On May 5, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers arrested and charged 30-year-old Jamal Coleman with assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting that occurred on May 4, on the 4600 block of Polk Street, NE.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in the investigation of a fatal shooting that occurred on May 4, on the 5600 block of B Street, SE.
MPD officers found 18-year-old Carlos Latney suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Latney succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
As a double homicide trial continued before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt, on May 3, an eyewitness testified about receiving an emotional phone call from inside the house where the killings took place.
Alphonso Walker, 45, is being charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection to the death of Dalonte Wilson, 23, and Antone Brown, 44, near the 400 block of 61 Street, NE on April 25, 2018. Walker has been held in the DC Jail since December of 2018.
The witness testified he was outside of the house in a car around the time a shooting occurred. However, he did not hear gunshots because he was playing loud music.
Later, he received a phone call from someone inside asking if he saw a man in a black sweatsuit leave the house.
The witness replied that a person matching that description had just walked by, and the prosecution alleges that was Alphonso Walker, the shooter.
The man inside the house told the witness he was hiding in the closet, and sounded panicky.
“I think that N*** just killed both of them (Wilson and Brown) in the living room,” he said.
The trial is slated to resume May 8.
After three months in trial, prosecutors concluded their arguments on May 3 in a homicide and conspiracy case putting the emphasis on electronic evidence.
Gregory Taylor, 26, Quentin Michals, 25, Qujuan Thomas, 24, Darrise Jeffers, 23, Isaiah Murchison, 22, and Marquell Cobbs, 21, are six of 10 defendants charged with first-degree murder, criminal street gang affiliation, conspiracy, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill, and other charges regarding a fatal drive-by shooting that resulted in 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson’s death. The shooting happened on the 300 block of 53rd Street, NE on July 16, 2018.
A detective for the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) homicide branch testified about the results of his investigation into Wilson’s murder including an analysis of the defendants’ phone records.
According to court documents, defendants sent various text messages asking others for guns and ammunition in the weeks leading up to the shooting. One of them even inquired about vehicles and drivers that they needed for a day.
According to the detective, Michals received a message from a contact saved as “Clo” stating “lil man got wheels you can use,” days before the shooting.
Following the detective’s testimony, the government alerted the court they had no more evidence to present and were resting their case.
All parties are expected back in court on May 8 before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun, as the defense opens its case.
On May 3, 16-year-old Antron Belk was arrested and charged as an adult with assault with intent to kill (gun) for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting that occurred on Feb. 25, on the 4400 block of Quarles Street, NE. There was one adult male injured during the incident.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in locating and identifying a suspect-vehicle that was involved in a non-fatal shooting that left two underaged girls injured.
The incident occurred on April 29, on the 600 block of Division Avenue, NE.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in the investigation of a fatal shooting that occurred on May 3, on the 3700 block of Jamison Street, NE.
The shooting claimed the life of 23-year-old Kaijah McCoy.
On May 2, DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe found probable cause to charge Tre’quan Nelson in connection with a homicide.
Nelson, 23, is accused of first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in a shooting that claimed 34-year-old Delonte King’s life on Nov. 3, 2021, on the 2800 block of 14th Street, NW.
Judge O’Keefe stated that based on the evidence provided to the court, Nelson was one of the two individuals who committed the murder.
According to court documents, Nelson and Demonte Gibson, 26, who’s also been charged in the case, were seen approaching King at the intersection of 14th Street and Girard Streets the day of the incident, an interaction caught on surveillance footage. A witness heard one of the individuals say words equivalent to “You see this right here?” before firing six to eight gunshots in King’s direction and running away.
Nelson’s attorney, Jesse Winograd, argued prosecutors did not meet the threshold of probable cause because no evidence shows that Nelson possessed a gun.
Winograd said his client’s being at the crime scene does not show he shot King.
Judge O’Keefe insisted the standard of probable cause was met by prosecutors, saying the autopsy report showed King was shot with two different guns. He also stated that the defendants were identified in surveillance footage to police, and there were no other people near where the shell casings were found.
Judge O’Keefe stated the defendant would remain held at DC Jail to ensure the community’s safety as he awaits trial.
Parties are expected back for a felony status conference with DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on May 26.
DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt recused herself from a case in a May 2 hearing because of a surprise contact with a co-defendant accused in a non-fatal shooting.
Michael Dukes, 25, and Rickeis Watkins, 22, were indicted on charges of assault with intent to kill, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a pistol without a license, and unlawful possession of ammunition in connection to an incident that occurred on the 1400 block of Brentwood Road, NE on March 24, 2022. Both suspects were on release with GPS monitoring.
According to court records, there were no apparent victims on the scene.
Judge Brandt stated she was recusing herself because of a recent interaction with Watkins at her local grocery store where she ran into Watkins who is employed there.
After a brief question about how they knew since they were wearing face masks, Watkins pointed to his GPS monitor on his ankle and told Judge Brandt, “You put this box on my ankle.”
Judge Brandt stated that out of an abundance of caution, she decided it was best to recuse herself.
The case was transferred to DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein and plea offers were accepted for both defendants.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Dukes pleaded guilty to one count of attempted assault with a dangerous weapon and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm. Watkins pleaded guilty to one count of attempted assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of carrying a pistol without a license.
Sentencing for both parties is scheduled for Aug. 4.
