The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating a homicide that took place on the unit block of Galveston Street, SW on March 23.
According to a press release, officers found 21-year-old Kristian Stewart suffering from gunshot wounds. She was reported dead on scene.
DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee sentenced a defendant in a homicide case to 160 months in prison during a March 23 hearing.
Jonathan Young, 38, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with the death of Dewayne Shorter, 22, on the 1300 block of Brentwood Road, NE on Jan. 26, 2021.
Young accepted a plea deal on Dec. 21, 2022, to one count of voluntary manslaughter.
Shorter’s mother, sister, and the mother of his four-year old child read emotional statements asking for the maximum sentence allowed by the plea agreement, 16 years in prison, Shorter’s family was seen in the gallery wearing face-masks and t-shirts with Shorter’s photo on them.
Defense attorney Brian McDaniel argued for the minimum sentence, eight ad a half years in prison. He said Young turned himself in, and has shown remorse by accepting the plea deal.
“This is a good person who made a bad decision,” McDaniel said.
“This bad decision is one of the worst one’s a person can make,” replied the prosecution.
The sentencing led to emotional outbursts between supporters of the victim as well as Young. Several were told to leave the courtroom. Multiple court marshals were brought in to handle the situation.
In addition to the 160 months in prison, Young will have to register as a gun offender, undergo random drug testing, and will have five years of supervised release.
“When one acts to take a life, the price must be significant,” Judge Lee said.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating a fatal shooting on the 4400 block of E Street, SE.
According to a press release, officers found 24-year-old Stephon Carroll with no signs of life on the 300 block of Anacostia Drive, SE. The police’s investigation revealed that Carroll was shot on E Street.
DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun continued a hearing after a defendant in a murder trial refused to come to the courthouse on March 22.
Juan Peterson, 32, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to the shooting of four individuals on May 15, 2021, on the 3900 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE. Lester Howard, 28, succumbed to his injuries from the attack. The other three victims were treated and released from hospitals.
The hearing was scheduled to discuss the defendant’s right to an independent test of DNA evidence in the case.
Following Peterson’s refusal, his defense attorney requested the hearing be moved to a later date. The reasoning for his refusal was not mentioned.
Parties are expected back in court on April 4.
DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee postponed sentencing on March 23 for a sexual assault case.
Darius Newkirk, 25, accepted a plea offer on Dec. 21, 2022, for attempted third-degree sexual abuse. The plea also included a guilty plea for simple assault for three prior misdemeanor cases in 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively. Newark was originally charged with assault to commit first -degree sex abuse in connection with an incident on the 1800 block of Alabama Avenue, SE on Sept. 8, 2021.
Judge Lee expressed the importance of a robust plan for Newkirk’s mental health as well as his substance abuse issues
“The things you are suffering with, is what we need help with,” Judge Lee said.
Newkirk has been held at St. Elizabeth’s for the majority of the case. Newkirk also struggles with substance abuse.
According to prosecutors, Newkirk followed the victim while he was cat-calling at her and eventually approached her on the street. He allegedly grabbed the victim by the waist, threw her to the ground and attempted to sexually assault her.
Defense attorney Brandi Harden expressed concern about adequate mental health care and resources for Newkirk after he is eventually released.
The next hearing is scheduled for April 7.
Judge Lee stated pending no issues, he will release Newkirk for a trial period of 60 days before sentencing.
Newkirk has one remaining theft misdemeanor case open at this time.
This case was acquitted on March 23, 2023.
After three and a half weeks of trial, a jury found a homicide defendant not guilty.
Kaevon Sutton, 21, was charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 22-year-old Aujee Tyler on the 3500 block of Stanton Road, SE on March 19, 2018.
The jury found Kaevon Sutton not-guilty on March 23 of three of his four charges, including first-degree-murder, second-degree-murder, and possession of a firearm in a violent crime. Sutton was found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm.
