Murder Victim’s Parents Say They Forgive Defendant During Sentencing

The Chief Judge of the DC Superior Court sentenced a man to 15 years in prison for murder.

Jerrell Powell was indicted on charges of first-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence in the shooting of 30-year-old Antoine McCullough on July 2, 2016, on the 3500 block of 18th Street, SE. The 25-year-old defendant ultimately pleaded down to second-degree murder while armed.

“I hope you have had time to seek inside yourself,” the victim’s father said during the Aug. 26 hearing. “This has been the worst five years of my life.”

McCullough’s parents, who work in youth ministry, said that, although the last five years have been painful, they are thankful Powell has the opportunity to change and has seen a change in his demeanor.

“I believe that God is going to change your life,” McCullough’s mother said.

The victims’ parents forgave Powell for his actions, which Chief Judge Anita Josey-Herring called “extremely generous.”

“I ask you to not disappoint them and turn your life around,” Chief Judge Josey-Herring told him.

The chief judge said that events like these lead to mass incarceration and Powell’s actions help to “deteriorate his community.”

“Black lives absolutely matter and you’re part of the problem,” she said.

Powell spoke during the sentencing, thanking the family for forgiving him.

“This lifestyle only gets you to two places – dead or locked up,” he said.

Powell’s 15-year prison sentence will be followed by five years of supervised release. He was sentenced under the Youth Rehabilitation Act, which will allow his case to be effectively sealed once he completes his requirements.

Powell is currently being held at Saint Elizabeths Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution, where he has been receiving treatment since 2017.

Jeremiah Jordan, Powell’s former co-defendant, was charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and unlawful possession of a firearm in connection with McCullough’s death. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy aggravated assault knowingly while armed and was sentenced to time served plus two years of supervised probation in January.

Document: Arrest Made in 2020 Homicide

Metropolan Police Department (MPD) detectives made an arrest in relation to a 2020 homicide.

At approximately 1:51 a.m. on June 11, 2020, officers responded to the 4700 block of Jay Street, NE, after receiving a report of sounds of gunfire. At the location, the police found 32-year-old Kevin Redd suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital, according to the press release.

Police arrested 33-year-old Jamil Whitley and charged him with first-degree murder while armed (premeditated) on Aug. 25, according to the press release.

Crime Alerts: August 25-26

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out three crime alerts between 9:00 p.m. on Aug. 25 and 9:00 a.m. on Aug. 26.

A crime alert was sent out at 10:59 p.m. due to a shooting in the 400 block of Southern Avenue, SE. Police do not have information on the suspect(s).

A crime alert was sent out at 1:07 p.m. due to a robbery in the 3900 block of Dix Street, NE. Police identified the suspects as five juvenile males.

A crime alert was sent out at 3:15 a.m. due to a robbery in the Unit block of Massachusetts Avenue, NE. Police identified the suspect as a Black male wearing a baseball cap with light blue jeans, a gray hoodie and new balance shoes. He was possibly armed.

Document: Decedent Identified in Officer Involved Shooting

The Metropolan Police Department (MPD) has identified the decedent in an Aug. 25 officer involved shooting.

A little before 2:45 a.m., officers were called to the area of Florida Avenue, NE, and New York Avenue, NE, after a man was reported to be unconscious behind the wheel of a vehicle that was stopped in traffic, Police Chief Robert J. Contee III said during a briefing. Officers found the individual asleep in the vehicle, a black BMW, with a handgun in his waistband, DC Witness previously reported.

Officers deployed a ballistic shield and attempted to engage the driver, 27-year-old Antwan Gilmore. Gilmore reacted by moving the vehicle forward. He stopped his vehicle but soon proceeded forward as an officer discharged their service weapon multiple times, striking Gilmore. Gilmore’s vehicle continued forward until stopping at the Unit block of New York Avenue, NE, according to the press release.

MPD officers removed Gilmore from his vehicle and transported him to a local hospital. After all efforts failed, Gilmore succumbed to his injuries, according to the press release.

