The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking assistance in the investigation of a homicide that occurred on April 27 at approximately 10:19 pm.
27-year-old Deandre Wheeler was found on the 4200 block of 4th Street, SE suffering from gunshot wounds. He succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
On April 27, Lorenzo Goldsmith, 19, was arrested and charged for first-degree murder for his alleged involvement in the shooting that claimed the life of 39-year-old Aaron Robinson. The incident occurred on Feb. 4, on the 1400 block of Spring Road, NW.
50-year-old William Lamont Walker passed away in a fatal car crash on April 26, on the 4300 block of Southern Avenue, SE. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) requests information anyone may have regarding the incident.
On April 27, Devin Washington testified regarding what occurred the night that his best friend died.
Washington, 22, is charged with first-degree murder for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Vincent Robinson. The incident occurred on Feb. 15, 2022, on the 3800 block of 9th Street, SE.
The lead detective on the case continued his testimony, stating that Robinson had endured four gunshot wounds, including two to his back, one to his abdomen, and one to his head.
When questioned by the defense regarding other suspects, the detective stated that he did not follow through with investigating anyone else because the people mentioned by witnesses that may have had beef with Robinson did not fit the characteristics of the individual seen exiting the house with the victim whom they believe to be the shooter.
Following the detective’s testimony, the defense called forth Washington to testify regarding what he saw the night of the incident.
Washington told DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan that he and Robinson had been friends since they were 12 years old, and he considered him his best friend. He argued that he had no reason to want to hurt him.
According to the defendant, he and Robinson were walking to Washington’s car when he heard a gunshot. When he looked up, he saw Robinson fall to the ground, and saw a man, whom he identified in court by name, with a gun.
He said he ran to his car to drive off, and saw someone stick their head out of the door to Robinson’s house. The head sticking out is caught on surveillance footage.
When asked why he didn’t call 911 to ask for help, he stated he believed the person who had stuck their head out would’ve done so.
Prosecutors questioned Washington about his criminal history. According to the prosecutor, Washington was on release for an assault with a dangerous weapon case for which he was convicted in November 2020, and he was absconding at the time of the murder.
Washington denied ever shooting a gun, but stated he knew the flash seen on surveillance footage was a muzzle flash that came from the gun used to kill Robinson.
According to court documents, Washington sent three instagram direct messages to Robinson following the shooting, including one that read “stop playing, you were just wit me.”
Prosecutors argued that the defendant sent those messages to try to protect himself to make it seem like he had no idea what was happening. But, he testified he was present at the time of the murder.
Prosecutors requested Judge Raffinan find probable cause that Washington committed the murder, stating that his admittance of being at the crime scene, the fact that the shooting happened right when they got off camera frame, and two of the wounds being on the victim’s back proves that the shooter had to be standing where Washington was.
Defense attorney, Jason Tulley, asked Judge Raffinan to not find probable cause.
“It is unheard of to have a defendant testify in a preliminary hearing, but he did it to prove his innocence,” he said.
Tulley insisted that there is no indication in any of the evidence provided that Washington had a gun the night of the offense. He argued that the gun believed to be owned by Washington was too big to be hidden in the coat he was wearing.
“If [Washington’s] goal was to kill [Robinson] that night, he would have done it in the car,” he said, referencing the fact that Washington and Robinson were in a car alone an hour and a half before the shooting occurred.
Subsequent to arguments from both sides, Judge Raffinan requested extra time to be able to review all evidence provided by both parties in order to rule on the probable cause argument.
All parties are expected back on May 3 to receive the ruling.
41-year-old Johnathan Dawkins, of Southeast, DC, was arrested and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in the non-fatal shooting that occurred on April 24, on the 700 block of G Street, SE.
The Metropolitan Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating or identifying a suspect-vehicle that was utilized in a non-fatal shooting.
During a trial on April 26, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun ruled on objections the defense and prosecution would have when the jury returned.
Gregory Taylor, 27, Quentin Michals, 25, Qujuan Thomas, 24, Darrise Jeffers, 23, Isaiah 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 the death of 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson. The shooting happened on the 300 block of 53rd Street, NE on July 16, 2018.
