Bus Stop Stabbing Defendant Pleads Not Guilty at Arraignment

A defendant accused of a bus stop stabbing pleaded not guilty to all charges during his arraignment before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on Sept. 23.

John Scogins, 54, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed and aggravated assault knowingly while armed. The counts are related to his alleged involvement in a stabbing that occurred on Dec. 9, 2024 at a bus stop on the 1700 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE. One individual was injured.

The grand jury indictment was formally read to Scogins in the arraignment. Defense attorney Alvin Thomas stood and affirmed that Scogins is pleading not guilty to both charges, and requested a trial date.

Meanwhile, Judge Brandt congratulated Scogins about the progress he’s made dealing with his substance use disorder.

“You’re doing well, and I’m proud of you,” Judge Brandt said. She continued, “[sometimes] you fall off the bike, and eventually you start riding again”.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on Dec. 12.

ID from Photo Array Will Go Forward in Shooting Trial

DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson allowed prosecutors to enter an eyewitness identification from a photo array as evidence in a shooting trial despite defense objections on Sept. 29.

Ato Ocran, 46, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, five counts of possession of an unregistered firearm, destruction of property of $1,000 or more, and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in a shooting on the 2200 block of 13^th Street, NE on June 3. One person was shot in their arm during the incident.

The motions hearing centered on efforts by defense attorneys Kevaan Gardner and Elizabeth Paige White to suppress a photo-array the prosecution planned to introduce during the trial to identify Ocran.

Judge Dayson allowed the parties to give oral arguments and call witnesses to the stand to substantiate their positions concerning evidence from a double-blind photo array, a common identification method used by police.

A Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective, who administered the photo array, testified to having no knowledge of the suspect before the eyewitness’s identification. He said that the eyewitness told him she had 100 percent confidence in her identification.

White focused her cross examination of the detective on the fact that Ocran was the only person wearing a hoodie in the photo array. She argued that the discrepancy both highlighted the defendant and matched a suspect description put out by police that the eyewitness could have known about before identifying him.

White also pointed out that the eyewitness was not present at the shooting but rather based her identification on an earlier incident in which Ocran is alleged to have had an altercation with the victim.

Prosecutors objected to the idea that the witness would have known the suspect wore a hoodie during the shooting and said that identifying Ocran from an earlier alleged altercation was relevant.

Judge Dayson requested the parties both play video footage to show whether the suspect was wearing a hoodie when the eyewitness saw him. Video footage of the earlier incident showed the suspect in a tank top, not a hoodie.

Prosecutors then called the eyewitness who testified that she did not know what the suspect wore when the shooting happened.

The witness repeatedly said she was confused, did not remember much from the day of the shooting, and, at one point, said someone had told her what the shooter looked like.

“I don’t remember who really told me how he looked,” the witness said. The witness later said she didn’t hear any description of the shooter.

After hearing the arguments, Judge Dayson told the court that the jury could determine the reliability of the witness’ identification of the suspect for themselves and allowed prosecutors to submit the evidence.

Prosecutors also raised an issue with the defense changing their position on acknowledging the accuracy of several items of evidence, which prosecutors said the defense had previously agreed to do. Prosecutors said that accounting for the changes would delay the trial past their expected timeframe, potentially forcing one of the prosecutors to leave the case early.

Paige-White said that the prosecutors were mischaracterizing the defense’s earlier position on acknowledging the accuracy of certain items of evidence.

“We have a huge number of cases to get through in the division,” Dayson said, rejecting any request for an extension.

At the end of the hearing, Gardner asked Judge Dayson to order that parties only refer to his client as Mr. Ocran, not the defendant. Judge Dayson said she would consider the request.

Parties are slated to reconvene on Sept. 30.

Judge Denies Motion to Dismiss Shooting Case

DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson denied a motion to dismiss a shooting case because of a potential evidence violation in a hearing on Sept. 26.

Ato Ocran, 46, is charged with assault with the intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault while armed, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, five counts of possession of an unregistered firearm, carrying a pistol without a license outside of a home or business, and destruction of property worth $1,000 or more for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting on the 2600 block of 10th Street, NE on June 3. One individual was injured during the incident.

