Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on Sept. 17.
At approximately 12:19 p.m. police responded to the 4500 block of Benning Road, SE, due to a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, police located 57-year-old Mark Johnson with gunshot wounds and transported him to a local hospital. He later succumbed to his injuries, according to the press release.
A DC Superior Court judge continued a Sept. 17 felony status conference for a sex abuse defendant currently in quarentine.
The defendant is charged with assault with intent to commit third-degree sex abuse, simple assault and misdemeanor sex abuse for allegedly assaulting two women on Aug. 7.
DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee scheduled parties to reconvene on Oct. 14.
A DC Superior Court judge continued a Sept. 17 hearing for a murder case.
Cecil Smith, 27, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 39-year-old Harold Castle on Aug. 31 in the 3900 block of South Capitol Street, SE.
Defense attorney Mathew Davies asked for the hearing to be continued so he can have more time to examine the evidence, which he said he only received the night before.
DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee scheduled parties to reconvene on Oct. 21.
A DC Superior Court judge ruled that a murder case has enough evidence to go to trial.
Rodney Lindsay, 54, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 53-year-old Terrence Gause on the 700 block of Adrian Street, SE, on the morning of Aug. 14.
According to court documents, Lindsay and Gause had been in a dispute over their relationships with a witness.
On the morning of the homicide, Lindsay’s relative drove him to this witness’ home to look for his keys, according to court documents. Several minutes later, video footage shows Lindsay and Gause arguing outside the home. Gause reportedly told the defendant, “I told you not to come back over here again.”
When Lindsay left the property, he walked down the stairs and waited on the sidewalk, where Gause approached him, video footage shows.
“While assaulting the decedent the defendant appears to be using a stabbing motion in the waist, back and hip area of the decedent as the decedent appears to attempt to get away,” the gerstein affidavit states.
Footage shows Gause stumbling up to the witness’ home and collapsing on the front steps.
The Metropolitan Police Department obtained an arrest warrant for Lindsay, but he turned himself in a couple of days after the stabbing.
During the Sept. 15 hearing, defense attorney Ronald Resetarits argued that his client acted in self-defense. He pointed out that, according to court documents, on the night before his death, Gause allegedly went to a third witness’ home with a knife in his hand. Resetarits also noted that, according to court documents, a witness said that Gause used PCP and alcohol almost every day.
The prosecution, however, argued that Gause and Lindsay appeared calm and unthreatened in the video footage from the day of the homicide.
Judge Neal Kravitz ruled that the case has probable cause. He said that, while the decedent’s conduct was “provocative”, it did not warrant “such a violent response”.
Judge Kravitz did, however, allow Lindsay to be released into the High Intensity Supervision Program. His next hearing is scheduled for Jan. 14, 2022.
A DC Superior Court judge relaxed a domestic violence defendant’s release conditions.
The defendant is charged with first-degree sexual abuse.
During the Sept. 17 hearing, defense attorney Dominique Winters said the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) is recommending decreasing how often her client is required to report to them. However, Winters wanted the defendant not to be required to report to the PSA at all.
Judge Danya Dayson decided to have the defendant report to the PSA once a month, saying monthly reporting is the least restrictive means of ensuring the community’s safety.
A DC Superior Court judge scheduled hearing to determine if a murder case has enough evidence to go to trial.
William Davenport is charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with the shooting of 27-year-old Leonard Turner on the 400 block of 2nd Street, NW, on May 14.
Davenport, 29, is currently in quarantine at the DC Jail.
During the Sept. 17 hearing, defense attorney Jacqueline Cadman asked Judge Danya Dayson to schedule a preliminary hearing at least two weeks out to ensure her client would be out of quarantine and able to come to court.
Judge Dayson scheduled the preliminary hearing for Oct. 12.
On Sept. 16, a DC Superior Court judge scheduled a murder defendant to go before a jury in September 2022.
Khamari Perkins, 20, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence in the death of 18-year-old Naseem Simpson, who was shot March 15, 2020, on the 3000 block of 14th Street, NW.
No plea deal is being offered to Perkins as he awaits his trial, which Judge Neal Kravitz scheduled to begin on Sept. 6, 2022.
Judge Kravitz scheduled a status hearing for Oct. 14 to check on the status of the prosecution’s DNA testing.
Two murder defendants have been indicted on eight charges.
On the afternoon of April 29, 2020, Metropolitan Police Department officers found Devonte Speight 1800 block of Maryland Avenue, NE, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The 26-year-old was pronounced dead
Co-defendants Daquan Aglin, 24, and Derrick Kearney, 25, are indicted on charges of first-degree murder, first-degree theft, fleeing a law enforcement officer, unauthorized use of a vehicle, attempt to commit robbery while armed and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Anglin’s defense attorney, Dominique Winters, previously filed a motion for release. During the Sept. 15 hearing, Judge Neal Kravitz said the motion for release is “moot” in light of the prosecution’s indictment and would not be approved.
Kearney’s defense attorney, Joseph Caleb, chose not to contest an earlier finding that his client is competent to stand trial. During a hearing last month, he said he was still in the process of deciding this.
