Detective Testifies in First-Degree Murder Preliminary Hearing

On Jan. 31, a preliminary hearing was held, where video evidence and witness testimony was presented before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt, regarding a homicide case.

Deandre Miles, 28, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Davon Fuller on Oct. 16, 2023 at the 1500 block of Maryland Avenue, NE.

According to Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) documents, officers responded to the location for the report of a shooting. When they arrived, they located Fuller with gunshot wound injuries. He was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

On Dec. 27, Miles turned himself into MPD’s Homicide Branch, where he was arrested.

During the hearing, prosecution introduced a MPD homicide detective who identified Miles in the courtroom, physically pointing him out.

Prosecution displayed multiple video and photo exhibits collected from nearby establishments to refresh the witness’ memory regarding the incident.

According to the detective, the surveillance videos show two individuals, identified as Miles and Fuller, interacting at a Safeway. In another video, the individual identified as Miles is pointing a handgun at Fuller. Fuller is seen with a newspaper in his left hand and a knife in his right hand.

According to court documents, during an interrogation with MPD,, Miles claimed that Fuller “charged” at him inside the Safeway. However, the video exhibits presented by the prosecution seem to contradict these claims, rather showing Miles and Fuller walking down an aisle simultaneously.

Additionally, the detective stated that when reviewing this surveillance footage during the initial investigation, he could hear Fuller say to Miles, “Stop following me.”

Miles allegedly has had other contacts with police as well as mental health issues.

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

Proceedings are set to resume Feb. 1

Shooting Defendant Accepts Plea Offer

On Jan. 31, a shooting defendant accepted a plea deal extended by prosecutors in DC Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz’s courtroom.

Zaria Williams, 22, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for her involvement in a non-fatal shooting. The incident occurred on Sept. 15, 2023, on the 3900 block of Georgia Avenue, NW. No gunshot injuries were reported during the incident.

During the hearing, Williams’ attorney, Thomas Lester, alerted the court she was accepting a plea offer that required her to plead guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawfully carrying a pistol without a license, in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment.

The prosecutors stated that, had the case gone to trial, they would have proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Williams was the perpetrator and acted voluntarily. She did not act in self-defense.

Lester requested Williams be released as she awaits sentencing, arguing she was pregnant at the time of the incident, and stated she should be on probation rather than serve jail time.

Judge Leibovitz denied the request, due to the nature and circumstances of the offense.

Williams is scheduled for sentencing on April 5.

Judge Grants Motion to Suppress Evidence From Defendant’s Phone

On Jan. 31, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt granted the defense’s motion to suppress phone evidence that was collected in a murder investigation.

Koran Jackson, 23, Reginald Steele, 24, Tyiion Kyree Freeman, 24, Stephen Nelson, 22, and Aaron Dequan Brown, 27, are charged with multiple counts of conspiracy, assault with the intent to kill while armed, first-degree murder while armed, carrying a pistol without a license, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence in connection to the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Malachi Lukes on March 1, 2020 on the 600 block of S Street, NW. They are also accused in a separate incident the same day which left a seven-year-old boy suffering from gunshot wound injuries on the 2400 block of Alabama Avenue, SE.

During the hearing, two evidence motions were discussed.

The first entailed four phone calls supposedly between defendant Freeman and an alleged associate. During the call, the individuals reportedly discussed firearms related to Lukes’ homicide.

The defense requested these calls ultimately be disregarded, arguing that this acquaintance was not proven trustworthy due to previous unrelated criminal offenses and, further, the calls were unintelligible.

Freeman’s defense attorney, Shawn Sukumar, said, “A statement that cannot be understood is not a statement.” Parties will continue discussing this motion at a later date.

Additionally, parties considered defense’s motion to suppress any information from defendant Steele’s phone, that was recovered before he was taken in for questioning. Sukumar argued that the police did not have probable cause to seize the device.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) lead detective testified on Jan. 25 that a search warrant was subsequently obtained for Steele’s phone, as he believed it contained evidence connected to the March 20 shooting.

Judge Brandt stated that while officers had probable cause to initially stop and question Steele due to reasonable suspicion, they did not have enough information to warrant a seizure of his cell phone.