In the hearing, Kevann Gardner and Elizabeth Paige White, Ocran’s attorneys, filed a motion to dismiss the case, citing that police had failed to preserve the Jeep where the shooting had happened, which was a key piece of evidence.

To show that the Jeep was in police custody, White displayed video footage from police body cameras at the scene, which she argued depicted officers “exercising control” of the vehicle by not letting people near it, and by stating they were going to “hold on” to the Jeep.

The prosecution argued that a single officer making a comment about holding onto the Jeep was not sufficient to prove that the police were in control of the vehicle. The prosecutor also argued that the Jeep had not been physically towed into police custody because the police needed a warrant to search the vehicle.

White responded by stating that the Jeep did not have to be towed to be in police custody, and argued that officers didn’t need a search warrant because the Jeep was at the scene of the shooting.

According to White, this meant the police were in control of the Jeep, and their failure to preserve it was a violation of an evidence rule requiring the prosecution to disclose evidence favorable to the defense. The defense said the prosecution is legally obligated to disclose certain relevant information and evidence to the defense during the discovery process.

Judge Dayson ruled that the police did not exercise enough control over the Jeep for it to fall under police custody, stating that the “temporary sequestration” of the Jeep by police was insufficient.

She denied the motion to dismiss and told the defense that they could question the police investigation and could cross-examine any officers on it.

Parties are slated to reconvene on Sept. 29.

Defendant in Fatal Recreation Center Stabbing Released from Home Confinement

A defendant in a fatall stabbing was released from home confinement and issued a curfew by DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan on Sept. 26.

Christian Wilkerson, 22, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of 20-year-old Rashawn Phifer on the 500 block of Riggs Road, NE, on Nov. 11, 2022.

According to court documents, Phifer died from four stab wounds to his upper body.

Defense attorney Lisbeth Sapirstein asked Judge Ryan to consider releasing Wilkerson from home confinement, and instead place him on a curfew that was compatible with his current work schedule.

Wilkerson was placed in home confinement and issued a GPS monitor as of May 16, 2024. Prior to the Sept. 26 hearing, Wilkerson was only allowed to leave home confinement to for a job as a maintenance worker.

Sapirstein argued that Wilkerson has never received a single infraction during this 14 month long period of home confinement and has the ability to abide by the law.

The prosecution objected, citing the nature of Wilkerson’s charges. She argued that the second-degree murder, where Wilkerson allegedly chased the victim, pushed him into a fence, and stabbed him four times, is serious enough to keep the defendant in home confinement.

The prosecution also argued that Wilkerson has allegedly been boasting about the murder on his Instagram account and she is concerned that this behavior will continue if he is released from home confinement.

Judge Ryan referenced a court notification report that was filed on Sept. 24, which confirmed that Wilkerson has had no monitoring infractions, no violation of the stay away orders, and no additional warrants for his arrest.

The prosecution explained that she recognizes Wilkerson’s good behavior and that it is best to continue home confinement so that this behavior continues.

Based on his record, Judge Ryan ruled that Wilkerson will be taken off of home confinement, and instead, will have an 11 p. m. -o- 5 a. m. curfew. Wilkerson will continue with GPS monitoring and all stay away orders will remain in place.

“Wilkerson is being held not to punish but to protect the community,” Judge Ryan said. “This is a measured stair-step down.”

Parties are slated to reconvene March 6.

We Apologize

Dear reader,

We’d like to offer an apology. You may have noticed over the last couple of weeks that the D.C. Witness website has, at times, gone down. We are sorry if you came to us, and we were not there for you.

The good news, it was happening because of an uptick in users accessing the site, a show that in this time of rampant bias and disinformation, we still provide reliable information and reporting that you can’t get anywhere else.

But there is even better news. We are excited to announce today the unveiling of a brand new website accompanied by an updated logo that represents our next chapter.

We wanted to get it to you as soon as possible, which was accelerated by the need to deal with the crashing old site. Please enjoy this new site and keep coming back as we will be adding new features over the next couple of months like a map that will do so much more than just locate crimes.

