Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on March 1, on the 1400 block of V Street, NW.
According to a press release, at about 9:28 pm, officers located 29-year-old Marvin Johnson Jr. suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
A second victim, an adult female, sought treatment at a local hospital for non-life threatening gunshot wounds.
Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on March 1, on the 6400 block of 8th Street, NW.
According to a press release, at about 7:53 pm, officers located 20-year-old Rasheed Biles suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
After the victim’s family gave their impact statement, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt sentenced the defendant to 10 years above the mandatory minimum.
Twenty-one year-old Malik Holston was found guilty by the jury of first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license on Nov. 2, 2022. The charges are in connection to the murder of 15-year-old Gerald Watson on the 2900 block of Knox Place, SE on Dec. 13, 2018.
On March 1, Judge Brandt sentenced Holston to 40 years in prison with 5 years supervised release. Holston will be required to register as a gun offender when released.
Defense attorney Shawn Sukumar attempted to convince the court that it was possible to sentence Holston under the mandatory minimum due to the fact that he was 16 years old when he committed the crime. However, Judge Brandt did not tolerate the argument and stated that this will not be the case. The mandatory minimum sentence for first-degree murder in DC is 30 years.
“I will give anything and everything, even my own life, to get my son back” Gerald’s mother said during the sentencing. She said that she does not understand why he had to take her baby away from her. At the end of her statement she wished Holston mercy.
Gerald’s older cousin spoke about how hard it has been on the family to lose Gerald. He stated that his 12-year-old nephew is always scared that he will not make it past 15 before he is killed just like Gerald.
Gerald’s sister asked her cousin to read her statement. She wrote about how hard and traumatizing it was for her and her siblings to lose their brother. She told the judge that she is working on becoming a police officer, so she is able to protect people from gun violence since she was not able to protect her own brother.
The prosecution asked the judge to sentence Holston to 10 years above the mandatory minimum sentence, saying this murder is different because every shot that was fired hit Gerald leaving no chance to save him.
According to the prosecution, Holston was involved in violence for a long time before the shooting. The people who lived in the neighborhood heard gunshots every day and everyone who was involved with Holston had been killed, the prosecutor said.
“Getting locked up saved your life,” said Judge Brandt to Holston
Defense attorney Sukumar argued that just like Gerald, Holston was a child too when the shooting happened.
He said the circumstance that Holston was surrounded with along with the violence that started before he was even born resulted in him being where he is today. He also said Holston is trying to do better by earning his GED while in jail and is now taking college courses.
Sukumar argued that the mandatory minimum would allow Holston to have the chance to start over once he gets out of jail.
He also asked the judge to recommend that Holston be held at minimum security prison Beckley in West Virginia where he would be able to participate in the BRAVE program. The program is a violence prevention program for young African American males.
Judge Brandt offered her deep condolences to the victim’s family and wished them comfort, and told Holston that she hopes he will continue to exhibit the same behavior during his time in prison as he has in jail.
“Today justice was served for my son,” Gerald’s mother told D.C Witness.
After a physical altercation, a defendant on probation was unsuccessfully discharged from a court-ordered residential drug treatment program.
On March 1, Markeis Crandall appeared in front of D.C. Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt for a probation review hearing 10 months after he accepted a plea deal and was released from jail.
Crandall, 19, was charged and sentenced for aggravated assault knowingly and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for a non-fatal shooting that occurred on Nov. 26, 2021, on the 2200 block of Minnesota Avenue, SE. There were two victims who survived the attack, both having since been treated and released.
As part of his plea and release, Crandall was sentenced to 24 months of probation, and five years of supervised release. In addition, Crandall was ordered by the court to attend and successfully complete a residential drug treatment program for his Fentynal usage.
Crandall was placed in a treatment program, where he was later unsuccessfully discharged for taking part in a physical altercation that caused another member of the program to be hospitalized.
Defense attorney Sellano Simmons shared with Judge Brandt that Crandall had not participated in the actual altercation. He was present when employees of the program intervened but refused to speak on “who did what,” according to Simmons, because he didn’t want to be involved, and his incorporation led to his discharge.
Judge Brandt accepted this explanation in part but said she believes that the truth lies in the middle of everyone’s side of the story.
As a result, Judge Brandt ordered Crandall to attend anger management counseling in addition to his current sentence requirements, including community service, regular drug testing, and grief counseling.
A successful discharge from a residential drug treatment program is required of Crandall under his sentence, so Judge Brandt also requested he be placed in a different treatment program and warned him to “steer clear of negative forces and energy.”
All parties are scheduled to return to court for another probation review hearing on Aug. 23.
On Feb. 27, at about 11:32 pm, officers responded to the 1400 block of Park Road, NW, for the report of the sounds of gunshots. Upon arrival, officers located several vehicles with flattened tires and evidence that a firearm was discharged.
