Expert Witness Connects Six Shootings to Defendants in Murder Trial

On Sept. 29, the prosecution used expert witnesses to connect six shootings to the three co-defendants who are being tried for a murder.

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. Jennings is accused of sharing criminal information with Turner during her time working as a clerk for the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

The third co-defendant Duan Hill, 33, is charged with conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Turner is also 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.

During Thursday’s trial, the prosecution focused on six different shootings in a timeline of events from November 2016 to March 2017 during questioning.

A forensic firearm specialist, who is a “distinguished member of the Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners (AFTE),” testified about the connection between the six shootings.

The witness confirmed that the casings from all six shootings matched the weapon, a .10 millimeter Glock found in Turner’s car seven days after McPhatter’s shooting.

Defense attorney Michael Madden cross-examined the witness on the reliability of his comparison of the bullet casings. He referenced an article by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) critiquing AFTE’s methodology.

Madden said there was no evidence connecting the defendants to the shootings.

DC Superior Court Judge Marisa J. Demeo set the trial to continue on Oct. 3.

Document: Police Arrest 25-Year-Old for Non-Fatal Shooting

Detectives with the Metropolitan Police Department arrested a 25-year-old, charging him with assault with a dangerous weapon (gun).

According to the press release, officers found an adult male victim on Dec. 7, 2021, suffering from a gunshot wound on the 1400 block of Fairmont Street, NW. The victim was treated at a local hospital for non life-threatening injuries.

Issues Arise Between Parties About Evidence in Homicide Trial

During a Sept. 28 homicide trial, defense attorney Michael Madden objected to the prosecutor’s choice of evidence, saying the defense was unprepared to discuss evidence from social media platforms.

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.

Turner is also 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 during her time working as a clerk for the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The third co-defendant Duan Hill, 33, is charged with conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

The prosecution introduced a Special Agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) who identified both Turner and Jennings from his job. This witness stated that he has investigated the feud between the Wahler Place and Trenton Park neighborhoods by undergoing witness interviews and examining police reports and databases.

The prosecution began interrogating the witness on social media sources, such as Instagram and YouTube. The prosecutor also questioned witnesses on google searches.

“I feel almost unprepared to cross-examine [this witness],” Madden said. He stated that the prosecution needs to anticipate what specific exhibits they will be referencing throughout their direct examination.

He also questioned this witness’ qualifications to testify about the feud between Wahler Place and Trenton Park. He said the prosecution has access to representatives from these neighborhoods that could testify about the feud instead.

After speaking with the prosecutor, Madden said he does not anticipate further delays and the prosecution identified the relevant documents that they will be referencing.

Madden then stated that he will review those documents during the weekend. The prosecutor agreed to not exploring issues related to Instagram and google searches during the current witness’s testimony.

The prosecution also introduced three other witnesses. The first was a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer, who showed video footage of Turner’s arrest on March 11, 2017, from another officer’s body-worn camera (BWC). The officer testified that Turner’s arrest was without incident. “He was just calm, respectful. Just acting normal,” the officer said.

He also said police officers on the site confiscated two telephones as evidence.

A MPD detective that works in the homicide branch testified about the McPhatter shooting. He discussed searching a vehicle that was seized from the site. “There was a glock, a 10 mm firearm” in the glove compartment,” he said.

He also mentioned obtaining two search warrants to undergo a complete extraction, or a content download, of two cell-phones that were collected during Turner’s arrest.

DC Superior Court Judge Marisa J. Demeo set the trial to continue on Sept 29.

Judge Changes Supervision So Sex Assault Defendant Can Go to High School

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt modified the hours of a sexual assault defendant’s supervision program, allowing him to continue to attend high school.

On Aug. 1, Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to a call and found the defendant, 18, and the complainant in a parking lot on the 1500 block of Rhode Island Avenue NW. The complainant was barely conscious.

When officers viewed surveillance footage that showed the defendant moving the complaint behind a vehicle and bending her over, according to court documents.

A witness told police that the defendant looked as if he was having sex with the complainant.

Officers detained the defendant and called the Sexual Assault Unit, who arrested the defendant. Officers found several of items of the complainant’s property on the defendant, including a multicolored clutch and rings, the documents stated.

The defendant was charged the next day with fourth-degree sex abuse and robbery.

At the Thursday hearing, defense attorney Joseph Yarbough requested that the defendant be allowed to go to school and finish his high school diploma.