The court ruled in the favor of the defense request to suppress the phone. Judge Brandt emphasized the lack of communication between officers on the night of March 1, 2020, stating that there was no information shared between officers where Steele was detained, and the apartment complex on Alabama Ave, where the shooting took place. It boiled down to “overworked officers not communicating.”

Officers initially picked up Steele’s phone after noticing it was simply lying on the ground during his initial detention, not for reason of probable cause. Judge Brandt concluded, “The devil is always in the details.”

The court is set to proceed motions on Feb. 1

Defense Requests Additional Time to Review Shooting Defendant’s Probation Case

On Jan. 30, DC Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz granted a defendant’s request to focus on his status in an unrelated federal case before resolving probation in a 2020 shooting case.

Ronald Yarborough , 29, 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 that occurred on June 28, 2020 at the 400 block of 2nd Street, NW. He was also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a prior convict for being in possession of a firearm at the time of his arrest on July 23, 2020, at the same location.

On Dec. 22, 2020, Yarborough accepted a deal extended by prosecutors, which required him to plead guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm by a prior convict in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges, and dismissal of a misdemeanor case.

On May 3, 2021, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun sentenced Yarborough to 36 months for assault with a dangerous weapon and 18 months for unlawful possession of a firearm by a prior convict, the terms to be served concurrently.

He was also required to be on supervised probation for two years upon release.

On Jan 29, Yarborough allegedly violated his probation, and was detained in connection to an unrelated federal case. Donna Beasley requested Yarborough not be held in the current matter, arguing he should be permitted to continue with his probation and requested additional time to return once a proceeding is held in his federal case.

Parties are slated to return April 1.

Case Acquitted: Closing Statements Presented in Shooting Case

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

On Jan. 30, attorneys gave their closing statements in regards to a non-fatal shooting case in DC Superior Judge Robert Salerno’s courtroom.

Donnell Tucker, 27, is charged with one count of aggravated assault knowingly while armed, one count of burglary while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, one count of threatening to kidnap or injure a person, and one count of conspiracy for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting that occurred on March 28, 2023, on the 3400 block of 13th Place, SE.

On Nov. 6, 2023, Tucker’s mother, Tiaquana Chandler, 42, was convicted on conspiracy in connection to the shooting. She was acquitted of four other charges: 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.

In their closing statement, the prosecution asked the jury to find Tucker guilty of all charges, arguing that the victim and an eyewitness identified him as the shooter during the attack. They added that Tucker’s birth certificate proved Chandler had a son named Donnell Tucker Jr. that matched the name and birthdate of an identification card belonging to the defendant, and matched the description given by witnesses.

Furthermore, the eyewitness testified to hearing the shooter shout, “Why’d you hit my mother?” while assaulting the victim.

Prosecution argued that inconsistent eyewitness testimony was a result of a language barrier that caused confusion during questioning. They provided police interrogation footage occurring right after the incident, where the eyewitness was “scared to the point she had to catch her breath” but was able to identify Chandler as one of the perpetrators.

“The only fair and just conclusion is to find him guilty,” prosecutors insisted.

In her closing statement, Tucker’s defense attorney, Marnitta King, focused on the description of the shooter according to witness testimony. King claimed “the only thing [the prosecution] has is the lineage” in response to Tucker’s birth certificate.

King rejected the prosecution’s assertion of a language barrier as the reason for the eyewitness’ testimony being “all over the place.” King held that the eyewitness “never changed her testimony,” in claiming Tucker was not the shooter.

She went on to assert that, according to eyewitness testimony, descriptions of the shooter’s height, hair length, and skin complexion did not match Tucker. In addition, photos of Tucker’s neck revealed no tattoo, which the eyewitness testified the shooter had.

King pointed out that even as witnesses testified in court, “no one, at any time, pointed to the defendant in this courtroom,” to identify him as the shooter, including the victim. The existence of Tucker’s birth certificate did not prove his involvement, according to King, and she held that “Tiaquana’s son” did not mean the defendant was the only child of Chandler’s.

