Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a homicide that happened the night of April 22.
At around 10:26 p.m., officers responded to the 400 block of 37th Place, SE, according to a press release.
There, they found two men inside a residential building with gunshot wounds.
The victims were taken to the hospital. One of them, 21-year-old Malik Morris, died from his injuries.
Police arrested a second suspect in connection with a homicide that happened last year.
In the early hours of Sept. 30, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to the the 3200 block of Hiatt Place, NW for the sound of gunshots, according to a press release. They found 33-year-old John Pollard suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on scene.
Back in November, 28 year-old Randle Price was arrested for first-degree murder while armed – felony murder in Pollard’s death.
On April 22, 27 year-old Marwin Thomas was arrested on the same charge.
Between 9:00 p.m. on April 22 and 9:00 a.m. on April 23, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out three crime alerts.
The most recent alert was sent at 2:20 a.m. for a confirmed robbery on the 1200 block of Franklin Street, NE. Police are looking for a Black male with a light complexion, 5’6″ in height with a thin build. He had a mask on the lower half of his face and wore a black hoodie, light blue jeans and green underwear. An additional suspect was stopped.
The second alert was sent at 11:22 p.m. for a shooting on the 400 block of 37th Place, SE. Police do not have a description of the suspect(s).
The final alert was sent at 10:58 p.m. for a stabbing on the 3700 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, SE. Police do not have a description of the suspect in this case, either.
A DC Superior Court judge continued a status hearing for a murder case with pending motions.
Kavon Young, 30, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting of 66-year-old John Pernell on July 3, 2010.
That afternoon, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to the 3000 block of Nelson Place, SE for the report of a shooting. They found Pernell lying in the grass, according to court documents. Witnesses reported that the shooting was the result of an armed robbery.
Young was arrested in August 2019 following new developments with the forensic evidence.
The defense has motioned to prevent the prosecution from consuming possible DNA evidence. They have also motioned for Young’s release. The prosecution opposes both of these requests.
Judge Marisa Demeo continued the status hearing to Oct. 4 after saying that the pending motions should be addressed by the judge assigned to this case.
During initial hearings on April 22, DC Superior Court Judge Nolan Lloyd, Jr. released three domestic violence defendants.
The first defendant is charged with simple assault, allegedly involving his wife. The defense requested the judge release the defendant due to his limited recent criminal record. The judge agreed, releasing the defendant on his own recognizance with a stay-away order from the alleged victim.
The defendant is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 28.
The second defendant is charged with simple assault, resisting arrest, escape from an officer, and destruction of property less than $1,000. The prosecution requested the judge hold the defendant due to the defendant’s criminal history.
The judge disagreed with the prosecution, saying the record showed the defendant was in compliance in previous cases and provided evidence that he is a candidate to be released rather than held at the jail.
The judge released the defendant with the order to stay away from the alleged victims and the location of the incident.
The defendant is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 28.
The last defendant is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon.
The defense requested the release of the defendant due to her limited criminal record, consisting mostly of misdemeanors with a history of compliance with court conditions.
The prosecution argued the assault occurred in front of a child and the defendant is a risk to the victim and the community.
The judge disagreed with the prosecution again, stating that this incident did not warrant being held at the jail as long as the defendant continued to be compliant. The judge ordered the defendant to be released with stay-away orders from the alleged victims, GPS monitoring and continued mental health treatment.
The defendant is scheduled to return to court on April 23 for a review hearing.
This article was written by Alaina Provenza
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are asking for the public’s help locating and identifying a suspect in connection with a homicide that happened on April 21.
At around 6:40 p.m., officers responded to the 4600 Block of South Capitol Street, SW to investigate the sound of gunshots. There, they found 24-year-old Andre Butler suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
A suspect was captured by a surveillance camera and can be seen in a photo in a press release.
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating homicides that happened on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
On April 19 at around 7:57 p.m., officers responded to the 1500 block of 45th Street, NE for the report of a shooting. There, they found 27 year-old Kentrell Devaughn in a vehicle, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He died the next day.
On Tuesday night at around 10:35 p.m., officers responded to the Unit Block of Franklin Street, NE for a call to service. There, they found 30 year-old Brandon Long partially inside the vehicle, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He died on Wednesday.
