Homicide Co-Defendants Plead Not Guilty During Arraignment

On Feb. 2, two of three homicide co-defendants pleaded not guilty during their arraignment before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan.

Ronald Henderson, 18, Daveon Robinson, 17, and Derricko Johnson, 19, are charged with first-degree murder premeditated while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, among other charges, for their alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Justin Johnson, 16. This incident occurred on May 21, 2022, on the 2200 black of Savannah Terrace, SE.

On Nov. 30, 2023, Robinson was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

During the hearing, defense attorneys Lisbeth Sapirstein and Kevann Gardner pled not guilty on behalf of their respective clients, Henderson and Johnson. They asserted their constitutional right to a speedy trial.

Parties will reconvene May 3.

‘From This Day On, You’ll Be a Murderer,’ Victim’s Father tells Juvenile Defendant

On Jan. 31, DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld ordered a juvenile homicide defendant remain detained until her twenty-first birthday for her connection to the death of a 16-year-old Maryland girl.

The juvenile, who is also 16-years-old, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill, aggravated assault, felony assault and carrying a dangerous weapon for her involvement in the Aug. 27 stabbing of 16-year-old Naima Liggon.

The incident occurred on the 1900 block of 14th Street, NW, and allegedly stemmed from a dispute about McDonald’s sweet and sour sauce.

On Dec. 4, 2023, the girl accepted a plea offer extended by prosecutors, which required her to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed and carrying a dangerous weapon, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges.

During the sentencing hearing, Liggon’s parents and a friend, who was with her at the time of the stabbing, delivered victim impact statements to the court.

The friend said Naima was her “closest most genuine friend,” adding that she bled out in her arms. “That night, and many nights after, I couldn’t sleep,” added the juvenile witness.

“I forgive you… I need to do that for myself,” she said, adding “I wish you peace”.

“Naima is irreplaceable,” began her father, insisting that Naima was trying to deescalate the situation, and the defendant saw it as a “chance to show how tough and gangster” she was.

“Naima didn’t deserve that,” he insisted, adding “from this day on, you’ll be a murderer.”

“I have always been her advocate, and now that she doesn’t have a voice, I’ll continue to be the one to fight for her,” cried Naima’s mother as she addressed the court.

According to Naima’s mom, the day of her death was when her “worst fear came to life,” adding that she had not been aware that Naima had been in the District.

When discussing what she saw at the hospital, where Naima died, she said “a part of me died on that [operating] table with her.”

She went on to argue that she didn’t understand why “her killer was protected because she was a juvenile,” adding that various people had sent her screenshots of social media posts made by the defendant that displayed Naima’s blood on the street with taunting captions.

“How could she have been killed over sweet and sour sauce?” asked the mother.

She deemed the offense a “senseless crime,” adding that she didn’t understand what motivated the defendant to act in such a way.

“You took a life from us,” she said, adding that she left them with “memories of a life that should have been.”

“I forgive you for taking one of the most important lives in my life… I pray for your soul and your family,” Naima’s mom said. However, she added, “You took a life in cold blood” and insisted she is getting a “slap in the wrist” for what the defendant did.

“You did the crime and you deserve to do the time,” she proclaimed.

Following the victim impact statements, prosecutors played a video created by the family, which displayed Naima throughout her childhood. “Naima, may you rest in peace, power, and paradise,” said the video.

In their arguments, prosecutors requested Judge Hertzfeld sentence the defendant to restricted commitment until the age of 21, arguing that she “presents as an individual in dire need of care and rehabilitation.”

They insisted the incident was “the result of mere words,” when the defendant was denied additional sweet and sour sauce, as the vehicle was parked right outside the McDonald’s on U Street.

“She knew exactly what she was going to do, and who she was doing it to,” stated prosecutors. During an interview with Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives, which was shown in open court, the defendant told the detective, “That’s when I got her,” as they watched the surveillance footage of the incident.

