Document: Homicide on the 1400 block of Parkwood Place, NW

Metropolan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on Aug. 28.

At approximately 12:57 a.m. police responded to the 1400 block of Parkwood Place, NW, due to a reported shooting.

Upon arrival, police located 55-year-old Thomas Precious Wynder with gunshot wounds and transported him to a local hospital for treatment. He later succumbed to his injuries, according to the press release.

Two additional victims were transported to local hospitals for non-life-threatening gunshot wounds, according to the press release.

Document: Homicide on the 2300 Block of Ainger Place, SE

Metropolan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on Aug. 27.

At approximately 9:35 p.m. police were near the 2300 block of Ainger Place, SE, when they heard sounds of gunshots. Upon arrival, police located an adult female inside a vehicle with a gunshot wound. The victim, 43-year-old Tennelle Smith, was transported to a local hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries, according to the press release.

Crime Alerts: August 29-30

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out two crime alerts between 9:00 p.m on Aug. 29 and 9:00 a.m. on Aug. 30.

A crime alert was sent out at 10:00 p.m. due to a shooting in the 1200 block of I Street, SE. Police identified the suspect as a Black male who was approximately 16–170 pounds, wearing black pants, a dark hooded shirt and grey shoes.

A crime alert was sent out at 7:29 a.m. due to a robbery investigation in the 3900 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE. Police identified the suspects as four to five Black males in a white Ford company truck with Terracon written on it.

Crime Alerts: August 26-27

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

A crime alert was sent out at 2:42 a.m. due to a robbery investigation at Michigan Avenue and 10th Street, NE. Police identified the suspects as two Black males who were approximately 18-22 years old and armed with handguns.

Judge Holds Off on Imposing Sentence for Child Sex Abuse Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge held off on imposing a sentence in a child sex abuse case.

Ronald Gonzalez was initially charged with first-degree child sex abuse for sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl in December 2019. The 20-year-old defendant pleaded down to second-degree child sexual abuse in March.

“This is a really hard case and I’ve actually spent a fair amount of time thinking about it since the plea,” Judge Neal Kravitz said during the Aug. 26 hearing.

The prosecution asked Judge Kravitz to sentence Gonzalez to four years and suspend two of them. This sentence would leave the defendant with approximately four more months left to serve before factoring in good time credit since he has spent about 20 months in pretrial detention by now. Defense attorney Joseph Wong, however, recommended a sentence of 32 months, with all of it suspended besides what time his client has already served.

Judge Kravitz decided to sentence Gonzalez to 36 months, with all but 22 months suspended, leaving him with approximately two more months to serve. He explained that this could buy the defense more time to find Gonzalez a living arrangement, so he would not have to go to a shelter upon his release. However, later in the hearing, Wong said he found a place for his client to stay.

Wong was also unsure if Gonzalez would be transferred to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons after being sentenced, which he said could make the defendant’s transition more difficult since he’d be farther away from home. Judge Kravitz decided to hold the sentence in abeyance so Wong would have time to find this information. He scheduled parties to reconvene on Sept. 3.

The sentence was set to be followed by three years of supervised probation. Conditions of his probation were to include psychological counseling, a sex offender evaluation and treatment if deemed necessary, a stay away order from the victim and her parents, 100 hours of community service and a $100 payment to the Victim of Violent Crime compensation fund.

Judge Kravitz agreed to sentence Gonzalez under the Youth Rehabilitation Act, which would effectively seal his case once he completes his requirements. The prosecution did not oppose this.

“He has a tremendous commitment to doing the right thing,” Wong said of his client. He said that Gonzalez, despite his youth, took responsibility for his actions early on. The defendant did not ask to be released from jail as his case progressed, saying he was ready to deal with the consequences in store for him, Wong said.

“Thanks to this correction a lot of my thinking has changed,” Gonzalez said.

As part of the plea deal, Gonzalez also agreed to register as a sex offender for ten years.

The hearing did not include any victim impact testimony.

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.

Search