Murder Case Continued Pending Insanity Evaluation

At a defense attorney’s request, a DC Superior Court judge continued an Aug. 25 hearing for a murder case pending an insanity evaluation for the defendant.

Lance Ammons is charged with second-degree murder while armed and carrying a dangerous weapon for allegedly stabbing 62-year-old Robert Bolich to death on Aug. 22, 2019, on the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge.

Newly appointed defense attorney Kevann Gardner said the defense has hired an expert to conduct an insanity evaluation.

Gardner said it’s hard to know the exact number of sessions such an evaluation would take. Judge Rainey Brandt scheduled the next hearing to take place on Oct. 22.

According to court documents, the 44-year-old defendant allegedly told police that he saw Bolich and the devil told him to stab him and that he tried to fight off the devil, but could not.

Document: Homicide in Northeast, DC

Metropolitan Police Department detectives are investigating a homicide that happened on Aug. 24.

According to a press release, at around 11:32 p.m., officers responded to the 5700 block of Blaine Street, NE, for the report of a shooting. There, they found 21-year-old Eric Shorts, Jr. inside a residence, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on scene.

Man Fatally Shot by Police in Northeast, DC

Metropolitan Police Department Chief Robert J. Contee III told the public that police fatally shot a man who was found asleep in his car with a gun during the early hours of Aug. 25.

A little before 3:00 a.m., officers were called to the area of Florida Avenue, NE, and New York Avenue, NE, after a man was reported to be unconscious behind the wheel of a vehicle that was stropped in traffic, Contee said during a briefing. Officers found the individual asleep in the vehicle, a black BMW, with a handgun in his waistband.

Contee estimated there was about a 20 minute gap between the time that the officers responded to the scene and the time they engaged the individual. He said they tried to wake him up without startling him.

“At some point the individual awakened from his sleep and at that point that individual was engaged by officers and at some point from there shots were fired,” Contee said.

The man was struck by gunfire and pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Contee said the view from the officers’ Body Worn Cameras is restricted due to the ballistic shields they were using.

Judge Denies Release for Murder Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge denied a murder defendant’s fourth release request.

Stephon Evans, 21, Alonzo Brown, 21, Tavist Alston, 25, and Naquel Henderson, 22, are charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 22-year-old Michael Taylor on the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE, on Jan. 12, 2019.

During the Aug. 24 hearing, defense attorney Marnitta King asked Judge Juliet McKenna to release her client into the High Intensity Supervision Program. She said it does not make sense to hold the defendant due to his alleged role in the murder. Alston is accused of acting as a getaway driver, not a shooter, she noted.

King also said that Alston has earned his GED and has become a peer counselor on recommendation from his teacher since being detained at DC Jail.

King also said that Alston has health problems, and while jail staff has been sending him to various hospitals in search of effective treatment, she argued that his health issues would be better addressed if he was out of jail. But the prosecution argued that the jail is well equipped to handle health-related issues.

Judge Mckenna ultimately denied the release request. She cited the probable cause finding made during his preliminary hearing and noted that there was evidence that the incident was gang-related due to the weapons found at his home during a search warrant.

Alston’s trial is scheduled to take place from Oct. 6 until Nov. 11, 2022. He is also scheduled for a trial readiness hearing on Dec. 17.

Alston is also charged with conspiracy to commit a crime of violence, possessing a firearm during a crime of violence and assault with intent to kill while armed in this case.

Carlos Turner, 23, is also charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with Taylor’s death. He is scheduled for a status hearing on Jan. 5, 2022.

Evans is also charged with first-degree murder while armed, conspiracy while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and carrying a pistol without a license in the death of 21-year-old Dion DeMarco Boyd on July 30, 2018, on the 1400 block of Maryland Avenue, NE. Kewon Hunter is also charged in connection with this homicide.

Crime Alerts: August 24-25

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out two crime alerts between 9:00 p.m. on Aug. 24 and 9:00 p.m. on Aug. 25.