Thank you for following up, and please let us know what you think.

Best,

D.C. Witness Editorial Staff

Testimony of 5-Year-Old Witness Questioned in Mother’s Stabbing Case

DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan found probable cause that a defendant was the perpetrator of a homicide allegedly witnessed by her son during a hearing on Sept. 22.

Anna Hyman, 20, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for her alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of 63-year-old Robert Dent on July 26 in an apartment complex at the unit block of Galveston Street, SW. Dent suffered 55 sharp force trauma injuries to various parts of his body.

Throughout the hearing, Hyman’s mental state and that of a witness, Hyman’s 5-year-old son, were often questioned. Judge Ryan acknowledged the child would have trouble explaining the violent incident that would strongly impact the boy.

Judge Ryan agreed with the defense that the things the child said in an interview with the investigation team lined up with Hyman’s, though he could not determine whether his verions was his own words or what Hyman told him to say.

Judge Ryan found Hyman’s interviews unclear. At times, she claimed to be “chilling” with the victim and at others, she claimed that he became aggressive and grabbed her by the neck. She also claimed at one point that she was stabbed in the thigh. While she did have various cuts on her arms, no thigh wound was found.

The inconsistency between Hyman’s and her son’s testimony challenged Judge Ryan. He raised numerous concerns about Hyman’s mental stability, as her tone ranged from frantic to abstract.

Elizabeth Weller, Hyman’s defense attorney stated that Hyman is a single mother who may be suffering from postpartum depression and has gone many months only sleeping two-to-three hours per night. She argued it would take little more than skilled therapy and “a good night’s sleep” to return Hyman to a more stable state of mind.

Weller also argued for self-defense or defense of a third party, as Hyman’s testimony and her child’s lined up on that issue. Weller asserted that Hyman felt like she was in danger and thought that the victim was planning to come after her child.

Judge Ryan disagreed in that the victim had more than 50 stab wounds–actions that seemed to beyond self-defense.

Weller argued that, assuming probable cause, Hyman could get the help she needed under house arrest with family that did not include her children and that they would report any aberrations. She would also have GPS monitoring.

The prosecution argued for Hyman’s detention, stating that she could not trust Hyman’s family to accurately report her behavior and that there’s no guarantee that she would continue getting therapy at home.

Judge Ryan found probable cause for Hyman, and she is to be held until the next hearing.

Judge Ryan assured that Hyman would get better mental health support in the DC Jail than under house arrest.

Parties are slated to reconvene on Nov. 11.

Judge Finds Probable Cause in Firefighter’s Shooting

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt found probable cause that a teenager was the perpetrator in a robbery-turned-shooting that injured a firefighter during a hearing on Sept. 26.

Marcellus Dyson, 17, is charged with aggravated assault while armed with grave risk, armed robbery, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, for his alleged involvement in an incident that injured an off-duty firefighter on Sept. 20 at the intersection of 8th and C Streets, NE.

According to court documents, the firefighter and Dyson both sustained injuries during the incident.

Prosecutors called on the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) lead detective to testify. According to the detective, he was dispatched to the scene after 10 p. m. for the report of a shooting, and when MPD responded, the victim stated a Black man wearing all black clothing with a surgical mask and a hood was the shooter. The victim also told MPD the suspect had shot himself in the hand.

The detective stated the description was corroborated by surveillance footage recovered from a neighborhood home, which depicts the victim crossing the street at the intersection, being followed by the suspect wearing all black, and the suspect running away from the scene after two interactions with the victim.

According to the detective, the victim alerted MPD that the suspect approached him from behind, held up a gun to the victim and told him “give me everything you got.”

The detective stated the victim claimed to have handed his phone to the suspect, who then attempted to force the victim to open his Apple Pay – when the victim was unable to get it to work, a tussle ensued, which caused the gun to be fired.

According to the detective, the victim sustained an injury to his chest, and Dyson was arrested a block away from the incident location with a gunshot wound to his hand. In body-worn camera footage, which was not shown in court, Dyson allegedly told officers “I’m sorry, I won’t do it again.”

