Judge Cancels Trial After Man Pleaded Guilty to 2018 Fatal Shooting

A homicide defendant who had been previously set to go to trial in late March chose to take a plea deal instead.

Marcus Whitaker was charged with second-degree murder while armed in the shooting of David Hart on July 28, 2018.

Last August, DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson set aside March 31 through April 18 for the 31-year-old defendant’s trial. But on Dec. 1, Whitaker accepted an offer from the prosecution to plead down to one count of voluntary manslaughter while armed.

According to court documents, the plea deal includes an agreement between parties that a 12-year prison sentence would be appropriate for this case.

The prosecutor also dropped his charges of unlawful posession of a firearm with a prior conviction and posession of a firearm during a crime of violence.

Hart was 22-years-old when he was shot multiple times on the 4300 block of 4th Street, SE. Three days later, police identified Whitaker as their suspect. He was not apprehended until May 8, 2019.

Judge Milton Lee cancelled the upcoming trial dates and scheduled Whitaker to be sentenced on Feb. 11.

Document: Suspect Arrested for Second-Degree Murder

Jermaine Washington, a 37-year-old resident of Northwest, DC, has been arrested for second-degree murder while armed in connection with an October homicide.

According to a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) press release, during the early hours of Oct. 26, officers found 40-year-old Keon Bonner suffering from apparent stab wounds in an alley on the 1500 block of Ogden Street, NW. He was pronounced dead on scene.

Washington was arrested on Dec. 2.

Judge Denies Emergency Release Motion for Man Charged in Two Homicides

A DC Superior Court judge denied an emergency motion for a murder defendant’s release due to what the defense calls “unsanitary, unsafe and unconstitutional conditions” at DC Jail.

Rasheed Young, 43, is charged with murder in two cases, both of which he picked up in December 2020.

One case involves the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Cedric Rogers on the 300 block of Franklin Street, NE, on June 11, 1996. Young is charged with first-degree murder in relation to this homicide.

The second case involves the death of 39-year-old Ronald William Richardson, who was shot on the 2300 block of 4th Street, NE, on May 20, 2018. Young is charged with second-degree murder in relation to this homicide.

Defense attorney Elizabeth Weller filed the emergency release motion in November. In it, she cites a memo from the U.S. Marshals Service regarding an unannounced inspection of the jail. Acting U.S. Marshal for the District of Columbia Lamont Ruffin has forwarded the inspection results to the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division for review of potential violations of the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act.

During the Dec. 1 hearing, Weller said her client said there is no running water on his floor of the jail. Judge Marisa Demeo still denied the motion, saying her office will need to get in contact with the jail again before a decision can be made.

Wellers also requested a mental observation hearing to reassess Young’s competence to stand trial. According to Wellers, a full year in confinement has had a drastic impact on Young’s mental and physical health. Judge Demeo agreed to this request..

The mental observation hearing is set for Dec. 13.

Prosecution Awaiting Protective Order in Sex Abuse Case

A sex abuse case is developing as the prosecution waits to give the defense discovery evidence.

The 51-year-old defendant is charged with two counts of second-degree child sex abuse for for allegedly abusing his goddaughter and her sister.

The prosecution said they have already provided additional discovery evidence to the defense and are prepared to provide more after securing a protective order.

Defense attorney Aubrey Dillon stood in for the defendant’s attorney Rachel Cicurel. Parties are involved in plea negotiations. They asked Judge Neal Kravitz to continue the Dec. 1 hearing. Judge Kravitz scheduled parties to reconvene on Jan. 24.

The defendant is currently on release. A Pretrial Services Agency officer said during the hearing that the defendant has been compliant with his release conditions.

Judge Schedules Trial for Murder Case Involving Woman’s Disappearance in 2010

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a trial for a murder case in which the victim has yet to be found.

Isaac Moye is charged with second-degree murder in the death of 24-year-old Unique Harris. According to court documents, Harris’ children reported her missing one morning when they realized she was not in her home on the 2400 block of Hartford Street, SE, but her car was still in the driveway. Moye, 44, was on GPS tracking at the time due to another case. Tracking records indicate that he arrived at Harris’ home around 10:40 p.m. on Oct. 9, 2010, and left around 7:20 a.m. the following day.

Harris has yet to be found. In 2018, the court granted a petition for a presumption of death of a missing person and issued a death certificate for her. Moye was arrested in December 2020.

Judge Neal Kravitz asked if the parties could pick an earlier date due to defense attorney Jason Tulley asserting Moyes right to a speedy trial during the Dec. 1 hearing. Both parties were unable to find time in their schedules until conflicts and the start date was set for May 22, 2023.

Judge Kravitz also acknowledged defense attorney Jason Tulley’s motion for release following the recent U.S. Marshal Service’s report on the jail conditions but said he will address the issue at another date when he is able to further review the motion.

The prosecution expects to have DNA results by Feb. 16. A status hearing to discuss these results is set for March 9.

Sex Abuse Defendant Requests New Attorney

A sex abuse defendant requested a new attorney.

