The Metropolitan Police Department is searching for a car connected to the murder of 16-year-old Mylaki Young on the 200 Block of V Street, NW.
Judge Sentences 20-Year-Old Homicide to 12 Years in Prison
DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan sentenced a 20-year-old homicide defendant to 144 months in prison during an April 14 hearing.
Shaquille Bynum was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to the death of Ibrahim Sesay, 20, on the 1300 Block of 9th Street, NW on Jan. 6, 2021.
Bynum and Howard both accepted plea deals on Feb. 9, 2022, to one count of voluntary manslaughter while armed each.
Judge Raffinan said the actions taken by Bynum and Howard as a group of friends showed similar conduct and there was no reason to sentence them differently. Sean Howard was also sentenced to 144 months in prison on Feb. 10.
“This death has caused irreparable harm to family and friends,” explained the prosecution. The prosecutor said there was extreme, blatant violence in this case, requesting 15 years of incarceration and five years of supervised release — the upper end of the sentencing guidelines.
According to court documents, Sesay was home from college and out with friends when he happened to be in a minimart where Bynum and Howard, 20, allegedly attempted to commit an armed robbery. While Sesay was on the ground, Howard fired multiple shots while fleeing, hitting Sesay multiple times. As Bynum fled he also fired one shot from his gun, which hit Sesay in the face.
Bynum may have been a follower, but he was an active participant in this pattern of bad decisions, argued the prosecution.
“He is the only son who carried my name,” the victim’s father said during an impact statement. “He will never bring back my son. I hope you change, your family needs you,” he directed to the defendant, “the choice is yours now.”
Another impact statement was read by the victim’s sister over Webex.
“You took my brother from me,” she said. “For you to shoot a man down while he was already shot makes you a coward.”
Defense attorney Stephen Brennwald acknowledged that the situation before the court was heartbreaking. He explained that friends had put Bynum’s mind in a bad place, but his high school degree program has put his mind in a better place and he will never get over what he did.
Brennwald explained that the shot taken by Bynum was random and tragic, but the randomness should not be a factor in his sentencing. Brennwald advocated for a lesser sentence than that given to Howard.
“I am terribly sorry for the pain that I caused,” said Bynum when given the opportunity to speak.
In addition to the prison term, Bynum will have to register as a gun offender. Judge Raffinan also imposed 18 months of supervised release and five years of probation in addition to 90 hours of community service as part of the youth rehabilitation act.
Judge Raffinan said she would recommend a stay at the DC Jail, so Bynum can finish his high school degree program before being transferred to a federal institution.
Judge Holds Defendant in Domestic Homicide
DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo held a homicide defendant in custody during an initial hearing on April 12.
Charles Terry, 58, was charged with second-degree murder during a domestic incident on Jan. 30 on the 1500 Block of Anacostia Avenue, NE. Terry is accused of killing his wife, 39-year-old Lennette Clark, by allegedly beating her while their children were in the house. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) responded to the scene, according to court documents, and located Clark suffering from apparent trauma. Clark was declared dead at the scene.
Defense attorney Jonathan Armstrong argued there was lack of probable cause in the case, mentioning that the medical examiner had not officially determined Clark’s cause of death to be a homicide. He also argued that the two witnesses present in the house, at the time of the incident, who are both juveniles, were influenced by statements from another adult witness.
The prosecution argued the nature of Clark’s injuries suggest a homicide and witness statements are consistent. The prosecutor also said a bloody shirt found at the residence would link Terry to the victim.
Judge Demeo found probable cause the evidence indicated the defendant was responsible for the murder.
Armstrong asked Judge Demeo to release Terry.
He said the defendant does not have a violent history and would have a place to go if released.
The prosecution countered that the defendant’s criminal history is violent, including burglary and grand larceny. The prosecutor also said the murder was particularly brutal.
Judge Demeo held Terry without bail. She said the evidence in the case is quite strong and the case is particularly concerning given Terry’s relationship with Clark.
Terry is scheduled to return to court on May 3.
Defendant Receives New Attorney For 4th Time In Murder Case
On April 18, DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein granted a defense attorney’s motion to withdraw as counsel for a murder defendant, appointing a new attorney for the fourth time.
Alton Rivers, 58, is charged with second-degree murder while armed as a senior citizen for allegedly stabbing Anthony Anderson, 68, to death with a screwdriver on the 3600 block of 14th Street, NW on July 27, 2018.
During Tuesday’s court proceedings defense counsel Betty Ballester requested to withdraw as defense counsel. Her request was granted by Judge Epstein.
He appointed Stephen Logerfo as River’s new counsel.
Rivers’ case has been held before three different judges since 2018.
Judge Epstein informed Rivers that his case has been in between judges due to routine judge rotations.
According to court documents Rivers and Anderson were observed by a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer fighting. After ordering them to stop fighting, the officer stated Anderson fell on the floor while blood came out of his mouth.
The MPD officer then ordered Rivers to drop the screwdriver he had in his hand multiple times before he finally did, the document stated.
According to a witness Rivers and Andreson were swinging at each other. Witnesses stated that Anderson punched Rivers, knocking him to the ground. After being knocked down, Rivers got up and pulled out what the witness believed was a knife and began to repeatedly swing towards Anderson, stabbing him in the chest or abdomen area, documents stated.
Rivers told MPD that Anderson initiated the confrontation, began jumping around, and put his hands behind his back. He said he believed Anderson was reaching for a weapon, so he pulled a screwdriver out of his pocket and stabbed Anderson once, documents stated.
