Judge Releases Suspect in Deadly Park View Shooting

A DC Superior Court judge released a homicide defendant less than one month after the deadly shooting at the center of the case occurred.

On the night of March 8, officers found 56-year-old James Jackson, Jr. on the 3400 block of Sherman Avenue, NW, suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Dawit Guevara was apprehended by responding officers. The 28-year-old suspect is now charged with second-degree murder while armed.

During the most recent hearing for this case on March 23, the prosecutor said they are no longer opposed to Guevara being released from DC Jail.

Members of Jackson’s family attended the proceedings remotely and pleaded for the court not to release the defendant. Still, Judge Rainey Brandt agreed to release Guevara into the High Intensity Supervision Program. He will be required to wear a GPS monitor and refrain from possessing or purchasing firearms.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on April 19 for a preliminary hearing, which will serve to assess if the case has enough evidence to go to trial.

Judge Finds Probable Cause After Domestic Violence Defendant Rejects Plea Deal

After a domestic violence defendant rejected a plea offer, a DC Superior Court judge ruled that the case against him has enough evidence to go to trial.

The defendant is accused of stabbing his roommate following a verbal altercation on May 30, 2020, in Petworth. He is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon.

During a March 23 hearing, the defendant rejected the prosecution’s offer to plead down to one count of simple assault and one count of attempted possession of a prohibited weapon, both of which are misdemeanor charges.

With the plea deal turned down, the prosecutor called the lead detective on the case to testify about their investigation.

The detective arrived at the scene and was told the defendant and the victim got into a verbal argument about the rent. This argument reportedly became physical as the two began to wrestle, allegedly prompting the defendant to pull out a five-inch knife and stab the victim in the arm.

“Did anyone live in the apartment with the complainant and the defendant, and did they see the incident?” the prosecutor asked.

“Yes, two others do live in the apartment, but they did not see the stabbing,” the detective responded. “They managed to break up the tussle. After the tussle they did see the knife and stab wound.”

The detective said he interviewed the victim over the phone.

“He told me he was walking in the hallway and felt pain in his arm and noticed that the defendant had a knife in hand. That is when he called the police. He did not see the defendant before he jumped out,” the detective said.

Defense attorney Tammy Jacques began her cross-examination by questioning the detectives’ procedures and knowledge of the case.

“Did you watch the bodycam footage of the defendant saying he stabbed the complainant or did you not watch the whole video?” she asked.

“No, I did not watch the whole video,” the detective responded.

The prosecutor argued there was no proof of the defendant acting in self-defense, alleging the defendant intended to force injury onto the victim.

“Just holding a knife is enough to frighten an assault,” she said.

“The police was called to the apartment and the complainant said that someone just jumped on him,” said Jacques. “I want the court to consider the credibility of the complainant. He did not state that there was a physical altercation before the stabbing. The complainant only has one cut. I know there is no set number of how many cuts you have but we should take that into consideration.”

DC Superior Court Judge Lloyd Nolan did find probable cause in the case. Parties have yet to set a date for the next hearing. The defendant is currently on pretrial release.

Document: Suspect Arrested in Relation to Special Police Officer’s Homicide

The Metropolitan Police Department has made an arrest in relation to a September 2021 homicide.

At approximately 8:42 p.m. police responded to the 3300 block of 10th Place, SE, due to sounds of gunshots. Police located 41-year-old Angela Washington and pronounced her dead on the scene, according to the press release.

According to the press release, “at the time of the offense, the victim was in uniform and working as an on-duty Special Police Officer.”

On March 23, officers arrested 23-year-old Jadohn Bracey and charged him with first-degree murder while armed, according to the press release.

Document: 18-Year-Old Arrested in January Homicide

A suspect has been arrested in the fatal shooting of Dmaree Miller.

At approximately 4:37 p.m. on Jan. 4, Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to the 3300 block of 12^th Street, SE, for the report of a shooting, according to a press release. There, they found Miller, 18, suffering from gunshot wounds in the hallway of an apartment building. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

On March 22, 18-year-old Devon Edwards was arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed.

Jurors in Murder Trial Unable to Reach a Verdict

A DC Superior Court judge declared a mistrial in the case of Antonio Bassett‘s fatal shooting after the jury was unable to reach a verdict.

Chad Hawthorne, 41, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possessing a firearm during a crime of violence and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction. He is accused of shooting 35-year-old Bassett in an apartment on the 3900 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, during the early hours of May 22, 2017.

The jury received their instructions and began deliberating on March 16. On March 21, they informed the court they could not decide on a verdict.

Hawthorne will remain held at DC Jail as prosecutors decide if they want to re-try the case. Judge Robert Okun scheduled parties to meet in court for a status hearing on April 13.