According to prosecutors, as Naima received treatment at the hospital, one of the eyewitnesses messaged the defendant saying “She could’ve died,” adding “you did all of that over some sauce. Y’all were friends.” The defendant replied, “They tried to jump me, idgaf [I don’t give a f**k],” with three laughing crying emojis.

Prosecutors claim that the defendant presents herself to people as “petite, child-like, incapable of committing a murder,” but insisted that the “actions of the real [defendant]” were shown on the day of the incident.

Once arrested, prosecutors said, the defendant fought another girl at the Youth Services Center (YSC) in the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) because she was discussing the defendant’s case with others.

“All of this is over mere words,” they insisted.

However, the defendant’s defense attorney asserted that, in court, she is seen through a “tainted lens,” adding that she should be put on a year of probation because “each child is unique, and punishment is not the goal.”

According to the defense, the defendant began carrying a knife to protect herself due to various incidents that occurred in the month leading up to Naima’s death. The attorney said that, on the day of the incident, the juvenile was merely trying to get comfort from friends after what she had experienced.

The attorney also insisted that the defendant believed she was acting in self-defense because the verbal disagreement led to a physical altercation between Naima and the defendant.

The defense argued that she is “incredibly remorseful,” and stated that she would do best if she was sent home to do homeschooling and get support from her family.

“I’m sorry to the family and friends, and to the ones that were impacted,” said the defendant in a letter read to the court. “I hope one day you’ll forgive me,” she stated, adding that she thinks of her memories with Naima, whom she knew since middle school, often.

Judge Hertzfeld deemed the offense a “truly vicious murder,” questioning if “this was really over sweet and sour sauce?” Judge Hertzfeld added that it was troubling to know that the defendant knew she didn’t get Naima the first blow. “I keep thinking, how can that be?” Judge Hertzfeld said.

“No matter the sentence, [the defendant] will get another chance at life, but Naima won’t. That’s part of the tragedy,” said Judge Hertzfeld.

Judge Hertzfeld agreed with the prosecution, DYRS, and the defendant’s probation officer’s recommendation to hold her in restricted commitment until the age of 21.

Parties are slated to return March 8, to check in and make sure DYRS has placed the defendant at a holding facility that has all the resources she will need.

Judge Reschedules Sentencing In Non-Fatal Shooting Case

On Feb.1, DC Superior Court Erik Christian postponed Marquett Brown‘s sentencing because his defense attorney, Adgie O’Bryant, submitted case documents late.

Brown, 35, was originally charged with assaulting an officer while armed, unlawful possession of ammunition, unlawful discharge of a firearm, possession of an unregistered firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and carrying a firearm outside of a home or business for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting that occurred on Feb. 11, 2022 on the 400 block of Benning Road, SE. There were no reported injuries from the incident.

According to court documents, the incident stemmed from Brown’s refusal to wear an appropriate COVID-19 face mask as required at the time in a Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) location.

When a special DMV police officer told Brown he would be asked to leave if he did not comply, Brown allegedly got in a tussle with the officer, grabbed the officer’s gun, and shot it once.

On Oct. 20, 2023, Brown accepted a plea offer extended by prosecutors, which required he plead guilty to unlawful discharge of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm by a prior convict, and attempted aggravated assault, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges, and a dismissal of two misdemeanor cases.

At the beginning of the scheduled sentencing, Brown told the judge that he took a plea deal because he “accepts full accountability and responsibility” for his actions, and stated that he had previously entered a not guilty plea because he had still been “mentally trying to grasp it” and had not been ready to accept responsibility.

Judge Christian stated that since O’Bryant had failed to send him the memorandum in advance, he had not had a chance to read it, and was not prepared to sentence Brown.

O’Bryant asked him to pass the case in order to read the documents, but Judge Christian stated that he would still not have time, and would need to reschedule it for a later date.

Parties are scheduled to return to court for sentencing on Feb. 13.

Jury Acquits Suspect Held in Non-Fatal Shooting Case

Donnell Tucker was acquitted of all charges on Jan. 31, 2024.

The jury delivered the not guilty verdict in connection to a non-fatal shooting trial before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno.

