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Man Charged in Former Marine’s Homicide Pleads Guilty

A defendant charged in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 26-year-old former Marine pleaded guilty to murder on Aug. 4.

Matthew Scott Rooker was stabbed multiple times on May 23, 2018, on the 600 block of 7th Street, NW.

Kavonte Richardson was charged with felony murder while armed while committing or attempting to commit robbery in connection with the homicide. During the Aug. 4 hearing, the 27-year-old defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed. As part of the plea deal, his additional charges of armed robbery and carrying a dangerous weapon were dropped.

Parties agreed to a 15-year prison sentence, followed by five years of supervised release.

According to the proffer of facts, Rooker sustained one stab wound to his neck, five to his arm and four to his back as Richarson attempted to steal his backpack. 

After his arrest, police questioned Richardson about Rooker’s death and showed him a photo of the knife used in the homicide. Richardson denied owning the weapon but once interrogators left, video footage of the room shows him admitting to owning the weapon, according to the proffer of facts. DNA evidence later found on the knife matched both Richardson and Rooker.

Judge Marisa Demeo scheduled Richardson to be sentenced on Oct. 29.   

And the Tweets Keep Pouring In…

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Crime Alerts: August 3-4

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out three crime alerts between 9:00 p.m. on Aug. 3 and 9:00 a.m. on Aug 4.

A crime alert was sent out at 11:28 p.m. due to a shooting at the corner of Stanton Road and Miss Avenue, SE. Police do not have information on the suspect(s).

A second crime alert was sent out at 1:03 a.m. due to a shooting in the 4000 block of 14th Street, NW. Police do not have information on the suspect(s).

A final crime alert was sent out at 1:34 a.m. due to a shooting in the 1300 block of Colombia Road, NW. Police identified the suspects as 3-4 young Black males who were last seen getting into a dark color Dodge challenger.

Judge Holds Murder Defendant During Presentments

A DC Superior Court judge held three defendants, including one charged with murder, and released four others during presentments on Aug. 3.  

In total, 26 defendants were brought before the court.

Idrissa Falls, 34, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in the shooting of 29-year-old Dara Northern on July 18 on the 6100 block of 4th Street, NW. After considering information witnesses told officers on the scene and prior incidents between the victim and defendant, Judge Renee Raymond held Fall at DC Jail. He is scheduled to return to court on Aug. 25.  

A domestic violence defendant charged with simple assault as well as a defendant charged with misdemeanor sex abuse were also held. They are both scheduled to return to court on Aug. 24.   

Four domestic violence defendants were released. Their charges include possession of a prohibited weapon, attempted threats to do bodily harm, simple assault and destruction of property. Two of the defendants were given stay away orders. They are scheduled to return to court on Nov. 9. 

Klein Lawrence was scheduled to appear in court on a first-degree murder while armed charge, but his presentment hearing was rescheduled to Aug. 4 due to him reportedly being in the hospital. 

Cousins Charged With Murder Will Have Separate Trials

A DC Superior Court judge severed the cases of two cousins charged in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 16-year-old boy.

Cousins Kurt and Demonte Hewitt, 21 and 19, respectively, are charged with second-degree murder while armed in the death of Tyshon Perry on May 1, 2018, on the 1300 block of 2nd Street, NE. 

Judge Neal Kravitz granted the motion by Demonte Hewitt’s attorney, Jessica Willis, to sever the cases, with no objection from the prosecution. Because of this, the defendants will be tried separately.

Nov. 1 through 19 has been set aside for Kurt Hewitt’s trial. Demonte Hewitt’s trial will be scheduled as soon as possible, according to court documents. 

In a statement supporting Willis’ motion to sever, Kurt Hewitt’s attorney, Sean Hennessy, states that his client would be willing to provide certain testimony on his cousin’s behalf if the cases were tried separately, but not if the two had a joint trial.

According to court documents, the testimony in question asserts that, after walking away from a 7-Eleven convenience store on the day of the homicide, someone confronted Demonte Hewitt before punching him in the face. It goes on to assert that other people then joined in attacking Demonte Hewitt, at which point he began to defend himself and that Kurt Hewitt intervened, but did not see his cousin with a weapon during the confrontation.