Case Acquitted: Judge Questions Prosecutor on Lack of Indictment in 2020 Murder Case

This case was acquitted on Nov. 15, 2023.

A DC Superior Court judge questioned a prosecutor on why a murder defendant arrested in July 2020 has not yet been indicted.

During the early hours of May 24, 2020, 26-year-old Kayvon Kinney was found in a parking lot on the 1800 block of Gainesville Street, SE, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Approximately one-and-a-half months after his death, 26-year-old Michael Austin was arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed. He has remained held at DC Jail ever since.

The lack of an indictment was a point of contention during the most recent hearing for this case on March 21. During those proceedings, the prosecutor asked for two more months to continue working on the case.

Judge Milton Lee was curious as to why the indictment is taking this long. The prosecutor’s office is trying to prioritize older cases for indictment. The prosecutor for this case said they are not completely finished with getting the grand jury testimony.

Defense attorney Jason Tulley pointed out that nearly two years have gone by since the defendant’s arrest. He asked for a trial date to be scheduled and said he may motion for the case’s dismissal or the defendant’s release if an indictment does not come soon.

Judge Lee immediately said a trial date will be set. The prosecutor, in response, said there is no guarantee witnesses will be available.

A jury trial date was scheduled for Nov. 13, 2023. Parties are expected to reconvene for a status hearing on May 24.

Victim Recounts Sexual Assault During Perpetrator’s Sentencing

One of two victims 20-year-old Darnell Peoples pleaded guilty to sexually abusing said she would never walk alone again during the defendant’s sentencing hearing.

Peoples admitted to sexually assaulting two women on Sept. 15 and 16, 2021, on the 1700 block of Gainesville Street, SE. He pleaded guilty to third-degree sex abuse and misdemeanor sex abuse and was sentenced on March 21.

“It has been six months since I was near my daughter’s home,” one of the victims said during the proceedings. “Before I was attacked by Mr. Peoples, I would walk my dog. I walked past a younger lady and the defendant. The younger lady told me, hello but the defendant did not. I walked across the street once the traffic cleared but I got a sense that someone was following me.”

“As I turned around, I felt a man grab my buttocks and pushed me to the ground,” she continued. “He repeatedly said to me, ‘Come on, give it up.'”

She said that for some reason, he stopped assaulting her but took her phone instead.

“I will never walk alone again,” the victim said. “It is very scary that this man will be back into the neighborhood preying on women.”

The prosecutor wanted Peoples to receive both rehabilitative treatment and prison time. He asked DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt to impose a two-year sentence for the third-degree sexual abuse charge and a 180-day sentence followed by two years of probation for the misdemeanor sex abuse charge.

“[Peoples] is well above and at an active risk of committing another assault based on his criminal score,” he said.

The defendant has previously been convicted of multiple counts of misdemeanor sex abuse.

Defense attorney Jason Kalafat asked Judge Brandt to impose an 18-month sentence with six of those months suspended since Peoples has been held at DC Jail for approximately six months before the sentencing. Kalafat also asked Judge Brandt to impose the Youth Rehabilitation Act, which would allow his case to be sealed if he successfully completes his sentence.

“[Peoples’] father was murdered in 2016 and after that, he was beaten and bullied in high school, which led to him dropping out in the 11th grade,” he said.

Judge Brandt was curious as to why Peoples did not have anything to say to the courts or to the victim.

“I find it interesting that the victim was giving her statement and you showed no remorse. I gave you the opportunity to say you were sorry and that you were young and a changed man, but you chose to say nothing,” Judge Brandt said. She later denied the defense’s request to impose the YRA.

“The Youth Act should not be used to shield sex offenders. The public has the right to know plus he has failed probation twice and has had two adult cases against him,” she said.

Judge Brandt sentenced Peoples to 180 days for the misdemeanor sex abuse charge. For the third-degree sex abuse charge, she sentenced the defendant to 24 months, half of which was suspended, followed by two years of supervised probation. The prison sentences will run consecutively.

As part of his probation, Peoples must receive a mental health evaluation, a sexual assault evaluation and drug treatment. He is also required to register as a sex offender for 10 years.

Detective Details Investigation Into 2019 Homicide During Preliminary Hearing

The lead detective in a 2019 homicide investigation finished his testimony during the second day of a preliminary hearing to determine if the case has enough evidence to go to trial.

On the night of Sept. 3, 2019, two men were shot on the 900 block of Division Avenue, NE. One of them, 28-year-old Kalin Middleton, succumbed to his injuries. The other victim became stable after treatment. In December 2021, Lavelle Watts was arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed.

The preliminary hearing spanned over two days and concluded with DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan making a finding of probable cause.

During the second day of the proceedings on March 21, the lead detective was again sworn in to testify to his findings. Attorneys on both sides referred to the detective’s affidavit, which provided the surviving victim’s recollection of the events surrounding the shooting.