Donnell Tucker, 27, was originally charged with conspiracy, first-degree burglary, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, aggravated assault while armed, assault with significant bodily injury, and threatening to injure or kidnap a person in connection to a non-fatal shooting on March 28, 2023, on the 3400 block of 13th Place, SE, which left one individual suffering from gunshot wounds.

On Nov. 6, 2023, Tucker’s mother, Tiaquana Chandler, 42, was convicted of conspiracy in connection to the shooting but was acquitted of first-degree burglary, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, soliciting a violent crime, and additional possession of a firearm during a crime of violence charges.

Tucker’s defense attorney, Marnitta King, consistently claimed there was no evidence of Tucker’s presence during the offense, and that the prosecution had “not made their case beyond a reasonable doubt”.

After six days of trial and one day of deliberation, the 12-person jury delivered its verdict resulting in Tucker’s immediate release from D.C Jail where he’d been held since July of 2023.

Prosecutors tried to prove Tucker’s guilt by presenting testimony from the victim as well as a police body camera video of him receiving aid. In the video, which was taken at the hospital shortly after the shooting, the victim can be heard identifying their assailant as, “Tiaquana and her lame ass son shoot me or some sh*t”.

Prosecutors called on eight witnesses including and the victim in an attempt to prove Tucker’s guilt.

Defense only called an official court investigator.

A dramatic moment in court occurred when the only eyewitness to the crime claimed, “The man sitting next to the lawyer [Tucker] is not the shooter,” and that the real shooter had been in court the first day but left when he saw the eyewitness.

In their closing statement, the prosecution said this was a crime of retaliation by Tucker for the treatment of his mother by the victim. Prosecution believed body camera footage, phone call recordings of Chandler from jail, birth records, video surveillance of the apartment, and eyewitness testimony all confirmed Tucker’s charges.

Defense claimed “the only thing the government has is the lineage” in reference to Tucker’s birth records. King held that the eyewitness as well as the victim’s descriptions of the shooter fail to match Tucker.

King urged the jury to “look at what evidence they[the prosecution] didn’t present,” reminding the jury that the burden of proof had not been met by the prosecution.

Following the verdict, Tucker’s case was dismissed.

Homicide Defendant Pleads Not Guilty During Arraignment

On Jan. 31, a homicide defendant pleaded not guilty during his arraignment before DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo.

Ravon Slye, 31, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing his girlfriend, 30-year-old Andrea Bond, on March 7, 2023, on the 1100 Block of D Street, NE.

According to court documents, the defendant had a history of domestic violence and was on probation at the time of the incident. Moreover, the victim’s family had reportedly expressed apprehension about Slye’s being around Bond.

Kevin Mosley, Slye’s defense attorney, informed the court that he pleaded not guilty to the charge of second-degree murder while armed, and asserted his constitutional rights, including a speedy trial.

While awaiting trial, Slye will remain at the D.C. Jail.

A status hearing to discuss a trial date has been scheduled for February 14.

Defense Motions for Retrial of Seven-Year-Old Crime

Seven years after the murder of 17-year-old Jhamari Sydnor, Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan addressed a motion filed by co-defendants for a retrial, on Jan. 31.

Robert Moses, 24, and James Mayfield, 24, were charged on several counts, including first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill, conspiracy, and aggravated assault while armed, for their involvement in the fatal shooting of Sydnor. The shooting occurred on Aug. 10, 2017, at the intersection of Montana and Saratoga Avenues, NE. The incident left 3 other individuals injured.

The trial was put before a jury five years after the crime, resulting in a guilty verdict on Dec. 8, 2022.

Defense attorneys Veronica Holt and Steven Kiersh motioned for a retrial in July of 2023 arguing that the prosecution purposefully withheld crucial evidence.

According to statements from all parties, the prosecution only recently handed over a pre-trial interview with their main witness, It revealed the witness saw Mayfield and Moses in Edgewood around the time of the shooting, not in the area the individual later testified seeing them.

