Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on Sept. 22, on the 3000 block of Adams Street, NW.
At approximately 12:41 p.m., officers located an adult male victim suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
According to a press release, the decedent’s identity is being withheld pending next of kin notification.
During a Sept. 21 jury trial, the prosecution introduced five witnesses to testify about a drive-by shooting involving three co-defendants.
Derek Turner, 31, and co-defendant Ronnika Jennings, 44, are charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and conspiracy in connection with the shooting of 28-year-old Andrew McPhatter on March 5, 2017, on the 3500 block of Wheeler Road, SE.
Additionally, Turner is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 23-year-old Devin Hall on Jan. 7, 2017, on the 3500 block of 6th Street, SE.
Jennings is specifically accused of sharing criminal intelligence with Turner, when she worked as a clerk for the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Another co-defendant Duan Hill, 33, is charged with conspiracy and obstruction of justice.
The defendants are also linked to the drive-by shooting, which occurred on March 8, 2017, on South Capitol St, SW, in front of Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA), where Jennings previously worked and where Turner would regularly check in while on probation.
The drive-by shooting caused damage to five vehicles.
The first two witnesses, who were MPD officers called to the site of the March shooting, showed video footage from their body-worn cameras (BWC), as evidence of them driving to the site after “they received a call for sounds of shotguns.” They counted the shell casings once they arrived.
A Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) employee, who previously worked as an MPD officer, stated that he advised the owner of the white Lexus, who was believed to be Turner, “that it would be taken to DHS for processing.”
A CSOSA worker, who testified about her relationship working with Turner in the past, said Turner left the site of the shooting and then returned.
“He was distraught and upset,” which she said she assumed “by his demeanor.”
The last witness was a MPD detective who investigated the March shooting. He stated that there were no injured victims or blood at the site, but there was “damage to the building and vehicles.” He also identified Jennings from having worked with her in the past.
The prosecutors then displayed security footage and asked the witness if he could identify Turner in the video. The witness identified a white Lexus and then stated that “Mr. Turner exited the white Lexus.”
The defense also delivered opening statements on Wednesday.
Turner’s defense attorney Michael Madden said he grew up in a neighborhood with high levels of violence and drug use, in which he “associated with some nefarious characters.”
He said the prosecution is going to argue that Turner is “guilty by association” by “cherry-picking” phone calls, dates, and evidence. He also emphasized the lack of eye-witness testimony, DNA evidence, and fingerprint evidence linking Turner to these charges.
He told the jurors that even though this trial has three different defendants, each one of them should be considered separately.
Jennings’ defense attorney Russell Hairston stated that the prosecution’s case is a theory and that Jennings was not involved in the murder.
Furthermore, Hill’s defense attorney Bruce Cooper explained Hill’s innocence and integrity as a man who owns a business.
DC Superior Court Judge Marisa J. Demeo set this trial to continue on Sept 22.
Read more about the murder case here.
DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan extended deadlines for continued plea negotiations on Sept. 21, so both parties could be prepared to proceed with a murder trial.
Ch’Juan Robinson, 25, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Louis Kingsbury, 34. The incident occurred on the 200 block of New York Avenue, NW on April 29, 2020.
Defense attorney, Dana Page, requested more time to file additional motions in response to the prosecutor’s failure to preserve critical evidence. According to Page, surveillance footage and photos from the officer’s body-worn cameras during a search of Robinson’s vehicle were deleted.
Page sent a counteroffer to the prosecution, which the prosecution has yet to decide. The offer was not disclosed in open court.
Judge Raffinan set an Oct. 5 deadline for both parties to submit responses to any motion.
Judge Raffinan scheduled the next hearing for Oct. 12.
Witnesses testified to the relationship between a homicide defendant and the victim during trial on Sept. 21.
Darnell Sterling, 57, is charged with second-degree murder and contempt for allegedly murdering Olga Ooro, 34, on July 17, 2020, on the 300 block of Massachusetts Avenue, NW.
Sterling’s cousin said he had Sterling and Ooro at his house on several occasions. The witness described the relationship between Sterling and Ooro as “not the best” as he saw them constantly arguing.
During cross-examination, defense attorney Howard McEachern questioned the credibility of the witness’s memory due to alcohol consumption.
Another witness said she saw Ooro being ridiculed by Sterling on multiple occasions. Ooro was called belittling names and was noticed to have evident bruises on her body, the witness said.
During cross-examination, McEachern noted that name-calling is not directly connected to the act of murder.
DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan scheduled the trial to resume on Sept. 22.
Read more about the case here.
During a Sept. 22 hearing parties discussed a curfew violation committed by a homicide defendant.