In concluding her argument, King reminded the jury that the burden of proof falls on the prosecution. She asked the jury to “look at what evidence [the prosecution] didn’t present.” King asked, “Where’s the DNA evidence?” in observing the strongest evidence presented by the prosecution was limited past proving Tucker’s identity.

Prosecution finished with a rebuttal, claiming the victim suffered serious head trauma that could impact memory of the shooter’s appearance. They reiterated that there is no evidence of Chandler having other children in DC and that Chandler’s address was listed on Tucker’s identification card, implying they lived together.

With the conclusion of closing statements, the jury was presented with the case.

Homicide Defendant’s Lawyer Argues Against Phone Records

On Jan. 29, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt heard testimony from a detective and reviewed evidence in a continued motions hearing.

Koran Jackson, 23,Reginald Steele, 24, Tyiion Kyree Freeman, 24, Stephen Nelson, 22, and Aaron Dequan Brown, 27, are charged with multiple counts of conspiracy, assault with the intent to kill while armed, first-degree murder while armed, carrying a pistol without a license, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence in connection to the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Malachi Lukes on March 1, 2020 on the 600 block of S Street, NW. The incident also left a seven-year-old boy suffering from gunshot wound injuries.

Prosecutors called a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective who responded to the incident.

He noted the description of the premises and found a firearm, casing, and a spent bullet were recovered at the scene.

Even though Steele didn’t initially run from police he was not compliant when officers told him to stop, according to the detective and an officer saw Steele’s phone on the ground and kept it as evidence.

The detective explained the reason for seizing Steele’s phone was to establish his presence at the premises during the incident, but his attorney, Megan Allburn, said it wasn’t clear who authorized the seizure.

The prosecution was able to reach out to the officer who stopped Steele at the crime scene to confirm the time of his police encounter.

Meanwhile, an officer who spoke with the seven-year-old victim’s mother, said she had not shared her description of the shooter with “dreads.”.

The prosecution motioned to introduce a responding officer’s body worn camera footage showing another detective’s initial questioning of a person in dark-colored clothing during a stop as evidence which shows a timeline. An officer in the body worn camera footage states a second suspect has been stopped.

Judge Brandt expressed concern about the absence of an officer to authenticate the footage.

“It’s a bit troubling that he’s not here to testify,” Judge Brandt said. “A lot of the time, a body worn camera speaks better than a live witness.”

An officer in the body worn camera footage is seen questioning a suspect, and communication over the radio states a second suspect has been stopped. Prosecution argued that it developed probable cause due to aiding in establishing a timeline of events following the incident.

Judge Brandt has not made a final ruling of the motions discussed.

Parties will return Jan. 30.

Probable Cause Found in Co-Defendant Murder Cases

On Jan. 30 DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan found probable cause that two homicide cases had sufficient evidence to go to trial.

Deangelo Opey, 31, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the death of Anthony Weathers, 25, on the 300 block of V Street, NE. Weathers was found by responding officers on the 2000 block of 4th Street, NE, on Oct. 31, 2012.

Gregory Smithwick, 31, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the death of Vernon Davis, 34, on the 1900 block of 3rd Street, NE, on Sept 13, 2013.

Opey and Smithwick are co-defendants due to the prosecutors’ belief that Smithwick killed Davis because he was potentially a witness in a case against Opey.

In this continued preliminary hearing, Judge Raffinan found probable cause for both Opey and Smithwick. She stated that there are multiple witness testimonies placing Opey at the scene of the crime, including a witness who testified that Opey confessed to him for the murder of Weathers.

Additionally, there was evidence based on text messages between Smithwick and Davis, including one that said “call me when you about to leave,” followed by a call between the two individuals. Other witness testimony claimed Smithwick confessed.

Opey’s defense attorney, Paige Resnick, requested he be released, stating that he has previous work experience and has aspirations of starting his own company. Additionally, the defense argued that Opey would have stable housing and support within his community, while attending mental health treatments and finishing his GED.

Judge Raffinan, denied this request and ordered Opey remain detained as he awaits further proceedings. The prosecutors presented facts of previous release violations and gun charges in 2019 and 2023, indicating that Opey has had compliance issues.

