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My Summer at D.C. Witness

My summer with D.C. Witness covering the DC Superior Court built on skills I had learned in my spring intern semester, and introduced me to new areas of reporting on a judicial system. 

Through covering a variety of hearings regarding court dates, mental health evaluations, probable cause and more, I improved at turning my detailed and lengthy notes into a concise and effective article that could be easily understood and digested by the general public. 

I also got to extensively cover the first jury trial since before COVID-19. By sitting in on multiple days of the trial, I was able to follow intricate details of the prosecutor and defense’s arguments, which led to more detailed and effective articles. 

Overall, my summer at D.C. Witness was an incredible experience. This semester’s in-person environment allowed me to connect even better with my coworkers and editors, and I believe the skills I solidified here will help me greatly in my future endeavors. 

Thank you for everything this semester! I hope I see you all in the future!!

Murder Defendant Arraigned, Given New Counsel

After being arraigned on six counts, a murder defendant was appointed a new attorney due to reported conflict between him and his former lawyer.

Jerome Alexander is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm and carrying a pistol without a license. The 27-year-old is accused of shooting 28-year-old Richard Washington during the course of a robbery on the 3900 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE, on Dec. 19, 2019. 

Defense attorney Anthony Matthews motioned to withdraw as Alexander’s attorney back in May. In the motion, he states that “the relationship between counsel and Mr. Alexander has devolved to one of oppositional hostility and mistrust on the part of Mr. Alexander.”

During the Aug. 10 hearing, Kristin McGough was appointed as Alexander’s new attorney. She entered a plea of not guilty on her new client’s behalf and requested a status hearing, which Judge Neal Kravitz scheduled for Nov. 12.

Alexander is being held at DC Jail. 

Man Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter for Stabbing Cousin Multiple Times

A homicide defendant entered a guilty plea for stabbing his cousin multiple times inside a Northwest, DC, residence.

Jaamil Hipps was initially charged with second-degree murder while armed eight days after his cousin, 40-year-old Sa’id Grey, was found on the first floor of an apartment complex on the 1300 block of Missouri Avenue, NW, suffering from multiple stab wounds on Aug. 12, 2020. 

During the Aug. 10 hearing, Grey, 44, pleaded down to voluntary manslaughter. As part of the plea deal, the defense and prosecution agreed that an eight-year prison sentence would be appropriate.

The prosecution also agreed not to pursue indictment on any greater or remaining charges stemming from the facts of the case. 

DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo scheduled Hipps to be sentenced on Oct. 22.

Judge Holds Homicide Defendant During Presentments

A DC Superior Court judge held a homicide defendant during presentments on Aug. 9.

A total of 39 defendants were presented before the court. 

Amard Jefferson is charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection with a homicide that occurred on Aug. 7.

At approximately 4:29 p.m. that day, police responded to the 3000 block of Nelson Place, SE, due to a report of a shooting, according to a Metropolitan Police Department press release. There, they found 20-year-old Kendall Brown suffering from a gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Jefferson, 22, was arrested the next day.

Judge Judith Pipe held him at DC Jail. He is scheduled to return to court on Aug. 30.

A domestic violence defendant appeared on a warrant for failing to appear at a hearing. The defendant was initially charged with simple assault in April and released into the High Intensity Supervision Program program. Judge Pipe chose to hold him at DC Jail. In response, the defendant became angry and was escorted away. She is scheduled to return to court on Aug. 23. 

Another defendant was charged with assault with intent to commit third-degree sexual abuse, simple assault and misdemeanor sexual abuse. The defendant was held and is scheduled to return to court on Aug. 30. 

Three other domestic violence defendants were released. Their charges included simple assault, Civil Protection Order (CPO) violation and destruction of property less than $1,000. A sex abuse defendant who was charged with misdemeanor sex abuse was also released. The defendants were issued stay away orders and are scheduled to return to court on Nov 15. 

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


Klein Lawrence allegedly shot Vanessa Brooks-Williams on July 10. Rondez Tibbs allegedly shot Malcolm Johnson on July 21.

Crime Alerts: August 9-10

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out four crime alerts between 9:00 p.m. on Aug. 9 and 9:00 a.m. on Aug. 10.

A crime alert was sent out at 9:02 p.m. due to a shooting investigation in the 4200 block of Blaine Street, NE. Police identified the suspect as a Black male wearing a black ski mask, black jeans, in a gold Lexus truck with a heavy tint.

