Judge Arraigns Defendant on Murder and Gun Possession Charges

DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee arraigned a defendant on first-degree murder while armed and possession of firearm during a crime of violence. Both of these charges were for offenses committed during release.

Eric Davis, 59, is accused of fatally shooting 41-year-old Theodore Riley on the 1600 block of Gales Street, SE on July 19, 2021. According to court documents, Riley suffered from a gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene.

During the Aug. 2 arraignment hearing, defense attorney Pierce Suen entered a plea of not guilty on Hall’s behalf.

Judge Lee scheduled the trial to be April 15, 2024. The prosecution expects their case to last 4 to 5 days. According to the prosecution, testing for DNA evidence is still pending.

Judge Lee scheduled the next hearing for Nov. 18.

Mental Observation Hearing Continues As Psychologist Says Defendant Competent to Stand Trial

DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee continued a mental observation hearing for a sex abuse case.

The 61-year-old defendant is charged with four counts of first-degree sex abuse while armed, two counts of third-degree sex abuse, and burglary one while armed in connection to two 2019 incidents on the 1600 block of Irving Street, NW.

He is currently being held at St. Elizabeths Hospital, Washington D.C.’s psychiatric hospital.

During the July 29 hearing, a forensic psychologist testified to the competency of the defendant.

“[The defendant] is competent to stand trial,” the forensic psychologist said.

According to the psychologist, the defendant can advocate for himself, meaning he has the ability to rationally communicate with his attorneys. The defendant is also able to apply legal concepts to hypothetical situations.

“He demonstrated he understood the concepts and could discuss them,” the psychologist said.

The psychologist interviewed the defendant and said he relied on progress notes written by the defendant’s doctors at St. Elizabeths.

During the cross examination, defense attorney, Mani Golzari, presented an email, which was sent to the psychologist and then forwarded to the defendant’s doctors at St. Elizabeths, that characterized the defendant as a “serial rapist.”

Golzari said that the progress notes were not accurate because they were biased because of the email. He said the progress notes are “only reliable as they are accurate.”

During cross, Golzari pointed out times when the defendant was factually inaccurate during their discussion.

According to the psychologist’s notes and report, the defendant did not know the concept of competency and the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor. The forensic psychologist could not point to a specific note where the defendant showed understanding of the severity of charges or sentencing.

Golzari also pointed out discrepancies between the psychologist’s report, notes, and earlier testimony.

The hearing is tentatively set to continue on Aug 2.

Judge Denies Prosecutor’s Motion to Admit Witness Statements

After listening to counsel arguments on July 29, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan decided not to admit a contested witness’s statements about a homicide defendant.

Robert Moses, 23, and James Mayfield, 22, are charged with first-degree murder while armed, assault with the intent to kill while armed, and aggravated assault while armed for allegedly shooting 17-year-old Jamahri Sydnor and wounding three other bystanders on Aug. 10, 2017.

Moses and Mayfield also face multiple counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, threat to kidnap or injure a person, robbery while armed, attempt to commit robbery while armed, possession of an unregistered firearm, obstructing justice, and conspiracy while armed.

The shooting is believed to have occurred from an ongoing feud between young men from the Langston and Saratoga neighborhoods in Northeast DC, according to reports.

During the July 29 hearing, Judge Raffinan addressed the prosecutor’s motion to admit Mayfield’s statements to a witness – Mayfield’s friend. According to the prosecutor, the witness, without being prompted by the police, told detectives of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) about conversations Mayfield had about the shooting.

In her opposition to the prosecutor’s motion, Mayfield’s defense attorney, Veronice Holt, argued the witness’s statements were not credible due to the witness’s mental health issues and animosity toward Mayfield, which would potentially bias or alter the witness’s testimony.

In response, the prosecutor told Judge Raffinan that a medical examination concluded that the witness’s “memory, sight, and perception are fair.” Additionally, Mayfield and the witness were cohabiting, placing the witness in a “vicinity of trust” where he could overhear Mayfield’s conversations.