During the trial defense attorneys Jessica Willis and Terrence Austin argued that their client acted in self-defense. Both prosecutors across the aisle refuted these claims at every chance.
The prosecution argued that Sutton’s actions were deliberate, calculated, and premeditated.
Then it was left to the jury to decide.
In what felt like another world, the court’s gallery held a life of its own. The families of the accused and the victim sat across from each other in the courtroom throughout the trial. The only thing between them was a four-foot walkway.
At times they disrupted the trial. There was speculation that some in attendance sought to deter witnesses from testifying. But, what was most apparent was the pull Tyler’s autopsy photos had on his family. Tyler’s loved-ones audibly winced and shuttered at the sight of his wounds.
On a few occasions, Judge Ryan threatened to “turn this public trial into a private one.” The prosecution made several attempts to encourage the latter and said they worried the noises coming from the audience would sway the jury.
To their point, on March 9, a juror wrote Judge Ryan a note stating they were “uncomfortable with the moaning and groaning” coming from the spectators.
In the following weeks, the court began collecting the phones of friends and family members in the audience. Court Marshals were instructed to lock attendees’ phones in pouches to limit witness intimidation by prohibiting others from recording and posting witness testimony on social media.
Some witnesses were so fearful to testify that one chose not to show. One witness was arrested and detained for failure to appear. When that witness finally took the stand, he was deemed non-cooperative.
During the two days of jury deliberations, Tyler and Sutton’s family remained in the courthouse or within its vicinity, so as not to miss the verdict.
After the verdict was delivered Sutton’s family could be seen fist-bumping one another, while the victim’s family sat with a mix of emotions.
A prosecutor stood in silence, unable to speak, with tears in his eyes.
Sutton’s first hearing was on June 30, 2018. However, the jury wasn’t selected until July 2019.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused the District of Columbia to suspend jury trials until Jan. 24, 2022. Even though the jury was already selected, Sutton’s trial was postponed by nearly 2 years.
When DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan green-lit the trial, a new jury was selected.
After 5 years, the trial started on March 2.
Sutton was scheduled for sentencing on the gun charge on June 2.
On March 23, a defendant pleaded guilty to two charges in front of DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun.
Donyell Miller, 24, is charged in connection to a carjacking incident on the 2100 block of Benning Road, NE, that left the complainant with severe bodily injury and the risk of perishing due to gunshot wounds he endured. The attack happened on Sept. 16, 2021.
The prosecution offered the defendant a deal that stated if he plead guilty to one count of aggravated assault while armed and one count of possession of a dangerous weapon during a crime of violence, they would dismiss all other indictment charges including assault with intent to kill, armed carjacking, and destruction of property of $1,000 or more.
Miller faces up to 30 years in prison for the aggravated assault charge and up to 15 years for the possession charge.
He said he was accepting the deal because he was guilty and the prosecution would have proved it beyond a reasonable doubt.
Miller remains on release awaiting sentencing, even though the prosecutor requested that he be held.
The defendant’s sentencing is scheduled for June 23.
DC Superior Court Judge Renee Raymond ruled there was probable cause to hold a defendant charged with second-degree murder while armed during an initial hearing on March 22 based on his extensive criminal history.
Justin Borum, 33, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Jayvon Jones, 21, on the 1400 block of Saratoga Avenue, NE on Feb. 21.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) responded to shooting reports at approximately 10:36 p.m. that day, locating three adult male victims suffering from gunshot wounds. The victims were transported to local area hospitals.
Jones was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. The other two victims were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Defense attorney Stephen Logerfo argued that forensic evidence found at the scene had no connection between Borum and the gun used in the murder.
Lofergo also said the witness who identified Borum was biased. He said the witness was connected to law enforcement and based the identification more on his general appearance rather than recognition of his facial figures.
The prosecution responded that the witness has known the defendant since 2011 and referenced additional surveillance footage and photos to confirm an initial identification.
The prosecution also presented Borum’s extensive criminal history, mentioning prior convictions for robbery while armed with a gun, second-degree burglary, and a pending firearm possession case among others.
