2025 Trial Date Set For ‘Avenue Crew of Simple City’ Conspiracy and Murder Case

On Aug. 4, DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein set an August 2025 trial date for six defendants charged with conspiracy for a series of non-fatal shootings and homicides in 2020 and 2021 as part of the “Avenue Crew of Simple City.”

Co-defendants Nkobia Edwards, 20, Charles Hill Jr, 22, Dominique Franks, 22, Melvin Morris, 25, Michael Mason, 19, and Dajuan Jones, 22, are all currently being detained at the DC Jail under a separation order, which prohibits the defendants from interacting with one another as they await trial.

All six men are charged with criminal street gang affiliation and conspiracy while armed relating to several non-fatal shootings and homicides taking place from January 2020 to June 2021.

Edwards, Hill, Franks, and Morris are all charged with multiple counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, possession of a firearm while committing a crime of violence, conspiracy while armed, criminal street gang affiliation, and several other felony charges related to the shooting of one individual while in the presence of dozens of witnesses at a construction site. The incident took place on June 17, 2021 on the 3200 block of 34th Street, NW.

Edwards and Franks are both charged with a total of 18 counts, while Morris is charged with 17 and Hill with 24, though some of Hill’s charges stem from other incidents.

Hill, Mason, and Jones are facing charges for their alleged involvement in the murder of 21-year-old Brea Moon on April 7, 2020 which took place on the 3900 block of Alabama Avenue, SE.

Alongside criminal street gang affiliation and conspiracy while armed charges, Jones is also charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill, and several other charges related to Moon’s murder. Jones is facing a total of 16 charges

Mason also allegedly shot one victim, shortly after Moon’s murder, on Apr. 8, 2020 on the 300 block of Anacostia Road, SE. Mason is also facing charges for his alleged involvement in the murder of 18-year-old Antwuan Roach on May 22, 2020 on the 3800 block of East Capitol Street, NE.

Mason has a total of 22 charges including the conspiracy while armed and criminal street gang affiliation charges faced by all of the defendants, as well as first-degree murder, assault with intent to kill, and possession of a firearm while committing a crime of violence.

Defense attorneys for all six defendants filed motions to sever the charges, with attorneys for Edwards, Hill, and Franks filing a joint motion and attorneys for the other three defendants all filing severance motions separately.

A motion to sever means to separate the charges, allowing each incident and the defendants involved in that one incident to be tried separately despite the alleged conspiracy.

Judge Epstein denied all the severance motions, meaning that all incidents and defendants will head to trial together.

According to court documents, the prosecution is alleging that all six defendants are part of the “Avenue Crew of Simple City” and conspired to “assault and kill” the crew’s adversaries.

Due to the complexity of the case and the number of defendants and attorneys involved, much of the hearing on Aug. 4 was devoted to setting a trial date that worked for all parties.

Ultimately, Judge Epstein set the trial for August of 2025 with a trial readiness date of June 20, 2025.

Case Acquitted: Defendant Rejects Plea Offer in Non-Fatal Shooting Case

This case was acquitted on Dec. 1, 2023.

On August 7, Saphire Johnson rejected a plea offer in a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld.

Johnson, 23, is being charged with one count of aggravated assault while armed and one count of carrying a pistol without a license for her alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting on the 4100 block of Alabama Avenue SE, on June 28.

The deal offered by prosecutors would have required to Johnson plead guilty to both counts while obeying a stay-away order from the victim.

Judge Hertzfeld confirmed Johnson understood the offer but decided to reject it.

Johnson’s trial is slated to begin on November 14.

Retrial in 2018 Murder Case Delayed as Defendant Seeks New Counsel

On Aug. 7, Marquette Jordan’s murder trial before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt was postponed so a new defense lawyer could be appointed.

Jordan, 32, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, simple assault, and carrying a dangerous weapon outside a home or business with a prior felony conviction for allegedly stabbing and killing 48-year-old Ivan Lynch on April 30, 2018 on the 900 block of 5th Street, SE.

Jordan’s trial began in March of 2022, and as the proceeding continued prosecutors dismissed the charges of threatening to kidnap or injure a person and assault with dangerous weapon.

The jury then found Jordan not guilty of first-degree murder while armed and robbery while armed in April of 2022. However, they remained hung on the lesser charges of second-degree murder while armed, simple assault, and carrying a dangerous weapon while armed outside a home or business.