Smithwick’s defense attorney, James King, requested he be released, arguing that, prior to his arrest for this case, Smithwick had been on supervised release for 36 months because of a previous conviction, and he had no violations to his release.

According to King, Smithwick is also involved in helping his community and runs a company where he teaches other members of his community how to be landscapers. King also argued that Smithwick would have support from his family and would stay with family members if released.

Judge Raffinan, found that he has the ability to comply with supervision and granted Smithwick’s release. During his release, Smithwick is required to be in home confinement until the next status date, have a GPS monitor, call the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) twice a week, and is prohibited from possessing or using a firearm..

Opey is slated to return Feb. 21, with Smithwick returning March 6.

Defense Says Witness Committed the Crime

On Jan 29, a defense attorney claimed a witness was actually the perpetrator in a homicide in a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein.

Elhadji Ndiaye, 24, is facing charges of first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, robbery while armed, tampering with physical evidence, destruction of property, and obstruction of justice for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Travis Ruth on the 2700 block of Jasper Street, NE on Jan. 18, 2019.

According to Ndiaye’s defense attorney, Nikki Lotze, the victim’s family believes a witness in the case killed Ruth.

The witness, who testified during the trial, was a friend of both Ndiaye and Ruth.

Lotze argued that the witness couldn’t even look the victim’s family in the eye and say what actually happened on the night of the incident including the day their friend got shot.

Two days after the shooting, a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer responded to a call about a vehicle fire. The officer’s body camera footage from Jan. 20, 2019 showed a burned Honda Accord, in which the shooting allegedly occurred two days earlier.

Surveillance footage from a nearby building was able to capture the moment the car was set on fire, but not reveal the individual who set it.

The next witness called to the stand was from MPD’s K-9 Patrol Unit to discuss evidence of a gun at the scene of the shooting.

The officer’s partner, a firearm detection German Shepherd, traced an odor near the front seam of the driver seat, which was the area in which Ruth was allegedly shot. But, there was no gun recovered from the scene.

The prosecution rested their case and the defense will be calling in one more witness to testify.

Parties are set to return Jan. 30.

Judge Dismisses Murder Case Against One Defendant

On Jan. 26, parties finished pleading two homicide defendants’ cases before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun in a preliminary hearing. In the end, Judge Okun found probable cause that Jalonte Nathaniel Thompkins committed a crime but not Renza Bryant.

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

The hearing resumed with the prosecution finishing their cross examination of the lead detective from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), who highlighted the large number of gun shell casings recovered from the scene suggesting there were additional firearms involved in the incident beyond the two handguns that were recovered.

Shortly after the detective’s testimony, the defense called an investigator from the Public Defender Services (PDS) responsible for reviewing evidence of the incident and assisted in creating a hand drawn diagram which outlined locations of various shell casings found at and around the crime scene.

Bryant’s defense attorney, Sylvia Smith, asked the investigator to explain the process of mapping out the gun shell casings diagram, who said it was based on a report. The prosecution said that visiting a crime scene months after the incident took place cannot give an exact depiction of the event since the crime scene is likely to have changed over time.

Prosecutors also reviewed surveillance footage of Unity Park where there appears to be a confrontation between the victims and the defendants. After reviewing the footage, the prosecution argued that both defendants and one of the victims appeared to be armed.

The prosecution suggested that both Thompkins and Bryant conspired to ambush the three victims, but the defense said there is zero evidence that supports the idea of a planned attack.

In the surveillance footage, an individual identified as Thompkins can be seen riding a scooter which is the same one that an individual identified as Bryant can later be seen on scooting away. That same scooter was later found in the Ontario Road apartments.

Prosecutors say this is not a case of self-defense due to the location of the multiple gunshot wounds found on the victims’ bodies. For all three victims, multiple gunshot wounds were found on their back and side suggesting they were trying to get away from the perpetrators.

According to Smith, the identification of a second suspect does not match the description of Bryant and he cannot be charged for simply being in the vicinity of the crime. Smith also pointed to the lack of Bryant’s DNA recovered at the scene, while Thompkins DNA was found on several shell casings.

