Crime Alerts: September 1-2

The Metropolan Police Department (MPD) sent out five crime alerts between 9:00 p.m. on Sept.1 and 9:00 a.m. on Sept. 2.

A crime alert was sent out at 11:13 p.m. due to a shooting investigation in the 800 block of Southern Avenue, SE. Police do not have information on the suspect(s).

A crime alert was sent out at 12:42 a.m. due to a shooting investigation in the 2700 block of Bruce Place, SE. Police do not have information on the suspect(s).

A crime alert was sent out at 3:44 a.m. due to a shooting in the 4200 block of 4th Street, SE. Police do not have information on the suspect(s).

A crime alert was sent out at 4:15 am. due to a stabbing in the 4200 block of 4th Street, SE. Police identified the suspect as a Black male wearing a white shirt and blue jeans.

A crime alert was sent out at 4:31 a.m. due to a shooting in the 2200 block of Savannah Terrace, SE. Police do not have information on the suspect(s).

Document: Homicide on the 800 block of 3rd Street, SE

Metropolan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on Sept. 1.

At approximately 3:21 a.m. police responded to the 800 block of 3^rd Street, SE, due to a report of an individual down. Upon arrival, members located 35-year-old Carl Harris with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on scene, according to the press release.

Document: Officer-Involved Shooting in Southeast, DC

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Robert J. Contee III informed the public of an officer-involved shooting that occurred on Aug. 31.

Contee told the public that, shortly before 7:00 p.m., police responded to 1400 block of V Street, NW, after a citizen called the police to report that there was a man on a balcony with a gun. Officers were directed to an apartment building and knocked on the man’s door.

The individual, who has been identified as 34-year-old George Watson, came out of the apartment and, according to Contee, officers talked with him in an attempt to de-escalate the situation. Officers had multiple conversations with Watson, who Contee said, “went back and forth within the apartment.” According to a press release, Watson walked away from the officers three times. The last time he emerged from the apartment, police say he was armed with a gun.

The press release states that Watson “pointed the weapon in the direction of officers.” One officer discharged their firearm, striking Watson. Watson was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Prosecution Plans to Extend Plea Offer to Murder Defendants

A DC Superior Court judge continued a Sept. 1 felony status conference after learning that the prosecution will be extending a wired plea offer to two co-defendants in a homicide case.

Marwin Thomas, 25, and Randle Price, 29, are charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 33-year-old John Marvin Pollard II on Sept. 30, 2020, on the 3200 block of Hiatt Place, NW. The shooting is alleged to have been the result of an attempted robbery.

During the Sept 1. hearing, defense attorneys Joseph Wong and Russell Hairston said they will need time to discuss the plea offer with their clients, according to court documents.

Judge Juliet McKenna scheduled a Nov. 5 status hearing for both defendants.

Prosecutor Extends Plea Offer to Sex Abuse Defendant

A defense attorney in a sex abuse case said that the prosecution has extended a plea offer during an Aug. 31 hearing.

The 41-year-old defendant is charged with assault with intent to commit first-degree sexual abuse, assault with intent to commit third-degree sexual abuse, first-degree burglary and kidnapping. He is accused of sexually assaulting three women on June 26. According to court documents, he allegedly forced his way into the first victim’s apartment and put his arm around another victim’s neck.

DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz granted defense attorney Kevin Mosley’s request for additional time in order to look over all the evidence and continue discussions with his client.

The defendant is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 6.

Document: Homicide on the 5000 block of 1st Street, NW

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

At approximately 4:49 p.m., police responded to the 5000 block of 1st Street, NW, due to a report of a stabbing. Upon arrival, police located 28-year-old Brittanie Clark in a residential building suffering from puncture wounds. She was taken to a nearby hospital where she was later pronounced dead, according to the press release.

Judge Schedules Murder Case for Trial

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

Diquan Lucas is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 33-year-old Brian Butler in an apartment on the 2300 block of Ainger Place, SE, on Nov. 21, 2019.

During the Aug. 31 hearing, the prosecutor said she will need about two weeks to present her case. Defense attorney Roderick Thompson said he anticipates needing “three days, tops.”