Gerald Thomas, 19, is charged with second-degree murder while armed allegedly shooting 20-year-old Dasha Cleary. The shooting occurred at the Days Inn Hotel located on the 4400 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW on Jan. 27.
The defendant was released under the High Intensity Supervision Program on April 8 with specific conditions such as GPS monitoring.
According to defense attorney, Aubrey Dillon, the violation occurred on Aug. 22 when Thomas left his residence past curfew to get something to eat. He was pulled over in a traffic stop in Prince George County, Md. with two other individuals in the car. Large amounts of cocaine was found in the vehicle upon inspection by officers.
The front passenger, who was on probation for carjacking, fled to a laundromat to evade police and hid his loaded gun inside one of the laundry machines.
Thomas was arrested and detained by officers from the Prince George’s Police Department. After being released, Thomas reported to his supervisor, Dillon said.
Dillon said Thomas has no knowledge of the weapon and that there was no probable cause within the charges against him.
However, the prosecution said Thomas was non-compliant with his conditions of release because he was apprehended with a convict carrying an illegal weapon, in a car with drugs and he missed his curfew.
Dillon stated the defendant has been compliant with his release since April. Thomas is enrolled in a school program, has a 3.0 GPA, and has family members supporting him. There were multiple family members in the courtroom and remotely logged in to the hearing.
DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan sanctioned the defendant to 21 days in home confinement.
Judge Raffinan scheduled the next hearing for Oct. 14.
Read more about this case here.
DC Superior Court Judge Robert D. Okun denied Sept. 22 the defense’s motion for release citing possible danger to the community.
Damonta Thompson, 25, is charged with first-degree murder while armed on Sept. 4, 2021, on the 600 block of Longfellow Street, NW. Thompson is accused of allegedly shooting 31-year-old Donetta Dyson, 24-year-old Keenan Braxton and 37-year-old Johnny Joyner and injuring three others.
Kamar Queen, 24, Erwin Dubose, 27, and 49-year-old Toyia Johnson were also charged with first-degree murder while armed and tampering with physical evidence in this case.
Judge Okun cited the heinousness of the crime and the lack of new substantial evidence introduced as other reasons to deny release.
Defense attorney Elizabeth Weller argued for Thompson’s release under home confinement with GPS monitoring.
Weller claimed that there was little to no evidence that Thompson was at the scene of the crime when the shooting occurred. She cited there was no photo, video, DNA, witness, or fingerprint evidence placing him at the scene of the crime. She said the prosecution has not found any new evidence linking Thompson to the murders.
Thompson has no priors, according to Weller, and a loving family to whom he might be released. A large number of his family members present in the courtroom and via WebEx for support.
The prosecution refuted Weller’s points by citing phone records, Thompson’s association with the identified shooters, the heinousness of the crime, and the possible danger that Thompson poses to his community if he is to be released.
Judge Okun scheduled the next hearing for Jan. 13.
After two days of sentencing, a judge sentenced a man convicted of child sex abuse to two years in prison.
Raymond Diggs, 37, was originally charged with five counts of first-degree child sex abuse, enticing a child, and misdemeanor sexual abuse of a child for sexual acts that were conducted with his 9-year-old stepdaughter. Diggs was first charged in this case on Feb. 9, 2019.
On Sept. 21, Judge Kravitz reviewed all given testimonies, notes, and victim impact statements given during the Sept. 12, and Sept. 15 hearings. In his decision, he referenced Diggs’s prior history concluding that he is a first-time offender and a first-time sex offender.
Diggs pleaded guilty to second-degree child sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances and second-degree child sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances where the victim was under the age of 18 and actor had a significant relationship with the victim on Feb. 19, 2020.
The parties agreed on a sentence between 3-15 years in prison, 10 years of supervised release, and a 10-year registry as a sex offender.
Diggs was consciously aware of his actions and upon his release back in February of 2019, he demonstrated remorse and has not offended again, said Judge Kravitz.
He was sentenced to 24 months in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and is required to register as a sex offender for 10 years.
As part of the sentence, Diggs will be required to attend sex offenders therapy, individual trauma therapy, and drug testing.
Diggs is required to self surrender to the Bureau of Prisons when he is assigned a specific location.
DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee continued a hearing on Sept. 21, so a homicide defendant could have time to consider a plea offer.
William Whitaker, 20, was indicted on charges of first-degree murder while armed, conspiracy, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and criminal street gang affiliation in connection to the murder of 18-year-old Malick Cisse on Jan. 8, 2020, on the 1300 block of 7th Street, NW.
Defense attorney Paula Pagan was present as stand-in counsel for David Benowitzs. Pagan asked to reschedule on the behalf of Whitaker to review the plea offer prosecution sent over the night before.
