Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating an Oct. 14 homicide.
At approximately 4:18 p.m. police responded to the 2000 block of Savannah Place, SE, due to a report of an unconscious person. Upon arrival, police located 18-year-old Noel Prince Nicol and pronounced them dead on scene, according to the press release.
Eighteen homicides occurred in DC during the month of September, with the youngest victim being 17 years old.
The teenager, Brian Villataro, was among three killed on the deadliest day in regards to homicides in DC in September.
At approximately 9:20 p.m. on Sept. 18, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to the 1300 block of Nicholson Street, NW, due to a report of a shooting victim, according to a press release. There, officers found Villataro suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on scene.
Two others were killed that day in a separate incident on the 2200 block of Savannah Terrace, SE. Upon arriving on scene, police located an adult male suffering from gunshot wounds. After taking him to a local hospital, they located a second victim already at the hospital, according to another press release.
The victims have been identified as 31-year-old Michale Pate and 28-year-old Djuan Proctor.
No arrests have been made in relation to these homicides, according to D.C. Witness data.
September is the first month in 2021 to have all homicides result from shootings. Approximately 142 out of 175, or 82% of homicides in D.C. in 2021 were shootings, according to D.C. Witness data.
September saw a 10 percent decrease in homicides with 18 compared to 23 in August. Despite this, Ward 4 saw an increase in homicides, with one in August and six in September. All other wards saw a decrease in homicides.
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives have made an arrest in relation to a Sept. 4 mass shooting that killed three people.
At approximately 7:33 p.m. police responded to the 600 block of Longfellow Street, NW. On arrival, MPD found multiple gunshot victims. According to the press release, three victims were found dead on arrival, and three other victims were transported to hospitals with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.
The three deceased victims were identified as Donnetta Dyson, 31, Keenan Braxton, 24, and Johnny Joyner, 37, according to the press release.
On Oct. 13, officers arrested 27-year-old Erwin Dubose, Jr., and 24-year-old Kamar Queen. They were charged with first-degree murder while armed, according to the press release.
The case is still under active investigation. According to the press release, MPD currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 per victim for information leading to an arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for a homicide in D.C.
A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a hearing to determine if the case against a couple accused of causing their child’s death has enough evidence to go to trial.
Co-defendants Antonio Turner, 29, and Ta’jenna Eason, 32, are charged with first-degree cruelty to children and felony murder in connection with the death of their two-year-old son, Gabriel Eason, on April 1, 2020.
Both defendants are released. During the Oct. 13 hearing, Judge Milton Lee continued the stay away order that prevents the two from interacting with minors.
Judge Lee scheduled the preliminary hearing for Nov. 22.
A DC Superior Court judge held off ruling on a request to release a murder defendant from DC Jail.
Lewkus Turner, 27, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting his cousin, 26-year-old Vincent Gyamfi, on the 1700 block of 29th Street, SE, on Dec. 11, 2020.
Defense attorney Jon Norris has motioned for his client’s release from DC Jail based on the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the Oct. 13 hearing, Norris argued that being in jail poses a significant health risk to Turner, who is not vaccinated against COVID-19. When asked why his client is not vaccinated, Norris said his doctors advised against it.
Judge Neal Kravitz decided to defer his ruling on the request, saying he needs more information about Turner’s health before making a decision. Norris said he would file a renewed motion and submit the appropriate information.
Parties are set to reconvene on Nov. 12.
A defendant accused of murdering his girlfriend, who went missing in July 2020 and has yet to be found, was scheduled to go before a jury in September.
Darnell Sterling, 56, is charged with second-degree murder for allegedly killing 34-year-old Olga Ooro, who went missing on July 18, 2020.
On that day, according to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), officers found Ooro’s child in Northwest, DC, unable to find his mother. The MPD’s Youth and Family Services Division initiated an investigation, but the homicide branch assumed investigative responsibility for the case due to the suspicious nature of her disappearance.
During the Oct. 14 hearing, the prosecution said they offered a plea deal that would be conditional on Sterling identifying Ooro’s location with standard protections in place.
The defense, however, requested a jury trial date, which DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz set for Sept. 12.
The trial is estimated to last a total of two-and-a-half weeks.
Sterling is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 8 for a status hearing.
A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a hearing to determine if a murder case has enough evidence to go to trial.
Nathan Hunter, 39, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 44-year-old Ronald McKnight on April 18 on the 1600 block of 7th Street, NW.
Judge Marisa Demeo scheduled the preliminary hearing for Dec. 16.
A DC Superior Court judge held one domestic violence defendant during presentments.
A total of 19 defendants appeared before Judge Heidi Herrmann.
