The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in the investigation of a homicide that occurred on May 15, on the 3900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SW.
The decedent has been identified as 64-year-old Christopher Callahan.
A teenager,who confessed to taking part in the shooting of a Washington Commanders’ football player, was sentenced to the maximum commitment for his crimes in a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno on May 15.
According to prosecutors, the youth had already pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon and carrying a pistol without a license in an attempted carjacking. The carjacking resulted in the shooting of Washington Commanders’ running back Brian Robinson on Aug. 28, 2022.
“You could have ended his life…and a promising career,” said the prosecutor,
During the 25-minute hearing before Judge Solerno the youth, who was present in court, quietly acknowledged that he would remain in the custody of District social services until age 21 and that he waived his right to a trial.
Judge Salerno said that the youth had committed a very serious offense and made his situation worse by absconding from custody and failing to show up for a sentencing hearing on April 5. “You showed poor judgment,” said Judge Salerno. When the youth was finally arrested on April 19, prosecutors said he had illegal drugs in his possession.
The prosecution had originally recommended the youth be committed until he reached age twenty. However, Judge Salero tacked on the extra year with the proviso that the last year would be unrestricted with the option of returning to “wrap around services” if warranted.
In the meantime, a representative from the DC Department of Youth and Corrective Services said she was “very disappointed” that the youth had failed to comply with his confinement terms.
Going forward, he will have an initial 16 months of supervised care focusing on anger management at a psychiatric residential treatment facility.
“Make the most of your time,” said the Judge as the hearing concluded.
On May 15, prosecutors in a six defendant homicide trial were unable to begin closing arguments due to technical difficulties.
Gregory Taylor, 27, 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.
Prosecutors alerted the court they lost access to their closing arguments presentation due to technical issues, and that their information technology team was struggling to find a way to regain access to the lost documents.
Nonetheless, defense attorneys for Murchison, Cobbs, Thomas, and Jeffers rested their cases choosing not to make specific presentations to the jury. All six defendants exercised their right to not testify in trial.
DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun gave the jury instructions for deliberation after the defense lawyers resting their case.
During jury instructions, Judge Okun reminded them that it is their responsibility to decide what the facts of the case are and whether each defendant is responsible for the charges brought against them.
“The verdict in this case is your sole responsibility,” he said.
He also reminded jurors, if they find that the prosecutors have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendants committed the offenses, it is their duty to find them guilty. However he stated if the prosecutors failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the defendants had committed the offenses, it is also their duty to find them innocent.
Regarding evidence, Judge Okun said, jurors are only allowed to hold defendants accountable for what each said. Several pieces of evidence were directed against individual defendants, but those that were specifically directed against just one of them need to be considered only against that individual.
Judge Okun also told jurors all the defendants maintain their innocence, denying any participation in any of the incidents for which they’re charged.
Parties are expected back May 16 when the prosecution is expected to be prepared to make its closing argument.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has arrested and charged 26-year-old Dirk Easton for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting that occurred on May 13, on the 1700 block of M Street, NW.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating suspects and a vehicle in connection to a non-fatal shooting and two armed robberies that occurred on May 14.
The shooting occurred on the 1800 block of 14th Street, NW. The victim received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries at a local hospital.
The robberies occurred on the 1300 block of V Street, NW, and on the 1700 block of 11th Street, NW.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a suspect vehicle that was involved in three non-fatal shootings on May 12, which left three individuals, two adult males and one juvenile male, enduring non-life-threatening wounds.
According to MPD, the first shooting occurred on the 600 block of 46th Street, SE. The second shooting happened less than ten minutes later on the 3800 block of Jay Street, NE. The third shooting occurred less than twenty minutes later on the 1900 block of 15th Street, SE.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in the investigation of a homicide that occurred on May 13, on the 1300 block of V Street, NW.
The decedent was identified as 29-year-old Calvin Gray.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in the investigation for a homicide that occurred on May 12, on the 900 block of Varney Street, SE.
The decedent was identified as 23-year-old Romello Hammond.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a suspect-vehicle that was utilized in two non-fatal shootings on May 12. The two shootings occurred within ten minutes of each other on the 600 block of 46th Street, SE, and on the 3800 block of Jay Street, NE.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in the investigation of a homicide which occurred on May 11, on the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.
The decedent was identified as 30-year-old Devonte Maxwell.
Prosecution and defense lawyers tried to work through procedural issues needed to bring a nearly four-year-old murder case to trial in a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein on May 12.
