Document: Arrest Made in Homicide

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives have made an arrest in relation to a Sept. 10 homicide.

At approximately 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 10 police responded to the 1400 block of 29th Street, SE, due to a report of a shooting. Officers located 39-year-old Anthony Kelly inside of a residential building with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on scene, according to the press release.

On Sept. 30, officers arrested 22-year-old Shaka Haltiwanger and charged him with second-degree murder while armed in relation to the homicide, according to the press release.

Document: Arrest Made in June Homicide

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives have made an arrest in relation to a June homicide.

At approximately 7:56 pm. on June 24, police responded to the 3600 block of 22^nd Street, SE, due to a report of a stabbing. Upon arrival, police located 27-year-old Damohn Gill with stab wounds and transported him to a local hospital. He later succumbed to his injuries, according to the press release.

On Sept. 30, officers arrested 28-year-old Aaron Jackson and charged him with second-degree murder while armed, according to the press release.

Crime Alerts: September 30 to October 1

The Metropolitan PoliceDepartment sent out two crime alerts between 9:00 p.m. on Sept. 30 and 9:00 a.m. on Oct. 1.

A crime alert was sent out at 9:03 p.m. due to a stabbing investigation in the 2200 block of Minnesota Avenue, SE. Police do not have information on the suspect(s).

a crime alert was sent out at 10:29 p.m. due to a shooting investigation in the 3800 block of 9th Street, SE. Police do not have information on the suspect(s).

Judge Denies Second Request to Release Murder Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge denied a second request to release a murder defendant.

Malachi McFarland, 21, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 29-year old Kerry Odoms on April 15 on the 3300 block of 10th Place, SE. He is currently in quarantine at DC Jail.

Judge Marisa Demeo denied a previous oral request for release on Sept. 20. Defense attorney Jacquelin Cadman filed another motion for release on Sept. 27. During the Sept. 30 hearing, this motion was denied.

Cadman argued that DC Jail’s COVID protocols do not keep inmates safe. She also argued that the quarantine period is too long. “If someone tests positive in a unit, [the inmates] go into a 14-day quarantine,” she said.

The prosecution said the delays “do not warrant the court to release the defendant,” because of the risk they argue McFarland poses to the public.

Judge Demeo said she understands the delays quarantines cause can be “detrimental” to defendants but said “it appears rational.”

A preliminary hearing to determine if the case has enough evidence to go to trial was previously scheduled for Sept. 30. That hearing has now been rescheduled to Oct. 19.

Judge Continues Murder Case

A DC Superior Court judge continued a Sept. 30 hearing for a murder case.

Wesley Scott, 21, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 28-year-old David Young on the 3500 block of 22nd Street, SE, on April 3, 2020. He is being held at the DC Jail.

During the Sept. 30 hearing, the prosecution requested a sixty-day continuance, which the defense did not oppose. Judge Neal Kravitz scheduled the felony status conference for Dec. 1.

Defense attorney Matthew Davies asked that the prosecution turn over any remaining discovery evidence as soon as possible. He also said he would likely file a bond review motion in the near future.

Man Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Abuse

A man pleaded guilty to child sex abuse after making a deal with the prosecution.

Ada Piñeada, 30, was charged with first-degree child sex abuse and second-degree child sex abuse in June. The prosecution accused him of sexually abusing a family member on multiple occasions in 2019 and 2020, beginning when she was 8-years-old.

During the Sept. 30 hearing, Piñeada pleaded guilty to second-degree child sex abuse. The prosecution dismissed the first-degree child sex abuse charge as part of the plea deal.

DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz scheduled Pineda to be sentenced on Dec. 10.

Document: Suspect Sought in First-Degree Sex Abuse While Armed Offense

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are attempting to identify and locate a suspect in relation to a first-degree sexual abuse while armed offense.

At approximately 1:00 a.m. on Sept. 30 the suspect allegedly approached the victim in the 600 block of Alabama Avenue, SE. He allegedly revealed a handgun and engaged in a forced sexual act with the victim. He then fled the scene, according to the press release.

the suspect has been identified as a Black male who is armed with a handgun. He is approximately 5 foot 7 inches to 5 foot 9 inches tall with a thin build. He was last seen wearing a dark hoody, dark sweatpants and a black ski mask, according to the press release.

Defense Requests Time to Review Plea Offer

A defense attorney requested time to go over a plea offer with a sex abuse defendant.

The defendant is charged with second-degree child sexual abuse in a domestic violence case.

During the Sept. 29 hearing, defense attorney Quo Judkins requested a continuance so she could go over a recent plea offer with her client.

The defendant is currently being held at St. Elizabeths Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution. In August, he was found competent to stand trial, but Judkins said her client shows cognitive issues, which makes it difficult for him to understand certain things.

Judkins requested 30 days to go over the plea deal. The prosecution has accepted the extension.

DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee set a hearing date for Oct. 22.

Judge Orders Competency Screening for Murder Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge ordered a preliminary screening to determine if a murder defendant is competent to stand trial.

Devon Stephens, 35, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 34-year-old Eugene Issac Jr. on the 100 block of N Street, NW, on Feb. 15, 2020.

During the Sept. 29 status hearing, defense attorneys Raymond Jones and Lisbeth Sapirstien asked Judge Marisa Demeo to schedule a forensic screening for their client. Stephens also asked for new defense counsel. Judge Demeo said the request will be addressed once the issue of mental competency is resolved.

Parties are slated to discuss the results of the screening during a mental observation hearing on Oct. 19.

Stephens is currently being held at DC Jail.

