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 10th 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.
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives have made an arrest in relation to a September homicide.
At approximately 11:36 p.m. on Sept. 18 officers responded to the 2200 block of Savannah Terrace, SE, due to a report of a shooting. An adult male victim was located and pronounced dead on scene. A second victim was later located at a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries, according to the press release.
The victims were identified as 31-year-old Michael Pate and 28-year-old Djuan Proctor, according to the press release.
On Oct. 8, officers arrested 28-year-old Marquis Bullocks and charged him with first-degree murder while armed, according to the press release.
A DC Superior Court judge sentenced a man after his sex abuse charge was dismissed as part of a plea deal.
The 32-year-old defendant was initially charged with simple assault and first-degree child sex abuse. Both charges were in relation to the same victim, a teenage girl. In August, the defendant pleaded guilty to simple assault in exchange for the sex abuse charge being dropped.
DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo sentenced the defendant to six months, all of which was suspended, followed by 18 months of supervised probation.
During the Oct. 8 sentencing hearing, the prosecution read a victim impact statement from the defendant’s mother, in which she wrote that she wants her son “locked away forever.” She called him a “woman beater” and stated that he has not taken responsibility for his mental health issues.
The prosecution said the defendant has an extensive record of violent crime and a history of assaulting women. They also expressed concern for the community’s safety.
Defense attorney Madalyn Harvey said she was taken aback by the prosecution’s characterization of her client. Still, she said she appreciates them giving him another chance. She called him, “not a bad person, but a person who struggles.”
Harvey also called the statements from the defendant’s mother “heartbreaking” since her client struggles with his mental health. She said he previously refused to take medication because it made him sleepy, and he was homeless at the time.
The prosecution went on to clarify that they do not believe the defendant is an inherently bad person, but are just worried about the safety of the community.
The defendant’s probation will be supervised by the mental health unit of the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency. Conditions of his probation include participating in a domestic violence intervention program, a mental health screening and evaluation and drug testing.
A DC Superior Court judge sentenced a domestic violence defendant to serve two-and-a-half years for attempted assault with a dangerous weapon.
According to the prosecution, in November 2019, Joshua Austin threw a glass ashtray at his aunt after they began to have an argument. The ashtray shattered, lodging glass in her leg and face. From there, he attacked her as she ran into her bedroom. His aunt attempted to barricade her door as he proceeded to attack her. She escaped through her window and hid on the roof of her home until police arrived.
Austin’s mother barricaded herself in a closet and called the police during the assault, the prosecution said. When Austin was arrested some time later, officers found a switchblade and machete in his backpack.
“She no longer considers him family,” the prosecution said.
During the Oct. 8 hearing, Judge Rainey Brandt sentenced Austin to 30 months of incarceration followed by three years of supervised release.
The prosecution said Austin has a lengthy criminal record, which includes assault and robbery.
Defense attorney Wole Falodun said that, from the time he has spent with Austin, he truly believes his client is sorry for his actions. He also said his client has a family history of mental health issues.
Falodun also said Austin is showing an acceptance of responsibility for his actions by taking a guilty plea and not going to trial, preventing his aunt and mother from the potential pain of testifying in front of a jury.
“I just want another chance to show my family that I can be a productive citizen,” Austin said. “I just want to show people what I can be.”
He could be seen choking up during his statement.
Judge Brandt said Austin’s godfather described him as, “very intelligent and manipulative.” She also said he has appeared emotional in front of other judges when his case does not go the way he wishes.
“I think Mr. Austin wants to be a better person but that is in conflict with something else,” she said.
Austin is also scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 8 for a jury trial for an alleged robbery on Oct. 30, 2019.
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on Oct. 9.
At approximately 8:00 a.m. police responded to the 4200 block of Kansas Avenue, NW, due to a report of an unconscious person. Upon arrival, police located an adult male with stab wounds and pronounced him dead on scene.
MPD did not initially release the name of the victim but later identified him as 32-year-old Michael Stroops, according to the press release.
