Document: Police Release Surveillance Footage in Homicide Investigation

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are asking for the public’s help identifying and locating a suspect in connection with the fatal shooting of an on-duty Special Police Officer on Sept. 21.

According to a press release, at about 8:42 p.m. that day, officers responded to the 3300 block of 10^th Place, SE, for the sounds of gunshots. There, they found 41-year-old Angela Washington suffering from a gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead on scene.

The suspect was captured by a nearby surveillance camera. Police have released the video.

Felony Domestic Violence Case Set for Trial

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a felony domestic violence case for trial.

The defendant is indicted on charges of malicious disfigurement while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, aggravated assault knowingly while armed and robbery while armed in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred on or about June 14, 2019.

Judge Rainey Brandt scheduled the trial process to begin on May 16.

The prosecution anticipates taking two to three days to present their case.

The defendant is currently released into the High Intensity Supervision Program. According to a Pretrial Services Agency officer, he is in compliance with his release conditions.

A trial readiness hearing is set to take place on March 14.

Defendant’s Murder Charge Dropped Per Plea Deal

A co-defendant’s murder charge was dropped as part of a deal he made with prosecutors.

Cousins Kurt and Demonte Hewitt were previously charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection with the shooting of Tyshon Perry on May 1, 2018 on the 1300 block of 2nd Street, NE.

Earlier this month, Kurt Hewitt, 21, agreed to plead guilty to two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of second-degree burglary in exchange for the prosecution dropping the murder charge, D.C. Witness previously reported. At the time, the prosecution said a plea offer is still under consideration for Demonte Hewitt.

During the Oct. 27 hearing, 19-year-old Hewitt pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon, simple assault and felony threats. As with his cousin, the prosecution agreed to drop the murder charge.

Defense attorney Jessica Willis asked for her client’s release, saying he has been held in the custody of the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) since May 2018. The defendant is also currently working towards his GED, she said.

The prosecution opposed the release request because he pleaded guilty to violent felonies. The prosecution also said the victims’ families were in court virtually and oppose the defendant’s release.

Judge Neal Kravitz denied the request due to the defendant’s admitted behavior.

Demonte Hewitt is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 21.

Several Witnesses Testify at Murder Trial

Four witnesses testified during the third day of a murder trial.

The defendant, 63-year-old Robert Dean Jr., is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 38-year-old Tamiya White in the neck with a screwdriver on March 31, 2018, on the 1000 block of Mount Olivet Road, NE.

During the Oct. 27 proceedings, the prosecution called a neighbor who took Dean in after the stabbing to the witness stand. The witness said he and his wife were unaware of the incident when they let him into their home.

During cross-examination, defense attorney Anthony Matthews asked if the witness came in contact with the police after watching a television news clip that reported the crime and mentioned a $25,000 reward. The witness responded that he contacted the police for moral reasons, not out of a desire for money.

The prosecution’s second witness, a woman who works for the private forensic DNA lab Bode Technology, testified that the DNA samples tested from items confiscated during the investigation were accurate and corresponded with the victim and the defendant.

A professor of systems pharmacology at the University of Pennsylvania with expertise in toxicology testified that the methodology of tracing the drug PCP in Tamiya White’s blood was accurate. The results also showed she had traces of cocaine along with PCP, she said. The prosecution asked the professor if this would have affected her behavior, and he confirmed that there are different symptoms affecting people who use this drug.

The trial is set to pick back up on Oct. 28.

Crime Alerts: October 27-28

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out one crime alert between 9:00 p.m. on Oct. 27 and 9:00 a.m. on Oct. 28.

A crime alert was sent out at 12:57 a.m. due to a shooting investigation in the 600 block of Edgewood Street, NE. Police identified the suspects as two Black males wearing hoodies and dark pants.

Document: Arrest Made in Homicide

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives have made an arrest in relation to a homicide that occurred on Oct. 22.

At approximately 9:37 a.m. police responded to the 4900 block of East Capitol Street, SE, due to a report of a stabbing. Upon arrival, police located 21-year-old Michael Phillip Johnson with stab wounds and transported him to a local hospital. He later succumbed to his injuries, according to the press release.

On Oct. 27, officers arrested 51-year-old Warren Tyson and charged him with second-degree murder while armed, according to the press release.

Sex Abuse Case Dismissed

A DC Superior Court judge granted the prosecution’s motion to dismiss a sex abuse case.

The 22-year-old defendant was charged with first-degree sex abuse on Aug. 19. He was accused of brandishing a handgun and forcing a women to perform oral sex on him in a Northwest, DC, hotel room on Aug. 17.

During the Oct. 27 hearing, the prosecution said they were unable to make contact with the victim or any witnesses.

Judge Milton Lee ordered the defendant’s release from DC Jail in this case.

Judge Disqualifies Public Defender Service from Representing Murder Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge disqualified the Public Defender Service (PDS) from representing a defendant in a reopened murder case.

In 2017, Eugene Burns was convicted of first-degree murder while armed, carrying a pistol without a license and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence in the shooting of Onyekachi Osuchukwu III on the 2900 block of 2nd Street, SE, on Nov. 14, 2015. He was sentenced to 31 years in prison.

Following an appeal, Burns’ case was reopened in March 2020. He is now awaiting a new trial.

