Jury in Murder Trial Delivers Partial Verdict, Again

A jury found Marquette Jordan not guilty of first-degree murder while armed in the death of Ivan Lynch. They are still deliberating over the lesser-included charge of second-degree murder while armed.

Jordan, 30, is accused of stabbing 40-year-old Lynch to death on April 28, 2018, in an apartment on the 900 block of 5th Street, SE.

The trial began on March 28 and ended with closing arguments on April 7. The jury has been in deliberations ever since.

On April 12, they found Jordan not guilty of armed robbery but were deadlocked on the murder charge. They are still deliberating the charges of carrying a dangerous weapon and simple assault.

Document: Two Homicides on April 16

The Metropolitan Police Department announced that two separate homicides occurred on April 16.

At approximately 4:08 a.m. officers responded to the 1100 block of Raum Street, NE, due to a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located 26-year-old John Jones inside a vehicle with gunshot wounds. He was later pronounced dead, according to the press release.

At approximately 10:44 a.m. officers responded to the 1200 block of Southern Avenue, SE, due to a report of a shooting, Upon arrival, officers located 28-year-old Darron Holmes with gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on scene, according to the press release.

Judge Finds Probable Cause for Case of Deadly Stabbing in Congress Heights Neighborhood

A DC Superior Court judge found probable cause that a woman committed second-degree murder while armed in relation to a deadly stabbing in the Congress Heights neighborhood.

Wayniece Ellis is accused of stabbing 41-year-old Tayla Wright to death on the 600 block of Parkland Place, SE, on Oct. 7, 2021. The two were panhandling in front of a Crown gas station when they got into an argument. Wright threw rocks at Ellis and spit at her before the defendant pulled out a knife, according to court documents.

Ellis allegedly stabbed Wright multiple times before being apprehended by first responders.

During an April 13 preliminary hearing, the lead detective on the case testified that the 29-year-old defendant said she felt “guilty as hell” and alleged that Wright tried to stab her in the aftermath of the deadly altercation. Officers found Ellis with a knife in her hand and injuries consistent with wounds from a knife, according to court documents.

Conversations with eyewitnesses indicate Ellis was the only one who possessed a knife during the incident, the detective said.

Defense attorney Quo Judkins questioned the credibility of the witnesses based on their relationships with Wright and the possibility that they were intoxicated when the stabbing took place. The detective testified that one of the witnesses did seem intoxicated because they slurred their words and had difficulty standing up and walking.

Judkins asked the lead detective if he knew Ellis and Wright were in a romantic relationship before the stabbing. The lead detective said he was aware of the relationship.

He said the two would fight a lot over Wright being intoxicated in front of Ellis’ child. Wright was staying with Ellis before getting kicked out for destroying property. The couple was later arrested for disorderly affray when they fought each other in public.

Judge Robert Okun ruled that the case has enough evidence to go to trial. He denied a request to release Ellis from custody with GPS monitoring.

Parties in this case are scheduled to reconvene for a status hearing on June 9.

Document: 62-Year-Old Shot to Death in Southeast, DC

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating the fatal shooting of a 62-year-old man.

At approximately 12:39 a.m. on April 15, officers responded to the 1500 block of Good Hope Road, SE, for the report of a shooting, according to a press release. They found the victim, Gregory Burton, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Judge Finds Probable Cause in Sex Abuse Case After Hearing Detective’s Testimony

A detective from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Sexual Assault Unit testified during a preliminary hearing for a defendant facing sex abuse and burglary charges.

Last July, police responded to a possible burglary in a Deanwood neighborhood apartment. Upon arrival, they learned that a sexual assault had also allegedly occurred. A detective from the Sexual Assault Unit responded to the scene and initiated an investigation. In February, a 24-year-old man was arrested and charged with fourth-degree sex abuse and first-degree burglary.

During the defendant’s preliminary hearing on April 12, a Sexual Assault Unit detective testified that the victim said she returned from a birthday party at approximately 5 a.m. on the day of the incident and fell asleep. Her cousin and two younger children were in the apartment at the time. The victim says she woke up to an unknown man molesting her, according to court documents.

The victim grabbed a frying pan and pursued the man into the next room. He escaped through an open window after she grabbed a knife from the kitchen, she says. Five out of six fingerprints from the window matched the defendant.