A status hearing was scheduled for May 12 to allow Logerfo to go over all information regarding the case.
Document: Police After Gun Suspects
Shooters flee the scene on 1500 block of Benning Road, Northeast, NE.
Document: Police Search for Shooting Suspect
DC Police seek help finding shooting suspect seen on the 2400 Block of Virginia Avenue, NW.
Homicide Defendant Arraigned on Five Charges
During an April 14 felony arraignment, DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe arraigned a homicide defendant on five charges including first-degree murder while armed.
Seaun McDowney, 19, allegedly murdered 20-year-old Marquette White on the 3800 block of Commodore Joshua Barney Drive, NE on Jan. 21, 2022. According to court documents, 19-year-old Maurice Williams is McDowney’s codefendant in the case.
McDowney was arraigned on charges of conspiracy, attempt to commit robbery while armed, first-degree murder while armed and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.
His defense attorney Roderick Thompson entered a plea of not guilty.
Although McDowney’s co-defendant was not present at the April 14 hearing, Judge O’Keefe stated that he wants to keep the codefendants’ cases together.
A status hearing is scheduled for May 17.
Homicide Defendant Pleads Guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter of 15-Year-Old
During a felony status conference on April 14, 17-year-old Donjae Parker pleaded guilty to the murder of 15-year-old Malachi Jackson.
The homicide took place in the 3000 block of 13th Street, NW on April 11, 2022. According to the prosecution, Parker was captured on surveillance camera before, during and after the crime.
Parker pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed. His plea agreement will drop indictments on the remaining charges.
Defense attorney Kevin O’Sullivan requested Parker be sentenced in January of 2024 following his anticipated graduation from high school.
DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe rejected this request and instead scheduled the proceeding for July.
Members of the victim’s family who were present in the courtroom and voiced their opposition to Parker’s plea agreement.
Jackson’s mother, Alvoncia Jackson, addressed the court. She took off her black coat to reveal a shirt with images of her son printed on it.
Calling the plea agreement “too lenient,” and “shockingly unacceptable,” Jackson asked for the deal to be rejected.
“He is being given a slap on the wrist,” she said.
Judge O’Keefe thanked her for the statement and dismissed the parties.
Parker’s sentencing is scheduled for July 14, 2023.
Document: Homicide on Good Hope Road, SE
The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a homicide that took place on the 1900 block of Good Hope Road, SE on April 16.
While responding to reports of gunshots, officers located 33-year-old Latanya Campbell in a vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds. She died on the scene.
Document: Homicide on V Street NW
The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the homicide on April 14 on the 200 block of V Street, NW.
The victim was identified as 16-year-old Mylaki Young.
Document: Police Search for Suspect in Shooting
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is asking the public to help them locate and identify a suspect allegedly involved in a gun discharge inside of an establishment on the 400 block of 8th Street, SE.
Document: Traffic Fatality on Q Street, SE
The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a traffic fatality on the 1800 block of Q Street, SE on Aug. 14 that resulted in the death of 27-year-old Joshua Richmond.
Homicide Defendant Waives Right to Independent DNA Testing
On April 14, a murder suspect waived his right to independently test DNA evidence from a crime scene.
Marcus Isom, 43, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the stabbing of 67-year-old Michael Stover on Jan. 3, 2022, on the 500 block of 55th Street, NE.
Isom alerted DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun that, after consideration, he was waiving his right to independent DNA testing.
According to court documents, Isom accused Stover of stealing his money a few days before the incident took place. on the day of the incident, Isom confronted Stover about the missing money, and things got violent. Stover endured a stab wound to his abdomen.
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers recovered and tested a folding knife, Jordan sneakers and a and a Timberland jacket that belonged to the defendant.
Trial is slated to begin on Nov. 13.
Parties are expected back in court for a trial readiness hearing on Oct. 20.
Lead Detective Begins Testimony in Trial of 10 Year Old’s Murder
The lead detective in a long-running homicide case connected to the murder of Makiyah Wilson testified on April 13.
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 relation to a fatal drive-by shooting that resulted in the death of 10-year-old Wilson on the 300 block of 53rd Street, NE on July 16, 2018.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer located surveillance footage cameras on a satellite image of the area of the shooting. The footage from the Wellington Park Apartment complex tracked the movements of the defendants on the day of the incident.
Because the prosecution had to frequently pause the surveillance footage to allow the witness to identify individuals in the videos, the detective was only able to get through about five pages of his 30-page report.
Given the length of the report and the surveillance footage, the detective is scheduled to continue his testimony at a later proceeding.
Defense Questions Legitimacy of a Key Witness’s Grand Jury Testimony
In an April 13 hearing, the Grand Jury testimony for a key witness in a five-year-old homicide case was brought into question.
Alphonso Walker, 45, is being charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection to the deaths of Dalonte Wilson, 23, and Antone Brown, 44, near the 400 block of 61st Street, NE on April 25, 2018.
The witness told a Grand Jury that Walker confessed to the murder during one of their conversations.
The prosecution is seeking to admit her testimony as out-of-court statements, but Walker’s defense attorneys Kevann Gardner and Prescott Loveland objected.
Defense counsel said the prosecuting attorney, who questioned the witness in the Grand Jury, didn’t ask questions solely related to Walker’s alleged confession. They argued he asked the witness questions related to information other informants provided in the case.
The defense argued that all the information the witness testified to cannot be attributed to Walker. The parties began going through the transcript line by line to decipher what statements can and cannot be attributed to Walker.
They were unable to evaluate the entire testimony but said they will continue to do so when they are scheduled to return to court on April 19.