The defendant is charged with first-degree sex abuse while armed for allegedly forcing himself into a woman’s car on the 3200 block of Buena Vista Terrace, SE, and sexually assaulting her. The assault allegedly took place on March 20, 2018.

The defendant asked for a new lawyer during the Dec. 1 hearing. His current attorney, John Iweanoge, motioned to withdraw on Nov. 29.

Iweanoge, the defendant and DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz conferred outside of open court. Afterward, Judge Kravitz scheduled the proceedings to pick back up on Dec. 22.

Document: Suspect Arrested in Connection With Fatal Stabbing

A suspect was arrested in connection with a homicide that happened on Oct. 9, according to a Metropolitan Police Department press release.

At approximately 8:00 a.m., police responded to the 4200 block of Kansas Avenue, NW, due to a report of an unconscious person. There, they found 32-year-old Michael Stroops suffering from stab wounds. He was pronounced dead on scene.

Kenneth Davis, 52, was arrested for first-degree murder while armed on Dec. 1.

Document: Fatal Stabbing in Northwest, DC

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on Nov. 30.

According to a press release, at approximately 11:01 p.m., officers found a man on the 1200 Block of U Street, NW, suffering from multiple stab wounds. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital. His identity is being withheld pending next of kin notification.

Judge Denies Murder Defendant’s Release Request, Sets Status Hearing

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a status hearing for a murder defendant after denying his release request.

Brandon Randall is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 30-year-old David Brandon on Feb. 24, 2019, on the 4000 block of Georgia Avenue, NW.

Randall, 34, is also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence in this case.

Defense attorney Anthony Mathews asked Judge Milton Lee to release his client into home confinement since he has been detained since July 2019. Mathew argued that over two years of being held at DC Jail without a trial violates Randall’s speedy trial rights. Judge Lee denied the motion because he found significant probable cause during the preliminary hearing, which serves to determine if the case has enough evidence to go to trial.

Mathews also requested two weeks to receive and review paperwork.

Parties are set to reconvene on Dec. 16 for a status hearing.

Prosecution and Defense Call Witnesses in Murder Trial

Editors Note: The defendant in this case has since been acquitted on all counts.

Both the prosecution and defense called witnesses to testify in the continuation of Daniel Parker’s murder trial on Nov. 30.

Dewayne Shorter, 33, is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly shooting 38-year-old Daniel Parker on July 26, 2017, on the 2000 block of Fairlawn Avenue, SE.

The prosecution called two witnesses: a Metropolitan Police Department detective and a member of Parker’s family. Both testified about a conversation between two people at the crime scene.

The detective testified to seeing the two step aside from a group of people and have a conversation. Body Worn Camera footage showed the interaction. In it, the two individuals can be seen standing by themselves.

The victim’s family member testified that she had spoken to one of the individuals who was seen conversing and they told her that the other person had asked her to give the police an inaccurate description of the suspect. The victim’s family member also testified that she had spoken to both individuals days after the shooting and that both, separately, had told her that Shorter was the shooter.

Defense attorney Jon Norris questioned the legitimacy of these claims, since the witness had not seen anything herself but was simply relaying what she had heard from other individuals.

The defense then called a neighbor who had seen someone leaving the area of the shooting to the witness stand.

The witness testified that he had heard gunshots and then peaked out of his front door. He saw an individual who did not look like Shorter holding a long firearm. This witness testified that he knew Shorter and would have known if the person he saw was him.

In their cross examination, the prosecution asked why the witness never went to the police with this information. The witness said that he has lived in Southeast DC his entire life and has been conditioned not to call the police.

The defense then called another witness. This witness was stopped by police on the night of the shooting. Officers told him he was stopped because he matched the description of an individual involved in a shooting.

Judge Marisa Demeo requested the witness to continue his testimony when the trial resumes on Dec. 1.

Prosecutor Gets One More Week to File Indictment in Murder Case

A DC Superior Court judge gave a prosecutor one more week to indict a murder defendant.

Terrell Poe, 34, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the shooting of 30-year-old Christopher Washington on Sept. 23, 2020, on the 400 block of Southern Avenue, SE.

During the Nov. 30 hearing, the prosecutor requested more time to file indictment charges. Judge Milton Lee granted them a week to get it done.

Madalyn Harvey, Poe’s attorney, indicated that she still needs evidentiary materials. The prosecutor said they do not know when it will all be available at this time.

Poe is scheduled to return to court on Jan. 7 for a felony status conference.

Prosecutor in Murder Case Says They Expect Indictment Soon

A prosecutor in a murder case said on Nov. 30 that they expect to indict the defendant soon.

Devonte Brothers is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 30-year-old Arkeem Jackson on June 16, 2019, on the 4300 block of 4th Street, SE. During this shooting, four other victims were non-fatally wounded by the gunfire.

Brothers, 26, is also charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 27-year-old Deron Leake on Oct. 17, 2019, on the 4200 block of 6th Street, SE.

The prosecution said they should have all indictment charges filed by the next hearing on Feb. 25.

Judge Milton Lee asked parties to turn over discovery evidence by the time the indictment process is finished.