At approximately 1:12 a.m. officers responded to the 1200 block of Brentwood Road, NE, due to a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located 36-year-old Robert Dupont with gunshot wounds and transported him to a local hospital. He later succumbed to his injuries, according to the press release.
At approximately 3:23 p.m. 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.
At approximately 8:14 p.m. police responded to the 1700 Block of Independence Avenue, SE, due to a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, police located two adult males with gunshot wounds. One, 23-year-old Giovanni Lovelace, was pronounced dead on scene. The other was taken to a nearby hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Two other adult male victims were located at a local hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries, according to the press release.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out two crime alerts between 9:00 p.m. on Oct. 11 and 9:00 a.m. on Oct. 12.
A crime alert was sent out at 9:07n p.m. due to a robbery investigation in the 600 block East Capitol Street, NE. Police identified the suspects as two juvenile Black males. One had a thin build and was wearing a cream hoodie, black jeans unknown color shoes and armed with a black handgun. The second had a thin build and was wearing a neon green hoodie and black jeans. He was possibly armed. The second suspect was driving a 2018 Red Ford Fusion sedan with D.C. Tag # GN-9573. The vehicle had damage to the rear bumper.
A second crime alert was sent out at 10:21 pm. due to a robbery investigation in the 400 block of 1st Street, SE. Police identified the suspects as three Black teens wearing dark clothing.
A man received suspended sentences for negligent homicide in the aftermath of a 2018 vehicular homicide that killed two women.
More than one year ago, Gerard James pleaded guilty to two counts of negligent homicide for striking 61-year-old Monica Adams Carlson and her 85-year-old mother, Cora Louise Adams, with a bus at the intersection of 7th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, on Dec. 19, 2018. According to court documents, James was driving the bus for a private company, D.C. Witness previously reported.
NBC reported that Carlson was the mayor of Skagway, Ak.
During the Oct. 8 hearing, defense attorney Todd Baldwin argued that, because his client is the sole caretaker of his elderly relatives, and because of the risk of COVID-19 exposure at DC Jail, James should not have to serve jail time.
Baldwin also said his client, “has already learned the lesson that any amount of jail time could teach him.”
A family member of the victims also expressed that they prefer the defendant be sentenced to community service, rather than a period of incarceration.
For each count, Judge Danya Dayson sentenced James to two years, all of which was suspended, plus two years of supervised probation. Conditions of his probation include completing 100 hours of community service and participating in a traffic safety program.
A DC Superior Court judge sentenced a murder defendant to 20 years.
Vaughn Kosh, 50, is convicted of shooting his neighbor, 38-year-old Alayna Howard, on Dec. 7, 2019. According to the prosecutor, he broke into Howard’s apartment on the 1700 block of Capitol Avenue, NE, and shot her, her mother and her boyfriend. Howard’s 12-year-old son was also in the apartment at the time.
After making a deal with the prosecution, Kosh pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed, aggravated assault while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon and simple assault.
During the Oct. 8 hearing, Judge Maris Demeo sentenced Kosh to 20 years of incarceration.
Defense attorney Elizabeth Weller said her client is “genuinely remorseful for his actions.”
Two victim impact statements were read in court, in which Howard was described as a “loving” and “wonderful” woman.
A DC Superior Court judge denied requests to release four co-defendants in a murder case.
Reginald Steels, 22, Aaron Brown, 25, Tyiion Freeman, 22, and Koran Jackson 21, are charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 13-year-old Malachi Lukes on the 600 block of S Street, NW, on March 1.
Freeman’s defense attorney, Andrew Ain, asked the court to reconsider releasing his client into home confinement because the prosecution has not returned an indictment.
Ain said he is “perplexed at the government’s failure to indict.” He pointed out that Freeman has been in jail for more than 18 months.
The prosecution opposed the request for Freeman’s release saying, “he has a violent criminal history” and “the fact that he was on probation when this offense occurred shows he is still a threat to the community and should not be released.”
