Document: Officer-Involved Shooting in Northwest, DC

Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Internal Affairs Bureau are investigating an officer involved shooting that happened in the early hours Feb. 5.

At around 2:27 a.m. that day, uniformed patrol officers responded to the area of 2^nd Street and Rhode Island Avenue, NW for the report of an assault, according to a press release.

There, officers learned that the victim was assaulted, pistol-whipped and robbed at gunpoint. Shortly after, officers came across the suspect, who was armed, on the 200 block of Florida Avenue, NW.

“After the suspect refused to follow numerous commands, two officers discharged their firearms, striking the suspect,” the press release states.

The suspect was taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries. His gun was recovered, and he was arrested for armed robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a BB gun. The case remains under investigation.

In accordance with MPD policy, the officer is on administrative leave pending an investigation. Responding officers activated their Body Worn Cameras (BWC), the footage from which is currently under review.

Crime Alerts: February 4-5

Between 6:00 p.m. on Feb. 4 and 9:00 a.m. on Feb. 5, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out one crime alert.

The alert was sent at 2:20 a.m. for a shooting investigation that occurred at 1:47 a.m. on the 100 block of Irvington Street, SW.

Police are looking for five Black males thought to be involved in the incident.

Sex Abuse Case Set for Preliminary Hearing

A DC Supreme Court judge scheduled a hearing to determine if a sex abuse case has enough evidence to go to trial.

The 59-year-old defendant is charged with first-degree child sex abuse. He is accused of sexually abusing an 11-year-old child on two occasions.

Defense attorney Ronald Resetarits requested the hearing, which Judge John Campbell scheduled for March 9.

The defendant will remain held at DC Jail, where he has been since he was charged on Jan. 16.

Judge Continues Domestic Violence Case

DC Superior Court Judge John Campbell granted the defense’s request to continue a felony status conference for a domestic violence case.

The defendant is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction and assault with a dangerous weapon.

Defense attorney Elliot Queen requested another status date because he is trying to obtain medical records for the defendant that “may or may not affect the case.”

The prosecution offered a plea deal at a previous date; however, Queen said he cannot explore the plea offer without knowing how his client’s medical condition could affect the case.

The next hearing is scheduled for March 8.

Document: Suspect and Vehicle Sought in Fatal Shooting of Juvenile

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives are asking for the public’s help identifying and locating a suspect and vehicle in connection with a Jan. 9 homicide that took the life of 17 year-old Omari Dunn.

At around 5:28 that day, officers the Unit block of Florida Avenue, NE for the report of a shooting.

There, they found Dunn inside of an establishment, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

The vehicle is described as a black Chrysler Pacifica. The vehicle and the suspect were captured by surveillance cameras.

Sex Abuse Defendant Wants Judge to Reconsider Denied Motion

During a Feb. 4 hearing that comes almost one year after a DC Superior Court judge denied a sex abuse defendant’s motion to withdraw his guilty plea, the case’s defense attorney said the defendant would like the judge to reconsider.

The defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree sexual abuse while armed in 2019. As part of a plea deal, the prosecution agreed to drop all other charges in his case.

Judge Julie Becker scheduled a status hearing for March 31 to check on the status of the case.

Should the case proceed to sentencing, defense attorney Madalyn Harvey said her client wishes to exercise his right to be sentenced in person, rather than remotely via video conference.

In the motion to withdraw the plea, the defense argues that the defendant’s plea was not made in a “knowing, intelligent, and voluntary manner,” as required by law.

“Specifically, at the time [defendant] entered the plea he had just been shown for the first time a grand jury exhibit that purported to depict him engaging in a sexual act with the third complainant in the case,” the motion stated. “Although [defendant’s] attorneys had been meticulous in sharing all discovery with him, this exhibit had not been turned over by the government with the other discovery materials. Upon learning of its existence, after a jury had already been selected and a day before opening arguments were scheduled to begin, [the defendant] felt pressured to plea rather than proceed to trial.”

The prosecution opposed the motion. “The defendant has altogether failed to express any defect in the Rule 11 proceeding nor provided the most basic showing as to why the demands of justice require withdrawal of the plea agreement he suggested, drafted, proposed and accepted,” the prosecutor said.

Rule 11 refers to a defendant’s right to withdraw a guilty plea before sentencing if the defendant “can show a fair and just reason for requesting the withdrawal,” according to the DC Courts’ website.

Alaina Provenza wrote this article.

Judge Orders Full Competency Exam for Domestic Violence Defendant

A DC Superior Court judge ordered the transfer of a domestic violence defendant from DC Jail to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution, after finding him incompetent to stand trial.

The defendant is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon.

Judge Michael Ryan found him incompetent based on a preliminary screening that was conducted from the jail. During the Jan. 4 hearing, Judge Ryan ordered a full competency examination.

Defense attorney Khadijah Ali expressed concerns with the report due to the jail’s medication prescription. The medication is not the same one that has been previously prescribed and is stronger, Ali said. The prosecution did not object to this request.

Judge Ryan said he would override the doctor’s recommendation for the defendant to remain in jail with the stipulation that St. Elizabeth’s has vacancy.

Given the COVID-19 restrictions on the hospital, he emphasized there may be a quarantine period for the defendant rather than the normal immediate transfer.

The next hearing to reassess the defendant’s competence is set for March 3.

Double Homicide Defendant Receives New Counsel

A DC Superior Court judge continued a hearing for a double homicide case, so a newly appointed defense attorney could have more time to familiarize herself with the case.

George Bernard Shaw is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the fatal shooting of Marcus Nelson, 59, and Simmeon Williams, 39, on Oct. 10, 2020, on the 1700 block of Irving Street, NE.