Officers watched security camera footage from a place of business that captured the incident, giving them visual proof and a description of those involved.
According to a press release, the following day, Metropolitan Police Department officers observed an adult male who watched the description of the individual that was in possession of a firearm. The officers told the individual to stop at which time the subject turned around and fired multiple shots in the direction of the officers.
Two of the officers discharged their service weapons in response.
The suspect then ran into an alley and a single gunshot was heard. A nearby officer entered the alley and found the suspect deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The decedent has been identified as 40-year-old Savontae Dodie Perkins.
Metropolitan Police Department detectives are asking for the public’s help in locating a suspect in connection to a non-fatal shooting that occurred on Feb. 25, on the 2200 block of Savannah Street, SE.
According to a press release, at about 3:00 pm, officers located two adult males and one adult female suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.
Metropolitan Police Department detectives are asking fro the public’s assistance in locating a suspect in connection to a non-fatal shooting that occurred on Feb. 16, not he 2100 block of Maryland Avenue, NE.
According to a press release, at about 4:56 pm, officers located an adult male victim suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.
Metropolitan Police Department detectives are asking for the public’s help in locating a vehicle in connection to a non-fatal shooting that occurred on Feb. 25, on the 4400 block of Quarles Street, NE.
According to a press release, at about 8:44 pm, officers located an adult male suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.
The suspects’ vehicle is described as a black 2016 Kia Optima.
Metropolitan Police Department detectives are asking for the public’s help in locating a suspect and vehicle in connection to a non-fatal shooting offense that occurred on Feb. 27, on the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.
According to a press release, at about 4:22 pm, officers located an adult male shooting victim.
The suspect and the suspect’s vehicle, described as a red 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander.
Trial resumed in a six co-defendant murder and conspiracy case.
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 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 prosecution called several witnesses to discuss incidents that occurred in 2017 and 2018 in connection to the conspiracy charges.
A Prince George’s County Police Department (PGCPD) sergeant testified about an incident in August of 2017 where Gregory Taylor’s car was searched and guns were confiscated in Maryland.
The sergeant testified that Taylor was not at the scene when he showed up, but that he did arrive later asking the officers that were searching his car “what’re you doing to my car?” The sergeant stated that Taylor fled the scene after he realized they were searching it, and was not apprehended for the incident until a later date.
The prosecution also called a former Special Police Officer who worked with the DC Housing Authority in May, 2017. The witness was patrolling at Potomac Gardens when shots were fired on May 1, 2017. The witness testified that they responded to the gunshots and found Carl Hardy crouched behind a car.
Carl Hardy was allegedly part of a rival gang and endured a retaliation attack in May of 2017, which is being considered as part of the conspiracy charges. Saquan Williams and Quincy Garvin, who are also charged in Makiyah’s murder, were found guilty of Hardy’s murder on July 18, 2022. He passed away in September 2017.
Cross examination for the Special Police Officer is scheduled to resume at the next trial date.
Trial is set to resume on March 1.
During a Feb. 28 status hearing the defense attorney in a homicide case requested a new attorney to cover the case indefinitely.
The incident occurred July 18, 2021, on the 6100 block of 4th Street, NW around 1 a.m. Idrissa Fall, 36, was arrested on second-degree murder while armed charges for allegedly shooting his ex-girlfriend, Dara Northern, 29, in the head. The two had been broken up for five days but were still living together at the time of the incident.
On Nov. 9, 2022 Fall was indicted on first-degree murder premeditated while armed in a bias-related hate crime, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm due to a prior conviction.
At Tuesday’s status hearing, defense attorney Ronald B. Resetarits informed DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt that he would be resigning from the case. Resetarits said he will begin a new position with The Public Defender Service’s parole division.
Judge Brandt said she was saddened to see Resetarits leave but assured him that his time and reputation in her courtroom was much appreciated.
After Brandt made sure that Fall understood what this transition meant for his case, she asked him if he was okay with being assigned a new attorney. Fall nodded in agreement.
The prosecution on the case found no issue with the appointment of a new defense attorney and said “this is not a lengthy or complex case, it’s straight forward.” In reference to the case’s ‘simplicity,’ the prosecution requested that Brandt consider moving up the trial date.
The trial date was originally set to begin on May 6, 2024.
After a short deliberation and referral to the court’s case schedule, Judge Brandt agreed with the prosecution’s request.
Resetarits informed the court that he would pass this determination along to whichever attorney is next in line.
All legal parties will negotiate a new trial date once a new attorney is assigned.
The next status hearing is set for March 31.
During a Feb. 27 trial for an assault case, 12 members of the jury, including two alternates, heard opening arguments from both parties.
The assault, which was allegedly perpetrated by 50-year-old Stefen Farmer, occurred on the 4400 block of Gault Place, NE. According to court documents, Farmer fired three non-fatal shots at the victim during an argument over money on Feb. 25, 2021.