Judge Raymond found probable cause and held the defendant without bail.
Borum’s next hearing is scheduled for April 5.
Sutton was acquitted of murder and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence on March 23, 2023.
On March 22, the jury in a homicide case did not reach their verdict before dismissal.
Kae’Von Sutton, 21, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or place of business in relation to the shooting of Aujee Tyler. Sutton allegedly shot Tyler, 22, after an altercation on March 19, 2018, on the 3500 block of Stanton Road, SE.
The trial came to its conclusion after three long weeks. Tuesday afternoon, both attorneys delivered their closing arguments and set their case to rest.
On Wednesday morning DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan read the jurors their jury instructions and sent them into the jury room for deliberation.
Ridden with questions, the jury sent various notes to the judge throughout the day. Issues included clarification of legal jargon and frustration with technology. The court’s clerk spent time running back and forth from the courtroom to the room.
For nearly seven hours, friends and family of both sides sat patiently in the gallery awaiting the verdict.
All parties were dismissed for the day promptly at 4:45 p.m.
The jury is set to return for deliberation March 23.
After only eight hours of deliberation, a jury reached a verdict in a murder trial on March 22.
Shaka Haltiwanger, 23, was found guilty of second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm, possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device while armed and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business for the murder of Anthony Cornell Kelly, 39, on Sept. 10, 2021 on the 1400 block of 29 Street, SE.
According to court documents, the incident began as an argument between Haltiwanger and Kelly in an apartment. Prosecutors said Haltiwanger pulled a pistol out of his backpack and shot Kelly. They described how Kelly had been unarmed when he was shot.
Kelly died from a single bullet wound in the back.
The victim’s neighbor, who said she was close with Kelly, testified that she watched Haltiwanger shoot Kelly in the back.
Defense attorney Wole Falodun began his argument by presenting the idea of self-defense and Haltiwanger’s troubled past. Falodun said Haltiwanger started selling drugs at a young age to provide for him and his sister. He said Kelly flashed a gun at Haltiwanger and threatened to kill him.
Falodun continued by explaining that Kelly’s Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) was 0.29, almost four times the legal limit.
However, Kelly’s mother and ex-partner testified that they never saw Kelly with a gun. He did not have any violent tendencies, the ex-partner told the jury.
Kelly’s father, who has a speech impediment due to a stroke, explained that Kelly had moved in with him after the stroke.
The father stated that he purchased crack cocaine from Haltiwanger the morning of the shooting, and that the defendant slept on his couch.
Haltiwanger rejected a plea deal on July 7, 2022, for second-degree murder.
He also has an outstanding case for possession with intent to distribute charges from 2020, which is scheduled to resume on April 20.
The sentencing for Haltiwanger, in the murder case, is scheduled for May 23.
In closing arguments at Jean-Paul Kearney’s murder trial on March 22, the prosecution said an argument between two longtime friends turned deadly.
Jean-Paul Kearney, 36, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 33-year-old Dontra Harris on April 4, 2021, on the 1800 block of 24th Street, NE.
“I hope he [Kearney] gets life in prison, my brother and Kearney used to be so close I used to call him my uncle,” Harris’ sister told D.C. Witness.
Prosecutors say Harris was stalked and killed in an ambush by Kearney with a semi-automatic handgun.
A witness said he saw an individual with a handgun dressed in black, walk across a tree-lined street and open the door of a grey-colored SUV.
Prosecutors also showed security camera footage of a similar vehicle driving out of a parking lot with the lights turned off, alleging that Kearney used his mother’s grey Chevy Equinox in committing the homicide.
Other prosecution evidence shows two people arguing on the night of the incident and Harris’ black Jaguar allegedly being stalked by Kearney on a motorcycle.
The jury bean deliberations on March 22.
The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on March 21 on the 2200 block of Alabama Avenue, SE.