“They [prosecution] knew Edgewood was relevant,” Holt said. “I never got a chance to investigate this, and had I known this, I would have questioned the police investigation.”

Holt argued that this was an “attempt to conceal evidence” on the prosecution’s behalf. According to Holt, the prosecution had this information at the time of the preliminary hearing on Nov. 6, 2017, and chose not to hand it over.

“What’s even more disturbing is that the [prosecution] provided evidence in a court pleading contradictory to what they heard from [a witness],” Holt said.

Holt claimed that, because the prosecution held this evidence for several years without handing it over, their actions were intentional.

“It is clear the [prosecution] did not want us to have access to this information because they feared it,” Holt said.

Keirsh echoed a similar sentiment, arguing that the evidence regarding identification could have very well altered the outcome of the trial.

“That information could have been investigated,” Kiersh said. “And there is a very real possibility that the jury could have made a different decision.”

The prosecution responded by claiming that the evidence was so “vast” that they simply missed the interview in their files, forgetting to hand it over altogether.

“We are not disclosing that this wasn’t turned over during trial,” the prosecution explained. “We do detest any intentionality in suppressing it.”

The prosecution defined the defense’s claims as “hypotheticals,” and ones they believed would not have made a significant difference in the trial.

“It’s too speculative to say that it could have led to anything,” the prosecution said. “The [prosecution’s] argument was so strong that there was no reasonable probability that there would have been a different outcome at trial.”

The “layering” of several pieces of evidence, including DNA traces and other witness testimonies, according to the prosecution, is enough to conclude the defendants’ guilt. The additional evidence from this interview would have had no impact on their argument, the prosecution said.

“There simply is no reasonable probability that the evidence, even if it were presented, would undermine the confidence of the outcome,” the prosecution said.

Holt countered the prosecution’s argument by claiming they misinterpreted the interview, but that still does not excuse the fact that this evidence was never disclosed.

“There is nothing speculative or vague about what [the witness] was saying,” Holt countered. “The [prosecution] didn’t believe them and that doesn’t give them the right to withhold evidence.”

Keirsh also said one of the jurors allegedly lied on her questionnaire during the trial’s jury selection. It wasn’t until mid-trial that Mayfield told Holt that he remembered her from his neighborhood years ago.

“Had we known that this African American woman knew or heard about this case, we would have moved to strike her,” Kiersh said.

Ultimately, Holt closed by arguing that this trial was simply not fair toward either party and set a dangerous precedent for the future.

“This is not just about this case,” Holt said. “This is about the ethics of how we do things.”

The motion hearing was cut short due to time limitations. Parties are slated to return on May 31.

Document: MPD Investigating Traffic Crash That Killed Child

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating the death of a young pedestrian from injuries she sustained after being struck by a vehicle on Jan. 30 at the 2500 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

According to MPD documents, a vehicle was driving southbound through a parking lot at the location. At the same time, a young child began running across the parking lot. The child was struck as she ran into the path of the vehicle.

The child was transported to an area hospital, where, despite all lifesaving efforts, she succumbed to her injuries.

The driver of the vehicle remained on the scene, and is cooperating with MPD.

The victim was identified as 5-year-old Zyina Crump.

Anyone with information about the incident should call police.

Document: MPD Searching for a Vehicle in a Northwest Shooting

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a suspect vehicle involved in a shooting on Jan. 30 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. Upon arrival, they located an adult male inside a vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries.

The suspect’s 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.

Document: MPD Investigating Man’s Overnight Crime Spree, Leaving 1 Dead and 1 with Critical Injuries

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating an overnight crime spree in DC connected to one suspect.

According to MPD documents, on Jan. 29 on the 900 block of K Street, NW, the suspect approached an occupied vehicle while it was parked along the block. The suspect got inside the vehicle and shot at the male driver, then exited the vehicle. The suspect fled on foot from the scene. The victim is receiving treatment at a local hospital for life-threatening injuries.