The jury did not sit in Wednesday’s hearing because the parties went over objections, mainly from the defense, which Judge Okun ruled on.
The bulk of the objections revolved around text messages between the defendants. The prosecutor showed screenshots of the conversations between each of the defendants and said they all implicated at least one of the other defendants in each message.
The defense argued the messages held no relevance and were merely speculative because they did not explicitly admit to committing any crimes.
The prosecutor went through the objections for each defendant and Judge Okun ruled in favor of the prosecution the majority of the time, allowing them to introduce the messages as evidence.
Discussions shifted to the charge of conspiracy the defendants are charged with.
The defense argued the evidence the prosecution has presented throughout the trial does not attribute the defendants’ actions to conspiracy.
However, the prosecutor disagreed, citing pieces of evidence she felt connected the defendants all in some conspiracy to the murder.
Judge Okun said he would rule on this matter at the next hearing.
The parties are scheduled to return April 27 to continue the trial.
During a felony status conference on April 26, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun continued a murder case to give the defense an opportunity to look over a plea offer.
Malik Seltzer, 27, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Paris Odemns, 37, on Sept. 15, 2021, on the 4000 block of 1st Street, SE.
The prosecutor mentioned a plea offer had been submitted.
Defense attorney Kevann Gardner said he was currently in a trial estimated to last a few weeks, so he requested a hearing sometime in the future to give him a chance to review the offer with his client.
The parties are scheduled to return June 2 for a felony status conference.
Jean Kearney accepted a plea offer from prosecutors April 27 for his involvement in the killing of a father-of-four who was also his life-long friend.
Kearney, 36, was charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, and obstruction of justice for his involvement in the shooting that led to the death of 33-year-old Dontra Harris, which occurred on April 4, 2021, on the 1800 block of 24th Street, NE.
Kearney was also charged with assault on a police officer while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device for an assault that occurred on May 13, 2021, as the officers conducted a search warrant for the murder.
The defendant was granted a mistrial after a jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision on the murder and assault charges on March 27. He was found guilty of all other charges.
To avoid enduring another lengthy trial, Kearney accepted a plea offer for second-degree murder while armed in exchange for dismissal of the assault on a police officer charge.
If the judge agrees with the deal, Kearney could be sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder.
Kearney is expected back for sentencing on June 30.
For months, defense attorneys for a second-degree murder defendant have been requesting he be moved to a detention facility closer to Washington, DC.
Derryck Decuir, 30, is charged with second-degree murder while armed against a minor and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for his alleged involvement in the shooting of 15-year-old Malek Mercer. The incident occurred on the 2800 block of 28th Street, SE on June 16, 2015.
Decuir had been found guilty of the charges, but the District of Columbia Court of Appeals reversed that conviction in November 2022. The reversal of the conviction was due to erroneous admission of witness testimony in an earlier trial.
Decuir is currently being held by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) in Northern Neck Regional Jail in Warsaw, Va. The detention facility is more than 2 hours away from DC.
His defense attorneys have filed various motions to have him transferred to a facility that is within 15 miles of DC, but their efforts were shut down by DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan. Judge Raffinan said the denial of the motions is due to her having no jurisdiction over the BOP and their placement of defendants awaiting trial.
Defense attorneys state that their ability to advise Decuir is very limited due to his location. They argue that they have had to pay for legal calls to be able to meet with Decuir, and those calls have been recorded.
They also argue that these calls are breaching his right to confidentiality, and they are hoping the issue will be resolved.
Their motion to have a U.S. Marshal representative present in a hearing to discuss the placement of Decuir will be held by Judge Raffinan at the next hearing to allow her time to have discussions with the presiding judge.
Parties are expected back to discuss the issue on May 11.
A homicide defendant pleaded guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter while armed during a status hearing on April 27.
On Nov. 7, 2020, around 2:56 a.m., Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to the sounds of gunshots reported on the 3300 block of Water Street, NW. There, they found 19 year-old Franklin Hernandez Arevalo suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on the scene. Police arrested 20-year-old Roberto Cayetano-Mejia for second-degree murder while armed on April 20, 2021.