In response to the surveillance footage, Smith pointed out that there is zero interaction between Bryant and Thompkins, highlighting that the defendants don’t even know each other.

There were numerous witnesses on the scene, none of which mentioned seeing a man with a white shirt and a tan hat, a description that matched the clothing Bryant can be seen wearing in surveillance footage on the night of the incident.

Smith said the government and law enforcement are only speculating Bryant’s alleged involvement in the shooting.

Although the evidence suggesting Bryant’s involvement in the shooting is limited, prosecutors mentioned the DNA link between Thompkins and a recovered gun shell cartridge found at the scene. In addition, witnesses described the shooter as being a black male with long dreadlocks past shoulder length, which is similar to Thompkins description.

The prosecution maintains that circumstantial evidence in this case can be just as strong as direct evidence.

Thompkins defense attorney, Michelle Stevens, argued that the description of the shooter provided by a witness does not match Thompkins’ description it only suggests that he was present.

Regarding Thompkins DNA found on the shell casing, the defense states it represents very “preliminary testing” and should not be viewed as completely accurate. Furthermore, DNA can be shed and it’s possible that a shell casing rolled and picked up Thompkins DNA indirectly.

Judge Okun found probable cause that Thompkins was involved in the shooting, but did not find probable cause for Bryant’s involvement. Judge Okun dismissed all charges against Bryant and he ordered he be released from the jail.

Following the probable cause ruling, Stevens requested Thompkins be released awaiting further proceedings, arguing he has strong family ties in the community and record of employment. Prosecutors opposed the request, stating he poses immense danger to the community.

Judge Okun ordered Thompkins be detained awaiting trial, stating that there is no combination of release conditions that would ensure the safety of the community.

Parties are slated to return April 5.

Shooting Defendant Pleads Not Guilty During Arraignment

On Jan. 29, a non-fatal shooting defendant pleaded not guilty during an arraignment in the courtroom of DC Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno.

Johnathan Dawkins, 42, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm by a prior convict, and threat to kidnap or injure a person, for his alleged involvement in a shooting that took place on the 700 block of G Street, SE, on April 24, 2023. No injuries were reported.

According to court documents, Dawkins allegedly fired six shots in the direction of the victim. After being interviewed by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the victim revealed that they had talked to Dawkins earlier that night, and claimed the interaction escalated to the point that Dawkins told the victim “ I’ll shoot you right now”.

According to the victim, the two had met a year prior and the hostility Dawkins demonstrated was due to money lost in a craps game.

Dominique Winters, Dawkins’ defense attorney, alerted the court he pleaded not guilty to all charges, and asserted his constitutional rights, including the right to a speedy trial.

While awaiting trial, Dawkins continues to comply with pretrial release conditions.

A status hearing has been scheduled for Feb. 21.

Juvenile Defendant’s Release Denied Due to ‘Two Very Serious Crimes’

On Jan. 29, DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld denied a juvenile’s request for release as he awaits further proceedings due to his previously being sentenced for “two very serious crimes”.

The juvenile, a 15-year-old boy, is charged with armed carjacking, assault with intent to commit robbery, robbery, and assault with a dangerous weapon, for his alleged involvement in a carjacking and non-fatal shooting incident on Jan. 12.

According to Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) documents, a male victim was sitting inside a vehicle on the 1900 block of 14th Street, SE, when three suspects approached, assaulted, and robbed him at gunpoint. Two of the suspects took the victim’s vehicle.

Shortly after, one of the two suspects in the vehicle exchanged gunfire with an unknown person on the 3300 block of Benning Road, NE, before being struck by gunfire.

During the hearing, prosecutors alerted the judge that they had just been assigned the case and would be requesting additional time to review all evidence before making a decision about extending a plea offer. However, the attorney for the juvenile requested a trial date for the matter.

In addition, the defense attorney requested the juvenile be released pending trial, arguing that he’s currently held in a medium security level at the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) and is working with personnel to maintain that status.

Prosecutors objected to his release, stating that the juvenile is serving sentences at the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) for two cases, which were not discussed in court.

A trial date was set for Feb. 12.

Parties are slated to return Feb. 8 for a trial readiness hearing.

