Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating the fatal stabbing of a 59-year-old man in Northwest, DC.
At approximately 2:49 a.m. on May 4, officers responded to the 3000 block of Rodman Street, NW, for the report of an unconscious male, according to a press release. There, they found Daniel McKinney in the hallway of a residential building, suffering from an apparent stab wound. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
A DC Superior Court judge ruled that a domestic homicide case has enough evidence to go to trial, ordering that the defendant remain detained at DC Jail as he awaits his next court date.
Marcus Isom is accused of stabbing his uncle, 67-year-old Michael Stover, to death in a home on the 500 block of 55th Street, NE, on Jan. 3. He is charged with second-degree murder while armed.
Isom’s preliminary hearing began on May 5 with the lead detective on the case describing the events leading up to the homicide.
The victim and defendant got into an argument when Isom, 42, accused Stover of stealing money from him during a New Year’s Eve party, according to court documents. Eventually, Stover stopped entertaining the conversation and laid on the bed face-up. A witness who was in the room at the time alleges that this is when Isom stabbed the victim in the abdomen. Isom allegedly told the witness to sit down, threatening to hurt her next.
The witness said she refused to call the police while the defendant was in the room in an effort to protect herself. She did not see the knife.
Defense attorney Jason Clark argued that the eyewitness’ story had too many holes and is not credible enough.
“The witness’s ability to obtain evidence is questionable,” he said.
The witness said they were smoking marijuana at the time. She also has short-term memory loss and cannot see far away.
Clark said the witness’s formerly intimate relationship with Stover created bias. During interviews with the police, the witness called Isom weird for trying to talk to her knowing she was involved with his uncle.
The prosecutor argued that Judge Robert Okun should find probable cause.
“When the decedent was stabbed, he was laying in his bed with his hands behind his back,” she said. “This was an act of violence and eyewitness testimony corroborates with the evidence.”
Judge Okun found probable cause, saying the witness’ information was corroborative and there is no evidence of self-defense. He ruled that Isom should remain detained based on his arrest history, the nature of the offense and the weight of the evidence.
A felony status conference is scheduled for July 13.
A DC Superior Court judge found probable cause in the case of a deadly January shooting in a Bellevue neighborhood residence.
Jinard Kearney, 35, is currently charged with second-degree murder while armed.
On Jan. 19, 32-year-old Darryl Hall was shot and killed in an apartment on the 4000 block of South Capitol Street, SW. An autopsy determined that he sustained two gunshot wounds to his back and one under his left armpit, according to court documents. Police believe the homicide was domestic in nature.
During Kearney’s preliminary hearing on May 3, a prosecutor called a Metropolitan Police Department detective to the witness stand and displayed photo and video evidence. He only questioned the detective for a few minutes, but defense attorney Quo Judkin‘s cross-examination took hours.
Judkins asked the detective about each witness one by one and went into great detail about the sequence of events surrounding the homicide. She argued that because there was no motive, no video footage proving her client was the last one seen with the victim, no blood spatter on the defendant and no weapon recovered, probable cause should not be found.
The prosecutor countered by pointing out witness statements that the defendant and victim were the only ones in the apartment at the time of the shooting. Clothing that did not belong to Hall was found in the apartment and video footage shows him leaving the building without clothes. The prosecutor also said the defendant was seen with a firearm earlier that day.
The defendant allegedly told a witness, “I don’t know what came over me.”
After Judge Rainey Brandt ruled that the case has enough evidence to go to trial, Judkins asked for his client’s release from DC Jail into the High Intensity Supervision Program with GPS monitoring. Judge Brandt quickly denied the request. Citing his previous convictions and pending misdemeanor cases, she said Kearney should remain detained to keep the community safe.
Kearney’s next hearing is scheduled for July 27.
Attorneys debated if the defendant in a 2019 sex abuse case is competent to stand trial.
Prosecutors have accused the defendant in this case of sexually assaulting two women while burglarizing three homes in Northwest, DC. He is indicted on 33 counts, which include charges of first-degree and third-degree sex abuse.
The defendant is being represented by Mani Golzari and Ashley Guzman. During opening statements, the defense counsel argued that the defendant fails to grasp basic concepts and has severe cognitive limitations that inhibit him from proceeding to trial. The defense team also asserts that he lacks factual and rational understanding.
The prosecution disagreed with this stance, arguing that the defendant understands his charges and the nature of the offenses he’s accused of committing, as someone who has cycled through the criminal justice system since he was 11 years old. They said he understands the basic facts of the legal system and has been heard having conversations about complex legal issues at St. Elizabeths Hospital, Washington’s psychiatric institution. Despite his low IQ, they assert the defendant is competent to stand trial.
