Judge Finds Probable Cause in Teen Murder

A judge found probable cause in a homicide case where a teenager allegedly shot another teenager.

Eugene Williams,17, is accused of shooting Deshawn Francis,16, on Feb. 8 on the Unit Block of Chesapeake Street, SE. Francis suffered a gunshot wound to the head and succumbed to his injuries three days later. Williams was charged with first-degree murder while armed on April 29 and has been held at the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) since.

The preliminary hearing spanned over two days and concluded with DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan making a finding of probable cause on June 3.

During the first day of the proceedings on June 2, the prosecutor played video footage from the Unit Block of Chesapeake Street, SE, that supported the lead detective’s testimony, showing Williams walking to the passenger side of a red dodge challenger, where Francis was seated. In the footage, he then ran away from the car while firing multiple gunshots toward Francis.

Defense attorneys Kevann Gardner and Hannah Claudio attempted to cast doubt on the detective’s first witness who did not know who shot Francis when he initially made the emergency call. The witness did not identify Williams as the suspect until well after the shooting.

However, it was concluded that the witness’s arguments were corroborated by electronic and physical evidence.

Even though Williams’s mother and stepfather, who were present in the courtroom, wished to address the court, time constraints prevented them from doing so.

In support of her son, Williams’s mother brought a picture board of Williams and placed it next to her during the hearing. Upon seeing the video footage, Williams’s mother became emotional and had to briefly leave the courtroom.

Judge Raffinan found probable cause that if the case were to go to trial, there would be enough evidence to convict Wiliams. A trial date has not been set yet, but Williams will remain in custody until his next scheduled hearing on July 27.

Sex Abuse Defendant Rejects Plea 2 Months Before Trial

A defendant accused of sexually assaulting two women rejected a plea offer on June 9.

The defendant, 21, is accused of sexually assaulting two women at different times of the day on the 1700 block of Newton Street, NW on Aug. 7.

The defendant was arrested and charged with third degree sex abuse, assault with intent to commit third degree sex abuse, simple assault, and two counts of misdemeanor sex abuse.

According to court documents, the defendant previously sexually assaulted another woman on July 10 on the 1700 block of Newton Street, NW. Approxiemently 14-days after that attack, he sexually assaulted another women on the same block.

During the hearing, defense attorney Rachel Mccoy rejected the prosecution’s offer to one count of assault, third-degree sexual assault, misdemeanor sex abuse, simple assault, kidnapping, attempted first-degree sexual abuse, first-degree sexual abuse, and aggravated assault.

Since DNA results are still pending.

DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee scheduled the next hearing for July 22.

Judge Denies Release in Domestic Violence Case

DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz denied a request for release from a defendant accused of shooting a woman in a vehicle during a dispute.

The 21-year-old defendant was indicted on nine charges including, assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, threat to kidnap or injure a person and carrying a pistol without a license. All charges include the addition that they were committed while the defendant was released from jail. The charges stem from an incident that occurred on Dec. 15, 2021, on the 4800 block of Texas Avenue, SE.

The prosecution stated that the complainant has been receiving various threats on social media and that the individual responsible for the threats was physically present in the courtroom during the most recent hearing on June 9.

The prosecutor threatened a superseding indictment if the defendant is found to be responsible in connection with the threats to the victim on social media.

It “was wholly inappropriate for the government to bring it up at this time,” defense attorney Stone Macbeth replied, referring to the prosecution’s lack of evidence on who made the threats to the victim.

Judge Kravitz did not take a position, saying the decision was outside of his jurisdiction.

The defendant requested to represent herself in the trial. “He’s not arguing enough for me,” she said. Judge Kravitz advised against her request, but issued a recess to address the matter. The question of representation still remains unresolved.

The motion for release requested that the defendant be released from DC Jail to live with her grandmother. According to Macbeth, the defendant was allegedly sexually assaulted by a staff member at DC Jail and that the defendant has been placed in solitary confinement.