There has been no plea offer nor has there been a request for a plea, according to the prosecution.

Judge John Campbell scheduled the next hearing for April 7. In the meantime, Shaw will remain held at DC Jail, where he’s been since Oct. 13, 2020.

Madalyn Harvey has been appointed as the new defense attorney.

Sarah Gebrengus wrote this article.

4 Domestic Violence Cases Presented During Initial Hearings

During initial hearings on Feb. 3, DC Superior Court Judge Renee Raymond heard a total of four domestic violence cases.

Three of the defendants have charges involving destruction of property amounting to less than $1,000 and simple assault.

All three of the defendants were released with stay-away orders. One of the defendants was also placed into the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) with GPS monitoring.

The final defendant is charged with attempted threats to do bodily harm and was released with a stay-away order.

All four defendants will return to court on July 7 for status hearings to discuss their cases further.

Crime Alerts: February 3-4

Between 8:00 p.m. on Feb. 3 and 9:00 a.m. on Feb. 4, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out two crime alerts.

The most recent alert was sent at 1:09 a.m. for a robbery on the 1400 block of Irving Street, NW. Police are looking for five Black males wearing black hooded sweatshirts in a silver Toyota Camry with Maryland tags “4EK6202.”

The second alert was sent at 8:20 p.m. for a confirmed shooting on the 1500 block of Eaton Road, SE. Police do not have a description of the suspect(s).

Document: Arrest Made for Sex Abuse Offense From 2011

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has made an arrest for a sex abuse offense that occurred on July 5, 2011.

At approximately 8:30 a.m., the suspect approached the victim on the 900 block of Shepherd Street, NW.

The suspect then sexually assaulted the victim while armed with a screwdriver before fleeing the scene.

On Feb. 3, officers arrested a 33 year-old male and charged him with first-degree sexual abuse while armed.

Murder Case with 3 Defendants Set for Preliminary Hearing

A DC Superior Court judge set aside two days for a hearing to determine if the evidence against three men charged with murder has enough evidence to go to trial.

On the evening of Oct. 6, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers found 30 year-old Michael Bright suffering from apparent gunshot wounds on the 1100 block of 45th Street, NE. He was pronounced dead at an area hospital.

Delonte Samuels, 28, James Flemings, 23, and Exavior Pinnix, 21, are charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with the homicide. Bright’s death is alleged to have been caused by an attempted robbery carried out by the three defendants.

The prosecution asked Judge John Campbell to designate multiple days for the hearing, saying, “co-defendant prelims typically take more than one day in a row.”

Judge Campbell scheduled the hearing for March 16 and 17.

Murder Defendant Upset with Counsel

A DC Superior Court judge rescheduled a hearing to determine if a murder case has enough evidence to go to trial after a defendant expressed dissatisfaction with his counsel.

Thirty-two year-old Mohamed Goodwin is charged with second-degree murder while armed in the fatal shooting of Devonte Wilson. On Dec. 3, 2020, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers found Wilson, 25, in a vehicle on the 700 block of Morton Street, NW, suffering from a gunshot wound. He died from his injuries the next day.

During the Feb. 2 proceedings, Goodwin said he was dissatisfied with his communication with his defense attorney, Lee Smith, since he had not come to meet with him in person at the DC Jail.

Judge Danya Dayson said that COVID-19 restrictions have hindered visitation protocol, and she does not believe this was a counsel error.

Judge Dayson offered Goodwin a few options for how he could proceed with the hearing.

However, Smith requested a continuance to address the concerns Goodwin had with his legal services.

Judge Dayson set a status hearing for Feb. 10 to allow time to determine if new counsel should be appointed, or if a new preliminary hearing date should be scheduled.

Vanessa Sousa and Vallen Anderson wrote this article.

Homicides Not Ready for Trial, Judge Says

DC Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna said that two defendants charged with murder cannot be brought to trial yet in the aftermath of errors from the Department of Forensic Services.

Rondell McLeod and Joseph Brown had been charged with first-degree murder while armed in the deaths of Amari Jenkins, who was found dead on Aug. 15, 2015, on the 4900 block of East Capitol Street, SE and Antwan Baker, who was found dead on the 5300 block of Clay Terrace, NE, on Nov. 12, 2015.

The two had been indicted as co-defendants because the homicides were thought to be linked based on ballistic evidence. However, it was discovered that the cases were not linked. As such, the cases were severed.

The prosecution said there are significant forensic clues, and significant scientific issues that require litigation.

“It is premature to set this matter in trial, particularly in light of the fact that there are issues with forensic evidence,” Judge McKenna said.

Judge McKenna scheduled a hearing for March 2 so Judge Milton Lee could hear the defense’s motion to dismiss the indictment, which pertains to the forensic evidence, and to set a trial date.

Alicia McCoy is charged with obstruction of justice and perjury in connection with Baker’s homicide.

McCoy’s attorney asked the judge to release her client from the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP,) saying that McCoy has been compliant and has a possible job opportunity.

Judge Juliet McKenna amended the defendant’s release conditions to GPS monitoring only.

Adriana Montes wrote this article.

Murder Case Set for Preliminary Hearing

On Feb. 3, a DC Superior Court judge scheduled a hearing to determine if a homicide case has enough evidence to go to trial.

Dennis Chase, 28, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in the fatal shooting of 30-year-old Anthony Orr.

On the morning of Dec. 7, 2020, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers found Orr in the middle of the street on the 400 block of Xenia Street, SE with a gunshot wound to the head, according to court documents. He was pronounced dead at an area hospital.

Judge John Campbell scheduled the hearing for March 24.

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