A crime scene technician arrived at the scene and collected a DNA sample from the victim’s body. The swabs pointed to the defendant as one of the contributors to the DNA.

During cross-examination, the detective confirmed to defense attorney Sara Kopecki that she was not the initial officer on the investigation. She said there were no signs of forced entry into the apartment, which did not appear to have been ransacked when officers arrived. However, the victim did say her purse had been dumped out.

The detective said the victim hadn’t left the window open and had not seen the defendant open the window. According to the detective, the complainant could not find her phone to call 911 and went to the neighbor’s house to see if they could call. When the neighbors did not answer the door, the victim stopped a passerby, who called the police.

According to court documents, the 911 caller was interviewed and reported that they observed a man walk out the front door of the apartment building and walked around the building. The witness said they heard a car beep, like the sound when a button on a key fob is pressed and saw a car parked in front of the building.

The victim and defendant do not know each other but have a remote connection through the victim’s sister.

Judge Marisa Demeo ruled that there is enough evidence for this case to go to trial. Kopecki asked for her client to be released from DC Jail, while the prosecution wanted him to remain detained.

The prosecutor read a letter from the victim, which stated, “I am scared to live alone again.”

“He needs help,” the victim stated about the defendant.

Judge Demeo said the evidence against the defendant is strong and called the nature of the offense troubling. She said there are no release conditions or combinations of release conditions that would ensure the community’s safety.

The defendant will remain at DC Jail while he awaits his next hearing, which is scheduled for May 12.

Preliminary Hearing Concludes With Judge Releasing Murder Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge released a murder defendant from DC Jail at the end of a preliminary hearing.

On the evening of Jan. 19, 2021, Metropolitan Police Department officers found two men in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the Mayfair neighborhood of Northeast, DC, according to court documents. One of them, 32-year-old Tyrone Wright, had been shot in the head, body and legs. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The other man sustained a gunshot wound to the upper right leg. He was taken to a hospital in stable condition, but died from natural causes later in the year.

Two defendants, Ronald Wallace and DeAngelo Glover, are charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with Wright’s death. Glover was arrested less than two months after the homicide and had his preliminary hearing the following May, during which a judge ruled that his case has enough evidence to go to trial.

Wallace, 48, was arrested last February. His preliminary hearing began on April 12 with testimony from the lead Metropolitan Police Department detective on the case and picked back up for closing arguments on April 14.

The prosecutor argued that there is more than enough probable cause that Wallace committed first-degree murder while armed, saying three rounds of gunshots were fired by two shooters in less than 30 seconds.

The homicide is alleged to have been committed in retaliation for the death of Wallace’s brother, 36-year-old Marcus Wallace. The brother was fatally shot on Nov. 21, 2020, on the 1400 block of L Street, SE. Deshaun Gaskins was charged with first-degree murder while armed in relation to his death, but prosecutors dismissed the case, D.C. Witness previously reported.

A witness identified Wallace as being in the area of the crime scene, wearing a dark, bulky maintenance uniform.

Defense attorney Michael Bruckheim cast doubt on the credibility of the eyewitnesses. One of them claimed to have seen Wallace in the parking lot prior to the shooting, but Bruckheim pointed out that his client lives in the area. As for the dark, bulky clothing Wallace was allegedly wearing, Bruckheim said many people in that area wear maintenance outfits, and there is no evidence that dark and bulky clothing would describe a maintenance outfit.

A witness told the detective that Wallace is employed with the DC Housing Authority, where he does maintenance work. Cell phone data indicated an outgoing phone call was made from a phone number Wallace gave his employer.

Bruckheim previously said the phone did not belong to his client. Still, the prosecutor argued that the cell phone was registered to a person with the same first name as the defendant and that it is not unusual for people to give inaccurate information when registering a phone. Prosecutors believe this cell phone data puts Wallace in the apartment complex before and after the shooting.

The phone number in question touched three different cell towers, including one that was southeast of the crime scene and another one that was even farther south. The defense attorney used this to further question the usefulness of the cell phone data. He argued that the prosecution should have done more to follow up on the information that was provided to them, such as tracking down the person and address connected to the cell phone number.

Bruckheim also argued that there is no direct evidence that the defendant knew of the shooting or intended for it to happen. He said no one involved in the case could identify Wallace from any still images, and the only identification of Wallace came from the detective who arrested him. Bruckheim called the prosecution’s video evidence “worthless.”