The defendant filed a complaint against the staff member that allegedly sexually assaulted her at the jail. the complaint is currently pending review.

Macbeth asked Judge Kravitz to release his client and stated that his client has a strong support system and ties to the community. He referenced her academic studies and interests in the local music industry.

Judge Kravitz denied the motion for release, stating that the court’s finding of probable cause during the defendant’s preliminary hearing.

He expressed concerns about the defendant’s prior criminal history, including a guilty plea in another case.

The next hearing is scheduled for July 25.

Video Footage Shows 3 Suspects Flee Into Black Charger

A witness testifies about surveillance video of his property on the day of the shooting during a murder trial.

Co-defendants Saquan Williams, 20, and Quincy Garvin, 22, are charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm, criminal street gang affiliation and conspiracy in connection to the shooting of 24-year-old Carl Hardy on the 1200 block of I Street, SE, on Sept. 10, 2017. Hardy later succumbed to his injuries on Oct. 1, 2017, at Prince George’s Hospital Center in Maryland.

On June 8, the prosecution called a former resident of the Potomac Gardens neighborhood to the stand. The witness testified that he provided the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) with footage of the front of his property on the 1200 block of I Street, SE.

The footage depicted three individuals, holding objects that appeared to be firearms, fleeing into a black Dodge Charger.

The footage was recorded at 5:56 p.m. on Sept. 10, 2017, just minutes before MPD officers were first dispatched to the block at 5:58 p.m. after reports of shots fired. MPD discovered Hardy upon arriving at the scene.

According to court documents, an anonymous source identified two of the fleeing individuals in the video via text message. The source provided MPD with the Instagram accounts of Williams and Garvin.

A custodian of records for Instagram verified various Instagram accounts and profile images associated with the defendants.

A MPD officer testified, on June 7, that a blue-gray Honda Accord G35 and a white Infiniti Sedan were seized in connection to an additional shooting on the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road, SE, on Sept. 17, 2017. The prosecution called a forensic scientist from Elite Forensic Services to testify about latent fingerprints that were lifted from these vehicles in an effort to link the defendants to the second shooting.

After Steven Kirsch, Garvin’s defense attorney, questioned the witness concerning error rates in fingerprint analysis and the witness’ expertise, the prosecution qualified the forensic scientist as a fingerprint expert, asking for his conclusions regarding the identities of the latent fingerprints.

The expert testified that the government sent him 73 digital photographs of various surfaces of the vehicles, from which he was able to examine 55 latent fingerprints and compare them to the known fingerprints of 14 individuals. Among the 55 latent fingerprints, he was able to identify three prints belonging to Williams and three prints belonging to Garvin. Both sets of fingerprints were found on the blue-gray Honda Accord.

Williams’ defense attorney Kevin Robertson and Kirsch probed into the subjective factors in the expert’s analysis. They asked the expert whether, to his knowledge, he was the only fingerprint examiner in this case, to which the expert responded that his conclusions were blindly verified by a third party examiner.

An additional witness to the stand to testify about a separate May 1, 2017 incident that occurred on the intersection of 13th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. The witness stated that he saw three or four individuals exit a dark-colored vehicle and start shooting with assault-style firearms before fleeing the scene in the same vehicle.

The witness explained that he initially “thought that it was [his] nephews playing jokes,” which caused him to “jump into action.”

The witness stated that he “started going after them,” but lost sight of the vehicle in the Potomac Gardens neighborhood.

DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun scheduled the trial to resume June 9.

Homicide Defendant Found Competent to Stand Trial

During a June 9 hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee found a murder defendant mentally competent to stand trial.

Karon L. Brown, 30, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Cynthia Barringer, 32, on Oct. 31.

According to court documents, the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services received multiple 911 calls reporting the smell of smoke in the building. Upon arrival, they found Barringer in a bedroom, unconscious and unresponsive, suffering from a gunshot wound below her left eye.

After a series of mental observation hearings the defendant has been deemed competent to stand trial.