Farmer is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of an unregistered firearm, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, and four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.
Farmer, seated next to his defense attorney Nikki Lotze, was wearing a muted yellow button down shirt and sat with his arms crossed as he watched the prosecution make their opening statement.
The prosecutor explained that the jury would be shown an abundance of evidence, including video footage, witness testimonies, and an identification, which would prove Farmer’s guilt.
The prosecutor stated that the defendant and victim were childhood friends and had known each other for years.
He said the victim was shot once in the leg and hand before another individual shoved Farmer out of the way, preventing him from firing further.
The prosecutor also said the victim was walking away when he was shot over a dispute with Farmer about money. According to the prosecutor, the victim refused to give Farmer two dollars, which led to a heated argument between the two men.
The prosecutor concluded by saying Farmer sent the victim a Facebook message to apologize for shooting him after the incident.
“Stefen Farmer is innocent,” Lotze said, placing a hand on his shoulder as she walked by him to address the jury.
Lotze argued self-defense in Farmer’s case, claiming that the victim was armed with a gun when he and Farmer got into the argument. When the victim allegedly reached for his gun, Farmer shot at him.
She stated that “because [Farmer] acted in self defense, he is not guilty of any crime.”
DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein thanked the jury for their time before dismissing them to discuss motions with counsel.
The defense also filed a motion regarding their cross-examination of the victim, focusing specifically on the victim’s prior criminal involvement, including charges for possession of liquid PCP, that was ongoing at the time of this incident.
Judge Epstein determined that the defense would not be allowed to question the victim about the location of his prior arrest or the conditions of his previous release.
The trial was scheduled to resume at 10 a.m. on Feb. 28.
On Feb. 27, the jury trial for six defendants charged in a fatal drive-by shooting was put on hold, so counsel could discuss issues with proposed exhibits from the prosecution.
Gregory Taylor, 26, Quentin Michals, 25, Qujuan Thomas, 24, Darrise Jeffers, 23, Isaiah Murchison, 22, and Marquell Cobbs, 21, are 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 took place on the 300 block of 53rd Street, NE on July 16, 2018.
The prosecution attempted to admit data from the defendants Instagram accounts as evidence of the conspiracy charge. This data includes direct messages, comments, captions, and pictures posted and reposted by the defendants.
According to the prosecution’s argument, the defendants used slang in direct messages that they believe were code for various firearm types. Additionally, the prosecution argued that the defendants used an alleged gang vanity name in numerous Instagram posts around the time of the incident.
The defense attorneys, though arguing on behalf of their respective clients, echoed the same idea, saying the slang used could be interpreted in several different ways – not only for nefarious activity.
“Hanging out” with your neighborhood friends does not equate to criminal gang activity, defense attorney Sellano Simmons said. The remaining defense attorneys joined the argument, saying the evidence could be interpreted either way.
Judge Okun said he did not believe the prosecution had been able to prove, with the exhibits, that the defendants had conspired in the crime. However, Judge Okun said there is some non-hearsay evidence that may be admissible. He said he would be postponing his ruling to take time to look at the evidence in more depth.
Depending on this decision, the prosecution’s lineup of witnesses for the week could be derailed. The prosecution said the number of witnesses testifying would not be known until hours before the trial resumes.
Judge Okun, with guidance from the US Marshals, also rejected a request for Thomas and Taylor to have the privilege of having physical contact with their children when they come into court. ”Rules are rules,” the Marshal told the judge, explaining that no one from the audience is allowed to have contact with apprehended individuals.
Trial is scheduled to resume on Feb. 28.
A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a motion hearing in a homicide case.
Eric Maurice Smith Jr. is charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to the murder of 38-year-old Rondell Wilis on the 200 block of 50th Street, NE on May 3, 2018.
During the Feb. 28 hearing, Judge Maribeth Raffinan set a motions hearing for June 30.
All motions, such as DNA and evidence-related issues must be submitted by May 12 and responses must be filed by June 2.
The expert notice deadline is due by May 5.
According to court documents, Wills was an unintended target. Apparently, a car drove by the Benning Road Metro Station and started following a witness. The witness said one of the individuals in the car opened fire. The witness ran in the direction of where Wills was seated on 50th Street.
Police believe Wills was shot in the process, documents state.
The next status hearing was set to continue on March 17, to resume and cover more DNA-related matters.
During a status hearing on Feb. 28, DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein met with counsel to confirm a preliminary hearing date.
The defendant, 31, is charged with two counts of first-degree child sex abuse and two counts of first-degree sexual abuse for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl on Feb. 24 on the 800 block of Southern Avenue, SE.
During the hearing, both parties said they could not get an earlier date for the preliminary hearing, but the March 14 date would still be acceptable.
According to reports, the defendant forced himself on the victim and raped her.
Court documents show that the defendant eventually stopped raping the victim, when the victim was picked up by a family member who proceeded to call the police.