Parties Begin Closing Statements in Homicide Trial

On Jan. 30, parties delivered closing statements 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.

The prosecution began their closing statements by presenting a timeline of the events on the day of the crime.

The prosecution alleged that at 10:25 a. m., the car, occupied by the victims, was parked outside the home of one of the surviving victim’s mothers while someone in the neighborhood had then alerted Stevenson and Thomas to the victim’s arrival.

The prosecution presented the jury with voice messages and texts to corroborate this, as well as security footage of Thomas allegedly receiving a call inside of a Shell gas station.

Next, the prosecution alleged that Thomas drove his green Volvo to the neighborhood, while Stevenson walked there.

Security camera footage was used to corroborate these statements.

Then, prosecution showed footage of two individuals in front of the apartment complex pulling firearms out of their bags before re-entering the green Volvo when they saw a white car drive past.

The white car was driven by Allen, and had the two surviving victims as passengers.

After intercepting the white car, prosecution showed video footage of it crashing after rounds were fired from inside the green Volvo. The green Volvo was then seen driving off.

Then, as an eyewitness had testified, two individuals driving the Volvo crashed it into a parked vehicle and abandoned it, fleeing into a wooded area where the alleged murder weapon was later discovered.

Security video footage then showed two individuals walking to a bus stop and getting into a bus; the prosecution alleged that these individuals in the footage were Stevenson and Thomas.

The prosecution stated that “maybe one of these things would be a coincidence, maybe two things. But all of them feeding into each other?”

To establish a motive, the prosecution said that in November of 2020, Stevenson was shot and fell into a coma, and many of his close friends and family members blamed one of the surviving victims, who had formerly been Stevenson’s best friend, for the shooting.

The prosecution cited revenge as the motive for the shooting with disregard for other individuals present as the defendants had shot and killed Allen instead.

The prosecution highlighted that “Twenty-three minutes passed between when Stevenson found out that the victim was at the apartment and when Allen was fatally shot,” and “Twenty-three minutes were minutes he had that he could have made a different decision.”

They requested the jury find both defendants guilty of all charges.

Stevenson’s defense attorney, Elizabeth Weller, highlighted various inconsistencies with the evidence presented by the prosecution.

Weller argued that Stevenson is not the individual involved regarding the homicide or shooting and mentioned that “there is no real proof” Stevenson is the individual in any of the surveillance footage.

Weller pointed out how no witness, besides one, has identified Stevenson to be present before, during, or after the incident.

Weller then questioned the integrity of the sole witness who identified Stevenson as present at the scene of the crime.

Weller emphasized how the witness received a “sweetheart” plea deal which included cash and rent assistance, in relation to a different case, from the prosecution in exchange for providing substantial assistance–a notion later challenged by the prosecution.

Weller finished her statement by stating that the witness was “telling them what he thinks they want to hear,” referring to the prosecutions’ storyline. Afterwards, Weller reviewed and argued on the inconsistencies stemming from the DNA analysis of evidence.

Weller explained that a witness who reviewed the DNA analysis wrote that it “did not make intuitive sense” and insisted the system used to test an individual’s relationship with evidence through DNA is biased as it assumes “guilt” and “the person is a contributor.”

Weller stated “if you’re confused, you should be” and repeatedly stated “it doesn’t make sense.”

Ultimately, Weller concluded by highlighting the significance of what proof beyond a reasonable doubt means and doesn’t mean. She stated that a “reasonable doubt” is what would cause a person on the jury to “pause and think” before convicting someone of a crime.

She stated that if the jury had feelings of being “pretty sure that the defendant committed the crime” or “sure that the defendant committed the crime, but the prosecution didn’t make a good argument,” then they must find the defendant not guilty, as one must feel certain with no hesitation that the defendant is guilty in order to convict them.

Thomas’ defense attorney, Howard McEachern, is expected to present his closing statement in the next hearing.

Trial is scheduled to resume Jan. 31.

Closing Statements Delivered in Homicide Trial

On Jan. 30, witness testimony and closing arguments were presented in a homicide trial before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein.

