Judge Denies Release of Murder Defendant Charged in 2018 Drive-By Shooting

On Jan. 12, a DC Superior Court judge heard arguments from defense counsel as well as the prosecution on the possible release of a murder defendant. However, the judge decided not to release the defendant.

Torey Stockton, 23, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, carrying a pistol without a license, tampering with physical evidence and obstruction of justice for allegedly killing 23-year-old Jasmine Light and injuring three additional victims on the 2000 block of 16th Street, SE on Jan. 17, 2018.

The alleged offense was a drive-by shooting, which began on the 1500 block of U Street, SE and ended on the 2000 block of U Street, SE.

During the hearing on Jan. 12, there was a continuation of a cross-examination from defense counsel Rachel McCoy of the prosecution’s witness, a detective with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). On Nov. 2, 2020, the detective said he received information from two people at the jail whom Stockton allegedly told details of the murder and his involvement.

In the resumed cross-examination on Jan. 12, McCoy asked the detective several questions regarding the two witnesses who allegedly spoke with Stockton. According to the detective, he was unable to corroborate that the witnesses spoke to Stockton at the jail.

After the cross-examination, McCoy argued that the prosecution has relied heavily on the two witnesses who allegedly spoke to Stockton, saying that there is no corroboration and that both witnesses had slight differences in their stories, which the detective could not recall.

Additionally, both witnesses have “intense cases” going on in Maryland, which she suggested could give them reason to work with the prosecution. “Nothing would indicate that this was information that they actually received from Mr. Stockton.”

McCoy also suggested that the prosecution’s main witness, who places Stockton at the scene of the crime, has had many mental health and drug abuse issues, saying, “this is the eyewitness that the government’s case hinges on.”

McCoy also said, the differences between the testimony from the other two witnesses who allegedly spoke with Stockton. She questioned whether the other witnesses had gotten their information from the news or court documents.

When arguing for Stockton’s release, McCoy cited that he has a job waiting for him, he has support from his family, he has a place he can live, he is not a flight risk and there is no real danger to the community.

“There’s been a great deal of time since he’s been indicted, and there’s not a great deal of evidence,” McCoy said.

But, the prosecution argued that Stockton is a danger to the community as he has picked up two additional felony cases since being at the jail, both of which involve alleged stabbings. She also said there are concerns about his family support as his grandmother allegedly lied to the police about his whereabouts at the time of the crime.

Judge Danya Dayson agreed with McCoy that there could be an issue with the two witnesses who allegedly spoke with Stockton as they may have motivation to curry favor with the prosecution, given their pending cases. However, she disagreed with defense counsel surrounding the competency of the witness who places Stockton at the scene of the crime.

Judge Dayson decided not to release the defendant, citing the nature of the offense, the probable cause finding and the fact that he has picked up two additional felony cases while held at the jail.

Stockton’s next hearing is scheduled for March 4.

Judge Finds Substantial Probability in Murder Case

A DC Superior Court judge ruled that a case involving a fatal shooting in Columbia Heights has enough evidence to go to trial.

Randle Price, 28, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the death of 33-year-old John Pollard on Sept. 30, 2020.

Judge Yvonne Williams ruled that there was substantial probability that Price was involved in the homicide. She also decided to continue holding the defendant at DC Jail.

Around 1:14 a.m. on the day of the murder, gunfire detection technology picked up multiple shots on the 3100 block of 16th Street, NW. Upon responding, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers found Pollard on the 3200 block of Hiatt Place, NW, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

During the Jan. 12 preliminary hearing, an MPD detective testified that, while searching Pollard’s phone, he found a text conversation that appeared to be about a drug deal. An investigation found that number to be associated with the defendant.

However, during cross-examination, the detective said the number was not found to be registered to Price. Rather, the phone number was connected to Price via a witness.

Detectives found a satchel with a marijuana grinder, rolling paper and four small packages containing a green weed like substance at the crime scene, according to court documents. They also found tennis shoes and a total of seven 9mm shell casings.

Video footage presented in court depicts a man with a satchel, who the detective believes to be Price, and another person identified to be the shooter.

After the shooting, the suspect’s vehicle travels away from the scene.

According to court documents, an off-duty police officer provided a lookout for a small, dark colored vehicle fleeing the scene where the gunfire technology picked up the gunshots. The officer said they saw a small, dark colored SUV or crossover style vehicle traveling westbound at a high rate of speed on the 1400 block of Park Road towards 16th Street, NW. The officer tried to follow the vehicle, but lost it on the 4400 block of 16th Street, NW.