Theodore Shaw, Dyson’s attorney, questioned the detective if he knew specifically what Dyson was talking about, stating he could’ve been saying sorry about running away from the police as they arrived at the scene.

Shaw also questioned why the victim never participated in an identification procedure, stating MPD could have done a show up, line up, or photo array for the victim to identify the shooter. The detective claimed that Dyson and the victim were rushed to the hospital, so no identification procedure was done.

The detective also stated the only witness MPD has spoken to was the victim, insisting no one else was on the street at the time of the shooting.

Shaw also questioned if anybody had called 911 for the incident, which was objected to by the prosecution – there have been reports that the victim was put on hold by dispatchers as he attempted to get help.

“The [prosecution] has fallen short here, which is remarkable,” Shaw said, arguing the prosecution failed to meet the requirements for probable cause. He argued that the prosecution did not meet the elements of armed robbery, which would require the suspect to carry the item away, and the item must have value. He argued the prosecution failed because the victim never mentioned the suspect walking away with his phone.

Shaw also argued “aggravated assault requires serious bodily injury, and no serious bodily injury was established here,” adding it would require the victim to be unconscious, protracted disfigurement, or substantial risk of death. Shaw insisted the victim was not immobilized or unconscious, therefore no probable cause could be found.

The prosecution and Judge Brandt disagreed, stating a gunshot to the chest is serious bodily injury.

Judge Brandt stated that, despite the detective’s testimony being like that of “a deer in headlights,” due to his only being on the job for two-and-a-half months, his testimony was credible. Judge Brandt questioned why MPD would send a “baby detective” to investigate a firefighter’s shooting, stating they “wouldn’t have sent a baby detective if the victim was one of their own.”

Judge Brandt ruled the prosecution met the burden for probable cause, stating “a gunshot wound… that’ll do it – that’s a serious bodily injury. Any time you point a loaded gun at someone, you can infer the intent [to injure] is there.”

Shaw requested Dyson be released pending further proceedings, stating he recently started his senior year of high school, this is his first contact with the system, and has a familial support that would guarantee he complies with all conditions and returns to court.

“He’s anxious to get back to school,” Shaw told Judge Brandt.

The prosecution disagreed with the request, stating that Dyson’s support system and school were in play when the shooting occurred. “This was an attack in a public street, where the defendant approached the victim at gunpoint,” the prosecutor insisted.

“This is an egregious brazen act… this is extremely concerning,” the prosecutor said.

Judge Brandt agreed with the prosecution, stating “we’re not dealing with just any armed robbery here -we’re dealing with an armed robbery where not just one person, but two were hurt. The victim was shot in the chest, which is serious enough in its way.”

“The defendant, at least at the probable cause level, confessed or uttered words that a reasonable inference can be drawn that he confessed,” Judge Brandt stated, denying the request for release.

Parties are slated to reconvene on Oct. 7 before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno.

Scientist Testifies to Recovering Evidence at Safeway Shooting

DC Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel heard testimony from a scientist with the Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) who assisted in a shooting investigation on Sept. 25.

Daquan Toland, 25, is charged with aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, and unlawful possession of ammunition.

The charges are in connection to his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting on June 2 on the 1100 block of 4th Street, SW. One individual sustained injuries.

During the trial, the scientist testified to responding to a call for a shooting on the day of the incident. The scientist noted damage to the nearby Safeway building and a wheelchair as well as clothes, casings, projectile fragments, and a firearm.

Toland’s attorney, Henry Druschel, said the area of the shooting had foot traffic and things like casings and fragments can roll or bounce. The scientist stated that she canvassed the area to the best of her ability.

The prosecution also called a litigation technology specialist for the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO). The specialist testified that his job is to help trial teams create exhibits and make video and audio easier to understand. For this trial the specialist created a compilation of surveillance footage.

The video, which was played for the jury, included footage from multiple surveillance cameras in the area. The footage focused on an individual on a bike, who prosecutor’s believe is Toland, riding around the Waterfront area. The video showed a shooting taking place between Toland and two other individuals and Toland running into the nearby Waterfront metro station.