Judge Dayna Dayson set aside April 13 to May 4, 2022, for the trial. She also scheduled a trial readiness hearing for Nov. 12.

Lucas, 24, is currently being held at DC Jail.

Document: Arrest Made in Aug. 23 Homicide

The Metropolan Police Department (MPD) has made an arrest in relation to an Aug. 23 homicide.

According to a press release, at about 10:59 p.m., officers responded to the 3900 block of South Capitol Street, SE, due to a report of a shooting. There, they found 39-year-old Harold Castle suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on scene.

On Aug. 31, police arrested 27-year-old Cecil Smith and charged them with second-degree murder while armed, according to the press release.

Judge Imposes Sentence in Child Sex Abuse Case

A DC Superior Court judge imposed a sentence in a child sex abuse case.

Ronald Gonzalez was initially charged with first-degree child sex abuse for abusing an 11-year-old. The 20-year-old defendant pleaded down to second-degree child sex abuse last March.

On Aug. 26, Judge Neal Kravitz decided to sentence Gonzalez to 36 months, with all but 22 months suspended. This sentence would have left the defendant with approximately four months left to serve, since he has been held at DC Jail since December 2019 and would be receiving credit for time served. However, later in the hearing, Judge Kravitz agreed to hold the sentence in abeyance after defense attorney Joseph Wong raised concerns over whether or not his client would be transferred into the custody of the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to serve out the remainder of his sentence, which he argued could complicate his eventual transition back into the community.

After the Aug. 26 hearing, Wong was able to confirm that Gonzalez would not be transferred to BOP custody.

During the Aug. 31 hearing, Judge Kravitz imposed the sentence he had decided to hand down on Aug. 26.

Gonzalez will also spend three years on supervised probation. He must also register as a sex offender for the next 10 years, stay away from the victim and her family, participate in psychological counseling, complete 100 hours of community service and receive a sex offender evaluation and treatment.

Gonzales is also being sentenced under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA) which means his case will effectively be sealed if he completes all of his requirements.

Judge Holds Child Sex Abuse Defendant During Presentments

A DC Superior Court judge held a child sex abuse defendant during presentments on Aug. 31.

A total of 25 defendants were brought before Judge Heide Herrmann.

A defendant charged with first-degree child sex abuse and first-degree sexual abuse was held due to the seriousness of the charges. The defendant is scheduled to return to court on Sept. 20.

Five domestic violence defendants were released. Their charges include simple assault, misdemeanor threats to do bodily harm, misdemeanor attempted threats to do bodily harm, possession of a prohibited weapon, second-degree theft and violating of a civil protection order. They are scheduled to return to court on Nov. 29.

Klein Lawrence, who is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Vanessa Brooks-Williams on the 5100 block of Fitch Street, SE, on July 10, is in the hospital and is scheduled to come to court after being discharged.

A domestic violence defendant charged with simple assault is also currently in the hospital and will be presented at a later date.

Crime Alerts: August 31- September 1

The Metropolan Police Department (MPD) sent out one crime alert between 9:00 p.m. on Aug. 31 and 9:00 a.m. on Sept. 1.

A crime alert was sent out at 9:40 p.m. due to a shooting investigation in the 2900 block of Stanton Road, SE. Police do not have information on the suspect(s).

Document: Homicide in the 1300 block of Good Hope Road, SE

Metropolan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on Aug. 30.

At approximately 10:56 p.m. police responded to the 1300 block of Good Hope Road, SE, due to sounds of gunshots. Upon arrival, police located an adult male with gunshot wounds. The victim was pronounced on scene but his identity is being withheld until their next of kin is notified, according to the press release.

Defendant in Double Homicide Case Pleads Guilty

A double homicide defendant accepted a plea deal from the prosecution.

George Bernard Shaw III was initially charged with two counts of first-degree murder while armed in connection with the shootings of Marcus Nelson, 59, and Simmeon Williams, 39, on Oct. 10, 2020, on the 1700 block of Irving Street, NE.