A 911 caller described the vehicle as a black BMW X5 with a license plate beginning with “UGY5.” An investigation found that a black 2006 BMW X5 with Virginia tags was consistent with the caller’s description.

Police went on to find and seize the vehicle.

During cross examination, the detective said that police don’t have any indication that the items found in the vehicle belong to Price.

Price’s next hearing is scheduled for June 7.

Crime Alerts: January 11-12

Between 3:00 p.m. on Jan. 11 and 9:00 a.m. on Jan. 12, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out one crime alert.

The alert was sent at 4:15 p.m. for a confirmed stabbing on the 700 block of H Street, NW.

Police are looking for a Black male in his 20s. The suspect is believed to be 5’5″ in height with a bushy hair style, wearing a brown jacket. He was last seen heading east on foot.

Judge Hears 8 Domestic Violence Cases During Initial Hearings

On Jan. 11, DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe heard 35 cases, releasing 30 defendants and holding five at DC Jail during initial hearings.

Of all of the cases heard, eight were domestic-violence related, and the judge released all but one of the defendants.

Judge Pipe held an adult male defendant charged with simple assault. Defense counsel requested the defendant’s release given his compliance with his probation requirements.

Judge Pipe decided to hold the defendant because he reportedly violated the stay-away order from his probation case in which he pleaded guilty to simple assault, attempted threats to do bodily harm and attempted possession of a prohibited weapon. His new case also involves the same complaining witness as his probation case.

Additionally, he is alleged to have assaulted the complaining witness as well as two other victims who attempted to intervene.

The defendant will be held at DC Jail pending his next hearing, which is scheduled for Jan. 26.

The remaining seven domestic violence defendants are charged with either simple assault or violation of a Civil Protection Order (CPO).

Four of the defendants were given stay-away orders from either the alleged victim or the location of the incident, two defendants were given orders not to harass, assault, threaten or stalk (HATS) the alleged victims and one defendant was given both a stay-away and a no HATS order.

Defendant Charged in 2010 Homicide Set for Preliminary Hearing

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a hearing to determine if the evidence against a man charged last month in connection with a 2010 homicide is strong enough to bring his case to trial.

Isaac Moye, 43, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of 24-year-old Unique Harris.

On Oct. 10, 2010, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) was notified of a woman missing from her home on the 2400 block of Hartford Street, SE. A missing persons report was filed. In October 2018, the court granted a petition for Presumption of Death of a Missing Person, and a death certificate was issued.

Moye, 43, was arrested on Dec. 19, 2020.

Judge Neal Kravitz scheduled the preliminary hearing for Feb. 18.

Doctors Testify About Murder Defendant’s Competency Over Four Years After Case First Opened

A psychiatrist and psychologist hired by the Public Defender Service (PDS) testified about a murder defendant’s likelihood of becoming competent to stand trial during a Jan. 8 hearing that comes more than four years after the case first opened.

Brandon Byrd is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing his father, 44-year-old Otis Byrd, in a parking garage by the Children’s Medical Center on Aug. 10, 2016.

Byrd, 25, was charged the next day. The following month, he took a forensic exam and was found incompetent to stand trial. He was sent to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution, for competency restoration treatment. He has been there ever since.

During a hearing in October 2020, DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan ruled that the defendant was still incompetent following a report from the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH.)

However, the report said Byrd was likely to regain competency in the foreseeable future, something with which defense attorney Craig Hickein disagreed.

Judge Ryan gave Hicken four weeks to have another study done by their own psychologist. He also granted the prosecution’s request to have another study done by the DBH.

The defendant was found incompetent again on Dec. 18. More competency restoration treatment was ordered, and the most recent report the DBH was received on Jan. 7.

During the Jan. 8 hearing, the psychiatrist testified that he has asked Byrd competency questions, but did not conduct a full competency evaluation. He said the defendant seemed willing to speak with him and answered questions.

According to his testimony, Byrd knows he is charged with murder and that 30 years is a potential consequence of being convicted of that charge. Also, the psychologist confirmed in her testimony that Byrd discussed defense strategy and identified his lawyer.

The psychiatrist said Byrd’s symptoms have improved, but are still present and impairing him from being able to participate in his defense.