During the Aug. 2 hearing, Judge Kravitz scheduled hearings to rule on six pending motions for both defendants on Oct. 21, Oct. 25 and Oct. 26. 

Both defendants are also charged with simple assault, assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, conspiracy, assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a  firearm during a crime of violence and conspiracy.

Defense Attorney Withdraws From 2019 Homicide Case

A DC Superior Court judge granted a defense attorney’s motion to withdraw from a 2019 homicide case on Aug. 3.

Terrance Prue is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 39-year-old Bruce Gilmore on the 3500 block of 22nd Street, SE, on June 5, 2019.

In her motion to withdraw, defense attorney Brandi Harden states that “a conflict has arisen which makes representation under the circumstances impossible.”

Prue, 20, also changed counsel in December 2019, D.C. Witness previously reported.

Judge Neal Kravitz scheduled a hearing for Aug. 31 to give Prue’s new counsel an opportunity to speak with him. Prue is also expected to be arraigned at that time.

Prue is also charged with possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with a dangerous weapon and carrying a pistol without a license in his case.

Judge Holds Two Domestic Violence Defendants During Presentments

A DC Superior Court judge held two domestic violence defendants during presentments on Aug. 2.

A total of 39 defendants were presented before the court. 

Two domestic violence defendants were charged with simple assault as well as contempt for allegedly violating their release conditions in previous cases. Judge Renee Raymond held them both. They will return to court on Aug. 17. 

Four bench warrants were issued for domestic violence defendants charged on July 30 who reportedly failed to have GPS monitors installed. Their charges include simple assault, attempted possession of a prohibited weapon, obstruction of justice and no permit. 

Klein Lawrence was scheduled to appear in court on a first-degree murder while armed charge, but his presentment hearing was rescheduled to Aug. 3 due to him reportedly being in the hospital. 

Crime Alerts: August 2-3

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out three crime alerts between 9:00 p.m. on Aug. 2 and 9:00 a.m. on Aug 3.

A crime alert was sent out at 10:42 p.m. due to a shooting at the 5100 block of Brooks Street, NE. Police do not have information on the suspect(S).

A second crime alert was sent out at 11:24 p.m. due to a shooting at the 500 block of 50th Place, NE. Police do not have information on the suspect(s).

A final crime alert was sent out at 8:12 a.m. due to a robbery while armed investigation in the 3300 block of Holmead Place, NW. Police identified the suspects as a Black male wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans, seen leaving in a white Toyota with unknown tags.

Document: Arrest Made in Homicide Investigation

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives have made an arrest in relation to a July 18 homicide.

At about 1:28 a.m. officers reported to the 6700 block of 5th Street, NW, due to a report of a shooting. Police found 29-year-old Dara Northern with gunshot wounds and transported her to a local hospital. She later succumbed to her injuries, according to the press release.

An investigation later found that the incident occurred on the 6100 block of 4th Street, NW, according to the press release.


Judge Rules Fatal Stabbing Case Has Enough Evidence to Go to Trial

A DC Superior Court judge ruled that a homicide case has enough evidence to go to trial.

James Lewis is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 30-year-old Brenea Franklin to death on the night of Jan. 30 on the 1100 block of Bellevue Street, SE.

During the Aug. 2 hearing, the prosecution played surveillance footage showing the 43-year-old defendant’s van as it enters the block, parks and turns its headlights off at around 10:25 p.m. The lights in the vehicle then come on and there appears to be movement inside before a shadow emerges, stumbles away from the vehicle and collapses where Franklin’s body was later found.

A Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective on the case testified that a witness who has known Lewis for about 20 years identified him from surveillance footage of his van.

Defense attorney Bernadette Armand argued the video was too blurry and indistinct to identify a face, but the detective maintained that the witness “was adamant about it.”

The detective testified that, at the time of the homicide, Lewis was living in his van, which MPD officers later recovered.

The prosecution said that Lewis sent text messages asking for help cleaning up his van, which had bloodstains on the passenger seat and soaked into the carpet on the passenger side. She also said that the witness who provided the identification said she never saw anyone besides Lewis drive the van.