A few hours later, the suspect attempted to carjack an individual driving a vehicle at the intersection of 5th and K Street, NE, but was unsuccessful. The victim fled the scene and called police.

A short time later, the suspect approached a man and a woman by their car on the 300 block of N Street, NE, and demanded their keys. The suspect then shot the man and fled the scene in the victim’s vehicle. The victim was transported to the hospital, where he died. He was identified as 35-year-old Alberto Vasquez Jr. His vehicle was later recovered in Prince George’s County, MD.

The suspect committed two additional carjackings in PG County. In the early hours of Jan. 30, while driving a carjacked vehicle on I-295 Northbound, the suspect began shooting at a MPD cruiser while it was driving near Exit 1. A round struck the cruiser, but the officer was not injured.

At that time, the suspect drove to the 7500 block of Annapolis Road in PG County, where he had an interaction with members of the New Carrolton Police Department, which led to an officer-involved shooting.

MPD continues to work with our regional law enforcement partners on this continuing investigation.

There is no ongoing threat to the community.

Document: MPD Searching for a Suspect in Shooting

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a suspect involved in a shooting on Jan. 4 at the 1600 block of Butler Street, SE.

According to MPD documents, the victim was driving their vehicle at the location when the suspect shot at the vehicle, striking it. The victim did not report any injuries.

The suspect 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.

Judge Provides Terms of Release for Aged Homicide Defendant

On Jan. 30, parties appeared before DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo to discuss release terms for a homicide defendant in light of his severe health conditions.

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

According to documents from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), officers responded to the location, where they located Sharron with stab wounds and Steven with self-inflicted wounds. Both were transported to a local hospital, where Sharron succumbed to her injuries.

The defendant appeared over WebEx, as he was bedridden and asleep due to his medical conditions.

The prosecution argued that since the defendant had “snapped over a very mundane reason” and suffers from erratic behavior and unpredictability; they were concerned about future attacks he might commit and needed the court to surveil him upon release.

The prosecution requested Schwartz be required to check in regularly with Pretrial services, follow through with his medical treatment, work with a social worker from the Department of Aging, attend group therapy and services, and receive psychiatric treatment from the Core Services Agency. They also requested that he is kept in home confinement with GPS monitoring.

Schwartz’s defense attorney, Kobie Flowers, argued that the terms of home confinement and GPS monitoring were overly restrictive, as the defendant could not walk, was not cognizant, and was too frail to keep a GPS monitor on his leg.

Judge Demeo then heard recommendations from Pretrial Services stating they do not know if Schwartz can handle GPS monitoring, and requested that he regularly sign releases so they could stay up to date with his treatment.

Then, Judge Demeo heard from the son of the homicide victim, and the step-son of the defendant. He stated that as Schwartz’s caretaker, GPS monitoring would place an undue burden on him because he would need to charge it and ensure that Schwartz did not try to take it off.

After hearing these recommendations for release conditions, Judge Demeo stated that since Schwartz is 85, bedridden, and unable to leave his residence, the only danger he posed was to his family members and caretakers. Because of this, she stated that GPS monitoring would be unnecessary and inappropriate, and would place even more of a burden on his family members.

The parties temporarily agreed to have Schwartz supervised by a special team, sign releases of information so Pretrial Services can stay up to date on his treatment, and receive mental health services when he is physically capable of attending them. Judge Demeo stated that she did not need to order physical medical treatment, as his treatment was ongoing.

Parties are slated to return for another felony status conference on February 16 to further discuss these conditions, and determine if Schwartz is alert enough to hear and understand them.

Parties Finish Closing Arguments in Homicide Trial

On Jan. 31, defense continued their closing statements and prosecution gave their rebuttal before DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo in a multi-week homicide trial.

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.

Thomas’s defense attorney, Howard McEachern, began his closing statements by stating that although many of the prosecution’s witnesses had testified, only one of them identified Thomas as being the driver of the green Volvo at the crime scene. This witness was one of the surviving victims of the shooting, who prosecutors claim is the individual they were attempting to kill.