“They were acting as a de facto family,” the prosecutor said, emphasizing the close and nuanced relationship between Mayfield and the witness.

Holt refuted the prosecutor’s arguments, calling Mayfield and the witness’s familial relationship a “complete fiction.” She pointed to the witness’s statement to police that whenever Mayfield came to his home, the witness would “throw his ass out” as evidence of “a complete dislike for Mr. Mayfield.”

In addition to the witness’s alleged animosity towards Mayfield, Holt argued the witness completely lacked credibility due to his criminal record, which includes a conviction for contempt. Holt said the conviction showed how the witness “is someone who has no respect for the law.”

“The prosecution is desperate and that’s why they want to use the witness’s statements,” said Holt.

After reading the parties’ motions and hearing their arguments, Judge Maribeth ultimately denied the prosecution’s motion to admit the witness’s statements.

The parties also investigated a potential conflict with the witness’s testimony due to the witness having been previously represented by Moses and Mayfields’ current defense attorneys, Steven Kiersch and Sweta Patel.

Due to the prosecution’s motion being denied and the witness’s statements no longer available, Judge Raffinan determined the conflict investigation to be moot.

Mayfield and Moses’ next court appearances are scheduled for Aug. 23, so parties could address additional motions from both the prosecutor and defense.

Document: Police-Involved Shooting on Madison Street, NW

The Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Internal Affairs Bureau is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred on July 31 on the 200 block of Madison Street, NW.

According to a press release, officers responded to the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Longfellow Street, NW after receiving a report of a shooting. They located two adult males suffering from gunshot wounds. The individuals were treated for non-life-threatening injuries at a local hospital.

While canvassing the area, an officer spotted a vehicle, a white sedan with three suspects who were seen hiding weapons, the release said.

The officer followed the sedan to the intersection of 2^ndStreet and Madison Street, NW.

When the suspects attempted to flee, the officer spotted one of the suspects, 31-year-old Kevin Hartgraves-Shird, with a handgun. The officer shot at the suspect. The suspect was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

The other suspects fled the scene.

Judge Finds Substantial Probability in 2021 Homicide Case

During a preliminary hearing on Aug. 1, DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee found substantial probability for a homicide case.

Trevon Devore, 21, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection to the shooting of 27-year-old Daqual Covington on May 21, 2021, on the 60th block of O Street, SW.

The prosecutor called to the stand the detective from the Metropolitan Police Department who was in charge of the investigation.

The detective played videos of surveillance footage collected from the houses surrounding the shooting and from the house behind Devore’s residence.

In one surveillance clip, four individuals walk on the sidewalk when one individual, identified by the detective as Devore, turns back around the corner, pulls a suspected firearm from a satchel, and points it in an off-camera direction, before running away in the opposite direction with the three other individuals.

The detective said the victim was found in the direction where Devore pointed his firearm.

Additional footage shows Devore and two other individuals entering Devore’s residence through the back entrance. After a brief period of time, the three individuals exit wearing differently-colored clothes.

The prosecutor then linked the identity of the individual in the surveillance videos to the defendant, citing images of Devore wearing the same clothes as the individual earlier that day and the identification of the defendant by an MPD officer who was familiar with him.

“The evidence in this case is quite strong, given the offense is recorded on video,” the prosecutor said.

Eleven .45-caliber shell casings were also recovered from the scene, according to the detective. A firearm testing analysis report determined all 11 casings were fired from the same firearm. The firearm was not recovered.

The prosecutor said a 9mm firearm was recovered from Covington’s body, but the detective confirmed he recovered no shell casings that matched that firearm.

FBI cell site data from Devore’s phone places him in the area of the offense location near the time of the shooting, despite Devore’s contradictory statements to police when interviewed.

Devore’s defense attorney Lisbeth Sapirstein focused on whether the detective had evidence Devore acted in self-defense and whether Covington had a firearm pulled out when he was shot.