The surviving victim said he was driving on Eastern Avenue, NE, with Middleton in the passenger seat when he noticed someone following them in a green two-door Lexus. After taking several turns to confirm they were being followed, the surviving victim says he parked the vehicle and told Middleton to settle whatever dispute he has with the operator of the other vehicle, as there were indications of a conflict between the two earlier in the day. The operator of the Lexus walked up to the passenger side of the victims’ vehicle and began firing his gun without warning, according to court documents.

During the first day of the preliminary hearing on March 18, video footage from the 900 block of Eastern Avenue, NE, supported the detective’s testimony by showing an individual in a dark coat or jacket exiting a gray Acura and standing on the passenger side of the second victim’s BMW and firing multiple shots inside the vehicle. Investigators used the make, model and license plate of the suspect’s vehicle and traced it back to someone close to Watts.

During defense attorney Quo Judkins‘ cross-examination, the detective said the car owner told them she lets Watts use her car frequently and she could not have been the shooter since she was at work when the homicide happened. However, the green Lexus the surviving victim described turned out to be a gray Acura.

Judkins used the victim’s misinterpretation of the suspect’s vehicle as an argument against probable cause, saying “it comes down to this car.” She noted how the prosecution’s case lacked DNA evidence, a recovered murder weapon or witness statements from anyone besides the surviving witness. She also argued her client did not have a motive to kill Middleton.

The detective analyzed Watts and Middleton’s phones for any evidence and showed that the decedent and defendant did know each other as there were messages sent and received two days prior to the shooting. Still, the defense pointed out how cell phone data the detective looked into did not put pick up Watts’ location at the time of the homicide.

Judge Raffinan noted that the vehicle in the surveillance footage can be connected to the defendant, indicating that Watts could be the shooter. She ruled that the case has enough evidence to go to trial.

Watts will remain held at DC Jail as he awaits his next hearing on April 26.

Document: Suspect Wanted in Deadly Shooting

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are asking for the public’s help locating a suspect wanted on a DC Superior Court arrest warrant charging him with first-degree murder while armed.

At approximately 8:30 a.m., officers responded to the 2300 block of 18^th Street, NE, for the report of a shooting, according to a press release. There, they found 42-year-old Sedrick Miller suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police have identified the suspect in this homicide as 27-year-old Jarrell David Harris, of Southeast, DC. He can be seen in photos released by the MPD.

Document: Deadly Shooting in Southeast, DC

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a deadly shooting in Southeast, DC.

At approximately 10:55 a.m., officers responded to the 4200 Block of Southern Avenue, SE, for the report of an unconscious person, according to a press release. There, they found 28-year-old Mark Cobrand in a vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Document: Two Killed in Vehicle Collision at Interstate 695

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a vehicle collision that killed two people at Interstate 695.

At approximately 6:44 p.m. on March 8, a 2011 BMW was traveling eastbound at an apparent high rate of speed on Interstate 695 when the driver lost control and collided with a parked District of Columbia Department of Public Works dump truck at exit 1C, according to a press release. The BMW crossed multiple lanes of traffic, hitting a Toyota, struck a jersey barrier and caught on fire.

The two occupants of the BMW died from their injuries. The passenger has been identified as 32-year-old Steven Roy. The driver’s identity is being withheld pending next of kin notification.

Document: Pedestrian Dies After Being Struck Twice by Vehicles

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating the death of a pedestrian who was struck twice by vehicles at the intersection of New York and New Jersey Avenues, NW.

At approximately 8:22 p.m., 52-year-old Joseph Robinson was walking northbound in the roadway when he was struck by a dark-colored SUV that was traveling northbound on New Jersey Avenue, NW, according to a press release. Robinson was then struck again by a dark-colored sedan that was traveling northbound on New Jersey Avenue, NW.

Robinson was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Police say the operators of both vehicles fled without identifying themselves. They were captured by surveillance footage and can be seen in a video released by the MPD.

Document: Maryland Resident Fatally Shot in Southwest, DC

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a fatal shooting in Southwest, DC.

At approximately 8:33 p.m., officers responded to the 4100 Block of South Capitol Terrace, SW, for the report of a shooting, according to a press release. There, they found 20-year-old Jacky Brooks of Hyattsville, Md., inside a vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Was The Death of Ronald McKnight a Crime or Self-Defense?

A DC Superior Court judge ruled that a homicide case only has enough evidence to go to trial on a lesser charge than what prosecutors initially filed after the defense attorney argued his client acted in self-defense.

Nathan Hunter was charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 44-year-old Ronald McKnight in the head in a hostel bathroom on the 1600 block of 7th Street, NW, on April, 18, 2021. The defendant alleged that McKnight “bum-rushed” him in the bathroom.