McEachern argued that this witness had initially repeatedly denied identifying Stevenson or Thomas at the crime scene during his interview with the police. However, McEachern stated he had only later identified them as being there in order to be rewarded with more favorable sentencing for his ongoing criminal charges.

McEachern also disputed the prosecution’s DNA evidence by stating that “inside of the courtroom, DNA means nothing.” He elaborated that transfer DNA cannot be detected, so people could have their DNA falsely placed at a crime scene, and there is no way to determine how long DNA was at a location. \

McEachern concluded by stating that cell data tracking is not the same thing as GPS tracking, so the prosecution’s cell phone location evidence could only provide the jury with the approximate area Thomas’s phone was in, and could not place him at the crime scene with certainty.

The prosecution began their rebuttal by telling the jury that the defense was trying to distract them from the most incriminating evidence against the defendants.

The prosecution first reminded the jury that Stevenson’s girlfriend had been at the scene of the crime shortly before it occurred, along with two individuals who looked like the defendants. They stated that the clothing of the defendants was easily recognizable due to social media posts showing them wearing the same clothing that was seen on surveillance footage from the crime scene.

The prosecution responded to the defense’s questions regarding the reliability of the shooting victim’s testimony by stating that they were not asking the jury to believe him completely; instead, they wanted the jury to look at his testimony in relation to the other evidence.

They emphasized that even though the witness had not seen the surveillance camera footage from the day of the crime, his description of the events matched up perfectly with what occurred in the footage. The prosecution also argued that the witness had testified due to the guilt he felt after Terrence Allen’s death, and not because he expected any rewards from the prosecution.

The prosecution then responded to the defense’s arguments about the reliability of the DNA. They argued that there was no evidence of contamination in the case, and that the arguments that the defense was making about DNA should not be considered as evidence by the jury–they should only consider the DNA expert witness’s testimony.

Finally, the prosecution concluded by stating that although some types of evidence, such as DNA evidence and cell site data, needed expert testimony, other types of evidence did not. The prosecution told the jury that “You can look at footage and pictures and put two and two together,” and asked the jury to “hold the defendants accountable for using a firearm to settle whatever petty dispute they had.”

Jury instruction and deliberation began immediately after the closing statements and rebuttal.

Judge Denies Release in Homicide Case Amid Criminal History Debate

On Jan.30, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun denied the release request for a homicide suspect due to the nature of the crime and the defendant’s characteristics which favored detention.

Erin Sheffey, 28 is charged with second-degree murder, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involved in the murder of Kwiyon Maddox, 32, on Aug.15, 2021, on the 2100 block of 16th Street, SE.

During the hearing, defense attorney Rachel McCoy presented video evidence showing Maddox and an associate on a dirt bike speeding down 16th Street, SE, toward V Street, SE. McCoy argued that both individuals were armed and shot at Sheffey first, emphasizing the challenge in determining who fired the initial shot.

“It is clear that both individuals are armed. But you cannot see who shot first,” stated the defense. “Given that there are individuals on a vehicle and armed, it is the defense’s argument that the individuals on the dirt bike shot first,” McCoy added.

McCoy raised concerns about the investigation, highlighting the absence of video evidence showing the other side of the incident. She acknowledged the recovery of shell casings in the area but pointed out the lack of footage from the Good Hope Road area and 16th Street, SE.

The defense also argued that the evidence is neutral and insufficient to prove guilt. McCoy cited a 911 call mentioning a Black Kia, not linked to Sheffey, to support her claim. “The prosecution acknowledges that the evidence is neutral and not strong enough to prove guilt,” she added.

Sheffey’s criminal history was also a point of contention. McCoy asserted that his criminal record doesn’t raise significant concerns for someone his age. However, the government countered by discussing prior convictions involving firearms, drugs, and robberies, all coinciding with the time of the homicide.

McCoy said those arrests were not “papered,” meaning not prosecuted, and asked that the judge not consider them. “Please do not consider those no paper cases, because no paper was filed due to lack of evidence,” she stated.