Elhadji Ndiaye, 24, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, robbery while armed, tampering with physical evidence, destruction of property, and obstruction of justice for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Travis Ruth. The incident occurred on Jan. 18, 2019 at the 2700 block of Jasper Street, NE.

The defense called the last witness, a detective from the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) homicide unit. The witness testified that moments before Ruth’s fatal shooting, an eyewitness contacted an unidentified individual trying to buy pills.

Nikki Lotze, Ndiaye’s defense attorney, suggested two eyewitnesses, friends of the defendant and the decedent, worked together to kill Ruth.

Lotze said the two moved the victim out of a green Honda Accord and relocated the car in a neighboring alley.

The prosecution said that the timing does not support this view, rather that it would make more sense if Ndiaye had committed the crime since the car was recovered by police near the defendant’s home.

During the prosecution’s closing argument, they claimed that the close relationship between Ruth and the other individuals involved and the location where the car was found proves beyond a reasonable doubt that Ndiaye was responsible for Ruth’s death.

The defense cited the lack of forensic evidence and that nothing that places Ndiaye at the crime scene. Further, the police and prosecutors failed to fully investigate the matter–all of which attest to Ndiaye’s innocence.

Both parties rested their case and jury deliberations are set to begin on Jan. 31.

Suspect in DC Carjackings and Homicides Reported Dead in Prince George’s County, Maryland

A man believed responsible for a series of carjacking and shooting incidents in DC and nearby communities was shot to death by police in Prince George’s County, Maryland on Jan. 30, according to local law enforcement authorities.

The suspect has been identified by the Maryland Attorney General’s office as Artell Cunningham, 28, of Suitland, Maryland.

“The violence that we saw yesterday was senseless and tragic,” said DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, at a Jan. 30 news conference detailing the violence episode.

The crime spree began on Jan. 29 at approximately 5:45 pm on the 900 block of K Street, NW when Cunningham reportedly entered a vehicle and shot his first victim who collapsed on the sidewalk. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries, where he succumbed to his injuries on Feb. 3. The victim was identified as 56-year-old Michael Gill.

Following the initial attack, Cunningham moved on to at least two other locations in the District, carjacking vehicles and fatally shooting a motorist at the 300 block of N Street, NE. He was identified by authorities as 35-year-old Alberto Vasquez Jr. and his vehicle was later recovered in Prince George’s County, MD.

“We immediately began to comb through video footage, interview witnesses that were there on the scene” to see if the events were connected, said Jeffery Carroll, Executive Assistant Chief of the DC Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) at the news conference.

In Carroll’s account, Cunningham fled DC in a stolen car as police departments in the area were alerted to the threat. Overnight, he fired at a Metropolitan Police Department cruiser, striking a door but leaving the officer uninjured.

Later, the suspect fired a bullet that struck the windshield of a Maryland State Trooper’s vehicle, according to a department spokesman, again without causing injury.

Cunningham is thought to have carjacked at least two other vehicles after leaving DC.

Police from New Carrollton, Maryland caught up with Cunningham while investigating a car that was abandoned in a roadway. When they confronted him at 4:30 a.m. on the 7500 block of Annapolis Road in Hyattsville, Maryland, he reportedly brandished two weapons and two officers opened fire, killing him.

So far, authorities don’t have a motive. However, Carroll says MPD was contacted by an individual who knew Cunningham who said he suffered from mental health issues.

The officers involved in the shooting were put on routine administrative leave pending a required investigation by the Maryland Attorney General’s Office, according to a department spokesman who confirmed accounts of the crime.

Document: MPD Searching for a Suspect in Shooting – Suspect Killed in Shooting With PG County Police

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a suspect involved in a non-fatal shooting on Jan. 29 on the 900 block of New York Avenue, NW.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of an unconscious person, where they located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound injury. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. The detectives’ investigation revealed that the offense occurred on the 900 block of K Street, NW.

The suspect was captured by surveillance cameras nearby.

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.

According to PG County police, the suspect was shot and killed in an unrelated matter at the 7500 block of Annapolis Road in Hyattsville, MD. He was alleged to have been involved in a shooting with officers.

His identity has yet to be released.