The detective told Sapirstein that a witness, who was on the scene of the shooting, reported to police officers Covington had a firearm on his person when he was shot. The witness removed the firearm and placed it away from Covington before members of the MPD arrived on the scene.

Sapirstein said the witness, who was Covington’s close friend, initially told police he recovered Convington’s firearm from Covington’s waistband, and then, in a future interview with Sapirstein and the prosecutor, said the firearm was near Covington’s hand.

The witness also told police officers he and Covington had been walking together when they passed by the four individuals, including Devore, when Covington said, “that’s my arch-enemy.”

Sapirstein said surveillance footage wasn’t recovered by the detective, which could show how Covington was acting before he was shot.

After Sapirstein finished her questioning, the prosecutor asked Judge Lee to find substantial probability for the case.

During her closing argument, Sapirstein said there was no evidence of what Devore was responding to. She pointed out Covington’s prior criminal history of gun-related charges, his possession of a fully-loaded semi-automatic weapon, and his claim that Devore was his “arch-enemy” as justifications for self-defense.

Although Judge Lee agreed with Sapirstein that a key piece of evidence concerning Covington’s actions up to the shooting was missing, he found substantial probability linking Devore to the individual in the video.

Devore will continue to be held in the DC Jail until his next court appearance, which is scheduled for Nov. 14.

Devore was also arraigned on multiple counts of carrying a pistol without a license, possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, possession of an unregistered firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition for a separate, unrelated case.

Status Hearing Rescheduled for Homicide Convict Awaiting Sentencing

The status hearing for a homicide defendant was rescheduled to Aug. 1 after the prosecution announced that it planned to imminently file a motion.

Daquon Brooks, 24, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed on Oct. 18, 2021, for the fatal shooting of 52-year-old Leon Williams during a road rage incident on July 30, 2019. According to a proffer of facts, Brooks was a passenger in his former girlfriend’s car when Williams rear-ended their vehicle in the Third Street Tunnel near Massachusetts Avenue, NW. Brooks’ former girlfriend confronted Williams before Brooks approached Williams’ car and shot him once in the neck. Williams was paralyzed and later succumbed to his injuries on Oct. 18, 2020, over a year after the incident.

Brooks also pleaded guilty to charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and stalking in connection to a separate domestic violence shooting that occurred on July 15, 2019. According to court documents, Brooks threatened to murder his ex-girlfriend and shot her new boyfriend several times in the leg and the foot on the 4800 block of Benning Road, SE.

Brooks is awaiting sentencing, which is currently scheduled for Sept. 23. He has remained in custody since his initial arrest on Aug. 5, 2019.

DC Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna presided over the virtual hearing via WebEx video.

Prosecution Completes DNA Testing in 2020 Homicide Case

The prosecution informed DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee Aug. 1 that DNA testing was complete, but the defense is still waiting on a completed case file to decide what independent testing to do.

Ravel Mills, 28, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business for his alleged connection to the shooting of 28-year-old Toussaunt Strong on April 18, 2020, on the 3400 block of 24th Street, SE.

The prosecutor told Judge Lee he had reached out to Bode Technology, a forensic services company, and received the final DNA testing report, which completed the prosecution’s testing.

The parties, however, are still waiting for Bode Technology to upload the complete case file.

“I think there’s a chance the defense may want to do DNA testing,” said Mills’ defense attorney Jacqueline Cadman. “But we’ll need to see the full case file to determine the extent of what testing we’ll do.”

Cadman said she did not expect the delay to affect the trial date, which is set for Jan. 4, 2023.

Judge Lee scheduled an additional hearing on Sept. 14 for Cadman to confirm whether the defense would conduct DNA testing.

Document: Police Investigate Homicide on Valley Ave, SE

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a homicide that occurred on July 29 on the 900 block of Valley Avenue, SE.

According to a press release, officers found 49-year-old Jeffrey Oxner suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at 202-727-9099. Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s text tip line by sending a text message to 50411.

Defendant Sentenced for Two Counts of Contempt

A sexual abuse defendant accepted a plea offer July 29 for two counts of contempt.