The prosecutor opposed the motion, saying it had not been long enough to be sure the defendant would be safe re-entering the community.

However, Judge Brandt granted the motion, permitting the defendant to leave his house between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on the weekdays. The defendant is also permitted to leave between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekends.

“This is your one and only chance,” Judge Brandt told the defendant, saying if he broke his curfew once she would have him detained at the DC Jail.

“Be conscious of the fact that even if it’s mom or dad, it’s the bus, whatever it is, if you’re not home at 5:30, you’re the only one that’ll be put in orange,” Judge Brandt said.

The parties are scheduled to reconvene on Oct. 31 for a felony status conference.

Judge Releases Homicide Defendant from Jail

A homicide defendant was released after less than a month in the DC Jail during a Sept. 29 preliminary hearing.

On Sept. 2, 39-year-old Archie Moore was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, driving under the influence, and reckless driving after a high-speed crash on the 200 block of 51st Street, SE, which resulted in the death of 60-year-old Rebecca Manley. When hospitalized after the crash, Moore told staff he “did PCP and marijuana.” Officers found marijuana in his car, according to court records.

When Moore’s case was arraigned on Sept. 3, the prosecutor requested he be held in the DC Jail due to the danger presented to the community. DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park held Moore.

However, at the Thursday hearing, the preliminary hearing in the case, the prosecutor announced that she was no longer pursuing the hold.

Defense attorney Roderick Thompson asked DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt to grant Moore release on his personal promise to return to court.

Judge Brandt granted the motion and filed an order for Moore to be released from the DC Jail immediately.

The parties are scheduled to reconvene for a status hearing on Oct. 21.

Judge Reschedules Non-fatal Shooting Defendant’s Hearing

DC Superior Judge Jason Park rescheduled a non-fatal shooting defendant’s felony hearing date to October.

The 38-year-old defendant is charged with second-degree burglary, unlawful discharge of a firearm, possession with the intent to distribute – marijuana, carrying a pistol without a license, possession of unregistered ammunition, possession of an unregistered firearm and destruction of property for allegedly shooting at Metropolitan Police Department officers in the area of Georgia Avenue and Kennedy Street, NW on Sept. 7.

According to court documents, officers found a man that matched the description of the suspect around the same location.

When officers approached the individual, he began to run, documents state. They found him in an alleyway where the individual allegedly fired in an officer’s direction when confronted.

After the defendant left the alleyway, he found his way into a home through the back rear door. Once he entered the home, there were sounds of two more shots and glass breaking inside the home.

The defendant proceeded to the roof of the home where he attempted to get rid of the gun by throwing it onto the street nearby.

The weapon was recovered by an officer who also happened to be on the scene.

After the defendant was apprehended, he was transferred to Washington Hospital Center for a medical evaluation.

The defendant is being held without bail.

The defendant’s next felony hearing is scheduled for Oct. 11.

Document: Police Charge Suspect in 51st Street Shooting

On Sept. 28, detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department charged 23-year-old Ky’Lee Palmer and charged him with first-degree murder while armed.

According to a press release, Palmer allegedly shot 60-year-old Barron Goodwin on Feb. 12, 2020, on the 800 block of 51st Street, SE.

Document: Police Seek to Identify Sex Abuse Suspect

The Metropolitan Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance to identify a sexual assault suspect.

According to a press release, the suspect allegedly engaged in unwanted sexual contact with victims on the 1000 block of 17th Street, NW and the 1100 block of New Hampshire Avenue, NW on Sept. 26.

The suspect is described as a white or Hispanic male, approximately 30-40 years old with a heavy build and slicked back hair.

Expert Witness Confirms Blood Stain in Victim’s Apartment was Hers

On Sept. 28, one of the prosecution’s expert witnesses testified about DNA test results that confirmed a blood stain found in the victim’s apartment was hers.

Darnell Sterling, 57, was arrested and charged with the second-degree murder of Olga Ooro, his 34-year-old girlfriend. According to court documents, Sterling was the last person reported to have seen Ooro before her disappearance on July 17, 2020. Sterling is accused of wrapping the victim’s body in bed sheets and putting her in the backseat of his Volkswagen Passat.

A DNA Technician testified that results from the blood stain matched the victim’s DNA.

The technician said he took samples of Ooro’s parents DNA to compare it.

During the investigation, a concierge at Ooro’s apartment building on the 300 block of Massachusetts Avenue, NW, testified to overhearing Sterling’s conversation with an unidentified male on July 18, 2020.