The deal hadn’t been reviewed by the defendant because the document wasn’t printed. The prosecution suggested they could possibly print out the offer and review it with the defendant before the hearing began.
Judge Lee wanted to know why the defense didn’t review the offer with the defendant before the hearing because the plea deal was sent over months in advance and last night.
Pagan said the formal plea offer hasn’t been received in writing.
“What is the difference,” Judge Lee asked.
Pagan said placing the deal in writing is an “appropriate and necessary” step because the defendant should be aware of all the terms and conditions that come with taking a plea deal.
The prosecution said the plea deal is to second-degree murder while armed and the defense has received the plea because it was sent in an abundance of caution due to discrepancies in the fact section. The plea deal was set to expire months ago but will remain until the next hearing.
Judge Lee told Whitaker to review the plea and talk to his lawyers and family members to make his final decision.
According to court documents, Cisse walked alone to the area of the Mount Vernon Square Metro station around 11:22 p.m. after a woman, who is believed to be Whitaker’s significant other, asked to meet him on the train. When he arrived, the woman was not there.
Cisse began walking back to his residence as a suspect, who is believed to be Whitaker, drove up in a car and allegedly shot him in the back of the head at approximately 11:31 p.m. Cisse was pronounced dead shortly after midnight.
The next hearing is set for Oct. 12.
Metropolitan Police Department detectives made an arrest in a homicide that occurred on May 6, on the 2300 block of Nicholson Street, SE.
At approximately 4:29 pm, officers located 32-year-old Rashad Davis suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
On Sept. 22, 31-year-old Marcus Barringer was arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed.
During a Sept. 20 jury trial, the prosecution called six witnesses to share their knowledge of footage and interactions with the defendant and victim. Several witness testimonies indicated a potential pattern of physical abuse within the defendant and victim’s relationship.
On July 24, 2020, 57-year-old Darnell Sterling was arrested and charged with murdering his 34-year-old girlfriend, Olga Ooro. Sterling was the last known person to see Ooro before she was reported missing, one week earlier.
A former concierge of the Twelve12 apartment building, where Sterling lived, described a fight he saw between Sterling and Ooro on July 13, 2019. Earlier that evening, the concierge reported seeing the couple leave and return from an evening out, appearing “normal” and talkative both times.
After receiving a noise complaint from one of Sterling’s neighbors of Sterling’s, the concierge found Sterling yelling at his girlfriend, insisting she leave his apartment. Ooro staunchly refused, adamant about collecting her belongings which had fallen from her purse and all over the floor.
According to the concierge, Sterling repeatedly shut the door in attempts to drive his girlfriend out. Each time, she would jam her foot into the door, preventing it from closing fully.
The concierge described Ooro as bleeding from the nose and mouth, while her leg was “scabby and bleeding” from repeated scrapes by the door.
The prosecution called a patrol sergeant who arrested Sterling for assault after the July 13 incident. The sergeant’s body camera footage showed him speaking with a frenzied Sterling. Sterling revealed scratches on his neck where Ooro allegedly grabbed him while refusing to leave.
The sergeant then compared the scratches to Ooro’s injuries, which landed her in an ambulance. The officer concluded that Sterling had assaulted Ooro, and she had fought back in self-defense.
Although Sterling was later released from jail, he was given a stay-away order from Ooro.
During another officer’s testimony, body-cam footage showed Sterling in front of the apartment building. Sterling had contacted authorities after Ooro reportedly visited him at his apartment, breaching Sterling’s stay-away order.
According to Sterling, Ooro kept begging him for money despite his repeated refusals. When Sterling became fed up, Ooro said “I’ll kill you” and attempted to stab him with a fork.
DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan scheduled the trial to resume on Sept. 21.
Read more about the case here.
During a Sept. 20 hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee granted a continuance, giving a sexual assault defendant time to decide whether to take a plea deal.
On July 8, the complainant told Metropolitan Police Department officers that the defendant opened the door to her apartment, which is located on the 100 block of I Street, SE. The apartment was unlocked, and approached her. The defendant is charged with assault with the Intent to commit first-degree sexual abuse by force and first-degree burglary.
“I spoke with him, and I guess he needs to talk to some people in order to come to conclusions,” his attorney Anthony Smith said.
The prosecutor agreed to the continuation.
She said that he groped her thigh. She said he wanted to have sex with her and climbed into her bed with his penis exposed. It was then that a witness entered the room and pulled him away, according to court documents.
The defendant stayed in the apartment building, walking around an interior courtyard. He was arrested in the early morning on July 9.
According to the court documents, the defendant exposed himself to a female officer while in handcuffs.
Judge Lee scheduled the next hearing for Oct. 7.
