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Defense in Murder Case Given Time to Consider Plea Offer

A DC Superior Court judge continued a murder case to give the defense time to consider a plea offer.

During the Aug. 31 hearing, Terrance Prue was arraigned on charges of first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with a dangerous weapon and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business. The 21-year-old defendant is accused of shooting 39-year-old Bruce Gilmore on June 5, 2019, on the 3500 block of 22nd Street, SE.

Newly appointed defense attorney Andrew Ain said the prosecution has extended a plea offer and agreed to extend its expiration date so Ain could have more time to discuss it with his client. 

Judge Neal Kravitz scheduled the next hearing for Sept. 14.

Crime Alerts: August 30-31

The Metropolan Police Department (MPD) sent out three crime alerts between 9:00 p.m. on Aug. 30 and 9:00 a.m. on Aug. 31.

A crime alert was sent out at 9:03 p.m. due to a robbery investigation in the 2900 block of 28th Street, NW. Police identified the suspect as a Black male who is approximately 20 years old. He was wearing a blue surgical mask, long camo pants, a yellow shirt and a vest.

A second crime alert was sent out at 11:24 p.m. due to a 1300 block of Good Hope Street, SE. Police identified the suspects as three Black males wearing reflective-style vests and armed with guns.

A final crime alert was sent out at 12:30 a.m. due to an armed robbery in the 1900 block of R Street, SE. Police identified the suspect as a Black male who was tall and wearing a red sweatshirt. He was armed with a gun.

Document: August 29 Homicide

Metropolan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on Aug. 29.

At approximately 4:11 p.m. police responded to the 3500 block of Clay Place, NE, due to a reported shooting. Upon arrival, police located 37-year-old Bruce Scott with gunshot wounds and pronounced him dead on scene, according to the press release

Document: Traffic Fatality in Northeast, DC

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a fatal traffic accident that happened at the intersection of Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue and Hayes Street, NE, on Aug. 28.

According to a press release, preliminary investigation revealed that, at about 9:15 p.m., an individual was driving a red 2005 Honda dirt bike eastbound on the 4400 block of Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, NE. 

At the same time, another individual was driving a silver Hyundai Sonata westbound on the 4500 block of Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, NE.

When the driver of the Hyundai turned left onto the 4400 block of Hayes Street, NE, the dirt bike collided with the passenger side of the car, according to the press release. 

The operator of the dirt bike, 24-year-old Reginald Bynum, was pronounced dead at a local hospital on Aug. 29.

Document: One Dead in Triple Shooting

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

MPD officers responded to the 1400 block of Minnesota Avenue, SE, at approximately 10:18 p.m. for the report of a shooting, according to a press release.  

There, the officers found Lorenzo Shaw, 28, with apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on scene. Two other men were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening gunshot wounds.

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.