Judge Schedules Preliminary Hearing for Fatal Stabbing Case

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a hearing to determine if the case against a murder defendant has enough evidence to go to trial.

Christian Monge, 24, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 28-year-old Brittanie Clarke on the evening of Aug. 31 on the 5000 block of 1^st Street, NW.

Judge Marisa Demeo scheduled the preliminary hearing for Oct. 8. The prosecution said parties will begin plea negotiations in the meantime.

Domestic Violence Defendant Fails to Appear for Sentencing

A DC Superior Court judge issued a bench warrant for a domestic violence defendant who failed to appear in court for a sentencing hearing.

Lorraine Owens was initially charged with assault with a dangerous weapon but pleaded down to simple assault in February 2020.

Owens also failed to appear for a sentencing hearing on Sept. 7. At that time, Judge John Campbell issued a judicial summons and rescheduled the sentencing for Sept. 29.

When Owens did not show up to that hearing, either, defense attorney Winston Yallery-Arthur said he had contacted her family member but had not heard from or seen the defendant.

Judge Campbell issued a bench warrant for her arrest and rescheduled the sentencing for Oct. 14.

Judge Holds Murder Defendant During Presentments

A DC Superior Court judge held a murder defendant during presentments on Sept. 29.

Trevon Devore is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 27-year-old Daqual Covington on the unit block of O Street, SW, on May 17.

Judge Lloyd Nolan held Devore and scheduled him to return to court on Oct. 8.

A domestic violence defendant charged with destruction of property less than $1,000 and simple assault was also held. He is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 19.

A second domestic violence defendant was charged with second-degree theft, simple assault and contempt. He was held and scheduled to return to court on Oct. 8.

Judge Nolan released three domestic violence defendants with stay away orders. Their charges include simple assault, attempted possession of a prohibited weapon, attempted threats to do bodily harm, destruction of property less than $1,000 and first-degree burglary. They are scheduled to return to court on Dec. 15.

Defendant Charged With Shooting Senior Citizen Pleads Guilty

A defendant accused of fatally shooting a senior citizen in 2018 pleaded guilty.

Nazir Ahmad, 68, was killed on Nov. 3, 2018, on the 900 block of Brentwood Road, NW. The defendant, Demetrius Pierce, went on to be indicted on charges of first-degree murder while armed of a senior citizen, robbery while armed of a senior citizen, second-degree burglary while armed of a senior citizen, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction.

Pierce, 34, pleaded out on charges on second-degree murder, possession of a prohibited weapon and simple assault.

The plea deal includes an agreement between parties that an appropriate sentence in this case would be 20 years for the murder charge, six months for the simple assault charge and three months for the possession charge.

According to court documents, surveillance footage from a food mart in Northeast, DC, shows Ahmad sitting behind the cash register. After he went to an employee area in the rear of the building, Pierce took the cash register and tried to exit, but the door was locked. Shortly after, the victim approached the defendant.

Ahmad stopped, raised his hands in the air and began backing up towards the employee area, where he shut the door behind him. Pierce shot through the employee area door, striking Ahmad. The defendant then shot through the glass front door and exited the building, cash register in hand.

DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee scheduled Pierce to be sentenced on Dec. 10.

Judge Changes Date of Murder Trial

A DC Superior Court judge granted a request to change the date of a murder trial due to a defense attorney’s scheduling conflict.

Co-defendants Stephon Evans, 21, and Kewon Hunter, 22, are charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with the shooting of 21-year-old Dion DeMarco Boyd on July 30, 2018, on the 1400 block of Maryland Avenue, NE.

The two are also charged with conspiracy while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business in this case.

During the Sept. 28 hearing, Judge Marisa Demeo granted the defense’s request to change the trial date. The trial date was previously set to begin in May. It is now set to begin in July.

Evan’s attorney, Jesse Winograd, needed to change the trial dates due to a scheduling conflict with another trial.

Judge Demeo set the next hearing for Oct. 22.

Evans is also one of four defendants charged with murder in the death of 21-year-old Michael Taylor on the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE, on Jan. 12, 2019.

Murder Defendant Makes First Court Appearance Following Hospital Stay

A murder defendant who had been in the hospital since his arrest in July made his first appearance before a DC Superior Court judge during presentments.

A total of 21 defendants were brought before Judge Nolan Lloyd.

Klein Lawrence is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Vanessa Brooks-Williams on the 5100 block of Fitch Street, SE, on July 10. He has been hospitalized since his arrest on July 31.

A bench warrant was issued on July 16 for the 37-year-old’s arrest in connection with the homicide. On July 31, police received a tip that he was on the 1600 block of New York Avenue, NE, according to court documents. A detective saw a man laying on the hood of a vehicle attempting to stop it from moving. After the car sped off and the man picked up a paper bag from the ground, the detective reportedly recognized him as Lawrence.

The detective kept his eyes on Lawrence as he walked away from the area before being surrounded by officers at the intersection of West Virginia and Fenwick Street, NE. Officers attempted to arrest Lawrence when he allegedly held the bag to his head and repeatedly threatened to shoot and kill himself.

Eventually, according to court documents, an officer deployed a taser and two pops were heard: one consistent with the sound of a taser and another consistent with that of a gun.

Officers later recovered a semi-automatic pistol, which court documents state, “had an expended cartridge casing ‘stove-piped’ in the injection port causing it to be jammed.”

Lawrence allegedly told the officers he was not going to use the gun on them. He was taken to a hospital and made his first appearance in court on Sept. 28. There, Judge Lloyd decided to hold him in jail.

Two domestic violence defendants charged with simple assault and attempted threats to do bodily harm were held on bench warrants due to failure to appear in court. They are scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 5.

Search