Marnitta King, Brown’s defense attorney, said she would like to reach a plea deal rather than go to trial.

A plea was offered by prosecutors in late April. King said counsel has been working together towards an agreement.

Judge Lee scheduled a status hearing for June 24.

Judge Sentences Mother for Strangling Son

A defendant who is charged with attempted second degree cruelty to children was sentenced on June 8, to one year of supervised probation.

According to a proffer of facts, Charese Moss, went into her 12-year-old son’s room and began strangling him with a phone charging cord on Feb. 6, 2021. The prosecutor said, the defendant’s husband came into the room and pulled the defendant away from the victim.

Moss wanted to kill her son because he was “evil and a devil,” said the prosecutor.

During the hearing, Moss pleaded guilty to attempted second degree cruelty to children. On Feb. 8, 2021, Moss was indicted on charges of second degree cruelty to children.

The prosecutor asked DC Superior Court Judge James Crowell to impose a 180-days sentence with 1-year supervised probation. She also wanted the defendant to receive drug and alcohol treatment.

“One year after the incident, the son still deals with lingering trauma,” the prosecutor said.

Defense attorney, Thomas Key, asked Judge Crowell to impose a probationary sentence. Moss struggled with substance misuse at the time of the incident, but is no longer abusing drugs and is doing well, according to Key.

Judge Crowell sentenced Moss to 180-days, all of which were suspended, plus one year of supervised probation. As part of her probation, Moss must undergo a mental health screening and evaluation.

Document: Police Arrest Suspect in Connection to A June 7 Homicide

A suspect has been arrested in reference to the fatal shooting of a 60-year-old in 2022.

According to a press release, on June 7, at approximately 11:30 a.m., officers from the Metropolitan Police Department responded to a stabbing incident in the 3600 block of Brothers Place, SE.

Upon arrival, officers located a male victim who had visible stab wounds and had no signs of life. The victim, Orlando Murphy, 60, was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

On June 8, the defendant, Huey Bandy, 51, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed.

Case Acquitted: Judge Denies Motion To Suppress Witness Identification In Homicide Case

Sutton was acquitted of murder and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence on March 23, 2023.

Parties in a murder case discussed June 8 the possibility of suppressing a witness’s identity as they prepare for trial.

On March 19, 2018, 22-year-old Aujee Tyler was shot and killed on the 3500 block of Stanton Road, SE. Kaevon Sutton was soon after charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license in connection to Tyler’s murder and has been held in DC Jail since.

The witness was present during the incident and told a Metropolitan Police Department detective of a conversation, which lead up to the shooting, where Tyler was lecturing Sutton over a stolen vehicle. Several days after the shooting, the detective presented the witness with a confirmatory photo, who the witness immediately identified as Sutton, who is also known as “Baby Ahk”.

The witness told the detective that Sutton and Tyler were in a music video and Sutton adorned the same clothing he wore in the music video.

Defense attorneys Terrence Austin and Joseph Wong argued that the witness wasn’t close enough to the conversation between Sutton and Tyler. In addition, Austin and Wong said that there was scarce information between the day of the shooting and the day the detective spoke to the witness.

Prosecutors said the relationship between the witness and Sutton was familiar enough, and, according to the testimony provided by the detective, the witness initiated the identification of Sutton.

DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo denied the defense’s motion to suppress the identification of the witness.

“[He] clearly had a full opportunity to focus on the defendant,” Judge Demeo said.

Wong and Terrence also filed a motion for discovery of petit jury selection materials. The motion, which was filed just three days prior to jury selection, has the potential to delay the jury selection process. To remedy the conflict, prosecutors requested a larger pool for jury selection.

“It’s not about the pool that is before us, it’s about challenging the selection process,” Wong said.

The defense also motioned for the defendant to have a fair cross-examination.

Judge Demeo’s limited schedule, along with a quick turnaround to resolve the defense’s motions, led the two parties to a standstill. The standstill ended when Judge Demeo vacated the trial, which was supposed to begin with jury selection on June 9.