The prosecution then decided to retry the case on the remaining charges, and Jordan’s defense attorney at the time, Elliott Queen, was replaced by Michael Madden, who was later joined by defense attorney, Camille Wagner.

Jordan’s retrial was set for Aug. 1. However, undisclosed complications delayed the date, which was reset for Aug. 7. Now that has been further pushed back after Jordan said he wished to obtain new counsel.

Parties are expected back on Aug. 11 to assign new defense counsel and set another trial date.

Case Acquitted: Five Witnesses Testify in a Fatal Stabbing Case

This case was acquitted on Aug. 15, 2023.

On Aug. 7, five witnesses testified in 2021 homicide case before DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe.

Jermaine Washington, 39, is charged with second-degree murder in connection with the stabbing of 40-year-old Keon Terrell Bonner on Oct. 26, 2021 in an alley on the 1500 block of Ogden Street, NW.

According to court documents, the pair was seen arguing and Washington was brandishing a knife.

The prosecution called a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer to describe body-worn camera footage of a footpath where he discovered Bonner’s body.

Bonner’s cousin testified that he along with Washington and Bonner would frequently go out as a group to sporting events. They all lived in the same building.

The prosecution also introduced closed circuit surveillance camera video taken in an apartment lobby that captured a male wearing all black clothing, believed to be Washington, entering and exiting the building several times.

The cousin stated Bonner was at his apartment the night of the murder when Washington knocked on the door about 1:40 am to see if anyone wanted to “hang out.” Bonner left the apartment with Washington but Bonner’s cousin stayed behind.

Later, the apartment security officer knocked on the cousin’s door to say police were at a nearby building investigating a killing. Bonner’s cousin and the apartment security officer allegedly picked Washington’s image out a photo array of possible suspects presented by police.

Bonner’s cousin says he sent a string of text messages after the crime trying to locate Washington. Finally, a message came in a 3:00 am saying, “I’ll call you back.” But that didn’t happen. Washington claimed he was at a hospital visiting his brother, but police were unable to verify Washington’s account.

During the cross-examination, Washington’s attorney, Stephen Lofergo, asked Bonner’s cousin if drugs he was taking for mental health issues that might have caused him to misidentify Washington as the perpetrator. Bonner’s cousin couldn’t recall if he had taken medication around the time of the incident.

Another witness, who lived at a nearby apartment, testified he saw two men arguing and an object which he presumed to be a knife. Then, he watched a man wearing red and white colored pants, later identified as Bonner, fall to the ground during the fight.

He said one of the men wearing black clothes wiped both his hands and a knife in the dirt. He then called the 911 saying “Someone is stabbing another person with a knife.”

Prosecutors also called the lead MPD detective who presented call detail records which allegedly show multiple communications between Washington and Bonner, including one shortly before Bonner’s death.

However, he admitted that issues with the surveillance cameras prevented the police from getting all the relevant footage.

Parties are expected to be back on Aug. 8 to resume the trial.

Case Acquitted: Victim’s Mother Testifies in Murder Case

Green was acquitted of murder on Aug. 24, 2023.

Prosecutors continued their case in a 2020 homicide trial before DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo on Aug. 7.

Tamika Green, 37, allegedly shot and killed her boyfriend during an argument on Feb. 20, 2020 in an apartment on the 1600 block of 18th Street, SE. She is charged with second-degree murder, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license.

Bryan Tate Jr., 37, was shot three times in the shoulder and hip. He died from his injuries. Defense attorneys say Green was acting in self-defense after Tate physically abused her.

Prosecutors called two witnesses. The first was Tate’s mother.

She described Tate and Green’s relationship as volatile but not violent, saying “they would get up in each others’ faces but [she] never saw anything else.” However, she also stated that she had seen both Tate and Green push each other at times

The defense later probed the witness about Tate’s former relationships, including statements made to the grand jury that both Green and a former partner told her about times Tate had been physically violent toward them.

Testimony by a fingerprint analyst was cut short because a severe weather warning forced the courthouse to shut down early.

The expert witness’ testimony and the trial will continue on Aug. 8.

First-Degree Murder Defendant Pleads Guilty to Lesser Charge

In an Aug. 7 hearing, a homicide defendant accepted a plea proffered by prosecutors in the case.