Kennedy Davis, 47, was originally charged with kidnapping while armed, first-degree sex abuse and first-degree sex abuse by force for an incident that occurred on Feb. 9. According to court documents, Davis sexually assaulted an ex-girlfriend on the 2800 block of Q Street, SE.

Davis was released in 2020 for unrelated charges and, according to the prosecutor, Davis “violated a stay away order multiple times by contacting [the victim] by phone and being within 100 yards of [the victim].”

This violation accounted for two charges of contempt.

“There were hundreds of violations that comprised the two accounts” the prosecutor said.

Davis expressed that he would like to remain at a local correctional treatment facility, so that he could better himself.

D.C. Superior Court Judge Demeo accepted the plea agreement and sentenced the defendant to two consecutive six-month sentences. She also recommended that the defendant serve his sentence at CTF.

“It’s a good plan for him to try to complete the programs he is already in,” Judge Demeo said.

She also ordered Davis to have no contact with the victim. Other cases will be dismissed in accordance with the plea agreement.

Judge Sets Trial Date Nearly 5 Years After 10-Year-Old was killed

On a July 29 hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun set a trial date for 5 co-defendants in the 2018 homicide case of a 10-year-old girl.

Qujuan Thomas, 24, Quentin Michals, 25, Marquell Cobbs, 20, Darrise Jeffers, 23, Isaiah Murchison, 22, and Gregory Taylor, 26, are charged with first-degree murder, criminal street gang affiliation and other charges in connection to the fatal drive-by shooting that killed 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson on July 16, 2018, on the 300 block of 53rd Street, NE.

According to court documents, Wilson was getting ice cream when she was shot. She suffered a gunshot wound to the back which penetrated multiple organs.

During the Friday hearing, all parties had difficulty scheduling a trial date due time constraint issues among multiple attorneys.

“We’re going to have many issues with this many lawyers and a case this long,” Judge Okun told the court. “I think ultimately I’m going to have to choose a date that doesn’t work for everybody.”

The trial is currently set to begin in February of 2023.

Quanisha Ramsuer, whose case was severed from the other defendants, is set for a hearing for Sept. 16, when parties are slated to set a trial date.

Mark Price, 28, and Antonio Murchison, 29, are set for trial on May 30, 2023.

Judge Sets Trial Date for Murder Case

DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun set a trial date for a 2018 murder case.

Mark Price, 28, and Antonio Murchison, 29, are charged with first-degree murder, seven counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, seven counts of criminal street gang affiliation, felony, or violent misdemeanor, conspiracy, five counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, and one count of aggravated assault knowingly grave risk, for the murder of 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson.

Price is two of nine suspects charged for the murder, but he will be tried separately from his co-defendants.

On July 16, 2018, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to 300 block of 53rd Street, NE after reports of gunshots. According to court documents, numerous individuals were suffering from injuries. The victim was found unconscious and was pronounced dead.

Jury selection is set to begin on May 24 The trial is scheduled to begin on May 30, 2023 and is expected to run for six-to-eight weeks.

The other defendant, except of Quanisha Ramsuer are slated for a jury trial in February 2023.

Document: Homicide on Livingston Road, SE

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a homicide that occurred on July 28 on the 4300 block of Livingston Road, SE.

According to a press release, officers found 26-year-old Rasheed Cureton suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Judge Continues With Preliminary Hearing In Murder Case

DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee continued a preliminary hearing for a murder defendant.

Jose Ramos, 35, is charged with second-degree murder while armed. Ramos was unable to attend the July 28 hearing as he is currently quarantined at the DC Jail. He will be quarantined until Aug. 5.

Ramos is charged with the homicide of 58-year-old Eduardo Cruz.

On Jan. 25, Metropolitan Police Officers (MPD) discovered Cruz, unconscious and unresponsive, inside of a parked vehicle. Upon being rushed to the hospital Cruz was found to be suffering from suspected bleeding to the brain, among other possible internal injuries. Despite all life saving efforts, Cruz succumbed to his injuries on Jan. 29.