Newly appointed defense attorney, Kevin Mosley, requested a date for a status hearing to familiarize himself with a murder involving a lover’s quarrel. In a May 2 hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt Mosley also said he wanted to discuss a possible plea deal.
Idrissa Fall, 36, is charged with first degree murder premeditated while armed, a bias-related crime, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction in connection to the murder of Dara Northern, 29, on the 6100 block of 4th Street, NW on July 18, 2021.
According to court documents, witnesses state Northern and Fall were romantically involved. A witness stated that when Northern went to pick Fall up for a date, the couple seemed to be having an argument.
The witness attempted to say hello to Fall. “Stop playing with me with that gay shit,” Fall allegedly replied and then shot Northern inside the witness’s vehicle.
Another witness stated the couple had an argument a few weeks prior about Fall’s being uncomfortable with Northern having gay friends.
She suffered a gunshot wound to her right eye and was pronounced brain dead later that day.
Fall has another open case and is charged with attempted unlawful possession of contraband in a penal institution after a homemade weapon was allegedly found in his cell.
Parties are expected back in court on July 5.
As a high-profile murder trial entered its third month, prosecutors Introduced dozens of Instagram posts and social media messages to convince jurors that the suspects tried to hide their identities using so-called “vanity names,” while communicating their violent intent in code.
Gregory Taylor, 27, Quentin Michals, 25, Qujuan Thomas, 24, Darrise Jeffers, 23, Isiah Murchison, 23 and Marquell Cobbs, 21, are six of 10 defendants charged with first-degree murder, criminal street gang affiliation, conspiracy, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill, and other charges regarding a drive-by shooting that resulted in the death of 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson on the 300 block of 53rd Street, NE on July 16, 2018.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective leading the investigation walked the jury through the online information in the form of message records, pictures and videos. Without specifically identifying each person, the evidence painted a larger picture of what prosecutors say was a conspiracy to commit murder. Several videos show individuals dancing and carrying guns.
Around the time of the murder, the prosecution says that Murchison and Michals exchanged messages about the need to recover a gun, whiie Cobbs, meanwhile was warning about the location of police. One prosecution exhibit showed a picture of Jeffers with a gun in his lap.
In another message, defendant Thomas says he felt disrespected and discussed the problem of “coordinating an attack.”
Ruling against defense objections,DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun said there’s sufficient basis to consider Murchison a part of the conspiracy.
One of the vanity names that came under scrutiny was “Hollywood Glizzy”. Online conversations in and around the murder, the prosecution says, indicate that Glizzy was shopping for firearms.
In one post, Glizzy says, “I need another cutter (slang for a firearm).” In a July 8, 2018 message, the MPD detective showed pictures of a pistol and a rifle that a correspondent named “Mook” sent to Glizzy. The price discussed for the pistol, identified as a Glock, was $850.
In another post from a source identified as “Real Big Goonie,” the message was “We got the choppas that Osama went to war with.”
Taylor’s attorney, Jonathan Zucker, countered that any individual could use someone’s cell phone to make a call or post in an effort to disguise their identity. Further, there were many names in the Instagram log that the detective couldn’t identify.
One video introduced by prosecutors and disputed by the defense showed Taylor performing a rap song as part of a “going live” performance. Taylor was allegedly upset about a “fake account” and the prosecution said he made remarks about “killing kids.”
However, Zucker says there’s no way to know if Taylor made threats to anyone in particular.
The trial resumed on May 3 and closing arguments are anticipated for the middle of May.
The owner of a home where a double murder took place testified in a May 2 hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt he was in the house when the crime occurred.
Alphonso Walker, 45, is being charged with two counts of first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, two counts of first-degree murder while armed while committing or attempting to commit a robbery, six counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of attempting to commit robbery and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction in connection to the deaths of Dalonte Wilson, 23, and Antone Brown, 44, near the 400 block of 61 Street, NE on April 25, 2018. Walker has been held in the DC Jail since December of 2018.
On Tuesday, the homeowner stated he was in a room with two others on the first floor when he heard gunshots that seemed close. One of the individuals in the room then turned off the lights.
“Give me the fucking money,” witnesses overheard someone say.
Brown and another individual entered the room allegedly looking for money. When none was found and they exited the room, the witness heard one of the individuals say “I’m not gonna ask again,” and then a final gunshot went off.
Another witness, who was in the room at the time, made an in-court identification of Walker during testimony. However, she had previously testified that she would not be able to identify the shooter by appearance and only by voice.
The witness was convicted of perjury in 1989, when she accepted money to drop charges against a man who allegedly stabbed her.
Trial is scheduled to resume May 3.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in an investigation of a fatal shooting that occurred on May 2, on the 400 block of Condon Terrace, SE. The shooting claimed 27-year-old Derrick Thomas’ life.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the assistance of the public in locating a suspect vehicle for a traffic fatality that occurred on May 1, on I-295 Southbound. The incident claimed the life of 30-year-old Rhyes Patrick-James Harris.
MPD is on the lookout for a 1999 to 2003 Ford Windstar minivan that may have defects that corroborate running over a pedestrian. The color of the vehicle is unknown.
On May 2, Rayvon Slye, 31, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder for his alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of 30-year-old Andrea Bond. The incident occurred on March 8, on the 1100 block of D Street, NE.
