The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Homicide Branch is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a suspect-vehicle that is alleged to have been involved in a fatal shooting that occurred on May 15, on the 2200 block of Savannah Terrace, SE.
The decedent has been identified as 19-year-old Marquis Johnson.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Homicide Branch is seeking the public’s assistance in the investigation of a fatal shooting that occurred May 20, on the 3400 block of Stanton Road, SE.
The decedent has been identified as 36-year-old Little Price Jr.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Homicide Branch is seeking the public’s assistance in the investigation of a fatal shooting of a juvenile male that occurred on May 17, on the 4300 block of 13th Street, NW.
The decedent has been identified as 17-year-old Jefferson Luna-Perez.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Homicide Branch is seeking the public’s assistance in the investigation of a fatal shooting of a juvenile male that occurred on May 17, on the 4300 block of 13th Street, NW.
The decedent has been identified as 17-year-old Jefferson Lina-Perez.
Defense attorneys for Mark Price and Antonio Murchison told DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun in a May 19 hearing they need more time to fight murder charges in a shooting that claimed a small child’s life.
Gregory Taylor, 27, Quentin Michals,25, Qujuan Thomas, 24, Darrise Jeffers, 23, Murchison, 22, and Marquel Cobbs, 21, are six of ten defendants charged with first-degree murder, criminal street gang affiliation, conspiracy, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault, 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 say Murchison, his older brother Antonio, 26, Thomas, and Taylor all got into a car driven by Mark Price, 29, and went to the spot where they injured four and killed Makiyah.
Even though the trial of the first six defendants is still in final arguments, prosecutors say they want to move ahead with the next phase against Price and Isiah Murchison as co-conspirators facing many of the same charges.
Meanwhile, defense lawyers say they need more to review the massive amount of transcripted material generated by the lengthy litigation.
“We’ve done it all. We’re ready to go,” one of the prosecutors told Judge Okun, complaining that “delay is unfair to the government.”
Judge Okun said that each side has legitimate concerns, but he’s not inclined to continue the matter until the fall. However, he set a hearing for May 25 at 9:30 a.m. in an effort to resolve the issue.
On May 19, a plea agreement was reached between prosecutors and defense attorneys in a homicide case.
David Rhodes, 54, was charged with first-degree murder while armed and carrying a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of 47-year-old Georgette Banks that occurred on May 9, 2021 on the 2600 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE. Banks was stabbed multiple times in the neck, chest and arms, and was alleged to be in a relationship with Rhodes.
Rhodes accepted a plea deal from prosecutors that reduces the charge of first-degree murder to second-degree and dismisses the carrying a dangerous weapon charge.
According to the attorneys, Rhodes faces 15 to 18 years in jail with five years of supervised release.
Parties are expected back in court for sentencing on Sept. 1.
Wearing a white headdress and sobbing quietly, Ariel Cooper-White, 40, accepted a plea deal for a fatal shooting during a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on May 19.
Cooper-White pleaded guilty to charges of voluntary manslaughter and possession of a gun during a crime of violence for an incident that occurred on Oct. 27, 2022 on the 1300 block of New Jersey Avenue, NW. She was initially charged with second-degree murder while armed.
According to court documents, Cooper-White was a passenger in a Toyota Avalon driven by Sophia Johnson that came to a stop after hitting a light pole. Witnesses told Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers they heard as many as a dozen shots fired from inside the car. Johnson died at the scene.
One relative of the victim told police Cooper-White smoked PCP and that would lead to fights with Johnson. “I bet it is that bitch Ariel Cooper [who did the shooting],” said the relative.
The atmosphere in the courtroom was tense as members from Cooper-White’s and Johnson’s family exchanged words.
“That’s not how this works, “said Judge Brandt. “If you can’t listen here and be quiet, my deputies will escort you out.” However, she said she also understood the “emotional turmoil” the loved ones were experiencing on both sides.
During the proceedings, sounds of crying were audible in the courtroom.
In explaining the plea deal Judge Brandt asked if Cooper-White understood she was waiving her right to a trial and an appeal of the verdict. Cooper-White answered yes.
The maximum penalty for voluntary manslaughter is 30-years imprisonment and the maximum for gun possession during a crime of violence is 15-years. Cooper-White’s lawyer, Camille Wagner, tells DC Witness that under the terms of the plea agreement, Judge Brandt has the right to determine the sentence anywhere between the minimum and maximum range.
Judge Brandt says she will announce her decision at the sentencing hearing set for Aug. 11 at 9:30 a.m.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in the investigation of a fatal shooting that occurred on May 18 on the 300 block of Franklin Street, NE.
The decedent has been identified as 47-year-old Leonard Carter.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating a traffic fatality that occurred on May 18 at the intersection of 5th Street and H Street, NW.
According to MPD, a truck struck and killed a pedestrian crossing the intersection as the truck turned right.
The decedent has been identified as 49-year-old Chad Nieboer.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has arrested and charged a 17-year-old juvenile male for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting that injured one individual. The incident occurred on April 4, on the 5800 block of Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, NE.
During a May 19 status hearing, the defense in a murder case updated the status of ballistics testing and requested a new hearing date to present the results.