At around 6:40 p.m. on Wednesday, officers responded to the 4600 Block of South Capitol Street, SW to investigate the sound of gunshots. There, they found 24 year-old Andre Butler suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out one crime alert between 9:00 p.m. on April 21 and 9:00 a.m. on April 22.
The alert was sent at 3:27 a.m. for a confirmed kidnapping on the 1600 block of Trinidad Avenue, NE.
Police are looking for an adult Black male, 6’0″ in height and 170-175 pounds. The suspect was wearing all dark clothing and had a tattoo on his left hand.
During the April 21 initial hearings, DC Superior Court Judge Lloyd Nolan presided over the cases of two domestic abuse defendants and decided to release both of them.
The first defendant is charged with stalking and attempted threats to do bodily harm. The second defendant is charged with simple assault and sex abuse.
Both defendants were released on personal recognizance under the supervision of the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) and given stay-away orders.
They both have status hearings scheduled for Oct. 27.
A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a hearing to discuss motions the defense brought up in a 2019 murder case that is still waiting to be heard by a grand jury.
Marco Powell, also known as Tyrell Powell, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the death of 22-year-old Semaj Alsobrooks. The 23-year-old defendant is accused of shooting Alsobrooks on the 3900 block of East Capitol Street, NE, on Sept. 4, 2019.
“Mr. Powell has been in jail since November 2019 without an indictment for over a year now, 23 hours a day on lockdown,” said defense attorney Jason Tulley, “I ask that we set a hearing.”
He said he submitted a motion for the disclosure of grand jury selection material on March 10 that has yet to be heard. He also submitted a motion for dismissal, immediate trial or release pending trial yesterday.
Judge Marisa Demeo mentioned that another Superior Court judge is handling the first motion, and she cannot rule on the most recent motion today since it takes time to rule on complex issues. She scheduled a status hearing for Sept. 8 to address the motion and other matters that may arise.
The defense also plans to file a bond review motion.
Sarah Gebrengus wrote this article.
On April 20, District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Lloyd Nolan released 15 defendants and held three at DC Jail during their initial hearings.
There were a total of two domestic violence cases and one homicide case presented before Judge Nolan. Of these cases, he held two of the defendants.
Judge Nolan held 20-year-old Roberto Cayetano-Mejia who is charged with second-degree murder while armed in the Nov. 7, 2020, death of 19-year-old Franklin Hernandez-Arevalo.
Cayetano-Mejia’s attorney, Rachel McCoy, argued that the various witness reports were conflicting, and that one of the witnesses was suspected of being involved in the murder and thus their report may be “self interested.” McCoy also said social media profiles that have been used as evidence have not definitively been verified to be related to her client.
The prosecution argued that there was enough evidence for probable cause because multiple witnesses put Cayetano-Mejia at the crime scene which is also corroborated by the GPS monitor he was wearing at the time. They also said Cayetano-Mejia was later stopped in Kentucky with a gun that had shell casings found at the scene of the crime.
Judge Nolan agreed with the prosecution, finding probable cause, and decided to hold Cayetano-Mejia based on his criminal history, history of non-compliance and the fact that Cayetano-Mejia fled to Kentucky indicating he is a flight risk. His next hearing is scheduled for May 12.
The other defendant who was held is charged with contempt in a domestic violence case after violating a stay away order.
Judge Nolan noted the defendant had been ordered twice before to stay away from the complainant and to come into compliance with the stay away order. The defendant was just before the court on April 19 for violating a stay away order. He decided to hold the defendant based on her inability to follow court orders and the fact that this would be the third violation.
Her next hearing is scheduled for May 12.
The other domestic violence defendant is charged with simple assault. He was released and ordered to stay away from the victim and a location. He is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 26.
A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a trial readiness hearing for a homicide defendant who was charged in 2017.
Tavon Davis is charged with second-degree murder while armed in the death of 29-year-old Michael Vest on the 1300 block of Trinidad Avenue, NE on June 28, 2017.
Defense attorney Matthew Davies told Judge Marisa Demeo that parties are still discussing plea negotiations. Even so, the case is on the path for trial.
Judge Demeo scheduled the trial readiness hearing for Sept. 7. She also set aside Aug. 30 and 31 to discuss evidentiary motions parties may have.
Davis, 22, is also charged with obstruction of justice, soliciting murder and threat to injure or kidnap a person in this case.
Sarah Gebrengus wrote this article.