“Continuances are difficult to endure…for the attorney, for the witnesses, for everyone involved,” Judge Demeo said.

The case will be transferred to Judge Robert Okun, who will address the motions at the next status hearing on June 10 and possibly set a new trial.

Document: Deadly Shooting in Northwest, Dc

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating the death of a 64-year-old in 2022.

At approximately 6:38 p.m. on April 22, officers responded to the 600 block of Kennedy Street, NW, due to a report of a shooting, according to a press release. Officers located a female victim and two adult males suffering from gunshot wounds.

The female victim, 64-year-old Phyllis Williams, succumbed to her injuries on May 8.

Mental Observation Hearing Continued as Forensic Psychologist Declares Defendant Competent to Stand Trial

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

The defendant is charged with two counts of first-degree sex abuse, kidnapping while armed with a dangerous weapon, and assault with a dangerous weapon in a 2020 case. He is being held at St. Elizabeths Hospital, Washington D.C.’s psychiatric hospital.

During the June 8 hearing, a forensic psychologist testified to the competency of the defendant.

“He is currently competent to stand trial,” said the psychologist.

The defendant was not delusional but instead had flexibility in his thinking, according to the psychologist, who defined delusions as fixed incorrect beliefs. The psychologist pointed to the defendant’s numerous letters to the court discussing the evidence of the case and the defendant’s reactions when his alleged evidence is contradicted.

The psychologist diagnosed the defendant with antisocial personality disorder.

Defense attorney Andrew Ain refuted this diagnosis in favor of his own expert who diagnosed the defendant with borderline personality disorder. However, the psychologist asserted that neither diagnosis would render the defendant incompetent.

The psychologist said the defendant has the capacity to choose to be cooperative and work with his counsel. Instead, the defendant is “making efforts to avoid lengthy prison time and stay at St. Elizabeths hospital.”

Despite the defendant’s lack of compliance with testing, the psychologist was able to complete the Inventory of Legal Knowledge test, a test used to assist psychologists in determining competency. The defendant passed, showing a general understanding of legal ideas.

The hearing is set to continue on June 9.

Document: Arrest Made in 2020 Homicide

The Metropolitan Police Department has made an arrest in relation to a 2020 homicide.

At approximately 2:54 a.m. on October 11, 2020, officers responded to the 2300 block of Green Street, SE, due to sounds of gunshots. Upon arrival, officers located 31-year-old Noelle Wilson with gunshot wounds. She died from her injuries, according to the press release.

On June 9, officers arrested 29-year-old Kavon Jackson and charged him with first-degree murder while armed, according to the press release.

Judge Schedules New Trial Date for Reopened Murder Case

During a June 8 hearing, the retrial of a murder defendant was rescheduled for Oct. 30, 2023.

In 2014, Arik Sims was found guilty of first-degree murder while armed with a firearm, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm, and misdemeanor offense of carrying a pistol.

Sims was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the shooting of 29-year-old Lamar Fonville on Sept. 20, 2012, on the 4700 block of Georgia Avenue, NW.

The case was reopened in September of 2019 after the defense told the court that two hearsay statements were admitted in the 2014 trial.

The trial date was originally scheduled for April 24, but then was adjusted to Oct. 30, 2023. The trial is expected to last five to seven days.

A trial readiness hearing is set for July 14, 2023.

Defendant Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in 2019 Fatal Shooting

A defendant pleaded guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter while armed with a firearm and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm during a hearing on June 2.

Jerome Alexander, 28, pleaded guilty to shooting Richard Washington on Dec. 19, 2019, on the 3900 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE.

According to court documents, Washington was found by Metropolitan Police Department officers on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound to the chest.

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan informed the court that the offense of voluntary manslaughter while armed carries a potential maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine.

As part of the plea deal, Alexander may also serve anywhere from 9.5 years to 14 years for unlawful possession of a firearm. The sentences would run concurrently.

Alexander is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 9.