Murder Case Approaches Indictment

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a felony arraignment for a murder defendant as the case approaches indictment.

Jaykell Mason is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 29-year-old Terence Dantzler on the 700 block of 8th Street, NW, on Feb. 13, 2020. The 22-year-old is also charged with assault on a police officer while armed in relation to the incident.

An April report from the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) found Mason competent to stand trial. Defense attorney Roderick Thompson objected to the findings and hired his own expert, who has since evaluated the defendant twice in 2021.

During the Nov. 29 hearing, Thompson asked Judge Milton Lee to transfer his client to St. Elizabeths hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution. He said Mason could meet with new medical experts regarding his mental competency at the hospital.

However, Judge Lee denied the request.

The prosecution said they will have an update regarding the status of the grand jury by the next court hearing, which is scheduled for Dec. 7.

Judge Issues Protective Orders in Murder Case

A DC Superior Court judge issued protective orders in a murder case and scheduled a status hearing.

Taylor Emanuel, 38, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to a shooting that killed Jimmy Beynum on Jan. 23, 2020.

During the Nov. 29 hearing, Judge Milton Lee set a $100 bond for a handful of misdemeanor cases that Emanual accumulated on top of the murder charge. Attorney Russell Hairston has been appointed to handle the misdemeanor cases.

The prosecution was granted protective orders for Body Worn Camera footage from Metropolitan Police Department officers who were at the crime scene and for the authorizing of a disclosure of Information.

Judge Lee scheduled a status hearing for Dec. 9 to give new counsel time to review the case and determine how he would like to proceed.

Details About Homicide Investigation Surface at Trial

Editors Note: The defendant in this case has since been acquitted on all counts.

A murder trial continued on Nov. 29 with prosecutors calling on several witnesses with backgrounds in forensics and law enforcement to testify.

Dewayne Shorter is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 38-year-old Daniel Parker on July 26, 2017, on the 2000 block of Fairlawn Avenue, SE. Shorter, 33, is also charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and unlawful possession of a firearm while armed during a crime of violence.

The first witness to take the stand was a formerly special police officer (SPO) who worked at an apartment complex near the shooting. He is now a corrections officer. He said that on the day of the homicide, he was patrolling on foot with his partner when they noticed a teenage girl in an alleyway. The officer and his partner went to check on the girl when they were approached by a young man, who they identified as Shorter.

The officer said he and Shorter engaged in a brief verbal altercation, during which Shorter mentioned ammunition belonging to an AR-15. The officer also said Shorter said he had an extended clip.

The officer told the prosecutor he did not know Shorter but saw him nearly every day. He could recognize him by his distinct walk, where he favored his left leg.

Defense attorney Jon Norris asked the witness about his knowledge of firearms and ammunition. The officer responded, saying his knowledge is based on his training.

The second witness, a forensic firearms examiner, was asked by the prosecutor about the difference between a rapid-fire pistol and an assault rifle. The firearms examiner said an assault rifle is usually meant to be shot from the shoulder, and the placement of the bullets in the gun is different from a rapid-fire pistol. He also said the barrels of the gun are different.

The firearms examiner presented a casing from the shooting, but said it was too damaged for him to tell what gun it came from. He also confirmed that one of the guns from the shooting was a Smith & Wesson assault rifle.

The third witness called to testify was an MPD homicide detective. He said he received an assignment to interview a gunshot victim, who was Shorter. The detective said Shorter was uncooperative and told the officer he didn’t “f*** with the police”.

The fourth witness was another MPD homicide detective assigned as the lead detective on the case. The detective confirmed he had spoken with one of the witnesses before the grand jury and that he was one of the officers who arrested Shorter.

The detective was asked if he showed the witness a photo of the defendant featuring him in a black top and blue jeans standing in front of a car when talking to them. The detective said he did not, but he did show the SPO.

The prosecution asked the detective if he recovered the phone from Parker and possibly got the photo of the defendant from his phone. The detective said he did not remember.

The fifth witness was a chief medical examiner who DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo recognized him as an expert in the field of pathology based on his expertise.

The medical examiner said Parker’s body sustained multiple injuries from gunshot wounds which resulted in his death. The prosecutor showed the medical exam report for Parker. The medical examiner identified the first gunshot wound as entering on Parker’s right cheek area and exiting from the back of his head.

Parker was shot a total of 32 times.

The examiner said it was important to differentiate between entrance and exit wounds.

He identified the rest of the entrance and exit wounds on the body. He said a gunshot shattered Parker’s femur, the upper part of the leg, which means he was not able to walk or run away. He said he believes Parker was shot with a high-caliber weapon because the wounds were of varying shapes and sizes, and high-caliber weapons fragments, which causes the different shapes of the wounds.The prosecutor showed a digital X-ray of Parker’s body and the examiner indicated where bullets were embedded in Parker’s body.

Norris questioned the examiner and asked if Parker’s toxicology showed his alcohol level was over the legal limit, and the examiner said yes. Norris asked if Parker was actually shot in his left leg, not the right leg as the report stated, and the examiner said yes.

Judge Demeo scheduled for the trial to continue on Nov. 30.

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