After the jury was dismissed, parties argued about another piece of evidence the prosecution wanted to admit. The evidence included a satellite map with green markers representing the cameras and their angles with surveillance footage overlaying the map. It appears to show the path the individual on the bike took.

Druschel argued that the green markers are inaccurate and the satellite map does not appear to depict the same day or time as the surveillance footage.

Judge Israel ruled that everything is admissible except for the green markers.

Parties are slated to reconvene on Sept. 29.

Defendant in Woman’s Daytime Homicide Rejects Plea Offer

A defendant in daytime homicide rejected a plea offer before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan on Sept. 26.

Mercury Ford, 21, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Tequila Seymone Parker on the 2300 block of Pitts Place, SE, on May 27.

According to court documents, Parker died from two gunshot wounds to the back of her body.

During a Sept. 26 hearing, the prosecution offered an agreement that would require Ford to plead guilty to second-degree murder while armed in exchange for a 12-to-24 year sentence in prison. The prosecution would not seek an indictment.

Ford knowingly rejected this offer and the court decided it will move forward towards a trial.

Parties are slated to reconvene March 20.

Compliant Homicide Defendant Enjoys Broader Release

A homicide defendants motion for bond review was granted and the parameters of his home confinement were relaxed by DC Superior Court Todd Edelman on Sept. 19.

Charles Jeter, 40, is charged with conspiracy, two counts of murder one while armed, first-degree burglary while armed, and three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. These charges are for Jeter’s alleged involvement in the Nov. 30, 2014 fatal shooting of 46-year-old Kevin Robinson on the 600 block of Edgewood Street, NE.

After a year-and-a-half of home confinement, defense attorney Carrie Weletz motioned for Jeter to enjoy greater freedom due to his compliance and need for a job, take his children to school and provide for himself and his family.

The prosecution, in opposition, believed Jeter should remain in home confinement, stating the circumstances have not changed and he continues to pose a threat to the community.

Judge Edelman okayed a relaxation of Jeter’s home confinement, allowing him to leave the house Monday through Friday from seven-a.m.-to-nine-p.m. However, he’s required to remain on home confinement during the weekends. Jeter’s stay away-order from those related to the case and GPS tracking requirements will remain in place.

The parties are slated to reconvene on Oct. 31.

Prosecution Says DNA, Firearms Evidence Links Suspect to Mass Shooting

Prosecutors called several data analysts to build their case in a mass shooting trial before DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson on Sept. 22.

Ronell Offutt, 36, is charged with five counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault while armed, and six counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. The charges are in connection to his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting at the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE on Feb. 4, 2019. Five individuals sustained injuries including a five-year-old girl.

During the trial, prosecutors called a crime scene DNA analyst to interpret a written report of test results for a firearm, ammunition magazine, locks of hair. The witness explained that a DNA mixture is a profile, used to identify people based on differences in DNA among two or more contributors.

The DNA profile used in Offutt’s case was a mixture of three individuals, one being male. The testing yielded a ratio showing a high likelihood that Offutt is the source of the DNA on the evidence rather than a random individual.

Offutt’s defense attorney, Janai Reed, brought up the possibility of an “adventitious inclusion”– the possibility of a relative of Offutt’s being the true DNA donor thus increasing Offutt’s chances of being included as a potential donor of a DNA sample.

The witness stated that based on the comparison between the DNA profile and the DNA evidence along with the strength of the DNA profile, they would not expect an adventitious inclusion.

A former DNA analyst was called by the prosecution and testified to extracting DNA from firearm and magazine swabs and locks of hair related to this case. When questioned by Reed the witness stated that they only had a buccal swab, a swab of the inside of the cheek, from Offutt and not any relatives.

The prosecution also called a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective who responded to a call about a shooting which came in at 5:16 p. m. on Feb. 4, 2019. The officer testified to collecting surveillance footage from a nearby corner store then called Martha’s Market. They noted that when they collected the footage the time was ten minutes earlier than real time.

In footage shown by the prosecution, the detective identified a suspect walking towards the location of the shooting at time stamp 17:05 and away from the shooting at time stamp 17:06. Given that the cameras were 10 minutes behind real time, the detective noted that this would have been 5:15 p.m. and 5:16 p.m.