A defendant charged in connection with a homicide that happened over 20 years ago said he wants to hire his own lawyer.
Rasheed Young is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the 1996 shooting of 26-year-old Cedric Rogers. On June 11 of that year, Rogers and others were allegedly playing basketball on the 300 block of Franklin Street, NE when he was shot four times. Witnesses report Rogers was the only one targeted.
The April 21 hearing was originally scheduled to determine if his case has enough evidence to go to trial.
When defense attorney Bernadette Armand said her client would like to hire his own lawyer, Judge Milton Lee asked the defendant if he had specific people in mind and how much time he thought he would need.
Young said he did have a few people in mind and said he did not think it would take very long.
Judge Lee said he wanted to give Young at least a week to get a new lawyer before parties reconvene to reschedule another preliminary hearing. Judge Lee scheduled an ascertainment of council hearing for April 29.
Young, 43, was arrested in December 2020 in connection with both this homicide and the fatal shooting of 39-year-old Ronald William Richardson, Jr. on May 20, 2018, on the 2300 block of 4th Street, NE.
On April 20, a DC Superior Court judge ruled to join a juvenile’s two pending homicide cases, setting a trial date in both cases for June.
The juvenile is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 36-year-old Antonio Gardiner outside a McDonald’s in Southeast, DC. The juvenile is currently being held under the supervision of the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS), where he has been since the beginning of July.
The juvenile is also being charged in the murder of 52-year-old Everett King, which occurred on July 6. He is alleged to have helped the shooter dispose of the firearm after the incident.
Previously, on March 8, Judge Andrea Hertzfeld ruled that the two cases would not be joined because the juvenile had agreed to a virtual trial in one case but not the other. Judge Hertzfeld said she did not want both to get unnecessarily delayed.
The prosecution has since submitted another motion to join the two cases, saying that many of the same witnesses and experts will be called to testify in both cases since the firearm recovered was allegedly used in both offenses.
Defense counsel, Kevin O’Sullivan, requested Judge Hertzfeld deny the prosecution’s motion, saying the defense would not be ready for an in-person trial for the case because of the need to retest some DNA evidence independently due to a recent scandal involving the D.C. Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS). The attorney cited an outside investigation found the Firearms Examination Unit at DFS erroneously said that the same gun was used in two different homicides from 2015.
Due to the discovery of the department’s mishandling of evidence, defense counsel received a green-light for independently testing some of the evidence. The specific items being retested were not disclosed in the hearing.
Judge Hertzfeld ruled in favor of the prosecution’s motion to join the cases, stating that the courts are starting to plan for re-opening to allow minimal in-person trials for detained people. Due to the overlap in evidence and witnesses, she said it made the most sense to have the cases tried together.
In response to the judge’s ruling, O’Sullivan stated additional concerns around timing, alleging that the prosecution has not disclosed evidence. “We have submitted multiple letters, emails, calls and text messages that have largely gone unanswered,” said O’Sullivan.
Judge Hertzfeld asked defense counsel to submit motions to discuss the possible evidence violations, but said these concerns did not have any bearing on her decision to join the two cases.
She scheduled the in-person trial for both cases to begin on June 1 and end on June 10 with the caveat that the dates could be pushed back if defense counsel needs more time to review evidence and properly represent their client.
In closing, defense counsel made an oral motion to have the juvenile stepped down to a shelter house, which was denied by Judge Hertzfeld.
In addition to scheduling the trial, a trial readiness hearing was scheduled for May 24.
Read D.C. Witness’ previous articles on this case.
This article was written by Krystin Roehl
A DC Superior Court judge released a homicide defendant into home confinement under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP).
Deshaun Gaskins, also known as Antonio Gladden, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 36-year-old Marcus Wallace. On Nov. 21, 2020, Wallace was found on the 1400 block of L Street, SE suffering from 15 gunshot wounds.
Defense attorney Bernadette Armand asked Judge Michael Ryan to allow her client to work for an employer already lined up for him.
The prosecution did not object to Gaskins’ release into home confinement. They did, however, oppose any form of employment for Gaskin at the time of his release.
Judge Ryan released the 21-year-old defendant into home confinement under HISP without allowing the defendant to work. If Gaskins follows all home confinement guidelines for the first 30 days, Judge Ryan said he will reconsider the possibility of employment.
Gaskins is scheduled to return to court on May 20..
Vanessa Sousa wrote this article.