During the Aug. 31 hearing, the 21-year-old defendant pleaded down to two counts of voluntary manslaughter while armed.

According to court documents, as part of the plea deal, the prosecution agreed to recommend that the sentences for both counts run concurrently.

Shaw had not been able to sign the plea paperwork due to delays at DC Jail so Judge Danya Dayson allowed him to sign the plea paperwork electronically during the hearing.

Shaw is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 5.

Obstruction of Justice Cases to be Included in Upcoming Murder Trial

A DC Superior Court judge allowed two recently opened obstruction of justice cases to be included in an upcoming murder trial. She also denied a motion to withhold evidence from one of the defendant’s cell phones.

Co-defendants Antonio McKenzie, Edward Brown and Steven Robin are charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 29-year-old Kenneth Poindexter on the 4700 block of Benning Road, SE, on Jan. 20, 2018.

Former co-defendant Charles Young recently pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to voluntary manslaughter. According to court documents, as part of the plea deal, parties agreed that an appropriate sentence would be four years of incarceration with all of that time suspended except for what he will have already served at DC Jail by the time he is sentenced. Also as part of his plea deal, the prosecution agreed not to call Young to testify at his former co-defendant’s trial.

During the Aug. 30 hearing, Judge Dayna Dayson heard two motions. The first motion argued to withhold cell phone data showing where McKenzie was before, during and after the shooting.

McKenzie’s attorney, Steven Keirsh, called cell phone technology a “developing area of the law.” He noted that a previous DC case ruled on how long of a time period detectives could reasonably ask to collect cell phone data from. Keirsh went on to argue that the affidavit filed for his client’s cell phone data was too broad.

The prosecution argued that the affidavit does in fact show a period of time that is “very constrained” and that the case Kersh cited is unrelated.

Judge Dayson agreed with the defense that this area of the law is evolutionary, but ruled against withholding the evidence. She said the case Kersh cited does not align with the current evidence.

Brown and McKenzie were recently indicted on charges of obstruction of justice for allegedly speaking with a fellow inmate who is one of the prosecution’s witnesses in this case. The prosecution recently motioned for the obstruction of justice cases to be included in the upcoming murder trial.

Robin’s defense attorney, Kristin McGough, argued that including these obstruction cases in the murder trial will prevent her client from receiving a fair trial by causing prejudice against him.

Judge Dayson sided with the prosecution, saying a jury should be able to differentiate between the accusations against the defendants without issue.

The trial is now scheduled to begin on Sept. 29.

Judge Holds Two Domestic Violence Defendants During Presentments

A DC Superior Court judge held two domestic violence defendants and released seven during presentments on Aug. 30.

A total of 32 defendants were presented before Judge Renee Raymond.

A domestic violence defendant charged with unlawful entry onto private property was held because he is on probation in the state of Maryland and was not supposed to leave the state.

Another domestic violence defendant was charged with simple assault, attempted first-degree theft and contempt. He was held due to allegations that he violated his release conditions in another case.

Both held defendants are scheduled to return to court on Sept. 16.

Seven domestic violence defendants were released. Their charges include attempted second-degree cruelty to children, simple assault, destruction of[property less than $1000 and misdemeanor threats to do bodily harm. They were given stay away orders and are all scheduled to return to court on Nov. 29.

Rondez Tibbs allegedly shot Malcolm Johnson on the 2400 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, SE, on July 21. He has not had his presentment hearing yet because he is in the hospital. During an Aug. 27 hearing, Judge Neal Kravitz approved his transfer from a local hospital to a rehabilitation center so he could receive further treatment.

Johnson’s death is alleged to have been the result of an attempted robbery in the 2200 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE. According to court documents, Johnson sustained a gunshot wound to the stomach and was pronounced dead on scene. Tibbs was found unconscious with a gunshot in the head. He was admitted to the hospital in critical condition.

Klein Lawrence, who is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Vanessa Brooks-Williams on the 5100 block of Fitch Street, SE, on July 10, is also in the hospital and is scheduled to come to court after being discharged.

A domestic violence defendant charged with simple assault is also currently in the hospital and will be presented at a later date.

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