A Prince George’s County patrol officer called by prosecutors testified to making an arrest on Feb. 10, 2019 and finding the firearm alleged to have been used in the shooting. They stated that they have never met or had contact with Offutt.

Reed insinuated that the individual arrested by the police was Offutt’s nephew, although there was no corroborating evidence.

Prosecutors called a former corporal with Prince George’s County Police Department who testified to swabbing the firearm and magazine on Feb. 11, 2019 and sending the swabs to a DNA lab for testing. The officer did not take swabs of the individual arrested.

The prosecution also called on a forensic firearm and toolmark examiner who received a firearm, cartridge cases, and a bullet related to this case. The examiner performed a test fire with the recovered gun and given the consistent imperfections on the gun slide and cartridge casings, was able to determine that the cartridge casings belonged to the firearm alleged to have been used in the shooting.

In the defense’s cross examination, it was stated that consistency doesn’t definitively mean a match, it is based on the examiner’s training and judgement.

Offutt’s attorney, Donna Beasley, called on a forensic expert specializing in audio, video and photography. The witness asserted that digital photography has exif (exchangeable image file format) data and metadata that has information like the location, date, and time a photo was taken. This is only possible if you’re working with the original photo.

In the prosecution’s cross examination, the witness insisted that for this case they were presented with JPEG copy images on a document and not the original photos making it impossible to verify the validity of the images. The prosecution noted that data can also be edited, but the witness stated it would be easy to tell when viewing hexadecimal data–commonly used in computer science..

The witness claimed they did not use those tools in this case because they were not given the original photographs.

Parties are slated to reconvene on Sept. 23.

Murder Defendant Rejects Plea, Opts For Re-Trial in Six Year Case

Tony McClam, 35, turned down a voluntary manslaughter plea before DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park on Sept. 19 in a complex case ongoing since 2019.

McClam is charged with second-degree murder while armed against a minor, two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license for his alleged involvement in the July 18, 2019 fatal shooting of 11-year-old Karon Brown. The incident occurred on the 2700 block of Naylor Road, SE.

McClam was acquitted of first-degree murder while armed on Jan. 12, 2022, and the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on all other charges.

In the current hearing, the prosecution told defense attorneys Martin Rosendorf and Kevin Mosley their plea offer expired after the hearing. If McClam pleaded guilty, the prosecution would have dropped the remaining charges.

When asked if he would accept the plea, McClam answered no.

Meanwhile, Judge Park refused to rule on a defense effort to nullify the intent to kill and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence counts. Judge Park also denied the defense’s motion to invoke judicial estoppel, a legal doctrine preventing a party from taking a stance that contradicts a position they took in a previous legal proceeding.

According to court documents, the prosecution admitted it previously said it “certainly can’t” prove the location the murder weapon was fired but argued it never said it could not prove the location beyond a reasonable doubt. Rather, it could not substantiate it with “any significant certainty.”

Further, the prosecution maintained the distinction between these arguments is not substantial enough to say the positions are inconsistent and for the court to invoke a judicial estoppel.

During the hearing, the prosecution argued the defense was exploiting an expert witness’ report and it is “irrelevant” to the case. However, according to Rosendorf, the report states that one cannot conclude the bullet found at the scene was fired from the recovered gun.

Judge Park didn’t find the prosecution’s position inconsistent with the stance they provided before a different judge and called Rosendorf’s position “vague” and “ambiguous.”

However, he admitted the records were “a little muddled” and agreed DC Superior Court Judge Judge O’Keefe did not clearly articulate reason behind his finding at the time about the “unknowability” of where the shots were fired

Meanwhile, Judge Park also denied the defense’s motion for acquittal based on anticipated new evidence in the new trial.

McClam’s lawyers filed an action with the DC Court of Appeals claiming a new trial would amount to putting their client in double jeopardy. The high court rejected that petition last September. In 2022, McClam was a leading case in an action filed by Public Defender Service complaining that DC Juries during the Covid pandemic didn’t fairly represent the city’s diverse community. There has not been a formal ruling in the case.