Murder Trial Resumes with Prosecutors calling Witnesses to Testify

The homicide trial of two defendants resumed on June 7 with prosecutors calling seven witnesses to testify.

Co-defendants Saquan Williams, 20, and Quincy Garvin, 22, are charged with conspiracy, first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm, and criminal street gang affiliation in connection to the shooting of 24-year-old Carl Hardy on the 1200 block of I Street, SE, on Sept. 10, 2017. Hardy succumbed to his injuries on Oct. 1, 2017, at Prince George’s Hospital Center in Maryland.

The prosecution called two Metropolitan Police Department detectives who assisted with the processing of another shooting scene at a parking lot on the 2400 block of Elvans Road, SE on Sept. 27, 2017. One detective testified to the collection of several 9mm cartridge casings and one projectile, which the prosecution moved into evidence.

According to court documents, the casings recovered on the scene of this shooting matched the casings recovered from the shooting of Carl Hardy.

During cross-examination, Kevin Robertson, Williams’ defense lawyer, argued that the detective did not personally collect or mark the evidence.

An MPD officer testified that he was called to respond to an additional May 2017 report of gunshots fired on the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road, SE. He said he pursued 27-year-old Demario Porter on foot after seeing him flee the scene. The officer testified that he recovered a handgun in Porter’s right jacket pocket upon arrest.

Another MPD detective testified that he investigated a further incident on the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road, SE on Sept. 17, 2017. He stated that he reviewed video footage of multiple individuals firing weapons, running to a Honda Accord and stashing firearms in the trunk. He said a white Infiniti Sedan was also struck by gunfire.

The detective, who was present for the execution of the search warrant on the two vehicles recovered from the scene, identified the firearms that were stashed in the Honda Accord as a Glock 43 pistol, an AR-15 style firearm and a Cobray CM-11. The prosecution showed these weapons to the detective and the jury and entered them into evidence.

The detective testified to recovering three magazines containing live rounds that matched these firearms, including a large capacity magazine matching the AR-15 style rifle. A witness said the magazine was capable of holding 30 rounds, but only 11 cartridges were recovered from inside the clip.

Casings also matched a separate incident on the 700 block of 13th Street on Aug. 10, 2017.

The prosecution attempted to call an additional witness associated with MPD with the intention of eliciting contextual information about the sharing of weapons and drug use among members of a gang of which the defendants are allegedly a part.

However, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun sustained the defense counsel’s objection on the grounds that there was not sufficient linkage between the testimony and the defendants.

Steven Kirsch, Garvin’s defense attorney, renewed his motion to sever Garvin’s case from Williams’. Judge Okun denied the motion.

The trial is scheduled to resume June 8.

Judge Continues Probation Hearing for Domestic Violence, Sex Abuse Defendant

A D.C. Superior Court judge continued a mental observation hearing in a felony domestic violence case.

Idris Webster was initially charged with aggravated assault knowingly in 2019. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor sex abuse and aggravated assault knowingly with grave risk three months later.

As part of the plea, Judge Ronna Beck sentenced the defendant to five years of probation and three years of supervised release on Nov. 15, 2019. The defendant was required to undergo domestic violence and sex abuse intervention with substance abuse and mental health assistance. He was permitted to reside and serve out his probation in Tennessee.

During a June 6 hearing, D.C. Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo and attorneys discussed a new pretrial report stating the defendant had been arrested in Tennessee and charged with public intoxication and disorderly conduct.

Judge Demeo said the charges against the defendant in the Washington D.C. case are much more severe than the charges filed in Tennessee.

Judge Demeo also said the sole letter she received from the defendant’s outpatient provider does not verify the extent of the treatment Webster is undergoing and requested more documentation. Judge Demeo continued the proceeding to allow time for counsel to get more information.

The prosecution argued the letter’s age indicates it is outdated and noted the defendant was arrested for another violation two months after finishing his previous mental health treatment.

Webster is scheduled to appear in court next on June 11, when the judge is expected to issue a ruling on his probation.

Search