The prosecution presented footage of an individual identified as Sheffey wearing a blue shirt and a baseball hat on V and U Street, moments before the dirt bike passed through and the shooting occurred. They argued that the defense’s video evidence fails to establish Maddox and his associate as aggressors.

“When you see a video with two people on a dirt bike, you can see that they are not the aggressors. The video shows that the dirt bike hit the floor first before the shooting happened,” prosecutors stated.

They contended that nine shots were fired in the area consistent with Sheffey’s location, and seven shots in the location where Maddox was, to support their claim that Sheffey shot first.

McCoy suggested an alternative scenario, arguing that the dirt bike could have fallen because Maddox and his associate shot first.

Judge Okun found this claim plausible and agreed with the prosecution to acknowledge Sheffey’s non-prosecuted arrests.

“I agree with the prosecution to give attention to the no paper arrests. The cases involved robberies, where the defendant’s DNA was found, all happening around the time of the homicide,” Judge Okun stated.

Judge Okun ruled in favor of detention, citing the serious nature of the second-degree murder while armed charge and the characteristics of the defendant.

The next status hearing is scheduled for March 15.

Shooting Defendant Accepts Plea Deal

On Jan. 30, a non-fatal shooting defendant accepted a plea deal extended by prosecutors in DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan’s courtroom.

Arnold Lawrance, 33, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his involvement in a non-fatal shooting incident that injured one individual, on Nov. 25, 2023, at the 1400 block of W Street, NW.

According to court documents, Lawrance shot the victim in the neck after the victim discovered that Lawrance had entered their apartment and taken property. The victim survived after being hospitalized.

During the hearing, defense attorney Wole Falodun alerted the court that Arnold was accepting a deal extended by prosecutors, which required him to plead guilty to one count of armed robbery in exchange for dismissal of all other charges, and the prosecution’s not seeking an indictment.

As part of the deal, according to court documents, the defendant will plead guilty to one count of armed robbery and the prosecution will not indict the defendant on any of the remaining charges, including unlawful discharge, and won’t recommend additional punishment beyond the maximum penalty, which is 30 years.

At the status hearing, the prosecution stated that had the case gone to trial, they would have proved Arnold’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Parties are slated to return for sentencing April 12.

Judge Weighs Granting House Arrest for Non-Fatal Shooting Defendant

On January 31, Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan requested additional time to decide if she would release a defendant involved in a non-fatal shooting to house arrest.

Eric Davis, 35, is charged with assault with the intention to kill while armed for his alleged shooting of a local restaurant employee. The incident occurred on the afternoon of May 30, 2023, on the 1400 block of H Street, NE.

Davis waived his right to a preliminary hearing, advised to do so by his defense attorney, Michael Bruckheim. Bruckheim proceeded to motion for Davis to be placed on house arrest in anticipation of further court appearances.

Bruckheim detailed how Davis would be able to reside at his girlfriend’s home in the District. Bruckehim described that not only had Davis been “providing for the household as a whole,” but he also demonstrated a keen interest in joining the military upon his potential release.

Bruckheim said Davis’ support system, drive for a career, and minimal criminal history suggest that he would be cooperative with his potential release conditions.

“This would be an opportunity for Davis to show that he can be compliant with the stricter form of release,” Bruckheim said.

According to the prosecution, however, Davis should remain held.

“There hasn’t been a change in circumstances” the prosecution argued. “House arrest will not protect the community.”

The prosecution pointed out the violent nature of the incident, which was captured by surveillance footage obtained from the restaurant, alleging that Davis knew the victim before the crime. There are “multiple angles” of camera footage that show a figure resembling Davis pulling out a gun and shooting the victim, the prosecution said.

According to court documents, several witnesses were able to identify Davis by comparing the surveillance footage and pictures of Davis. The footage also reveals that the victim was shot in the chest and stomach several times.

“It is just by luck that the victim was not killed,” the prosecution said.

Judge Raffinan said she would need to review the case further before deciding on whether to hold or release Davis to house arrest.

Parties are slated to return on May 2.