Parties in a murder case discussed DNA testing and a change in defense counsel during a recent hearing as they prepare to go to trial later this year.
Co-defendants Maurice Johnson and Jermaine Harris are indicted on charges including first-degree murder while armed in connection with the shooting of 38-year-old Lamar Walters outside a bodega on the 2400 block of Franklin Street, NE. The homicide took place on Jan. 6, 2020. Johnson, 23, and Harris, 20, were arrested the following April.
During the two’s most recent hearing on May 9, Jason Clark and Thomas Key were appointed to replace Jon Norris as Johnson’s defense counsel. DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt scheduled a hearing to discuss DNA testing for June 17.
Harris intends to waive his right to independent DNA testing under the Innocence Protection Act. His presence is expected to be waived for the upcoming hearing.
Judge Brandt said the trial is set to begin towards the end of November. Parties agreed to potentially postpone opening arguments to Dec. 5.
Both parties said they plan to call expert witnesses outside Washington. Expert notice is due by July 29, which is also the due date for any additional defense motions.
Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating the fatal shooting of a 38-year-old man.
At approximately 9:30 p.m. on May 10, officers responded to the 2600 block of Stanton Road, SE, for the report of a shooting, according to a press release. There, they found James Curtis suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
D.C. Witness data shows an approximately 67 percent decrease in homicides in April from the previous month.
There were nine recorded homicides in April, down from the 15 homicides recorded in March and an approximate 189 percent decrease from April 2021, according to the data.
All of April’s homicide victims, except for one, died in shootings.
The majority of victims were killed in Northeast, DC.
Arrests have been made in reference to three April homicides, including the stabbing of a woman that occurred less than one year after she was charged in relation to the death of her two-month-old son.
Ladonia Boggs was killed during the early hours of April 27. Officers found the 39-year-old victim in an apartment on the 1500 block of Benning Road, NE, suffering from a stab wound. She was pronounced dead at the scene. That same day, 44-year-old Charles Jones was arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed. Detectives believe the homicide was domestic in nature.
Prior to her death, Boggs was charged with tampering with physical evidence after her child, two-month-old Kyon Jones, went missing.
On May 7, 2021, officers responded to the same apartment where she’d later be found dead to conduct a welfare check. Boggs did not make representations as to her child’s whereabouts and the Metropolitan Police Department’s homicide branch took investigative responsibility for the case.
According to court documents, Boggs allegedly told detectives that she woke up to find her stomach on top of the baby, who was no longer breathing, and threw him into a dumpster outside their home.
Boggs was charged on May 15, 2021. A DC Superior Court judge allowed her to be released awaiting trial. Prosecutors have dismissed the case in response to her death.
Police also arrested a suspect in reference to the fatal shooting of 41-year-old Douglas Jerome Johnson on April 6.
Officers responded to the 4800 block of North Capitol Street, NE, that morning and found Johnson suffering from gunshot wounds. D’Andre Brewer, 25, was apprehended by responding officers and charged with first-degree murder while armed.
On May 10, a 16-year-old male suspect was arrested in reference to the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Malachi Jackson on April 11 on the 3000 block of 13th Street, NW. Jackson was the youngest homicide victim in April.
The average age of April’s homicide victim’s was approximately 33 years old. The oldest victim, 62-year-old Gregory Burton, was shot to death on April 15 on the 1500 block of Good Hope Road, SE. As of April 11, no arrest has been made in reference to his death.
A 16-year-old juvenile male suspect has been arrested in reference to the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Malachi Jackson.
At approximately 10:50 p.m. on April 11, officers responded to the 3000 block of 13th Street, NW, for the report of a shooting, according to a press release. They found Jackson there, suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The suspect was arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed on May 10.
A defendant pleaded guilty to shooting a man multiple times in the Shaw neighborhood of Northwest, DC.
On the night of March 31, 2021, Anthony Whitted and Nicolas Hawkins were playing a dice game on the 600 block of O Street, NW. Shortly after Hawkins rolled the dice, Whitted shot him multiple times, according to the prosecution. He continued to fire at Hawkins as other individuals ran before speeding away from the scene in a Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The vehicle was later found abandoned on the 1300 block of Congress Street, SE. Hawkins sustained 12 gunshot wounds to his head and body. He was 29 years old.
Whitted, 27, was initially charged with second-degree murder while armed. During a May 10 hearing, he pleaded down to voluntary manslaughter while armed.
As part of the plea deal, parties agreed to recommend a prison sentence in the eight-and-a-half to 11-year range.
DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt scheduled Whitted to be sentenced on Aug. 8.
Carlisha Elligan was initially charged with negligent homicide for her role in a fatal traffic accident but pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and reckless driving during a May 9 hearing.
Elligan, 37, struck 44-year-old Armin Amin-Toomaji with the Mercedes-Benz she was driving as he attempted to cross 9th Street, NW, according to court documents.
DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo asked Eilligan if she decided to take the plea offer on her own.
“Yes, Your Honor,” she replied.
Judge Demeo scheduled Eilligan to be sentenced on Sept. 16. In the meantime, the defendant will remain released on her promise to return to court. She has been in compliance with her release conditions.
A suspect has been arrested in reference to the homicide of a 22-year-old man.
At approximately 11:25 p.m. on May 8, officers responded to the 2800 block of Hartford Street, SE, for the report of a man down and found Antonio Jones suffering from apparent puncture and laceration wounds, according to a press release.
On May 9, 35-year-old Marcel Jackson was arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed.
Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating the death of a 66-year-old pedestrian who was struck by a Toyota Prius.
The accident occurred at approximately 9:48 p.m. on May 8, according to a press release. The Toyota Prius was traveling southbound on the 5300 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW, when it struck the pedestrian as he crossed the street.
The pedestrian has been identified as Clinton Covington, of Northwest, DC. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating the death of a 22-year-old man.
At approximately 11:25 p.m. on May 8, officers responded to the 2800 block of Hartford Street, SE, for the report of a man down, according to a press release. There, they found Antonio Jones suffering from apparent puncture and laceration wounds. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
A domestic violence trial ended with a DC Superior Court judge declaring a mistrial.
The defendant, in this case, is charged with cruelty to children, threat to injure or kidnap a person and simple assault. Prosecutors accused him 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, D.C. Witness previously reported. Defense attorney Kevin Mosley argued his client was trying to protect their child from his mother.
Parties delivered their closing arguments on Tuesday, May 3 before Judge Rainey Brandt sent the jurors to begin deliberating. They continued their deliberations on May 4, but on May 9, Judge Brandt declared a mistrial due to illness, according to court documents.
D.C. Witness does not know the specifics of what illness caused the mistrial. There was a pause in the trial early on due to a defense attorney testing positive for COVID, but this is not confirmed to be the reasoning.
Parties are scheduled to meet in court for a status hearing on May 13 so prosecutors can have time to decide how they want to proceed with the case. In the meantime, the defendant will remain detained at DC Jail.
A suspect has been arrested in reference to a deadly shooting that took place in March.
On the morning of March 4, Metropolitan Police Department officers found 42-year-old Sedrick Miller suffering from apparent gunshot wounds on the 2300 block of 18th Street, NE, according to a press release.
On May 6, 27-year-old Jarrell David Harris was arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed.
Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating the fatal shooting of a 32-year-old man.
At approximately 4:29 p.m. on May 6, officers responded to the 2300 block of Nicholson Street, SE, for the report of a shooting, according to a press release. There, they found Rashad Davis suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