According to a press release, officers found two juvenile males in the roadway suffering from gunshot wounds. One of the juveniles, 16-year-old Traev’on Green died on the scene.
The other juvenile was taken to a local hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries.
Sutton was acquitted of murder and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence on March 23, 2023.
After a three-week trial, defense attorney Jessica Willis and the prosecution delivered their closing arguments.
Kaevon Sutton, 21, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or place of business in relation to the shooting of Aujee Tyler. Sutton allegedly shot Tyler, 22, after an altercation on March 19, 2018, on the 3500 block of Stanton Road, SE.
“These are legitimately emotional issues being addressed,” said DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan. “I want the jury to make a decision based on the evidence they hear, not based on the comments they hear in the gallery; public participation is only to the extent of being present,” he continued before closing arguments began on March 21.
The prosecution opened the closing argument portion of the trial by saying the alleged crime was “intentional, premeditated first-degree murder,” not self-defense. The prosecutor said that Sutton held issue with being told what to do, and when Tyler held moral ground by telling him not to steal cars, Sutton snapped.
When Sutton returned to the stoop on the 3500 block of Stanton Road, he walked with determination, retrieved his firearm, pointed his weapon at Tyler, and continued to fire unprompted sixteen times, the prosecutor said.
When the defense held the floor for closing, Willis said Sutton, “did what the law allows him to do, he acted in self-defense.”
Willis informed the court that Tyler carried firearms of his own and had a gun charge from 2016.
She also said the prosecution gave selective arguments, failed to call key witnesses, relied heavily on gory autopsy photographs, and trusted their noncompliant witnesses to deliver the full story.
She closed her argument by pleading with the jury, “please do not let the passage of time obscure what happened here.”
Willis said Sutton was sixteen-years-old at the time of the incident and deserved the realization that he was “a misguided kid in an impossible situation just trying to survive it.”
The prosecution concluded the trial with their rebuttal, saying “what’s the best way to take out a professional boxer? With a gun, because you can’t take eleven shots to the body.”
The jury is set to return for deliberation on March 22.
A sick juror interrupted the ongoing murder trial on March 22 for those charged with the murder of 10-year-old Mayikah Wilson on July 18, 2018. The nearly five-year-old case has been the subject of considerable media and public interest.
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 in a drive by shooting on the 300 block of 53rd Street, NE.
The court was alerted to the juror’s illness before the scheduled proceedings.
Trial is expected to resume March 23.
A judge denied defense attorneys Rachel McCoy and Stephen Logerfo motions to suppress evidence the day before jury selection in a homicide case.
Jermaine Washington, 39, is being charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection to the stabbing of Keon Terell Bonner, 40. The incident occurred on the 1500 block of Ogden Street, NW and 3500 block of Center Street, NW on Oct. 26, 2021.
The parties had a motion hearing before jury selection March 21 to discuss the suppression of statements from Washington in an interview and a photo line-up identification of Washington from a witness.
The witness who made a positive identification of Washington had an unobstructed view of the incident as well as both parties involved.
McCoy and Logerfo argued that the identification conditions were suggestive.
However, a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective, who issued the identification, said he had no prior knowledge of the case before the process.
In addition, a motion to suppress statements made by Washington was filed by McCoy and Logerfo in regards to a conversation between Washington and two MPD detectives at Washington’s residence on Nov. 7, 2021.
The attorneys argued that the conversation could have been interpreted by Washington that he was under arrest due to its suggestive nature, and he was not read his Miranda rights.
The lead detective that talked to Washington said it was a casual conversation, no firearms were visible or used to intimidate Washington, the detectives were not wearing officer uniforms, and no one touched or arrested Washington at all during the conversation.
Logerfo questioned why an officer with a body-worn camera that could have recorded the conversation did not accompany the detectives when they visited Washington.
“If you wanna question my integrity that’s fine but my word is the truth,” the detective said.
Both motions were denied by DC Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz.
Jury selection is slated to begin March 22.