A domestic violence defendant charged with simple assault was held. He was scheduled to return to court for a status hearing on Oct. 27.
A defendant charged with simple assault and misdemeanor sex abuse was released with stay away orders.
A domestic violence defendant was also released. He is charged with destruction of property less than $1,000.
Both released defendants are scheduled to return to court on Jan 5.
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives have arrested a suspect in relation to an Oct. 6 homicide.
At approximately 8:21 p.m. police responded to the Unit Block of O Street, NW, due to sounds of gunshots. Upon arrival, officers located 20-year-old Rufus Davis with gunshot wounds and pronounced him dead on scene, according to the press release.
On OCt. 13, officers arrested 43-year-old Marcha Johnson and charged him with second-degree murder while armed according to the press release.
A defendant has pleaded guilty to sexual abuse on Oct. 13.
The defendant, 28-year-old Mohammad Amini was initially charged with first-degree child sex abuse. He pleaded down to fourth-degree sex abuse as part of an agreement with prosecutors.
According to the proffer of facts, Amini met the victim on Omegle, a website that allows users to anonymously chat with other people without registering for an account, in December 2019. They took their conversation to Snapchat, where they agreed to meet at the victim’s house to engage in sexual activity. The sexual abuse happened that same day.
The defendant was identified based on his Snapchat profile, and the victim identified the defendant in a photo array.
Defense attorney Madalyn Harvey asked for a later sentencing date so court documents can be translated for her client.
Judge Maria Demeo set a sentencing date for Jan. 14 and ordered the defendant to appear in person for the hearing.
A DC Superior Court judge continued a motion hearing for a sex abuse defendant whose counsel is requesting two separate trials for the allegations against him.
The defendant is indicted on 16 counts. According to court documents, he is accused of sexually abusing one victim on four occasions and another victim on one occasion. The defendant is related to both victims.
In a motion filed last April, the defense asked the court to sever the counts of the indictment and order one trial for the 14 counts involving the first victim and another trial for the two counts involving the second victim.
In the motion, the defense argued that a single, joint trial would prejudice the defendant, in part because he would not be able to present distinct defenses.
During the Oct. 13 hearing, defense attorney Christen Philips said that one victim did not come forward until after another victim did.
The prosecution, however, said the victim did not disclose the alleged abuse sooner because she initially told a parent, but was allegedly ignored. They also said that one victim’s alleged abuse is broader than the other’s.
Judge Marisa Demeo said she would like more time to go over both parties’ arguments and continued the motion hearing to Nov. 12.
The defendant’s trial is set to begin in December, and parties said they anticipate being ready for it. The prosecution said they have about 35 witnesses. Most of them are law enforcement. Four of them are expert witnesses and four or five are civilian witnesses.
The charges against the defendant include: first-degree sexual abuse, attempted first-degree sexual abuse, first-degree child sex abuse, attempted first-degree child sex abuse, second-degree child sex abuse, attempted second-degree child sex abuse and kidnapping.
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are trying to identify a suspect in a homicide.
At approximately 1:12 a.m. on Oct. 8 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.
MPD has released surveillance camera footage in relation to the homicide, according to the press release.
A domestic violence defendant was scheduled for a hearing to determine if his case has enough evidence to go to trial.
The defendant is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and arson. He is currently being held at DC Jail.
Defense attorney Brandon Burrell requested the preliminary hearing. DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe scheduled one for Oct. 22.
The prosecution said the discovery evidence has already been provided to the defense and a plea offer will be extended prior to the preliminary hearing. The prosecution also said they needed to consult a witness about their availability prior to the hearing.
The prosecution in a murder case plans to retest DNA evidence.
Khamari Perkins, 20, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 18-year-old Naseem Simpson on the 3000 block of 14th Street, NW, on March 15, 2020.
During an Oct. 13 status hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz scheduled a hearing to take place on Jan. 14 following the results of the prosecution retesting DNA evidence. The prosecution plans to do the retesting at Signature Science, a lab in Virginia.
The prosecution expects to have the DNA results by December 2021. Defense attorney Kevann Gardner did not object to the testing.
Perkins’ trial is scheduled to begin in September. He is currently being held at DC Jail.
A DC Superior Court Judge scheduled a status hearing for a murder defendant.
Paul Daniel, 41, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possessing a firearm during a crime of violence and unlawful possession of a firearm in the shooting of 59-year-old Kevin Harrison on Jan. 16, 2019, on the 4000 block of Hayes Street, NE. He was arraigned in September.
The prosecution has placed a new plea offer on the record. Defense attorney Madalyn Harvey said she needs more time to consult with her client before a decision can be made.
Judge Marisa Demeo scheduled Daniel to return to court on Oct. 16. He is expected to accept or decline the plea at that time.