Mark Fletcher, 19, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Travis Barksdale, 25, on the 600 block of Evarts Street, NE in August of 2018.
The defense said ballistics testing is published based on trial date and Fletcher’s trial is set for Jan. 27, 2025. The results would be received in July of 2023.
D.C. Witness previously reported that the police believed the shooting was related to a neighborhood rivalry between the Edgewood and Saratoga neighborhoods in Northeast, DC.
DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan set a new status hearing for Aug. 25.
On May 18, defense attorneys for Isaiah Murchison and Quentin Michals delivered closing arguments following a lengthy and emotional trial.
Gregory Taylor, 27, Michals, 25, Qujuan Thomas, 24, Darrise Jeffers, 23, 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 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.
Elizabeth Weller, attorney for Murchison, contended he did not conspire to assault or kill anyone, nor did he shoot anyone during the July 16, 2018 attack.
“They’re trying to make the puzzle pieces fit, even when they don’t,” saying prosecutors came up with a theory that doesn’t match the facts.
She said prosecutors also tried to vilify the Wellington Park neighborhood unfairly since it’s considered a dangerous neighborhood.
Weller pointed out that in the various Instagram posts and text message chains shared by the prosecutors of the group chat, Murchison was not an active participant. According to Weller, there is nothing connecting Murchison to any of the shootings that occurred in 2017 prior to Mikayah’s murder. She claimed that in the July 2018 attack, prosecutors failed to investigate at least five individuals seen in the Wellington Park neighborhood before and after the shooting that day. However, she said, the individuals were not seen during the incident.
“Isaiah Murchison is not guilty,” Weller concluded. .
Similarly, Errin Scialpi, defense attorney for Michals, argued there is no evidence to support beyond a reasonable doubt that Michals intended to commit murder.
According to Scialpi, the prosecutor’s argument that Michals was not in the vehicle that killed Makiyah due to leg injuries sustained from various shootings contradicts the fact he was playing basketball near the Clay Terrace neighborhood three days before the attack.
As to his alleged bragging about the attacks on social media, “he was just doing what he does with his friends,” she said, arguing it was not uncommon for them to get together to listen to music and rap in the parking lot.
“We’re placing [Michals’] life in your hands,” she said as she ended her closing arguments.
Both defense attorneys reminded the jury that they are the judges of the facts in this case, and urged them to deliver the only fair verdict… not guilty.
Parties are expected back to continue closing arguments on May 22.
Whether a boy who was five-years-old at the time of an alleged murder can recall the event 12-years later was debated in a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein on May 18.
Issac Moye, 45, is charged with second-degree murder in connection with the disappearance and presumed death of 24-year-old Unique Harris. Harris was last seen on Oct. 10, 2010, near the 2000 block of Hartford Street, SE. Her body was never recovered.
The argument before the court is whether the witness is not only competent to testify, but also credible given the long interval between 2010, when court documents say the crime took place and the present day.
The prosecutor said the issue isn’t strictly a test of memory but whether the witness understands the consequences of his testimony and is telling the truth.
Judge Epstein noted that the prosecution previously suggested he do preliminary questioning before the witness testifies to the jury.
“I have no idea what [the prosecution] has in mind,” Judge Epstein continued.
The prosecutor said the effort wouldn’t be “a fishing expedition” and she had no objection to the judge performing the task.
Meanwhile, Moye’s attorney, Candace Mitchell, questioned the witnesses’ mental capacity at the time of the crime as well as his competence to testify. “He didn’t recall anything,” she said. Later he continued there was a person in her house just before Harris went missing,
Judge Epstein disputed the idea that the witness didn’t recall anything of the incident and asked both parties to submit questions about how they want to proceed in terms of presenting the witness at trial.
The trial date is set for June 5 at 9 a.m.
A hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein was delayed on May 18 because the DC public defender’s office failed to provide a new attorney for a murder suspect.
Joshua Franklin, 37, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 27-year-old Andrew Session on Jan. 21, 2021 on the 4400 block of 3rd Street, SE. According to court documents, a witness at the scene heard an argument followed by the sound of about ten gunshots.
The courtroom problem started when Franklin’s current attorney, Steven Oglivie, said he would be unable to continue with the case. However, Ogilvie assured Judge Epstein that someone was on the way.
But, the prosecutor said the public defender’s office was “frantically” trying to find out who’s assigned as a replacement.
Unimpressed, Judge Epstein called the situation “a complete waste of time.” He rescheduled the 9:15 a.m. hearing until 12:30 p.m. However, by the appointed hour there was still no replacement for Ogilvie and Aubrey Dillon was assigned as a stand-in attorney.
Dillon promised that within two-to -three weeks, the public defender’s office would come up with someone to represent Franklin.
The prosecutor said it was important to be notified about the new attorney since there was a “massive amount” of evidence to consider in the case.
Judge Epstein set the next hearing for June 2 at 10:30 a.m.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in the investigation of a fatal shooting that occurred on April 27, on the 2600 block of 12th Place, SE.
The decedent has been identified as 60-year-old Anthony Eric Petty.