Hunter, 40, allegedly fled the scene, going to his friend’s apartment and leaving McKnight in the bathroom. He later went to the police to discuss the incident.

The preliminary hearing spanned March 15 and 16. Prosecutors called the lead detective on the case to the witness stand to testify about his investigation. He said Hunter and McKnight were in the hostel bathroom together for more than 30 minutes.

During his conversation with law enforcement, Hunter’s hands were swollen and his thumb had been damaged. He eventually requested a lawyer.

The detective explained that from his many years as a detective and police officer, he believed that McKnight’s wounds were defensive. Defense attorney Frances D’Antuono pushed back on this statement, questioning his expertise in the matter. The detective acknowledged he was not part of the Office of The Chief Medical Examiner.

D’Antuono then called an expert in forensic pathology who has performed many autopsies to the witness stand. The doctor explained that there is a reference scale to give the range of PCP concentration, being 20 Nanograms per Milliliter to 240 Ng/Ml. According to a toxicology report, McKnight had 190 Ng/Ml of PCP in his bloodstream.

PCP is a dissociative hallucinogenic drug. During cross-examination, the prosecution asked the doctor if everyone’s reaction to PCP was the same. The doctor responded that it was not; however, the most common symptoms were aggravation, panicking or paranoia and sometimes violence. The prosecutor pushed harder on this asking if everyone’s experience would be different.

The doctor replied, yes.

D’Antuono noted past offenses McKnight allegedly committed, both of which are believed to have involved PCP. One offense was for a burglary while the other was for the defendant allegedly causing a nuisance in front of a 7-11. One of these cases was sent to a mental health court and the other was closed due to McKnight’s passing.

The final witness to testify was a private investigator hired by D’Antuono. He said he searched the crime scene and did not find any gun paraphernalia in the bag Hunter left behind.

The defense argued that the evidence indicates McKnight followed Hunter into the hostel, and then into the bathroom. At some point, a gun was pulled and a fight broke out, leading to the deadly shooting. D’Antuono argued that probable cause could not be found for second-degree murder or manslaughter.

The prosecutor countered that they were not seeking a finding of substantial probability, a higher standard than probable cause, but there was ample evidence to support a probable cause finding for the charge of second-degree murder. He argued the evidence only shows that two men had a fight in the bathroom and now one of them is dead.

The prosecutor said they cannot know for sure who had the gun first. He also alleged that Hunter failed to abide by the duty to retreat law that exists in Washington.

For the charge of second-degree murder while armed, Judge Robert Okun said that “while it was very, very close” he could find no probable cause. He instead found probable cause for voluntary manslaughter while armed.

Although D’Antuono requested his client’s release, the prosecutor countered saying that for a charge like this there is ample reason for Hunter to remain detained. Judge Okun decided to keep him at DC Jail for the time being.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the deadline for trial dates has been tolled. With that tolling order nearing its end, Judge Okun set an Aug. 4 trial date.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene for a status hearing on April 20.

Judge Finds Probable Cause for Assault With Intent to Kill Case

A DC Superior Court judge ruled that the case against a domestic violence defendant charged with assault with intent to kill while armed has enough evidence to go to trial.

The defendant is accused of stabbing his father inside the family home after an argument about money. During a March 17 preliminary hearing, Judge Robert Okun made a finding of probable cause.

“I don’t think it’s particularly close,” he said.

The prosecutor called a Metropolitan Police Department detective who assessed the crime scene to the witness stand. A certified Spanish interpreter, she interviewed several family members.

Witnesses told her the alleged altercation started when the victim refused to give the defendant money.

The detective said she thought the defendant took $40, though she was not sure. Still, she was confident that whatever sum the family members mentioned was found on the defendant when he was apprehended.

“It’s clear the defendant, in anger, decided to stab his father over $40,” the prosecutor said.

The prosecutor presented two pictures. The first showed cuts on the hand of a family member who was making breakfast when the alleged stabbing happened. She is partially blind but tried to stop the altercation, the detective said. One witness restrained the defendant and another called emergency services.

The second picture showed the victim’s injuries. The detective said her colleagues had to hold his intestines together.

“The picture was pretty gruesome,” Judge Okun said.

Defense attorney Julie Swaney argued that the circumstances of the incident may be “explored further” to consider factors such as self-defense and mental health. The detective testified earlier that family members had concerns about the defendant’s mental health.

The defendant was also charged in a misdemeanor domestic violence case about one month ago.

Swaney asked Judge Okun to consider allowing the defendant to move into temporary housing in the future. She had reached out to different places but has not found a space for him yet.

Judge Okun was not convinced. He ordered that the defendant remain held at DC Jail.

The next hearing is scheduled for April 19.

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