Armand argued that the footage is not enough to identify the driver as Lewis and that the involvement of Lewis’ van is not enough to conclude that Lewis was the one driving it. She also said that, even though Lewis sent text messages about cleaning up his van, the texts were not sent until 12 hours after the incident, as if he had just discovered the situation.

Judge Neal Kravitz found probable cause but said the witnesses’ identification from the surveillance footage was “subject to challenge.”

“There’s a lot of circumstantial evidence in this case,” said Judge Kravitz.

Lewis is scheduled to return to court on Aug. 9.

Murder Defendant Held After Two-Day Preliminary Hearing

On July 30, a two-day preliminary hearing concluded with a DC Superior Court judge ruling that a homicide case has enough evidence to go to trial.

Ronnie Melson, 40, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 41-year-old Demetrius Jones on the 1700 block of Gales Street, NE, on Nov. 6, 2020.

“This does appear to be a premeditated act of retribution committed in an incredibly dangerous manner,” Judge Neal Kravitz said. 

The preliminary hearing was previously scheduled to take place in April, but it was postponed after Judge Kravitz ordered the prosecution to disclose evidence that the defense argued they should have received.

When proceedings picked back up on July 29, Judge Kravitz said that the evidence in question, which includes a video of police interviewing a witness, should be given to the defense under a protective order.

Defense attorney Bernadette Armand said they had previously only received a summary of the interview’s transcript. Armand said there were no actual answers to some of the questions officers asked the witness in the transcript, implying nonverbal responses that Armand had no way to observe.

“A lot of material was turned over a lot later than it should have been,” Judge Kravitz said.

On July 30, a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective assigned to the case testified that officers responded to shots picked up by gunfire detection technology at about 10:40 a.m the day of the homicide. According to the detective, Melson was identified based on the account of the witness from the interview, who told officers that Jones and Melson had been involved in a dispute.

The detective also testified that the witness in the interview initially said she did not see the incident take place, but during a phone call she made during the interview when detectives were not present, she told someone that detectives knew she had seen it.

Armand said that the descriptions given by multiple witnesses at the scene were not consistent with one another. Armand said the witness in the interview footage described the shooter as wearing a mask, while other witnesses did not, and only one of those other witnesses was able to give any description of the shooter’s hairstyle. Other descriptions of the shooter included information on height and skin tone that was not consistent with Melson’s appearance, she said.

The prosecution said that Melson’s phone was picked up by a cell tower in the area at the time of the homicide and that Melson has a stab wound from a previous altercation with Jones, a story that the witness corroborated during her interview.

The prosecution argued that Melson should remain held at DC Jail, saying that he has 12 prior convictions and has never successfully completed a period of probation. Armand argued that Melson should, at most, be placed under 24-hour home confinement so he could take care of his elderly, medically infirmed relative.

Judge Kravitz decided to hold the defendant based on the dangerousness of the incident, citing the entire magazine’s worth of bullets found on the scene and the collateral damage caused by stray bullets. Judge Kravitz also said there are a number of violent crimes on Melson’s record, including assaults in 2009 and 2019.

Judge Kravitz scheduled Melson’s next hearing for Nov. 1.

Document: 700 Block of O Street, NW

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are investigating a homicide that occured on July 31.

At about 11:15 p.m. police were in the area of the 700 block of O Street, NW, when they heard sounds of gunshots. Upon arrival, police found 31-year-old Kervin Sanches with gunshot wounds and transported him to a local hospital. He later succumbed to his injuries, according to the press release.

Crime Alerts: August 1-2

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out four crime alerts between 9:00 p.m. on August 1 and 9:00 a.m. on August 2.

An alert was sent out at 11:02 p.m. due to a robbery investigation in the 1300 block of Anacostia Road, SE. Police identified the suspect as a Black male who is about 15-16 years old wearing a black jacket, white tank top, and armed with a gun.

A second alert was sent out at 11:48 p.m. due to a robbery in the 3100 block of 14th Street, NW. Police identified the suspects as a Black male wearing a black hoodie, black pants, black shoes and a black face mask.

A third crime alert was sent out at 12:37 a.m. due to a shooting in the 3700 block of Hayes Street, NE. Police do not have information on the suspect(s).

A final crime alert was sent out at 7:21 a.m. due to a shooting investigation in the 400 block of Burbank Street, SE. Police do not have information on the suspect(s).