A second crime alert was sent out at 11:15 p.m. due to a gun robbery in the 1200 block of First Street, NE. Police identified the suspect as a tall Black male who was approximately 25-30 years of age with a dark complexion, medium build and wearing a dark-colored hoodie.

A third crime alert was sent at 11:45 p.m. due to a gun robbery in the 5900 block of 14th Street, NW. Police identified the suspects as three Black males wearing ski masks, all black clothing.

A final crime alert was sent out at 2:45 a.m. due to a shooting in the 1200 block of K Street, NE. Police do not have information on the suspect(s).

Judge Sets 2022 Trial Dates For Murder Defendant 

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a murder defendant to go before a jury in 2022.

Marcus Whitaker, 31, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 22-year-old David Hart on July 28, 2018, on the 4300 block of 4th Street, SE. He was arrested in May 2019.

Judge Dayna Dayson set aside March 31 through April 18, 2022, for the trial.

The prosecution said they will need seven days to present their case. Defense attorney Nikki Lotze said she will need approximately a day and a half.

Judge Dayson also scheduled a trial readiness hearing for Oct. 22. 

Whitaker is also charged with possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction in this case. 

Judge Holds Homicide Defendant Following Probable Cause Ruling

A DC Superior Court judge decided to continue holding a homicide defendant at DC Jail following an earlier ruling that the case against him has enough evidence to go to trial.

James Lewis, 43, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 30-year-old Brenea Franklin to death on the 1100 block of Bellevue Street, SE, on Jan. 31, 2021. According to court documents, Metropolitan Police Department officers found Franklin on a sidewalk with an approximately two-inch deep stab wound on the right side of her neck.

Judge Neal Kravitz found probable cause when the preliminary hearing began on Aug. 2, D.C. Witness previously reported.

When proceedings picked back up on Aug. 9, the prosecution argued that Lewis should remain held due to the particularly disturbing details of the homicide. The prosecution also said he currently has other violent criminal charges pending.

Defense attorney Bernadette Armand, however, asked Judge Kravitz to release her client into the High Intensity Supervision Program.

Judge Kravitz decided to continue holding Lewis. The defendant is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 5 for a felony status conference.

Sex Abuse, Burglary Defendant Expected to Accept Plea Offer

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a hearing for a sex abuse defendant to accept a plea offer. 

The 42-year-old defendant is charged with first-degree burglary and attempted second-degree sex abuse for allegedly breaking into the victim’s home and exposing himself to her as she slept on May 21.

During the Aug. 9 hearing, defense attorney Ferguson Evans said the prosecution extended a plea offer and asked Judge Juliet McKenna to schedule a hearing for his client to accept it. Judge McKenna scheduled the hearing for Sept. 15.

The defendant is currently being held at DC Jail.  

Judge Releases One Domestic Violence Defendant During Presentments 

A DC Superior Court judge released one domestic violence defendant and held another during presentments on Aug. 7. 

In total, 20 defendants were brought before the court. 

The held domestic violence defendant is charged with simple assault and contempt for allegedly violating his release conditions in another domestic violence case. Judge Julie Becker scheduled him to return to court on Aug. 24. 

The released domestic violence defendant is charged with assault on a police officer and simple assault. He is scheduled to return to court Nov. 11.

Two homicide defendants charged with first-degree murder while armed could not be brought before the court because they are in the hospital.

Klein Lawrence allegedly shot Vanessa Brooks-Williams on July 10. Rondez Tibbs allegedly shot Malcolm Johnson on July 21. Both are scheduled to come to court when they are discharged from the hospital.

Crime Alerts: August 8-9

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out seven crime alerts between 9:00 p.m. on Aug. 8 and 9:00 a.m. on Aug 9.

A crime alert was sent out at 10:14 p.m. due to a stabbing in the 3800 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE. Police do not have information on the suspect(s).

A crime alert was sent out at 10:59 p.m. due to a stabbing investigation in the 100 block of Atlantic Street. Police do not have information on the suspect(s).

A crime alert was sent out at 11:06 p.m. due to a robbery investigation in the 3000 block of 4Th Street, SE. Police do not have information on the suspect(s).