“Mr. Sterling mentioned to him he was at the beach with his girl,” the concierge said.

The witness continued, saying Sterling came over to the front desk and told her, “I left that bitch at the hotel because she didn’t want to go to the beach with me”.

During cross examination, defense attorney Howard McEachern pointed out that the witness never told the grand jury in January 2021 about that statement.

A Forensic Scientist with the Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) took photographs throughout the victim’s apartment including a photo of the victim’s mattress without sheets.

He testified that there didn’t appear to be any signs of struggle. The prosecution showed a photograph the witness took of the apartment. The prosecutor zoomed in on a dot that, at the time, DFS hadn’t noticed.

The next Forensic Scientist from DFS to testify had said she noticed a spot of suspected blood in the hallway about 6ft 3 inches high on the wall.

She said used Hemastix, a presumptive test that detects the presence of blood, to determine if the spot was blood spatter. The Hemastix turned green, indicating a positive sign for blood.

Referring to the small amount of blood, McEachern asked the witness “Is that amount of blood loss consistent with someone dying?” He also pointed out that there wasn’t any other blood found in the rest of the apartment.

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan scheduled the trial to resume on Sept. 29.

Judge Orders Prosecutor to Turn Over Names of Potential Eyewitnesses

The prosecutor admitted she did not interview several potential eyewitnesses to a homicide during a Sept. 29 status hearing. DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt ordered that she give the names of those witnesses to the defense.

On April 19, 2019, Demetrius Void, 35, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with the shooting death of 24-year-old Anthony Lawson on Sept. 25, 2018, on the 6200 block of Eastern Avenue NE. Lawson and Void were allegedly having a dispute over a gold Chevy Impala that belonged to Void’s mother, according to court records.

In the hearing on Thursday, defense attorneys Matthew Davies and Will Alley requested that the prosecutor turn over the names and contact information of all her witnesses. Several of these witnesses were at the gas station where the confrontation began, which was within sight of a bus stop where the shooting occurred.

“I’m not going to order the government to disclose its witnesses 11 months in advance of the trial,” Judge Brandt said. “You’ve got sufficient disclosure right now to start your defense.”

Alley noted that some of the testimony that had already been disclosed to the defense was contradictory, and that one witness was unable to identify Void in a photo array. The prosecutor, he argued, had the duty to disclose any other inconsistencies found during her investigation, pursuant to the Brady rule.

“All the inconsistencies have been turned over,” the prosecutor said. The prosecution had not interviewed everyone on the scene, the prosecutor admitted.

When Judge Brandt asked why the prosecution hadn’t sought to hear from everyone in the vicinity, the prosecutor said she discounted several individuals who she deemed to not have a clear vantage point of the shooting, and one individual who was “heavily intoxicated.”

That individual had been sitting at the bus stop, only feet away from the location of the shooting, when it occurred, the prosecutor said. Though she did not interview that witness, the prosecution has a name for him, which could either be his first name or an alias.

“I’m going to order that you turn over that name, as best you got it,” Judge Brandt told the prosecutor. “Let the defense go on a hunt [for him].”

On the day of the shooting in 2018, court records show that Void was seen by multiple witnesses approaching his mother at the gas station lot and asking for the keys to her gold Chevy Impala. Void’s mother was with Lawson at the lot, telling Metropolitan Police Department officers later that Lawson was her dealer for crack cocaine.

She refused to give Void the keys, and Lawson told Void “something to the effect of she ain’t giving you shit,” a witness told officers, according to court records.

Void then pulled a gun on his mother, beat her, and took the Impala. He drove off but returned to the scene some time later, standing with another man at the nearby bus stop. When Lawson left the gas station lot and headed in the direction of the bus stop, Void shot him, court records show.

The warrant issued for Void’s arrest charged him only with first-degree murder while armed. On Jan. 14, 2020, Void was indicted for six additional charges, including armed carjacking and three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence on top of the murder charge.

As the Thursday hearing concluded, Davies requested information about the people at the gas station who weren’t pursued by the prosecutor, who may or may not have had a clear line of sight.

“The Court of Appeals would probably have something to say about the prosecution having witnesses, potential eyewitnesses, and failing, for whatever reason it was, to interview them,” Judge Brandt said in her ruling.

The parties are scheduled to reconvene on Oct. 14 for a status hearing.

