident that occurred on March 24, 2025, on the unit block of New York Avenue, NW. Fields allegedly discharged a firearm toward a moving vehicle, with no injuries reported. He has been charged with Endangerment with a Firearm, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (Gun), and Possession of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence.
DC Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel denied a release request for a stabbing defendant before going to trial on Feb. 10.
Chauncey Liverpool, 32 , is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a nonfatal stabbing on Sept. 9, 2025 on the 4000 block of 3rd Street, NE. One victim was wounded.
Liverpool had been evaluated previously by the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) to make sure that he was found mentallhy competent to stand trial and so declared in a hearing on Jan. 15.
Judge Israel said he was found competent to stand trail in thatr he understood the charges which were read to him by the prosecution
At the hearing, the prosecution extended an offer to Liverpool that required him to plead guilty to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon.
Liverpool’s defense attorney, Howard McEachern, informed parties that his client rejected the plea offer and wants to go to trial. The plea offer details were not disclosed during the hearing.
McEachern also requested that Liverpool be released pretrial. He said the defendant could live in the DC area and stay away from the incident location. McEachern said the crime was a family matter, not a community concern.
Prosecutors objected acknowledgeing Liverpool’s prior criminal history of Liverpool ‘sstabbed a family member with a pair of scissors.
Judge Israel denied the release request.
Parties are scheduled to meet on June 5 for a trial readiness hearing.
A murder defendant failed to appear before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan on Feb. 9.
Korin Agnew, 37, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Korey Glasker on Sept. 11, 2024, on the 3700 block of Alabama Avenue, SE.
Agnew refused to board the bus at the DC Jail, according to Judge Ryan.
Agnew’s attorney, Sara Kopecki, requested Judge Ryan issue a medical exemption because Agnew had a black eye. Kopecki said Agnew was no longer receiving his medication, and the winter weather might have caused the injury to worsen.
Judge Ryan said he would email the acting general counsel at the DC Department of Corrections (DOC) to ask for a medical exemption for Agnew’s court appearance.
Parties are slated to reconvene on Feb. 18.
A murder defendant’s trial was postponed after his fifth attorney left the case before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan on Feb. 9.
Sherman Holley, 48, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, assault on a police officer, carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, arson, destruction of property worth $1,000 or more, and resisting arrest. All charges face an aggravating factor of allegedly being committed during Holley’s release for another matter.
The charges stem from Holley’s alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of 53-year-old James Brooks on Jan. 15, 2023, on the 200 block of 37th Street, SE.
Kevin Irving, Holley’s attorney, asked Judge Ryan to no longer represent Holley, consistent with his Feb. 4 motion to withdraw. According to the motion, Irving had a conflict with Holley after an incident that occurred that day.
Holley confirmed he “pretty much” asked Irving to withdraw and said Irving acted too “nonchalant” and as if Holley was “dumb.”
Irving was the fifth defense attorney to withdraw from Holley’s case, court documents indicate.
“I wanna go to trial, but it’s the incompetency of my attorneys,” Holley said.
After granting Irving’s motion to withdraw, Judge Ryan told Holley he was “clearly the problem” and said he needed to find a lawyer that would “put up with” his “behavior.” The judge commended Irving’s legal skills and said Holley was barring himself from good representation.
Judge Ryan said he heard no evidence of Holley’s competence to stand trial.
“All you’re doing is ensuring you stay locked up for a longer period of time without a trial,” Judge Ryan said to Holley.
Judge Ryan vacated the Feb. 17 trial date and called for ascertainment of counsel in roughly 30 days.
Parties are scheduled to reconvene March 9.
The defense argued before DC Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean that a shooting defendant should be deemed mentally incompetent on Feb. 9.
Roasu Johnson, 35, is charged with endangerment with a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a license, carrying a pistol without a license outside the home or business, unlawful discarding of a firearm or ammunition, and unlawful possession of ammunition for his alleged involvement in a nonfatal shooting that occurred on the 900 block of Kennedy Street, NW, on Aug. 6, 2025.
According to court documents, shots were originally fired on the 1200 block of Madison Street, NW. Johnson then allegedly fled to the 900 block of Kennedy Street, NW, and fired another round.
Defense attorney Alvin Thomas stated that Johnson’s psychological evaluation was inconclusive. However, another evaluation performed by the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), claimed Johnson is incompetent.
Johnson entered court and was asked to state his name for the record, which he didn’t do. Judge McLean said that Johnson made eye contact with her and began mouthing words, but nothing came out. In addition, she said Johnson consistently failed to respond throughout the hearing.
The prosecution had no comment regarding Johnson’s mental capacity.
Judge McLean suggested scheduling a motion hearing regarding Johnson’s mental competency, requiring expert witnesses from both parties. In the meantime, a status hearing was scheduled so parties can ensure their expert witnesses would be available.
To stand trial a defendant must be mentally competent enough to understand why he’s being charged and help his lawyer.
Parties are scheduled to reconvene for a status hearing on Feb. 24.
DC Superior Court Judge Renee Raymond released a defendant accused of a domestic violence stabbing, after he waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Feb. 12.
Eduavdo Gonzalez, 46, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a stabbing at the 5000 block of Yuma Court, NW on Feb. 7.
Gonzalez’s attorney Joseph Scrofano, alerted the court of his intent to waive his right to a preliminary hearing of the evidence against him.
Scrofano also requested Judge Raymond release Gonzalez, arguing that Gonzalez is gainfully employed, has stable housing, and tested negative for drugs during his arrest. Letters written by family members, community members, and the victim were presented to Judge Raymond requesting Gonzalez’s release.
With concern for the community’s safety, Scrofano said “nothing in [Gonzalez’s] background suggests a lack of impulse control.” Scrofano believed “there are reasonable conditions” that can be imposed to ensure the safety of the community.
The prosecution claimed they spoke with the victim, who stated they are still fearful of Gonzalez. They requested that if Gonzalez is released, he be ordered to have no contact with the victim.
After hearing the arguments, Judge Raymond granted Gonzalez’s release. However, she ordered Gonzalez to wear a GPS monitoring system at all times. Gonzalez is ordered to have no contact with the victim “not in any way, whatsoever” emphasized Judge Raymond.
Parties are slated to reconvene March 17.
