Document: Suspect Sought in Homicide

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on May 15.

At about 4:55 p.m. police responded to the 3900 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE due to reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, police found an adult male and two adult females, all suffering from gunshot wounds. The two adult females were treated for non-life-threatening injuries while the adult female was pronounced dead. A fourth victim was also treated for non-life-threatening injuries, according to the press release.

The victim has been identified as 28-year-old Lester Howard. Police are currently looking for the suspect.

Acquitted: Judge Continues 2020 Murder Case as Parties Await Indictment

Editor’s note: On May 30, a jury acquitted Devonte Brothers of all charges connected to the homicide of Deron Leake. Brothers is still being held on homicide charges in another case.

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a felony status hearing for a homicide case that is currently awaiting indictment.

Devonte Brothers is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 27-year-old Deron Leake on Oct. 17, 2019, on the 4200 block of 6th Street, SE.

During the June 21 hearing, the prosecution said that once an indictment is secured and a ruling on a motion for a protective order is decided, they would be ready for the judge to schedule trial dates.

Judge John Campbell continued the hearing to Sept. 14.

Brothers, 26, is also charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 30-year-old Arkeem Jackson on June 16, 2019, on the 4300 block of 4th Street, SE. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on June 29 to determine if the case has enough evidence to go to trial.

Prosecution Expects 40-50 Witnesses and A Month-long Trial for Murder Case

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled two co-defendants charged in connection with the death of a 22-year-old man to go to trial next year.

John McRae, 43, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 22-year-old Marty McMillan on March 23, 2017, on the 1900 block of 13th Street, SE. McRae’s 24-year-old co-defendant, Shaniah Davis, is charged with accessory after the fact in connection with the homicide.

Judge Juliet McKenna scheduled jury selection to take place on April 20 and 21, 2022. She set aside April 25 through May 27, 2022, for the trial.

The prosecutor told Judge McKenna that he expects to call 40-50 witnesses during the trial.

Judge Mckenna also scheduled a status hearing for McRae for Sept. 10 and another trial readiness hearing for both defendants for Oct. 22.

Judge Schedules Trial Readiness Hearing for Murder Case

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a trial readiness hearing for 2019 murder case.

Andre Dubose is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly beating 37-year-old Ahmad Simms to death with a wooden object on March 17, 2019, on the 1800 block of Q Street, SE.

During the June 16 hearing, Defense attorney Joseph Wong asked Judge Rainey Bandt to schedule a trial readiness hearing for both of his client’s cases.

Dubose was released into the High-Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) in June 2020 until he was rearrested for allegedly assaulting two victims with a metal pole in December 2020.

Judge Brandt gave the defense until Aug. 13 to file any motions. The prosecution has until Sept. 13 to respond.

The trial readiness hearing is scheduled for Sept 13. In the meantime, Dubose will remain held at DC Jail.

Document: Suspect Sought in an Assault with Intent to Commit First Degree Sexual Abuse Offense

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are looking for a suspect in connection with an assault with intent to commit first-degree sexual abuse offense that occurred on June 18.

At about 8:00 p.m. the suspect approached the female victim in the 200 Block of 51st Street, SE. The suspect assaulted the victim with the intent to commit a sexual act and fled the scene.

Crime Alerts: June 20-21

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) released two crime alerts between 9:00 p.m. on June 20 and 9:00 a.m. on June 21.

A crime alert was sent out at 9:36 p.m. due to a robbery investigation on the 900 block of Valley Street, SE. Police are looking for a Black male wearing an orange shirt in a blue Dodge truck armed with a weapon.

A second crime alert was sent out at 5:45 a.m. for a robbery investigation in the 2300 block of Ainger Place, SE. Police are looking for two Black males. One is wearing a white tank top with black jeans while the other is wearing an all black sweatsuit and holding a handgun.

Document: Traffic Fatality

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a traffic fatality from a traffic crash that occurred on June 19.

A preliminary investigation revealed that at about 11:35 p.m. a person driving a Nissan Altima at a high speed on the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. The driver struck a Toyota Scion that was turning left from
Pennsylvania Avenue. The driver and passenger of the Toyota Scion were treated on the scene for minor injuries. The driver of the Nissan Altima was taken to the hospital and later pronounced dead. The victim has been identified as 23-year-old Terrell Johnson.

Document: Homicide on the 100 Block of Kennedy Street

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on June 18.

At about 12:07 a.m. police responded to reports of shooting at the 100 block of Kennedy Street, NW. Benson Thorne Sr., 52, was pronounced dead on the scene.

Document: Homicide Investigation

Metropolan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on June 18.

At about 9:13 p.m. police responded to reports of a shooting on the unit block of Galveston Place, SW. Upon arrival, police located an adult male and pronounced him dead from gunshot wounds. The victim has been identified as 42-year-old Everette Faison.

Document: Arrest Made in Traffic Fatality

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives announced the name of the victim in a traffic fatality involving a pedestrian.

At about 3:14 a.m. on June 13 on the 1500 block of 14th Street, NW, 29-year-old Gerald Lewis reportedly struck a pedestrian on the sidewalk. The pedestrian has been identified as 59-year-old Antonio Felder.

2021 Homicides Outpacing Previous Year, Data Shows

DC’s homicide count for 2020 was higher than it was in 2018, 2017 or 2016, according to D.C. Witness data. But so far, the homicide count for 2021 has outpaced the number of homicides reported at this same time last year.

Video by Andrea Keckley

Document: Homicide in Southeast, DC

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a homicide that happened on the morning of June 17.

At around 5:02 a.m., officers responded to the 3100 Block of Waclark Place, SE, according to a press release.

There, they found 28-year-old Demonte Thompson suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Judge Holds One Domestic Violence Defendant, Releases Five Others

A DC Superior Court judge held one domestic violence defendant and released five others during initial hearings on June 16.

A total of 30 defendants were presented before the court. The six defendants charges included assault, threating to commit assault and contempt.

The held domestic violence defendant allegedly violated a stay away order he was issued in a previous case for simple assault and destruction of property charges. Because of this, Judge Sean Staples decided to hold him at DC Jail. The defendant’s next court hearing is scheduled for July 6.

Five other domestic violence defendants were released on their promise to return to court. They were all given stay away orders.

The released domestic violence defendants are scheduled to return to court on Dec. 15.

Crime Alerts: June 16-17

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out three crime alerts between 9:00 p.m. on June 16 and 9:00 a.m. on June 17.

A crime alert was sent out at about 11:20 p.m. due to a stabbing on the 4300 block of 4th Street, SE. The suspect is in custody.

A second crime alert was sent out at about 5:23 a.m. due to a shooting on the 3100 block of Waclark Place, SE. The police did not report to be looking for a suspect.

At 5:23 a.m., police alerted the public of an armed carjacking on the 300 block of 51st Street, SE. Police reported that they were looking for two Black males with short haircuts in a red 2020 Hyundai Accent with a Virginia licence plate.

Judge Continues Double Homicide Case Awaiting Indictment

A DC Superior Court judge continued a hearing June 16 for a double homicide case currently awaiting indictment.

Antoine Turner, 27, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Demetrius Benson and Demeitri Anderson.

Benson, 24, was shot on Nov. 30, 2020, on the 4500 block of Dix Street, NE. Then, on Nov. 29, 2020, Anderson was shot 13 times on the 4500 block of Benning Road, NE.

Parties asked Judge Rainey Brandt to continue the hearing, so the prosecution could provide the defense with indictment information and discovery evidence.

Judge Brandt scheduled the next hearing for Sept. 21.

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