Document: Suspect Sought in March Homicide

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are asking for the public’s help locating a suspect in connection with a homicide that happened on March 31.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department found four individuals suffering from gunshot wounds on the 1300 Block of Congress Street, SE.

The victims were transported to a local hospital, where a male and a female were pronounced dead. The victims who succumbed to their injuries were 25-year-old George Evans III, and 28-year-old Keosha Ferguson.

Later, police discovered there was a fifth victim seeking treatment at another hospital.

All of the other victims received treatment for non-life threatening injuries.

One of the suspect in this case has been identified as 25 year-old Tarik Turner. He is wanted for second-degree murder while armed in connection with Furguson’s death.

The case remains under investigation.

Crime Alerts: April 13-14

Between 9:00 p.m. on April 13 and 9:00 a.m. on April 14, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out two crime alerts.

The most recent alert was sent at 5:44 a.m. for a stabbing on the 5000 block of H Street, SE. Police have a suspect in custody.

The second alert was sent at 5:30 a.m. for a robbery on the 5300 block of Georgia Avenue, NW. Police are looking for a Black male, 5’6″ in height with a dark complexion and wearing a grey shirt and black pants.

Judge Holds One Domestic Violence Defendant During Presentments

A DC Superior Court judge heard a total of 16 cases during initial hearings held on April 13, three of which were domestic violence defendants and one was a sex abuse defendant.

All but one domestic violence defendant were released.

Judge Heide Herrmann held a defendant, who is being charged with assault with significant bodily injury, due to the defendant having a prior felony conviction of the same charge from 2009. The defendant will be held at DC Jail until their next hearing, which is scheduled for May 3.

The remaining two domestic violence defendants are charged with attempted threats to do bodily harm, attempted possession of a dangerous weapon, attempted second-degree cruelty to children and simple assault. Upon release, each defendant was given a stay-away order from either the victim, location of the crime or both.

The released domestic abuse defendants were ordered to return to court on Oct. 13.

Judge Herrmann also released a defendant who was brought in on a bench warrant for failing to appear at his probation hearing. The defendant is convicted of attempted third-degree sex abuse and was released with an order to come back to court on April 20.

McKenzie Beard wrote this article.

Judge Continues Homicide Hearing to Allow Time for Courtroom Availability

In the hope that COVID-19 restrictions would be lightened, a DC Superior Court judge decided to continue a hearing for a homicide case.

Keith Baham, 21, Tyler Stringfield, 22 and Raymond Avent, 21, are charged with first-degree murder while armed in the death of 23-year-old Rafiq Hawkins. On March 23, 2019, Hawkins was found unconscious on the 1300 block of Saratoga Avenue, NE suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. It was later determined that the shooting happened on the 1200 block of Brentwood Road, NE but that Hawkins ran to Saratoga Avenue before he passed out.

During the April 13 hearing, Judge Danya Dayson said the case was not previously set for trial because the court was waiting until summer, expecting that more than two courtrooms would open to hold proceedings.

She scheduled another hearing for Nov. 1 to come back to set trial dates.

Baham’s other charges include conspiracy, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a license, possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, possession of an unregistered firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle, unauthorized use of a vehicle, fleeing a law enforcement officer, destruction of property and leaving after colliding.

Stringfeild’s other charges include conspiracy, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol without a license, possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, possession of an unregistered firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle, unauthorized use of a vehicle, fleeing a law enforcement officer, destruction of property, destruction of property and leaving after colliding with property.

Avent’s other charges include conspiracy, possession of firearm during crime of violence, carrying a pistol without a license, possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, possession of an unregistered firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle, unauthorized use of a vehicle, fleeing a law enforcement officer, destruction of property and leaving after colliding.

Judge Schedules Trial Readiness Hearing For Homicide Case

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a trial readiness hearing for a murder case.

Herman Williams, 30, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in the death of 36-year-old William Boykin Jr. On May 28, 2019, Boykin was found on the 2600 block of Birney Place, SE suffering from three gunshot wounds. Another victim was shot in the foot and survived.

During the April 12 proceedings, defense attorney Roderick Thompson asked Judge Neal Kravitz to set a trial readiness hearing and trial dates, but Judge Kravitz said he only had the authority to set the trial readiness hearings in the current courtroom.

Judge Kravitz suggested setting a trial readiness hearing for August to allow time for more courtrooms to open up, which would expand courtroom availability for trials. He also said he would be issuing a standard order to outline deadlines for motions, expert notices and responses.

The next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 30.

Murder Case Set for Arraignment, Trial Readiness Hearings

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a trial readiness hearing and an arraignment for a homicide case.

Keith Toney, 45, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 45-year-old Melton Grant on the 600 block of Morton Street, NW on June 22, 2019.

The judge scheduled the arraignment for June 29 and the trial readiness hearing for Sept. 8.

Toney is also charged with possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction and assault with intent to kill while armed in this case.

Document: Two Women Killed in Southeast, DC

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a double homicide that happened on April 12.

At around 7:33 p.m. that day, DC Fire and EMS responded to the 2300 block of Good Hope Court, SE for the report of a fire, according to a press release. Moments later, police were dispatched there for the report of a shooting.

Upon arrival, emergency personnel found a woman in a parking lot, suffering from a gunshot wound. She was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Two other women were found with gunshot wounds as well. One of them was pronounced dead on the scene. The other died at an area hospital.

The decedents have been identified as 48-year-old Wanda Wright and 32-year old Ebony Wright, both of Southeast, DC.

Crime Alerts: April 12-13

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out one crime alert between 9:00 p.m. on April 12 and 9:00 a.m. on April 13.

The alert was sent at 12:49 a.m. for a shooting on the 1400 block of Rock Creek Ford Road, NW.