Incriminating phone records between Derek Turner, 31, and Duan Hill, 33, were referenced during the prosecution’s opening statements on Sept. 20.
Turner and Ronnika Jennings, 44, are charged with first-degree murder while armed, obstruction of justice, and conspiracy in connection to the shooting death of 28-year-old Andrew McPhatter on March 5, 2017, on the 3500 block of Wheeler Road, SE. Hill is charged with conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Turner is also charged with another count of first-degree murder while armed in connection to the shooting death of 23-year-old Devin Hall.
On a jail call, Turner allegedly told Hill, “We told her what to do. We told her what to do.”
The prosecution presented the 10mm Glock, found in Turner’s car, that was ballistically linked to each of the shootings and murders. The prosecution said Turner would call Jennings after each shooting or encounter with police and presented their phone records to the jury.
Jennings was a civilian employee with the Metropolitan Police Department as a station clerk. She is accused of assisting Turner with his crimes by accessing confidential police reports.
A detective with the Metropolitan Police Department noticed Turner’s GPS tracker was being manipulated. That detective also noticed Jennings had constantly been running Turner’s identifiers through the systems.
Turner, Hill, and Jennings allegedly had a plan for Turner’s former girlfriend, Marshay Hazelwood, to tell the attorneys and police that the 10mm Glock was hers to get Turner out of jail. However, whenever Hazelwood was subpoenaed in front of a grand jury, instead of going along with the plan, she invoked her fifth amendment right.
Jennings searched Turner’s name through police databases and accessed police reports with witnesses’ information. She gave Turner real-time information about what the police were doing or not doing.
“Ms. Jennings’ weapon of choice was that computer terminal. Mr. Turner’s weapon of choice was the 10mm Glock,” the prosecutor told the jury.
Turner’s defense attorney, Michael Madden, is scheduled to begin his opening statements on Sept. 21.
A defense attorney for an elderly man charged with rape and murder called into question Sept. 19 a Metropolitan Police Department detective’s interrogation tactics while investigating the case.
Giles Warrick, 63, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the sexual assault and death of 29-year-old Christine Mirzayan. She was found dead with multiple wounds on Aug. 2, 1998, in a wooded area on the 3600 block of Canal Road, NW.
“Are you trained that it’s okay to mislead a person to obtain their consent,” said Warrick’s defense attorney, Stephen Mercer, to the detective who received the defendant’s consent to test his DNA.
Mercer played several audio clips of the interrogation.
“You gave him factually inaccurate information about the length of time the test would take,” Mercer said.
The detective said he promised Warrick the findings would come in between six and eight weeks to “make the situation feel less frightening.” Mercer argued that the detective deceived Warrick to obtain his consent.
Mercer also asked the detective about his questioning of Warrick.
During the detective’s questioning, he assured Warrick that by speaking up, he would spare his family the “embarrassment” and “hardship” that this case would bring. “They are innocent people in this,” the detective told the defendant.
Warrick is accused of being the ‘Potomac River Rapist’ who is responsible for a series of rapes in DC and Maryland between 1991 and 1998. An FBI Analyst ran the serial rapist’s DNA profile through the federal Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and found it matched DNA from eight unsolved rape cases and one murder, court documents state.
The FBI offered a $25,000 reward for anyone with any information on the cold case. According to court documents, 100 plus tips and leads were generated. The homicide investigation continued for 20 years until Warrick’s arrest in November of 2019.
The hearing followed an earlier motions hearing on Sept. 16.
DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee scheduled the motions hearing to continue on Oct. 5.
Metropolitan Police Department made an arrest in a homicide on Aug. 6, 2020, on the 600 block of 46th Street, SE.
Officers located 26-year-old Michael Brittingham suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
On Aug. 29, the Los Angeles Police Department located and arrested 19-year-old Dreaun Young in Hollywood, CA. On Sept. 20, Young was extradited to Washington DC and charged with second-degree murder while armed.
During a Sept. 20 sentencing, D.C. Superior Court Judge Robert Okun granted defense attorney Raymond Jones’s request to have the hearing pushed for continuance.
Devon Stephens, 36, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed in the death of Eugene Isaac, Jr, 34, on the 100 block of N Street, NW, on Feb. 15, 2020. He was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed in relation to the murder.
Jones requested time because there were COVID-19-related issues. He did express the importance for the families to get closure.
The sentencing that was supposed to take place on Sept. 20 was originally set to be held in August but was continued.
The prosecutor told Judge Okun that she has been “accommodating and patient with all delays.”
She said that there was no major need for a continuance.
Judge Robert Okun said no further extensions would be granted after this continuance and the sentencing would take place at the next date.
Stephens is scheduled to return to court for his sentencing on Nov. 7.