Rather than receiving the maximum sentence of 30 years of incarceration and 5 years of supervised release, the plea deal would reduce 22-year-old Cayetano-Mejia’s potential sentence to 12 years of incarceration with 5 years of supervised release.
This hearing was held a week after its intended date. On April 20, Cayetano-Mejia was subjected to mandatory quarantine and prohibited from entering the courthouse. His defense counsel, Rachel E McCoy and Kevin C Robertson, requested to push back the status hearing by one week. DC Superior Court Judge Anthony C Epstein granted their request.
Judge Epstein will decide whether to accept the prosecution’s sentencing suggestion before the defendant returns to court. He ordered Cayetano-Mejia to a commitment study under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA). This commitment will put the defendant in the custody of the Attorney General until a suitable sentence is determined.
Cayetano-Mejia is scheduled to return to court on July 21 for a full report and sentencing hearing.
On April 26, defense revealed its defense strategy by asking the prosecution’s witness about possible perpetrators who were thought to be suspects during a homicide investigation.
Alphonso Walker, 45, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, two counts of first-degree murder while armed while committing or attempting to commit a robbery, six counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of attempt to commit robbery and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction in connection to the death of Delonte Wilson, 23, and Antone Brown, 44, near the 400 block of 61st Street, NE on April 25, 2018.
DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt had an ex parte discussion with defense counsel, Prescott Loveland and Kevaan Gardner, regarding defense strategy, which the prosecution asked to be allowed to hear.
Judge Brandt told the prosecution that everything that was talked about during ex parte is already at their fingertips and that the defense has the right to not disclose their strategy.
She also stated that she will allow the defense latitude with their third person perpetrator strategy because even the police believed there was another suspect that had the opportunity, motive and means to commit the crime.
“If I do not allow this to happen this will be struck down by the court of appeal,” said Judge Brandt to the prosecution.
A former sex worker, who used to live at the house where the crime happened, prior to it happening, testified. The witness said she was in the house shooting heroin with the owner a few hours before the shooting occurred.
According to the witness, an individual overdosed and died approximately a year prior to the homicide in the same house where the shooting happened.
When Gardner asked about the overdose, the prosecution objected, saying no reports have been found about this incident to support that it actually happened.
Judge Brandt disagreed and stated that just because there was no report it does not mean it did not happen. She allowed the defense to ask further questions, saying it is relevant to the case.
Wilson took over the house from the owner and used it as his drug operation location, according to the defense.
When asked by Gardner, the witness told the jury that Wilson beat up the owner so bad, that his facial appearance changed a month prior to the homicide.
Gardner asked the witness about her ex-boyfriend, who she saw after the shooting in another friend’s house down the street with blood all over him. She stated that he also had Wilson’s cell phones and other valuable items that he collected from the house.
According to the defense, the detective attempted to work with a witness to try to find the perpetrator to question him, but they were not able to bring him to DC after he moved to Virginia shortly after the homicide.
The prosecution then called three forensic scientists who tested evidence collected from the crime scene.
According to the defense, one of the forensic scientists conducted a DNA from Walker to connect him to evidence collected from the crime scene.
The defense then asked her multiple times, to which the prosecution objected, if she was asked to conduct a DNA from any other individuals for the case.
After Judge Brandt overruled the prosecution’s objection, the witness stated that she only collected Walker’s DNA.
Parties are scheduled to return to court on April 27.
During an initial hearing on April 26, DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe held a non-fatal shooting defendant the day after his co-defendant’s preliminary hearing.
Eric Cisneros, 32, and Tyland Rollins, 32, are charged in connection to a non-fatal shooting on the 1300 block of 6th Street, NW on April 21. Cisneros is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and Rollins is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction.
Defense attorney Christen Romero Philips asked Judge Pipe not to find probable cause. Philips said the complaining witness provided no identification for the shooter besides recognizing that the person was a rapper.
Philips also asked Judge Pipe to release Cisneros, saying he has three children he cares for and serious injuries.
Judge Pipe found probable cause and held the defendant without bail.
Cisneros is scheduled to return to court on May 1.
According to court documents, gunshots were fired at an after-hours party. After everyone was evacuated from the building, Cisneros allegedly shot the victim in the leg.