A crime alert was sent out at 12:06 a.m. due to a stabbing in the 2100 block of Ridgecrest Circut, SE. Police identified the suspect as a Black male wearing a green shirt and blue jeans.

A second crime alert was sent out at 12:36 a.m. due to an armed robbery in the 1200 block of K Street, SE. Police identified the suspect as a tall, thin Black male with dreadlocks wearing a white and red striped shirt and grey pants.

Document: Homicide in Southeast, DC

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a homicide that took place on Aug. 23.

According to a press release, at about 10:59 p.m., officers responded to the 3900 block of South Capitol Street, SE, for the report of a shooting.

There, they found 39 year-old Harold Castle suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on scene.

Document: Man Arrested for Sexual Abuse of Secondary Education Student

On Aug. 24, a 47-year-old man was arrested for first-degree and second-degree child sexual abuse of a secondary education student.

According to a press release, the defendant allegedly sexually abused a female victim between May 2018 and June 2018 while employed as a teacher and rowing coach at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Md.

Defense Reports “Good Chance” of Resolving Sex Abuse Case With Plea Deal

A DC Superior Court judge cancelled a hearing to determine if a sex abuse case has enough evidence to go to trial after learning that parties are currently negotiating a potential plea deal.

The defendant is charged with first-degree sex abuse while armed for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman, retrieving both a knife and a handgun in the process, on Feb. 15 in a residence on the 1500 block of F Street, NE.

During the Aug. 24 hearing, parties said the prosecution has extended a plea offer, which they are currently in the process of negotiating.

“I think there’s a good chance we’ll work a resolution out,” said defense attorney Jason Tulley.

Judge Neal Kravitz cancelled the preliminary hearing that was previously scheduled for Aug. 27 to give parties time to see if they can resolve the case with a plea deal.

The prosecution agreed not to indict the 28-year-old defendant before a preliminary hearing is set. In return, the defense agreed not to claim that the prosecution violated any of the defendant’s rights by holding off on the indictment.

Judge Kravitz scheduled parties to reconvene for a felony status conference on Sept. 8. In the meantime, the defendant will remain held at DC Jail.

Judge Releases Six Domestic Violence Defendants During Presentments

Six domestic violence defendants were released during presentments on Aug. 23.

A total of 45 defendants appeared before Judge Judith Pipe.

A domestic violence defendant on probation for simple assault was held after failing to appear for a probation show cause hearing. She is scheduled to return to court on Sept. 7.

Another defendant was charged with misdemeanor sex abuse and simple assault. He was released and ordered to stay away from the metro stop where the alleged incident occurred and the victim. He is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 22.

The six domestic violence defendants’ charges include simple assault, attempted possession of a prohibited weapon, attempted threats to do bodily harm and destruction of property less than $1,000. They were all given stay away orders and one was placed into the High Intensity Supervision Program. They are scheduled to return to court on Nov. 22.

The presentment hearing for one domestic violence defendant charged with simple assault was rescheduled because he is in the hospital.

Two homicide defendants charged with first-degree murder while armed are in the hospital and are scheduled to come to court after being discharged.

Klein Lawrence allegedly shot Vanessa Brooks-Williams on the 5100 block of Fitch Street, SE, on July 10. Rondez Tibbs allegedly shot Malcolm Johnson on the 2400 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, SE, on July 21.

Document: Police Give Updated Information on Homicide

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on July 31.

At about 11:15 p.m. police were in the area of the 700 block of O Street, NW, when they heard sounds of gunshots. Upon arrival, police found 31-year-old Kervin Sanches with gunshot wounds and transported him to a local hospital. He later succumbed to his injuries, according to the press release.

MPD detectives have released information on two vehicles and one person of interest in relation to the homicide, according to the press release. Police have now updated it with a video.

Crime Alerts: August 23-24

The Metropolan Police Department (MPD) sent out one crime alert between 9:00 p.m. on Aug. 23 and 9:00 a.m. on Aug. 24.

An alert was sent out at 11:19 p.m. due to a shooting in the 3900 block South Capitol Street, SE. Police do not have information on the suspect(s).

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