According to court documents, Ramos was neighbors with Cruz and was suspected of engaging in gang activity. Cruz, who was not known to engage in activities such as drinking or drug use, was irritated by the noise and traffic Ramos seemed to bring to the apartment complex. Witnesses said they heard loud screams and sounds early that morning.

Cruz was heard asking for forgiveness repeatedly while Ramos and a group of others allegedly insulted him and physically attacked him, according to court documents.

Ramos’ next court date is scheduled for Aug. 11.

Judge Addresses Motion in Trial Readiness Hearing

DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan listened to motion arguments in a triple-homicide case.

Rakeem Willis, 31, has been charged with one count of conspiracy, three counts of first-degree murder while armed, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm, and one count of fleeing from a law enforcement officer for his alleged connection to the deaths of 26-year-old Sean Shuler, 26-year-old Javon Abney, and 24-year-old Tyrik Hagood.

His co-defendant, Johnathan Winston, 33, has also been charged with one count of conspiracy, three counts of first-degree murder while armed, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm.

On July 28, prosecutors filed a motion to exclude expert testimony, targeting one of the defense’s witnesses, a cell site data expert. According to prosecutors, there are approximately 100 calls included in the evidence, totaling 12 hours. The prosecution’s main objection was that no expert opinion report was supplied for the witness, which undermines their ability to prepare for the trial.

“I don’t know if holding a hearing on it will necessarily assist the court,” prosecutors said.

“The prosecution’s so-called report is not a report,” defense counsel said. “All it does is plot points.”

Pushing back, prosecutors argued that a report must be served by any proponent or opponent of an issue who will offer expert opinion. The prosecutors asserted that they have a right to know how the defense’s expert testimony will differ from theirs.

Prosecutors estimated that their trial case may take two to three weeks to present and will encompass roughly 40 witness testimonies. Within the group of witnesses, three experts are slated to take the stand, including a cell site data expert, a firearm examiner, and a medical examiner.

Judge Ryan said he will make a ruling on the motion after reviewing the prosecution’s report.

Defense attorney Kevin Irving also filed a motion to sever Winston and Willis’ cases, which has not yet been ruled on either.

Defense counsel also mentioned that Winston’s brother is being held in a separate case, causing Winston to live in restrictive housing.

Judge Ryan recognized that the restrictive housing was unnecessary and disadvantaged Winston.

According to court documents, the incident began on Jan. 26, 2019, when Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to reports of a shooting on the 1500 block of Fort Davis Pl. SE. Officers found Shuler, Abney, and Hagood suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The three men were pronounced dead at the scene.

Willis and Winton’s trial is scheduled to begin on Aug. 10.

Judge Finds Probable Cause in Teenage Homicide Case

DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun found probable cause July 27 in a homicide case that occurred earlier this month.

Alphonso Oliver, 33, is charged with second degree murder for the death of 16-year-old Levoire Simmons. The shooting occurred the night of July 5 around 1:10 a.m. on the 700 block of Kenilworth Terrace, NE. Oliver turned himself in to the police on July 11.

Oliver, who was on supervised release at the time of the murder, left prison after serving a 12-year sentence for aggravated assault in March, according to the Bureau of Prisons. He was on parole.

A detective from the Metropolitan Police Department homicide branch testified in court on the details of the investigation.

The prosecution argued that Oliver was neither afraid of the victim nor did he act in self-defense but with malicious intent and asked Judge Okun to find probable cause.

“It’s not an issue of identity because he turned himself in and has been forthcoming,” said defense attorney David Richter. Richter asked Judge Okun not to find probable cause.

“According to the probable cause standard, I do find that the government has shown that the defendant didn’t act in self defense and I do find probable cause,” said Judge Okun, granting the prosecution’s request.

Oliver will remain at the DC Jail as Judge Okun could not find “any condition or combination of conditions that would protect the community.”

Judge Okun scheduled the next hearing for Oct. 20.

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