Kearney and Anglin’s next hearing is scheduled for Nov. 12.
A sex abuse defendant was unable to appear in court due to being in quarantine at the DC Jail.
The 36-year-old defendant allegedly asked a woman at a metro stop if she wanted to “do something” in exchange for money on Sept. 6, 2020. After she declined, he allegedly followed her into a building lobby some blocks away and assaulted her, according to court documents.
He is charged with assault with intent to commit first-degree sexual abuse, first-degree burglary, third-degree sex abuse, misdemeanor sex abuse and lewd, indecent, or obscene acts in relation to the incident.
Parties were informed that the defendant is held in quarantine and would be unable to attend the Sept. 15 hearing. Judge Marisa Demeo said that she was unaware of the defendant’s status until that morning.
Judge Demeo also dismissed defense attorney Steven Ogilvie and appointed Howard McEachern.
The defendant also previously pleaded guilty in a domestic violence case to attempted possession of a prohibited weapon and simple assault in August 2020. Two months later, he was arrested for the current case.
Judge Demeo set a hearing for Oct. 22.
A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a bond review hearing for one of the defendants charged in connection with a 2018 drive-by shooting that killed a 10-year-old girl.
Co-defendants Isaiah Murchison, 21, Antonio Murchison, 28, Marquell Cobbs, 19, and Darrise Jeffers, 21, are charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with the shooting of Makiyah Wilson on July 16, 2018, on the 300 block of 53rd street, NE. The shooting is alleged to have been the result of a neighborhood rivalry.
The four are also charged with conspiracy, possessing a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault while armed and criminal street gang affiliation in this case.
Back in August, Isaiah Murchison’s attorneys, Elizabeth Wellner and Carrie Weletz, filed a motion for their client’s release from DC Jail.
In it, they state that Murchinson has no prior criminal history, strong community ties and a place to live. They also argue that the prosecution’s case against him is weak.
After the defendant was indicted in May 2019, a judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest. However, US Marshals did not find and arrest him until August 2020. But Wellner and Weletz state that, “there is no direct information about if or when Mr. Murchison became aware of the indictment or warrant.” They also point out that he has never failed to appear in court or had a bench warrant issued for him before this.
Isaiah Murchison’s bond review hearing is scheduled for Oct. 8.
During the four’s Sept. 15 hearing, the prosecution said they will be retesting a majority of the evidence. The DNA evidence will take four to six months. Updated DNA results are expected to be provided to the defense within two weeks.
The defendants’ trial is scheduled to begin in October 2022.
Qujuan Thomas, 22, Quentin Michals, 24, Gregory Taylor, 26, Mark Price, 27, Quincy Garvin, 21, and Saquan Williams, 19, are also charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with Wilson’s death. Their trial is scheduled to start May 2, 2022
A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a murder case to go to trial in 2023.
Thomas Fields Jr., 36, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 24-year-old Marquita Lucas on the 3700 block of Horner Place, SE, on Aug. 17, 2019.
He is also charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, kidnapping while armed and tampering with physical evidence in this case.
During the Sept. 15 hearing, Judge Danya Dayson scheduled the trial to begin on April 17, 2023.
Fields’ presence was waved. He is currently being held at DC Jail.
A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a status hearing to discuss evidence in a homicide case.
Kevin Goggins, 20, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 28-year-old Yisa Jeffcoat on the 1600 block of W Street, SE on Oct. 9, 2020.
During the Sept. 15 hearing, defense attorney Kevann Gardner asked Judge Danya Dayson to schedule a hearing to discuss evidence in his client’s case. Gardner expressed concern about the legitimacy of a witness for the prosecution, who testified during a preliminary hearing back in February.
Judge Dayson scheduled the hearing for Nov. 5. The defense plans to call the prosecution’s witnesses for cross-examination at this time.
In the meantime, Goggins will remain held at DC Jail.
DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson moved up the trial date for a double homicide case on Sept. 15.
Alphonso Walker, 41, is charged with first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction and attempt to commit robbery while armed for allegedly shooting 23-year-old Dalonte Wilson and 44-year-old Antone Brown on April 25, 2018, on the 400 block of 61st Street, NE.
The trial, previously slated to begin on July 27, 2022, is now scheduled to begin on Jan. 24, 2022. Parties anticipate the trial to last two weeks.
Parties will reconvene on Oct. 21 and 22 for a motion hearing and a trial readiness hearing.
Prosecutors dismissed a murder case.
Deshaun Gaskins, 22, was charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with the shooting of 36-year-old Marcus Wallace on Nov. 21, 2020, on the 1400 block of L Street, SE.
No additional information was provided during the Sept. 14 hearing.
Gaskins, 22, was charged on Dec. 24, 2020. He was held at DC Jail until the following April, when a DC Superior Court judge agreed to release him into home confinement.
A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a trial for a domestic violence defendant after he rejected a plea offer.
The defendant is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and assault with a dangerous weapon.
During the Sept. 15 hearing, the defendant rejected a plea offer from the prosecution and requested a trial.
DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt set the trial to begin on April 22, 2022. She also scheduled a trial readiness hearing for January 10, 2022.