The defense counsel called an expert in clinical forensics and neuropsychology to the witness stand during the first day of the proceedings on April 27. As someone who has evaluated the defendant three times over the course of three years, they have concluded that he is not competent to stand trial. This expert said the defendant has cognitive limitations and exhibits “childlike” behavior. He was appointed a legal guardian and has had trouble making decisions independently.
This particular expert disagrees with the personnel at St. Elizabeths Hospital, who believe the defendant is competent to stand trial.
During cross-examination, the prosecution reminded the court that the defendant was aware of concepts such as a hung jury, probation, legal parties, certain types of evidence, plea deals and sentencing guidelines. They said his competency was not questioned in his previous cases, with parties saying he was “undoubtedly competent.”
The prosecution also questioned how the expert evaluated the defendant and the conclusions drawn from the evaluations.
The Jackson hearing spanned from April 27 through April 29, with proceedings scheduled to pick back up on May 23.
A suspect has been arrested in relation to two misdemeanor sex abuse offenses and one simple assault offense.
The 42 year old is accused of making unwanted sexual contact with two victims on the morning of May 2- one at approximately 8:42 a.m. on the 3200 block of N Street, NW, and another at approximately 9:20 a.m. on the 2100 block of Wisconsin Avenue, NW. He was apprehended by responding officers after the second incident.
The suspect is also accused of placing his arms on a victim’s shoulder and back area near the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and M Street, NW.
Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a deadly shooting in Northeast, DC.
At approximately 3:17 p.m. on May 2, officers responded to the 1600 block of Benning Road, NE, for the report of a shooting, according to a press release. There, they found 45-year-old Junior Johnson suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
The death of a 58-year-old man in January has been ruled a homicide.
At approximately 12:00 a.m. on Jan. 25, Metropolitan Police Department officers found Eduardo Cruz in a vehicle on the 4800 block of Colorado Avenue, NW, unconscious and unresponsive. He had injuries consistent with an assault, according to a press release.
On Jan. 29, Cruz succumbed to his injuries. An autopsy determined his cause of death to be complications from blunt force trauma and his manner of death was ruled a homicide. Police say the investigation suggests the offense that took Cruz’s life occurred in a home on the 3700 block of Georgia Avenue, NW.
Less than two weeks after jurors in a murder trial delivered a partial verdict, a DC Superior Court judge set a retrial date.
Marquette Jordan is accused of stabbing 40-year-old Ivan Lynch to death on April 28, 2018, in an apartment on the 900 block of 5th Street, SE. Jordan, 30, was charged with first-degree murder while armed, armed robbery, carrying a dangerous weapon and simple assault. The jury found him not guilty of armed robbery and first-degree murder while armed but could not make a decision on the other charges or the lesser-included homicide offenses.
During the most recent hearing for this case on April 26, the prosecution told Judge Rainey Brandt they plan to retry the case on charges of second-degree murder while armed, carrying a dangerous weapon and simple assault. The trial is expected to last two weeks.
Jordan urged his lawyer, Elliot Queen, to ask Judge Brandt to recuse herself from the case, believing her to be biased against him. Judge Brandt denied the request.
“Mr. Jordan has contributed to the court’s aggravation and tone because he can’t sit like an adult who is on trial for his liberties,” Queen said.
Queen requested Jordan’s release into home confinement, given that he has been acquitted of the most serious charge he faced. Prosecutors opposed the request, saying the defendant has a previous aggravated assault conviction, has been involved in multiple incidents at the DC Jail and is a flight risk.
Judge Brandt told Queen she would look over a written bond review motion before making a decision.
A motion hearing is scheduled for Aug. 10. with the trial beginning on Aug. 16.
Two suspects in a January homicide were apprehended in Georgia.
At approximately 8:36 p.m. on Jan. 21, Metropolitan Police Department detectives responded to the 3800 block of Commodore Joshua Barney Drive, NE, for the report of a shooting, according to a press release. There, they found 20-year-old Marquette White suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
On April 28, members of the Atlanta Police Department apprehended 19-year-old Maurice Williams, Jr. and 18-year-old Seaun McDowney, who were wanted on a DC Superior Court arrest warrant for first-degree murder while armed in connection with White’s death.
A man was arrested in the aftermath of a fatal stabbing that police believe was domestic in nature.
At approximately 2:52 a.m. on April 27, officers responded to the 1500 block of Benning Road, NE, for the report of a stabbing. They found 39-year-old Ladonia Boggs suffering from an apparent stab wound. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
That same day, 44-year-old Carl Jones was arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed.