“Zero plus zero plus zero equals zero, it does not equal three,” he concluded.

Judge Rainey Brandt described the detective’s investigative skills as “meh” given the severity of the case and the amount of time the MPD had to investigate it. Wallace was arrested more than a year after the homicide.

“The amount of gaps that could have been followed up on and should have been followed up on is meh,” she said.

Judge Brandt ruled there was enough evidence to establish probable cause. She said the prosecution’s evidence shows that at least one witness placed Wallace at the scene while another claims Wallace confessed to them.

However, Judge Brandt also said that because of the nature and circumstance of the case, probable cause was a small thing, given the limited amount of evidence.

She pointed out how the detective testified that there was another individual walking around the complex dressed the same way but the only difference was that one’s attire was not as bulky as the other. Judge Brandt also agreed with Bruckheim that Wallace’s presence in the area, allegedly indicated by cell phone data and witness testimony, is not remarkable since he lives there.

“Does that make everyone who lives there a suspect,” she posed.

Given the weakness of the evidence, Judge Brandt said she “cannot bootstrap detention.” She released Wallace into the High Intensity Supervision Program.

His next hearing is scheduled for June 17.

Domestic Violence Defendant Sentenced for Laundromat Shooting

A DC Superior Court judge sentenced a domestic violence defendant for shooting his girlfriend at a laundromat.

By the time Miles Sullivan was sentenced for attempted assault with a dangerous weapon on April 13, he had been detained at DC Jail for 10 months.

During the hearing, the prosecutor presented video footage from inside the laundromat. It showed the defendant repeatedly pointing a firearm toward his girlfriend, who was pregnant at the time, before shooting her in the chest. A bystander sitting behind the defendant was holding a child when the incident took place.

Defense attorney Donald Dworsky said his client did not intend to fire his weapon.

Judge James Crowell described Sullivan’s behavior as extraordinarily violent, stressing the apparent calmness of the defendant as he left the scene and the trauma the children who witnessed the shooting were subjected to.

The prosecutor told Judge Crowell that the victim said Sullivan, who already has a firearm offense on his record, needs help with anger management.

The apologetic defendant said he takes full responsibility for his actions. He said his kids need him and he is fighting for mercy and freedom.

The prosecutor requested a two-year sentence. Dworsky asked Judge Crowell to impose a split 10-month sentence under the Youth Rehabilitation Act, which would allow his case to be sealed if he completes certain rehabilitative requirements.

Judge Crowell sentenced Sullivan to two years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He denied the request to sentence the defendant under the YRA and ordered him to register as a gun offender.

At the request of the defense, Judge Crowell agreed to recommend placement in a prison close to the Washington area.

Detective Sheds Light on Investigation Into Possible Revenge Murder

The lead detective on the investigation into a possible revenge murder testified during a hearing to determine if the case against one of the two defendants has enough evidence to go to trial.

Ronald Wallace and DeAngelo Glover are accused of shooting 34-year-old Tyrone Wright to death in the parking lot of an apartment complex on the 3700 Block of Hayes Street, NE. Both men face charges of first-degree murder while armed.

The homicide took place on Jan. 19, 2021. Glover, 30, was arrested the following March and a DC Superior Court judge found probable cause during his preliminary hearing in May. Wallace, 48, was not arrested until last February. Parties met in court for his preliminary hearing on April 13.

During that hearing, the detective testified that one of the witnesses, who knew Wallace personally, said the co-defendants planned to shoot Wright in retaliation for the death of Wallace’s brother. The brother, Marcus Wallace, was 36-years-old when he was shot to death on Nov. 21, 2020, on the 1400 block of L Street, SE. Deshaun Gaskins was charged with first-degree murder while armed in relation to his death, but prosecutors dismissed the case, D.C. Witness previously reported.

The prosecutor in Ronald Wallace’s case showed several pieces of evidence, including video footage from the night of the shooting. The footage shows a group of men running away from the gunshots. It also shows a dark-clothed individual walking away and Glover fleeing the scene.