Devonte Brothers, 29, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and conspiracy while armed in connection with the June 16, 2019, shooting of 30-year-old Arkeem Jackson on the 4300 block of 4th Street, SE.
According to court documents, five people were shot in the incident. Judge Epstein said it’s in everyone’s interest to move the proceedings along.
At issue were deadlines to produce evidence, in particular the defense said it’s consulting an expert in forensics.
Meanwhile, Judge Epstein granted a defense motion to suppress certain evidence until completing the process to identify evidence in the case. . He pushed the motions deadline for outstanding evidence issues until June 16.
Judge Epstein also set a date for a trial readiness hearing in the case for Aug.25 at 11 a.m.
A man accused of killing his father in a family dispute is trying to wean himself off drugs and care for his wife with breast cancer.
Stephon Williams 32, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol outside a home or business for allegedly shooting his 49-year-old father Stephen Magruder on Sept. 11, 2020, on the 700 block of 51st Street, NE..
In a May 12 hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein, Williams’ attorney, Jason Tulley, said his client’s medical privacy had been violated because court-appointed rehabilitation officials released information about the defendant’s drug treatment to ““community connections.” If so, that would be a violation of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Judge Epstein said he couldn’t justify such a finding, but he was interested in Williams’ long standing addiction problem. According to Tulley, Williams tested positive for fentanyl on May 5 but was negative for two other screens on May 10 and May 15. Whether Williams is allowed to stay in rehab may be determined in a drug test scheduled after the hearing on May 12.
Judge Epstein said he was anxious to know the outcome.
Williams, meanwhile, requested a new parole officer because his relationship with the current one has become “toxic,” according to Tulley. Judge Epstein denied the request.
Tulley also pointed out that Williams has “done a fantastic job helping his wife who has breast cancer.”
Judge Epstein continued the matter to see if the behavioral issues could be resolved. “If the wheels come off,” he said he’ll schedule more hearings.
Jesse Porter, 59,a retired officer with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is considering a plea deal in the shooting death of 25-year-old Maurica Manyan, a library security officer.
On May 10, Porter was indicted by a District of Columbia Grand Jury on charges of second-degree murder while armed, possessing a firearm during a crime of violence and unlawful discharge of a firearm. The incident occurred on Aug. 4, 2022, on the 1800 block of Good Hope Road, SE.
In a brief hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein on May 12, Porter’s attorney Brian McDaniel asked Judge Epstein for additional time to consider the prosecution’s terms of three-to-seven years in jail in return for pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter while armed. Otherwise, Porter will have to stand trial for murder.
If Porter were convicted on all the charges, he faces a maximum sentence of 12-to-24 years in prison.
Judge Epstein gave Porter until a hearing on May 18 at 2:30 p,m. to make up his mind.
The widely publicized case stemmed from Manyon’s shooting while she was taking part in a training exercise. According to court documents, when police arrived on the scene Porter kept repeating, “I thought I had a training gun.”
Members of Manyon’s family attended the court session and afterward listened to a prosecutor’s explanation of the proposal. In an informal news conference outside the courthouse, family attorney Chelsea Lewis said their reaction was shock and disappointment that Porter might face less than the maximum penalty for his offenses while they’re still in mourning.
“We are still extremely concerned and troubled by the District of Columbia’s response and negligence in this case, “ said Lewis. She said the family has heard virtually nothing from city officials and received no compensation for Manyan’s death
Also, at issue is security footage of the shooting which has not been turned over to the family. Lewis said the family wants to see it in an effort to determine if the shooting was completely accidental.
Meanwhile, Lewis said the family was considering other legal options to get accountability for what happened.
Brittany Backford, Manyan’s cousin, said whatever the outcome nothing can make up for the family’s loss. “We don’t even have words why something like this would happen,” she told reporters.
On May 12, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt set a new trial date for a double homicide case following a mistrial on May 10.
Alphonso Walker, 45, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection to the death of Dalonte Wilson, 23, and Antone Brown, 44, on the 400 block of 61st Street, NE on April 25, 2018.
Following three weeks of trial, the defense filed a motion for mistrial, citing prosecutorial misconduct after they elicited an inculpatory statement from a key witness.
Jury selection for a new trial is slated to begin on May 22.
Judge Brandt argued this trial is high priority, as it is a five year old case, stating there was urgency in proceeding.
Parties are expected back in court on May 17 for a status hearing to ensure everything is set before the trial.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has arrested and charged 28-year-old Dwayne Johnson with assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting that occurred on May 11, on the 4700 block of Benning Road, SE.