A DC Superior Court judge found probable cause for a second defendant charged in connection with a deadly assault near the intersection of Clay Terrace and 53rd Street, NE.
Antonio Hensley, 29, is charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of 33-year-old Andre Robertson. He is charged alongside the victim’s cousin, 33-year-old Darius Robertson.
Andre was assaulted close to midnight on Oct. 1, 2021, and died from his injuries the next day. Darius was arrested the following December.
A judge ruled that his case had enough evidence to go to trial during a preliminary hearing on Feb. 18. Hensley was arrested five days later.
During Hensley’s preliminary hearing on April 26, the lead detective displayed several items of evidence, including surveillance footage and phone records.
The footage depicts the cousins and another individual fighting when Hensley enters the frame and brandishes what appears to be a firearm.
He seemingly knocks Andre onto his back before Darius charges the victim, beating him while he was on the ground unconscious. Hensley appeared to attempt to stomp on the victim before leaving the scene.
During cross-examination, defense attorneys Austin Terrance and Kevann Gardner questioned the detective on the legitimacy of the witness’ statements.
None of the witnesses interviewed saw the attack. Instead, they only heard of the attack or saw the aftermath.
The defense team established that there was so much PCP in the victim’s system that first responders could smell it. Gardner concluded his line of questioning by noting how Hensley has no relationship with the victim nor bias towards him. He was also didn’t communicate with Darius before or after the incident.
Gardner said there Is no preponderance of the evidence that could prove Hensley had any intent to kill the Andre. Gardner argue that Hensley was only standing by, and the fight approached him. He said there was no way of deciding who delivered the fatal blow.
The prosecutor replayed the footage of the incident, saying the two men beat another person to death. He asked Judge Milton Lee to find probable cause for the charge of second-degree murder.
Judge Lee ruled that there was enough evidence to establish probable cause.
“He had nothing to do with this and he did it anyway,” he said as he gave his decision.
After Judge Lee found probable cause, Austin requested his client’s release from DC Jail under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP), saying he is not a danger to the community and has a family that depends on him.
The prosecution asked for him to remain detained based on the nature of the alleged offense and Hensley’s criminal history, which includes two prior arrests in 2017 for allegedly selling PCP and carrying an illegal firearm.
Judge Lee agreed to keep Hensley detained, saying “it is not even a close call.”
Hensley is scheduled to return to court with Darius on June 3 for a felony status conference.
A domestic violence trial continued into its second day with the prosecution calling five people to the witness stand.
The defendant is charged with cruelty to children, threat to kidnap or injure a person and simple assault. He is accused of attacking a woman outside a homeless shelter as she held their 18-day-old son in a car seat, injuring the baby in the process. The defense asserts he was trying to protect his son from his mother.
During the second day of the trial on April 26, the prosecutor called a security officer at the shelter to testify. This witness said they heard an argument between the victim and defendant and saw the defendant attack the victim.
Two officers who were present at the scene took to the witness stand. One of them recalled the woman having bloody lips. During cross-examination, it was revealed that when the victim was asked whether she had a bloody lip or if she was wearing red lipstick, she replied that she was wearing red lipstick.
Three more witnesses delivered testimony before the court took a lunch break. During the break, the defense attorney was notified that he had come in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo told him to get a rapid test. He tested positive.
The trial was scheduled to resume on May 2.
A sexual assault case was dismissed without prejudice.
DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan heard from the defense, prosecutor and medical representation on the possibility of dismissing the case on April 27. The defendant was not present for the hearing, despite attempts to send him a judicial summons in February.
The victim wrote a statement advocating for the criminal case to remain open, which was read by her lawyer during the proceedings. In it, she states that she has waited four years for justice.
The defendant was charged with assault with intent to commit first-degree sexual abuse. After being found incompetent to stand trial, he was transferred to St. Elizabeths Hospital, Washington’s psychiatric institute, in late 2017. After spending a few years there, he was released to a halfway house. He was not contacted until two weeks after his release and the court has had difficulty getting ahold of him ever since.
The statutory timeline for the case to remain open would end on Aug. 28. Judge Raffinan decided that, based on the circumstances of the case, it would be dismissed without prejudice.
Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred in Northeast, DC.
At approximately 3:25 p.m. on April 25, officers responded to the 5200 block of Just Street, NE, for the report of a shooting, according to a press release. There, they found 22-year-old Kinnon Abdullah suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating the fatal shooting of a Virginia man in Northeast, DC.
At approximately 11:35 p.m. on April 25, officers responded to the 5000 block of South Dakota Avenue, NE, for the report of a shooting and a traffic accident, according to a press release. There, they found 26-year-old Zekariya Elmi suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