Judge Dayna Dayson denied the request for Freeman’s release due to his alleged prior issues with pretrial release. She said that, in the past, he has allowed his GPS monitor to die, had curfew violations and became a loss of contact.
Koran’s defense attorney, Kristin McGough, also requested her client’s release into home confinement, but that was also denied.
Judge Dayson also announced that Brown was voluntarily removed from the courtroom and voluntarily opted out of being physically present at remaining proceedings “due to his actions in court.”
The next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 10.
A DC Superior Court judge continued an Oct. 8 felony status conference for a domestic violence defendant charged with sexual abuse.
The defendant was charged with first-degree sexual abuse on April 3. He is currently on pretrial release.
During the Oct. 8 hearing, defense attorney Bernadette Armand requested all the evidence in this case.
The prosecution said they have provided all the evidence they have. Armand requested Body Worn Camera footage, but the prosecution said they have not received it.
Due to the defendant’s release status, the case cannot be scheduled for a preliminary hearing, according to court documents. The prosecution also said they are not able to bring the case before a grand jury yet, and do not have an anticipated date as to when the case will be indicted.
Judge Danya Dayson scheduled parties to reconvene on Jan. 21.
The defendant in a child sex abuse case pleaded guilty.
Nathan Hudson was initially charged with first-degree child sex abuse. During the Oct. 8 hearing, he pleaded down to attempted first-degree child sex abuse.
According to the proffer of facts, the victim was spending a weekend at a family home where Hudson lived, and was sexually assaulted by him after she fell asleep.
Hudson is currently released into the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) and is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 10, 2022.
According to court documents, Judge Neal Kravitz decided to defer his ruling on whether or not to accept the plea agreement until the sentencing hearing.
The prosecution in a murder case said they have been unable to get in touch with a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective.
Melvin Simmons, 27, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in two separate cases. He is charged in connection with the shooting deaths of 28-year-old William Roland on Aug. 17, 2019, on the 1500 block of 18th Street, SE, and 28-year-old Ronald Jerome Brown, Jr. on Aug. 22, 2019, on the 3400 block of 18th Street, SE.
A preliminary hearing for Simmons was paused on Oct. 6. because the prosecution would not get in touch with the MPD detective. They said the detective has been difficult to reach due to them traveling.
During the Oct. 7 hearing, the prosecution said they would be willing to turn over an unredacted version of the discovery documents to defense attorney Matthew Davies. These documents provide information on other possible suspects at the scene, they said.
DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz scheduled a status hearing for Oct. 15 in hopes the witness is contacted by then.
A DC Superior Court judge denied a murder defendant’s request to be released from jail into home confinement.
James Harper, 39, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 39-year-old Bret Desmarteau on May 27, 2021, on the 100 block of Sheridan Street, NE.
During the Oct. 7 hearing, defense attorney Marnitta King said her client has experienced violence at DC Jail. She also voiced medical concerns due to him not receiving a vegan diet, which he says he needs for health reasons.
Judge Marisa Demeo denied the release request but ordered medical examinations to assess if Harper needs a vegan diet.
Parties are scheduled to reconvene on Dec. 17.
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating an Oct. 7 homicide and carjacking.
At approximately 9:25 a.m. officers responded to the 3200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, due to a report of a shooting. upon arrival, police located 33-year-old Nikiesha Thomas with gunshot wounds in a vehicle and transported her to a local hospital. She later succumbed to her injuries, according to the press release.
Further investigation revealed the incident was domestic in nature, according to the press release.
At approximately 12:49 p.m officers responded to Minnesota Avenue and East Capitol Street, to assist with an armed carjacking indecent. Officers learned the carjacking originally took place in Prince George Country, Maryland. Once stopped, the suspect revealed a firearm and shot himself inside the vehicle. the suspect, 36-year-old Antoine Oliver, was transported to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries, according to the press release.
Further investigation revealed that the suspect in the carjacking offense was the same one as in the homicide, according to the press release.