Ch’Juan Robinson, 26, was charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior crime of violence for his alleged involvement in shooting 32-year-old Louis Kingsbury on Apr. 29, 2020 at the 200 block of New York Avenue, NW.

At the hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe presented the offer allowing Robinson to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior crime of violence. The remaining charges would be dropped.

After waiving his right to a trial, Robinson accepted the plea offer.

His sentencing will occur on Dec. 1.

Document: Homicide: 2500 Block of Ontario Road, Northwest

The Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Homicide Branch is investigating a homicide that occurred on Aug. 5, on the 2500 block of Ontario Road, NW.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of a shooting, where they located three adult male shooting victims. Two of the victims were found with no signs consistent with life, and the third victim succumbed to his injuries on Aug. 7 at a local hospital.

The victims have been identified as 34-year-old James Morgan, 30-year-old Jamal Morgan, and 42-year-old Vincent Martin.

Document: Homicide: 1600 Block of Good Hope Road, Southeast

The Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Homicide Branch is investigating a homicide that occurred on Aug. 5, on the 1600 block of Good Hope Road, SE.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of a shooting, where they located one adult female and four adult male shooting victims. Two of the adult male and the adult female shooting victims had no signs consistent with life. The two remaining male victims were transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries.

The homicide victims were identified as 27-year-old Tymea Cook, 35-year-old Bernard Hodges, and 34-year-old Reginald Gilbert.

Document: Vehicle Sought in an Assault With Intent to Kill (Gun) Offense: 1800 Block of 9th Street, Northwest

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a vehicle connected to a non-fatal shooting that occurred on Aug. 6, on the 1800 block of 9th Street, NW.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of a shooting, where they located an adult male shooting victim. He was transported to a local hospital for the treatment of life-threatening injuries.

The suspect vehicle was captured by a nearby surveillance camera.

Document: Arrest Made in a Homicide: 1200 Block of U Street, Northwest

The Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Homicide Branch arrested and charged 20-year-old David Botchway in connection to a homicide that occurred on Aug. 5, on the 1200 block of U Street, NW.

According to MPD documents, officers were in the area of the location when they heard the sound of gunshots. Upon arrival, they located an adult male victim suffering from apparent gunshot wounds, and with no signs consistent with life.

The victim was identified as 19-year-old Andre Baker.

Document: Arrests Made in a Homicide: 100 Block of Irvington Street, Southwest

The Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Homicide Branch have arrested and charged two 19-year-olds in connection to a homicide that occurred on Aug. 9, 2022 on the 100 block of Irvington Street, SW.

According to MPD documents, an off-duty officer was flagged down at the location in reference to a shooting victim. The off-duty officer located an adult male victim suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries where he succumbed to his injuries on Aug. 10, 2022.

The victim was identified as 20-year-old Brian Buxton.

On Aug. 4, MPD arrested and charged 19-year-old Aaron Walker and 19-year-old Dasani Dawson with first-degree murder while armed.

Document: Homicide: 900 Block of Division Avenue, Northeast

The Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Homicide Branch is investigating a homicide that occurred on Aug. 4 on the 900 block of Division Avenue, NE.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of a shooting, where they located an adult male shooting victim. He succumbed to his injuries at the scene, following all lifesaving efforts.

The victim was identified as 31-year-old Vincent Harvey.

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Document: Correction and Updated with Video Suspect Sought in an Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (Gun) Offense: 2600 Block of Wade Road, Southeast

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a suspect connected to a non-fatal shooting that occurred on July 27 on the 2600 block of Wade Road, SE.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of a shooting, where they learned that an adult male shooting victim was at a local hospital receiving treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Document: Suspect Sought in an Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (Gun) Offense: 800 Block of 6th Street, Northwest

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a suspect connected to a non-fatal shooting that occurred on Aug. 4 on the 800 block of 6th Street, NW.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of a shooting, where they learned an adult male shooting victim was located at a hospital seeking treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.

Document: Updated Photos Suspect Sought in an Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (Gun) Offense: 2200 Block of Wade Road, Southeast

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a suspect connected to a non-fatal shooting that occurred on July 27 on the 2200 block of Wade Road, SE.

According to MPD documents, officers responded to the location for the report of a shooting, where they located an adult male shooting victim. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

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