After the incident, Cisneros said he did not remember what happened and had a pain in his head. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Officers saw Rollins allegedly discard a bag containing a firearm and recovered surveillance footage allegedly showing the defendant accompanied by Rollins and a third suspect shooting the victim, according to court documents.
Probable cause was found for Rollins’ involvement by DC Superior Court Judge Renee Raymond in a preliminary hearing on April 25.
Judge Pipe also held Bryan Turner, 21, who is charged with carrying a dangerous weapon without a license in connection to a non-fatal shooting on the 1300 block of Congress Street, SE on April 24.
According to court documents, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers found Turner suffering from two gunshot wounds in the back. A second victim was found with two gunshot wounds as well.
At the scene, officers recovered a black and tan AR-type rifle. Surveillance footage allegedly showed the defendant in possession of the weapon at the location of the incident.
Turner’s defense attorney asked Judge Pipe not to find probable cause and to release him.
Judge Pipe found probable cause and held Turner without bail.
Turner is also involved in a fugitive matter in connection to an incident in Maryland.
Turner is scheduled to return to court on April 28.
DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein and attorneys prepared for a homicide trial in a case from 12 years ago.
Isaac Moye, 45, is charged with second-degree murder in connection to 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.
Attorneys for both parties and Judge Epstein reviewed motions that they have filed in preparation for trial, which is slated to begin on May 22.
One of the motions, filed by the defense, questions the competency of one of the victim’s children, who was 5 years old at the time of the incident, who may testify during the trial. Counsel argued that the individual’s age at the time of the incident, and the child’s mental health issues may affect their testimony.
Judge Epstein told counsel he would make a decision on all motions and allow the parties to interview the above mentioned witness at the next hearing.
Parties are expected back in court on May 12.
On April 25, three expert witnesses testified regarding their involvement in the investigation of the scene where Delonte Wilson and Antone Brown were killed.
Alphonso Walker, 45, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, two counts of first degree murder while armed while committing or attempting to commit a robbery, six counts of possession of a firearm during crime of violence, two counts of attempt to commit robbery and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction in connection to the death of Wilson, 23, and Brown, 44, near the 400 block of 61st Street, NE on April 25, 2018.
During the testimony of a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer, a forensic scientist, and a forensic investigator, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt warned both the jury and the audience about sensitive photos.
“Keep your reaction silent,” said Judge Brandt to the audience.
The MPD officer testified to arriving in the neighborhood without knowing exactly where the shooting happened. He stated that while he and two other officers searched for the house, a random man told them what house to go to.
The officer also stated that he was informed of a possible suspect in the abandoned house next door, but the house was not searched because it was not accessible.
Defense attorney Prescott Loveland asked if police eventually searched the abandoned house. The officer said they did not.
Loveland also asked him if the person who told them where the shooting happened was ever investigated.
After being asked by the prosecution to clarify, the officer stated that his first priority was to find and save victims’ lives and not investigate people.
A forensic scientist who responded to the crime scene identified the victims’ pictures taken by her. She also identified three different shell casings, several DNA swabs and fingerprints she collected from inside the house.
Wilson’s sister bursted into tears after a witness described Wilson’s head as being surrounded by a pool of blood.
During cross-examination, Loveland questioned witnesses about items that were not collected or tested.
He asked a witness to tell the jury about the brand and size of the shell casing she recovered.
Witnesses stated that two of the shell casings were 9mm but two different brands, and the third one was not a 9mm.
The prosecution questioned a crime scene investigator about where gunshot wounds were found on the recovered bodies.
The investigator told the jury while pointing at pictures that both Wilson and Brown were shot in the head.
After the defense objected to too many sensitive pictures, Judge Brandt told parties that pictures are gruesome in this case, however, “that does not mean you get to parade every sensitive picture.” She ordered the prosecution to leave out a few pictures.
Parties bickered over a witness’ questioning causing Judge Brandt to send the jury home early.
“This courtroom is not a kindergarten, when both sides start scraping with each other to the point where they can’t hear what the court is saying the court stops listening”, said Judge Brandt to both parties after they continued to talk over each other.
She then asked them to notify her of possible future arguments. “Trying a case by ambush is not my style,” she stated.
The trial is scheduled to resume on April 26.