As currently scheduled, McClam’s new trial has been pushed back until Dec. 1, 2026–nearly seven years after the original incident.

Defense to Claim Insanity in Chinatown Shooting

A defense counsel requested time to hire an expert to evaluate a homicide defendant’s mental state based on a Department of Behavior Health (DBH) finding their client mentally competent. The analysis was reviewed by DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park on Sept. 16.

Jaykell Mason, 25, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and assault on a police officer while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Terence Dantzler that occurred on Feb. 13, 2020 on the 700 block of 8th Street, NW, in Chinatown.

Mason was initially found competent to stand trial after multiple evaluations in 2021. In order to stand trial a defendant must understand the charges and be prepared to help his lawyer.

During the mental observation hearing, the prosecution alerted the court that a DBH doctor’s findings showed that the defendant did not meet the criteria for an insanity defense, meaning he didn’t know right from wrong in the moment nor control his behavior. However, defense attorneys Dana Page and Madhuri Swarna want to hire their own expert based on the notion that Mason was insane when committed the crime.

Judge Park granted the request with a four-month deadline.

Parties are slated to reconvene on Jan. 30, 2026.

Stabbing Defendant Waives Preliminary Hearing, Claims Self-Defense

A stabbing defendant waived her preliminary hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Eric Glover on Sept. 18.

Chela Ruffin, 39, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for her alleged involvement in a stabbing that occurred at the unit block of Galveston Street, SW on Sept. 15. One individual sustained injuries.

Ruffin’s attorney, Stuart Johnson, alerted the court that the defendant was waiving her right to a preliminary hearing of the evidence against her.

Johnson requested that Ruffin be released under a high intensity supervision program with GPS monitoring. He argued that Ruffin acted in self-defense.

He also stated that Ruffin has been cooperative, is fully employed, and the mother of a young child. He claimed that the victim was uncooperative and according to his brother, was intoxicated.

Additionally, Ruffin’s case manager stated that she has not been able to take her medication due to government funding cuts.

The prosecution argued that Ruffin should remain held, citing that she is a danger to the community. They argued that Ruffin admitted to stabbing the victim, saying the victim swung at her so she stabbed him in retaliation. They insisted that Ruffin’s claims are not reflective of self-defense.

The court decided to continue holding Ruffin noting that the weight of evidence is compelling–Ruffin admitted to stabbing the individual, and the seriousness of the charge.

Parties are slated to reconvene Oct. 14.

Witnesses Provide Accounts of Mass Shooting

A jury trial continued before DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson on Sept. 18, where several witnesses were called to testify about the impact of a mass shooting in 2019.

Ronell Offutt, 36, is charged with five counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, six charges of possession of a firearm, and aggravated assault while armed during a crime of violence for his alleged role in a mass shooting at a bus stop on the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE on Feb. 4, 2019. The incident left five people injured, including a five-year-old minor.

The prosecution began its case by questioning the minor victim, who was shot in the right arm while waiting at a bus stop with her grandmother. She described undergoing surgery for her injuries and showed the jury the scars from the shooting.

Offutt’s defense attorney, Donna Beasley, asked the victim if she saw the shooter, but the victim said she did not.

An eyewitness whose office overlooked the scene testified he heard and saw shots being fired. He took photographs of the scene, that include the suspect running away, from his office and shared them with police.

Two additional gunshot victims recounted their injuries. One was struck in his right thigh and the other was struck in his mid-back, with the bullet exiting through his upper chest. During Beasley’s questioning, none of the victims recalled the identity of the shooter at the scene.

The prosecution also called a former DC forensic science investigator who described recovering and capturing eight cartridge casings, clothing, hair, keys, and glasses at the scene after the incident. Both the prosecution and the defense acknowledged the validity of the evidence shared with the jury.

A Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer at the time, assigned to the Mobile Crime Unit, was called to testify. This witness had responded to George Washington Hospital to take photographs of the child and his wounds, which included injuries to his shoulder and abdomen, and collect physical evidence including clothing.

Parties are slated to reconvene on Sept. 18.

Search