A crime alert was sent out at 11:31 p.m. due to a gun robbery investigation on the corner of 16th and Kennedy Street, NW. Police identified the suspects as four Black men wearing black clothing.

A crime alert was sent out at 12:14 a.m. due to a gun robbery at the corner of 16th and Luzon Avenue, NW. Police identified the suspects as four Black men wearing black clothing, two of which were armed with handguns.

A crime alert was sent out at 1:01 a.m. due to a robbery in the  3600 block of 14th Street, NW. One suspect was wearing a white shirt and a second was wearing a blue one.

A final crime alert was sent out at 2:03 a.m. due to a robbery investigation in the 3700 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE. Police identified the suspects as two Black men, one wearing a black t-shirt and blue jeans, the other wearing a white shirt and blue jeans. One of the suspects was armed with a gun.

Three Homicides Occur on Saturday

Three fatal shootings happened on Saturday, Aug. 7. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has made an arrest in connection with one of them.

At about 1:45 a.m. police responded to the 600 block of 53rd Street, SW, due to a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, police located 20-year-old Juwaun Williams and transported them to a local hospital. Two other adult male victims were taken to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, according to the press release.

At approximately 4:29 p.m. police responded to the 3000 block of Nelson Place, SE, due to a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, police located 20-year-old Kendall Brown and transported her to a local hospital, where they were later pronounced dead, according to the press release.

Police arrested 22-year-old Amard Jefferson on Aug. 8 and charged him with second-degree murder while armed in relation to the homicide.

At about 6:17 p.m. police were flagged down in the 200 block of 49th  Street, SE. Upon arrival, police found 69-year-old James Beckham in a vehicle and pronounced him dead on scene, according to a press release.

Update as of 4:55 p.m. on Aug. 9. MPD Chief Robert J. Contee III spoke to the public about the homicides during a press conference on Aug. 9. “These cases really underscore again the violence we have seen recently in our city,” he said. “It’s consistent with what we have seen in a national landscape with respect to gun violence in our communities.”

Judge Releases Four Domestic Violence Defendants During Presentments

A DC Superior Court judge released four domestic violence defendants during presentments on Aug. 6.

In total, 24 total defendants were presented before the court. 

The charges for the released defendants included simple assault, second-degree theft and attempted unauthorized use of a vehicle. One defendant who was previously charged with simple assault returned to court on a bench warrant due to failure to appear for a status hearing. 

Judge Judith Pipe issued stay away orders for two of the released defendants. The released defendants are scheduled to return to court on Aug. 27 and Nov. 12. 

America’s Deadly Surge in Gun Violence

As gun-related deaths rise in Washington, DC, the need for data on these heinous crimes is more important than ever. BBC’s Cut the Noise sat down with D.C. Witness’s Editor in Chief LaTrina Antoine to discuss the rise in gun violence and the gun culture that surrounds it.

Watch the Episode

Judge Gives Defense in Child Sex Abuse Case Time to Seek Possible Release Conditions

On Aug. 6, a DC Superior Court judge decided that a sex abuse defendant should remain in jail, but gave the defense time to look for appropriate possible release conditions before they reconvene for another hearing in five days.

The 30-year-old defendant is charged with first-degree child sex abuse. He is accused of abusing a young girl on multiple occasions in what the prosecution alleges to be “an escalating pattern of abuse.” According to court documents, the defendant allegedly confessed to the abuse via text messages to a member of the victim’s family.

The defendant has been held at DC Jail since he picked up the case in late June. He previously waived his right to a preliminary hearing, which is meant to determine if a case has enough evidence to go to trial.

Defense attorney Rachel McCoy argued that her client should be released with a stay away order from the victim. She said the defendant’s alleged abuse was based on the specific nature of his relationship with the victim, which she argues indicates he would not pose a danger to other children. McCoy also noted that the defendant has no prior criminal record.

However, the prosecution maintained that the defendant would pose a significant danger to children in the community if released. They also argued that there was no guarantee the defendant would not commit crimes while on pretrial release.

“It is a very close question,” said Judge Neal Kravitz. 

Judge Kravitz said GPS monitoring could assist the court in making sure the defendant complied with a stay away order. However, he raised concerns over the lack of information about where the defendant would stay if he were released, including if there are children living in that location or if it is near a school.

Judge Kravitz continued the hearing to Aug. 11 so the defense could look into appropriate possible release conditions.