Defense attorney Michael Bruckheim objected to much of this evidence being shown since Wallace was not identified in any of these videos. Judge Rainey Brandt overruled most of these objections, saying the prosecutor was setting up the scene. She did sustain a hearsay objection to the evidence that a now-deceased witness claimed that Glover and “DooDoo,” which is believed to be Wallace’s nickname, were the shooters.

The detective went on to discuss different factors allegedly linking Wallace to the scene of the crime. This included a FBI report of cell phone records showing that a phone was in the area where the crime took place pinging off a cell phone tower before the homicide. After the homicide, the cell phone began pinging with different towers consistent with leaving the area.

The cell phone was terminated the day after the homicide.

Bruckheim made an objection, saying the cell phone was not registered to Wallace. Judge Brandt said she would put this issue on pause until after the cross-examination.

The final line of questioning concerned the bullets found at the scene of the crime. There were several different types of bullets found on the ground. Three different types of bullets were found in the victim’s body, including one consistent with a gun Glover allegedly owned.

Cross-examination was scheduled to resume on April 14.

Domestic Violence Defendant Sentenced for Attempted Assault With a Dangerous Weapon

A DC Superior Court judge sentenced a domestic violence defendant for attempted assault with a dangerous weapon.

Christopher Cork was initially charged with assault with a dangerous weapon in November 2021. He pleaded down to attempted assault with a dangerous weapon last February.

The prosecutor read a letter from the victim during his April 13 sentencing hearing.

“I know for a fact that he was trying to kill me and if DC Police didn’t knock my door down, I would have been dead,” they stated.

The prosecutor said Cork still blames the victim for what he believes caused the incident and has not expressed remorse. Still, he said the defendant will likely learn how to “manage his anger.”

Defense attorney Charles Haskell countered by saying his client wasn’t justifying his actions but simply trying to tell the whole story.

“He expressed he was working on himself and was ready to accept full responsibility for his actions,” Haskell said. He asked Judge Lynn Leibovitz to allow his client to be released from DC Jail once he has served six months, which would be in a couple of weeks. He mentioned his client’s mental illness and said he has somewhere to live after his release.

Judge Leibovitz responded to the defense’s request by asking if the defendant was on his medication at the time of the incident. The defense replied that he was not, but does plan to get back on them.

The prosecutor asked Judge Leibovitz to impose a 10-month sentence with six of those months suspended. He also wanted the defendant to receive drug treatment and a mental health evaluation.

The victim didn’t agree with the government’s sentencing recommendation and believed Cork adeserved a harsher penalty, the prosecutor said.

Judge Leibovitz decided to sentence Cork to 16 months, 10 of which are suspended, followed by two years of supervised probation. As part of his probation, the defendant must receive a mental health screening and evaluation as well as drug testing. He must also comply with a stay away order.

Cork declined to speak in court.

Judge Adopts Sentencing Recommendation From Attorneys in Homicide Case

A DC Superior Court judge sentenced a homicide defendant in accordance with a joint recommendation by the prosecuting and defense attorneys.

Dedan Williams was initially charged with second-degree murder while armed in the death of 38-year-old Andrew Tillman. According to court documents, surveillance footage shows Williams chasing Tillman down the hallway of an apartment complex on the 3100 block of 16th Street, NW, and swinging at him with a knife. An autopsy revealed that Tillman sustained injuries to his abdomen, back, face and head.

The homicide took place on Nov. 15, 2020. Williams, 50, was arrested that same day. Last February, he accepted a plea deal for voluntary manslaughter while armed.

“I hope you find some peace,” Judge Rainey Brandt told the apologetic defendant during his April 13 sentencing hearing.

As part of the plea deal, parties agreed to recommend a prison sentence of seven-and-a-half years.

Judge Brandt agreed to recommend that Williams be placed in FCI Butner, a medium-security federal prison, and receive mental health care.

Williams’ seven-and-a-half-year sentence will be followed by five years of supervised release. He will receive credit for time served.

Homicide Victim’s Mother Speaks in Court After Defendant Pleads Guilty to Shooting Her Son

A homicide victim’s mother spoke in court after the defendant charged with her son’s death entered a guilty plea, describing the victim and the encounter that took his life.

On Dec. 11, 2020, Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to the report of a traffic accident at the intersection of 21st Street and Benning Road, NE. They found 35-year-old Antoine Pierce barely conscious, suffering from gunshot wounds. An autopsy found the father of six sustained gunshot wounds to his left upper extremity and both of his legs, according to court documents.