Docuement: Police ID Victim in Second Street Stabbing

The Metropolitan Police Department identified a victim in a stabbing that occurred on the 5100 block of 2nd Street, NW.

According to a press release, officers found 73-year-old Gloria Williams in an apartment Sept. 25 suffering from trauma during a welfare check. Williams died on the scene.

The Chief Medical Examiner for the District of Columbia said her death was caused by sharp force injuries.

Document: Suspects Sought in a Homicide

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on Sept. 24, on the 4500 block of Benning Road, SE.

At approximately 5:40 p.m., officers located two adult male victims suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.

One of the men, 26-year-old Antonio Taylor was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Prosecution Shows Jury Shooting-Related Evidence Found in Defendant’s Car

During a Sept. 27 jury trial, the prosecution presented several critical pieces of evidence found in the defendant’s car, including a gun and magazine cartridge, a fabric mask, and target shooting posters filled with bullets.

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. Jennings is accused of sharing criminal information with Turner during her time working as a clerk for the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

The third co-defendant Duan Hill, 33, is charged with conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Turner is also 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.

One witness, a forensic scientist from the Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS), was questioned about her work on the McPhatter crime scene on March 8, 2017.

The scientist said she recovered 23 cartridge casings and 14 projectile fragments from the scene, including one which had passed through the outside window into the lobby.

She also reportedly recovered ballistic fragments from two vehicles on the scene, both of which showed several bullet holes in their side doors and windows.

Although Turner refused to allow the scientist to enter his white Lexus, which was also on the scene, his and the other vehicles were towed back to the lab for processing.

There, the forensic scientist examined the bullet fragments in each car and found different brands of bullets and two different calibers. The scientist inferred that five different firearms may have been used in the shootings.

Next, the prosecution invited a different forensic scientist from DFS, who later processed Turner’s Lexus twice at the lab. Without access to Turner’s car keys, the scientist forced open the locked glove compartment, revealing a pistol with a loaded magazine as well as a black fabric mask found inside the back pocket of his driver’s seat.

The prosecution showed each physical item to the jury.

In Turner’s trunk, the forensic scientist also found several posters, intended for shooting practice of the human upper body. The prosecution showed each poster to the jury, displaying the numerous apparent bullet holes scattered throughout each.

Jennings is specifically accused of sharing criminal intelligence with Turner during her time working as a clerk for the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

The trial is scheduled to continue on Oct. 4.

Document: Suspect and Vehicle Sought in an Assault

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a shooting that took place on Sept. 27, on the 1500 block of Good Hope Road, SE.

At approximately 10:00 p.m., officers located one adult male victim and one juvenile male victim, conscious and breathing, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.

Sex Abuse Defendant Receives 5-Year Sentence for Attacks Committed Against Strangers

On Sept. 27, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan sentenced a sex abuse defendant to five years in prison for assaults against two women.

Kenneth Pollard, 55, pleaded guilty to third-degree sex abuse, second-degree burglary, and misdemeanor sex abuse for two incidents in which he inappropriately touched two women. On June 14, 2020, Pollard approached a woman and grabbed her buttocks and thighs at a bus stop on the 3400 block of Capitol Street, SE.

Over a year later, on Aug. 31, 2021, Pollard targeted another woman at a bus stop on the 4000 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE. He grabbed her from behind and put her into a chokehold. Surveillance footage showed the victim fleeing to a nearby business and the defendant following her inside the business and dragging her outside.

When determining the sentence, Judge Raffinan recognized Pollard’s history of substance abuse and childhood abuse but also noted the “irreversible damage” he caused both victims, especially the victim involved in the Minnesota Avenue incident.

Outside, he groped her breasts, and unbuttoned his pants, exposing his penis, and shouting, “You’re gonna have my baby,” court documents stated.

Bystanders intervened and helped diffuse the situation.

The prosecution described this attack as “animalistic” but stated that the defendant was under the influence, which was evidenced by “his glassy eyes.”

Pollard’s defense attorney, William Alley, said his client’s substance abuse issues stemmed from years of homelessness and childhood abuse.

Pollard issued an apology to the judge and victim for his “disrespect towards women.” He also said he was not aware of his actions at the time as he was under the influence of PCP, a hallucinogenic drug. Pollard expressed his desire to seek drug treatment and mental health therapy.

The victim involved in the Minnesota Avenue was not present; however, her attorney stated that she quit her internship and is unable to revisit the area where her attack occurred.

As part of his sentence, Pollard is required to register as a sex offender for 10 years.

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