During the Oct. 27 hearing, Judge Juliet McKenna found that an affidavit filed in support of Burns’ release contained fraudulent statements. Judge McKenna said there is no evidence that the Public Defenders Service (PDS) was aware of the fraudulence.

Judge McKenna will appoint Burns new representation.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on Nov. 16.

Judge Schedules Non-Jury Trial for Sex Abuse Case

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a non-jury trial for a sex abuse case.

In 2019, the defendant was convicted of multiple counts of second-degree child sex abuse. He was sentenced to a total of 15 years.

The defendant currently has two misdemeanor sex abuse charges pending against him.

Judge Juliet McKenna scheduled the non-jury trial for the misdemeanor charges to begin on Nov. 29. The trial is expected to last two days.

The prosecution is seeking to have the defendant’s previous crimes disclosed as evidence during the trial, but defense attorney David Richter is opposed to this. A motion hearing to discuss the matter is set for Nov. 18.

Judge Continues Hearing for Murder Case

A DC Superior Court judge continued an Oct. 27 felony status conference for a murder case.

Jacobi Williams, 35, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 38-year-old Phillip Roache on Sept. 17, 2020, on the 7000 block of Blair Road, NW.

The prosecution requested the continuance so they could have more time to work on indicting the case.

Judge Marisa Demeo scheduled parties to reconvene on Dec. 17.

Plea Negotiations in Murder Case Ongoing, Parties Report

A DC Superior Court judge continued an Oct. 26 felony status conference for three murder defendants.

Co-defendants Malik Bynum, 21, Larry White Jr., 20, and Mark Fletcher III, 22, are charged with first-degree murder while armed in the July 2 shooting of 21-year-old Rosendo Miller on the 1300 block of Brentwood Road, NE.

Parties said they were in the process of plea negotiations and asked Judge Neal Kravitz to continue the hearing.

Judge Kravitz scheduled parties to reconvene on Nov. 11.

Four Witnesses Testify During Murder Trial

Four witnesses testified during the second day of a murder trial at the DC Superior Court.

Robert Dean, 63, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 38-year-old Tamiya White with a screwdriver on March 31, 2018.

According to court documents, at approximately 4:58 p.m., the victim was driving in Northeast, DC, when she pulled into a McDonald’s parking lot on the 1900 block of 9th Street, NE, and entered the lobby, seeking help for her injuries while holding her neck. She was pronounced dead approximately 30 minutes later.

During the Oct. 26 proceedings, a long-time friend of Dean’s testified that he received a text from the defendant that read, “I feel that I am about to go to jail.” The witness then spoke to Dean on the phone and told him he would pick him up in a few hours. When the witness picked Dean up, the defendant said he had stabbed a woman after she had hit him in the face, he said.

A married couple who lived nearby Dean also took the witness stand. After his friend dropped him back off, Dean went to the couple’s apartment and stayed the night there. Dean also allegedly told the couple that he had stabbed a woman after she hit him in the face. The witnesses said Dean claimed to have followed the woman to her car to ask for money that she owed him. When he confronted her, she allegedly reached into her vehicle and struck him with an object.

During cross-examination, the witnesses confirmed to defense attorneys Jonathan Armstrong and Anthony Matthews that they believe Dean approached the victim with the sole intent of discussing the money she owed him.

The prosecution also brought in an expert witness to examine cell phone evidence. The forensic scientist explained how data was retrieved from the defendant’s phone to verify the authenticity of text and phone records.

DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo is presiding over the trial. Proceedings are set to resume on Oct. 27.

Crime Alerts: October 26-27

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out one crime alert between 9:00 p.m. on Oct. 26 and 9:00 a.m. on Oct. 27.

A crime alert was sent out at 10:30 p.m. due to a shooting in the 5400 block of Georgia Avenue, NW. Police do not have information on the suspect (s).

Document: Arrests Made in Two Homicides

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives have made arrests in relation to two different homicides on Oct. 26.

At approximately 3:23 p.m. on Oct. 8, officers responded to the 3900 Block of South Capitol Street, SW, due to the report of a shooting. Upon arrival officers located 33-year-old Lester Mangum inside of an establishment with gunshot wounds and transported him to a local hospital. He later succumbed to his injuries, according to the press release.

On October 26, officers arrested 20-year-old Kavell Miller and charged him with first-degree murder while armed, according to the press release.

At approximately 8:31 p.m. on Oct. 25, officers responded to the 4900 block of G Street, SE, due to a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, police located an adult female with gunshot wounds inside an apartment building. A second adult male victim was also located with gunshot wounds, according to the press release.

The adult female, 47-year-old Dametrics Evans, was pronounced dead on the scene, according to the press release.

On Oct. 26, officers arrested 21-year-old Shaun Tyree Brown and charged him with first-degree murder while armed and assault with intent to kill.

Document: Arrest Made in Homicide

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives have made an arrest in relation to an Oct. 25 homicide.

At approximately 10:28 p.m. officers responded to the 1600 block of 18th Street, SE, due to a report of a stabbing. Upon arrival, officers located 26-year-old Aaron Langford with stab wounds and transported him to a local hospital. He later succumbed to his injuries, according to the press release.

That same day, officers arrested 30-year-old Charles Haythe and charged him with second-degree murder while armed, according to the press release. Later investigation showed the homicide was domestic in nature.

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