Jamall Thornton was charged with second-degree murder while armed a few days later. He eventually agreed to plead down to voluntary manslaughter while armed as part of an agreement with prosecutors.

According to the prosecution, the defendant shot at the unarmed victim, who was in a vehicle, three times, not knowing that one of the victim’s children was in the backseat. When officers arrived at the scene, a bystander was holding the child. They told officers they removed the child from the car for their safety. Thornton, 27, left the scene and reported the incident as a carjacking.

During the hearing on April 12, the victim’s mother described how the homicide affected her and her family. She called her son a “vessel of love” and told DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo she is appalled that Thorton was able to accept a plea deal.

The plea deal Thornton took includes an agreement between parties to recommend a sentence of 10-and-a-half years. The victim’s mother said “less than 10 years is a slap on the wrist” and that “legislation is not strong enough.”

“My whole family has a bleeding heart,” she said.

Thornton is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 5.

Document: 29-Year-Old Shot to Death in Southeast, DC

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating the fatal shooting of a 29-year-old man.

At approximately 12:38 p.m. on April 12, officers responded to the 2800 block of Gainesville Street, SE, for the report of a shooting, according to a press release. There, they found 29-year-old William Venison suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Document: Deadly Shooting in Southeast, DC

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred in Southeast, DC.

At approximately 12:22 p.m. on April 12, officers responded to the 2200 block of Savannah Street, SE, for the report of a shooting, according to a press release. There, they found 32-year-old Clayton Marshall suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Another man was found at a local hospital being treated for a gunshot wound.

March Homicides Increase by 50% from February

There were 15 homicides in March, approximately a 50 percent increase from the previous month. In comparison, 13 homicides happened in March of last year.

Three people have been arrested in reference to March homicides, including a man suspected of multiple shootings of people experiencing homelessness in both Washington, DC and New York City.

Gerald Brevard, 30, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed in relation to the shooting of 54-year-old Morgan Holmes on the 400 block of New York Avenue, NE. Brevard was also charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault with intent to kill in relation to two other incidents that happened in the city. At the time, he was also wanted for shooting incidents in New York City. In all of the incidents in both locations, the victims were experiencing homelessness, according to the press releases.

Dawit Guevara, 28, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed in relation to the shooting of 56-year-old James Jackson on March 8 on the 3400 block of Sherman Avenue, NW.

Charles Lee, 28, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in relation to the homicide of 65-year-old David Dowdell on March 9 on the 1100 block of Alabama Avenue, SE. Dowdell died of trauma, according to police.

As of April 12, ten other homicides in March do not have any arrests linked to them.

According to D.C. Witness data, 12 of the 15 homicides that occurred in March were shootings.

There was also one vehicular homicide, one stabbing and one trauma-related homicide.

The vehicular homicide took place on March 16 at the intersection of New York Avenue and New Jersey Avenues, NW. A pedestrian, 52-year-old Joseph Robinson, was struck by dark colored SUV and a dark colored sedan. The operators of both vehicles fled the scene, according to a press release.

Kenneth Thomas Jr., 42, was stabbed to death during the early morning hours of March 14 on the 1900 block of 9^th Street, NW.

Dowdell was the oldest victim while 16-year-old Khalil Rich was the youngest victim. Rich was shot during the early morning hours of March 25 on the 1500 block of Isherwood Street, NE.

Jury Acquits Defendant of Armed Robbery, Still Deliberating Murder Charge

A jury found Marquette Jordan not guilty of armed robbery but remains deadlocked on the defendant’s other charges- first and second-degree murder while armed, carrying a dangerous weapon and simple assault.

Jordan, 30, 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.

Before jurors gave their verdict on April 12, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt advised Jordan, “at no time are you to say or do anything.”

The jury’s floorperson explained they had unanimously agreed to acquit Jordan of the armed robbery charge but have not come to an agreement on the other charges. Judge Brandt accepted the single verdict and had them continue deliberating.

Later on, Judge Brandt received two notes from jurors. Both involved questions on how to weigh self-defense in the evidence.

Judge Brandt advised them that they should only consider instructions previously given to them on April 7, none of which contained any direction on self-defense. Therefore, self-defense cannot be considered in their decision.

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