Police do not have a description of the suspect(s).

Document: Homicide in Southeast, DC

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a homicide that happened on April 12.

At around 11:45 a.m., officers responded to the 900 block of Bellevue, SE for the report of the sounds of gunshots.

There, they found 25-year-old Antonio Brown suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Parties Agree Sex Abuse Defendant Should be in Inpatient Program

A DC Superior Court judge continued a sex abuse case to give parties time to contact the case judge about the possibility of transferring the defendant to an inpatient program.

The 31-year-old defendant is charged with assault with intent to commit first-degree sexual abuse, threats to kidnap or injure a person, assault with a dangerous weapon and assault on a police officer while armed. The alleged offenses reportedly occurred on Feb. 24, 2021, on the 300 block of 35th Street, NE, according to court documents.

During the April 12 proceedings, defense attorney Jonathan Armstrong told Judge Jonathan Pittman that he has filed a motion for a bond review. Armstrong said the defense and prosecution both agree the defendant should be moved from DC Jail to an inpatient facility, but they need to discuss it with the case judge, Judge Juliet McKenna.

Judge Pittman set a hearing “control date” for April 28, which will be vacated once parties are able to contact Judge McKenna and set a date for a hearing with her.

Sasha Ridenour wrote this article.

Homicide Case Awaits Competency Evaluations

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled another status hearing to allow time for a homicide defendant to undergo competency evaluations.

Matthew Walker is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the death of 32-year-old David Remen. On Feb. 14, 2019, 22-year-old Walker allegedly shot into an establishment located on the 1700 block of Hamlin Street, NE. Remen and another victim were shot multiple times. The other victim survived, but Remen succumbed to his injuries.

During the April 12 proceedings, the prosecution requested that all of Walker’s felony cases be put on the same schedule. They also requested that the pending competency assessments be applied to all of his pending cases.

The prosecution said both parties are retaining independent evaluations and the status of the competency proceedings are pending independent experts’ availability.

The prosecution noted that there were reports that Walker had sustained a brain injury, so neurological tests to determine competency have to be completed but cannot be done over video.

The prosecution asked Judge Neal Kravitz to set a hearing for a few months out to allow time for parties to get records and for the competency evaluations to be completed.

Judge Kravitz scheduled a felony status conference for July 12, and another for Sept. 7. He also said that he could put in an order to have all of Walker’s pending cases be scheduled together to make proceedings easier.

The next hearing is scheduled for July 12.

Judge Releases 6 Domestic Violence Defendants During Initial Hearings

On April 12, a DC Superior Court judge released all six defendants charged in domestic violence cases.

In total, there were 36 cases presented before the court. An additional defendant, who was in the hospital, so the case could not be heard.

Judge Heide Herrmann issued stay-away orders for all six defendants as a condition of release and ordered them to call the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) once a week.

One of the defendants is charged with simple assault. The prosecution requested for this defendant to be held considering a past conviction and a pending case. However, Judge Herrmann denied the hold request because the case that the prosecution was concerned about was a conviction from 2005 for which the defendant did not receive any jail time.

The prosecution also requested for two other defendants to be held considering that they have pending domestic violence cases involving the same victims whom they were ordered to stay away from.

Judge Herrmann pointed out, however, that the prosecution is not charging these defendants with contempt for violating a condition of release. Judge Herrmann released both of these defendants and issued stay-away orders in their new cases.

The other three defendants have charges that include simple assault, attempted threats to do bodily harm and attempted possession of a prohibited weapon.

All but one of the defendants are scheduled to return to court on Oct. 18. The other defendant is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 19.

Judge Releases Domestic Violence Defendant from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital

A DC Superior Court judge released a domestic violence defendant from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution.

The defendant is charged with attempted misdemeanor sex abuse, simple assault and contempt.

In December of 2020, he was found incompetent to stand trial and sent to the hospital for inpatient competency restoration treatment.

During an April 12 mental observation hearing, Judge Rainey Brandt read a Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) report that stated that the defendant is currently competent to proceed and inpatient hospitalization is not needed at this time.

Defense attorney Jason Kalafat requested his client’s release from St Elizabeth’s. The prosecution agreed with the request, but said the defendant should be placed under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP).

Judge Brandt agreed to put him under HISP and ordered him to wear a GPS monitoring device. She also ordered him to stay away from the victim.

A review hearing is scheduled for April 13.

Sarah Gebrengus wrote this article.

Judge Continues Status Hearing for Homicide Defendants

A DC Superior Court judge continued a status hearing for two homicide defendants.

Malik Coles, 24, and Duan Garmany, 22, are charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 28-year-old Christopher Payne on June 30, 2019, on the 2100 block of 15th Street, NW.

Judge Neal Kravitz scheduled the status hearing for Sept. 7.

The prosecution said a plea deal was offered. The defense has not replied.

This case has not been scheduled for a jury trial yet, and Judge Kravitz could not say for sure when the court would be able to start scheduling more jury trials. However, he said that by fall there would be a better idea of courtroom availability to schedule more trials for defendants.

The two defendants are also charged with possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, conspiracy to commit a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm in this case.

Sasha Ridenour wrote this article.

Judge Schedules a Status Hearing for a Homicide Case Pending Indictment

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled another status hearing to allow time for a homicide defendant to be indicted.

Wesley Scott is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the death of 28-year-old David Young. On April 3, 2020 Young was found on the 3500 block of 22nd Street, SE suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. A minor victim was also shot during the incident but survived.

During the April 12 hearing, the prosecution requested a new status hearing date as parties await a grand jury decision.

Michael Benbow, 18, was also charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with this homicide, but was killed in an April 1 shooting while on pretrial release. No arrests have been made in connection with his death at this time.

Judge Neal Kravitz scheduled one for Sept. 9.

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