He also voiced ethical concerns with pursuing medical avenues that come with certain risks when the patient is being treated against their will.

Due to time constraints, the hearing was continued to Feb. 10.

Andrea Keckley wrote this article.

Murder Case Set for Trial Readiness Hearing

On Jan. 11, a DC Superior Court judge set a murder case for a trial readiness hearing.

Co-defendants Stephon Evans and Kewon Hunter are both indicted on charges of first-degree murder while armed, conspiracy while armed, posession of a firearm during a crime of violence and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business.

The two are charged in connection with the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Dion DeMarco Boyd on July 30, 2018, on the 1400 block of Maryland Avenue, NE.

Hunter’s defense attorney, Howard McEachern, said that plea discussions for his client broke down and options for a resolution without trial have been exhausted.

Evan’s defense attorney, Joseph Caleb, told Judge Juliet McKenna that it’s hard to say how he and his client can be expected to proceed in this case.

Parties agreed to set the case for a trial readiness hearing, which is scheduled for April 7.

Crime Alerts: January 10-11

Between 5:00 p.m. on Jan. 10 and 9:00 a.m. on Jan. 11, the Metropolitan Police Department sent out only one crime alert.

The alert was sent at 5:42 p.m. on Jan. 10 for a shooting on the 400 block of Marietta Place, NW. Police do not have a description of the suspect(s) thought to be involved in the offense.

Document: 17 Year-Old Killed in Northeast, DC

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating a homicide that happened on the evening of Jan. 9.

At around 5:28 p.m. that day, officers responded to the Unit block of Florida Avenue, NE for the report of a shooting, according to a press release.

There, they found 17 year-old Omari Dunn inside an establishment suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

Judge Hears 6 Domestic Violence Cases During Initial Hearings

On Jan. 8, DC Superior Court Judge Renee Raymond heard 19 cases during initial hearings, 6 of which were domestic violence cases.

Judge Raymond held a total of seven defendants during the hearings, and four of those defendants were charged with domestic violence offenses.

The first defendant held is charged with simple assault and destruction of property. The prosecution requested a hold, citing one of the alleged victims is a 4-year-old child.

It’s “incredibly disturbing is that he’s on supervised release for assault with significant bodily injury and threats to kidnap or injure a person,” Judge Raymond said.

The defendant will be held at DC Jail until his next hearing, which is scheduled for Jan. 26.

Another adult male defendant is also held on a simple assault charge.

Judge Raymond decided to hold the defendant since the alleged victim in this new case is the same alleged victim in another pending domestic violence case.

After yelling profanities at the judge’s decision, the defendant went off camera and got into a physical altercation with a correctional officer at the Central Cell Block (CCB).

Judge Raymond said she was supposed to serve the defendant with a Civil Protection Order (CPO), but that he would just have to get the paperwork in lieu of a verbal order).

The third defendant held is charged with contempt, simple assault and assault on a police officer. The defendant allegedly violated a CPO as well as a stay-away order, which was given to him in another pending domestic violence case that also involves the same alleged victim.

The final defendant that Judge Raymond decided to hold is charged with simple assault.

He was also brought in on another, non-domestic violence case in which he is charged with contempt and unlawful entry onto private property. Judge Raymond held the defendant given his increasing number of pending cases as well as the alleged conduct in his new domestic violence case.

The final two domestic violence defendants are charged with a bail violation and simple assault.

The defendant charged with violating bail was ordered to return to court and follow her existing pretrial release conditions. The second defendant was ordered to stay away from the victim as well as get a GPS monitoring device installed.

Judge Releases Domestic Violence Defendants During Initial Hearings

On Jan. 7, DC Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna heard 50 new cases, releasing all but four during initial hearings.

Of all 50 cases presented before the judge, only two defendants were charged in domestic violence cases.

The first domestic violence defendant is charged with simple assault and destruction of property.

The defendant, an adult male, was released by Judge McKenna with an order to stay-away from the alleged victim. He was also served with a Civil Protection Order (CPO) that also requires him to stay away from the same person involved in his new case.

The second defendant is also charged with simple assault and destruction of property. The defendant, also an adult male, was released with a stay-away order from the alleged victim.

Thirty of the 50 defendants are charged with misdemeanors in reference to the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

The majority of the defendants, 25, are charged with unlawful entry of public property for being within the Capitol grounds illegally as well as for disobeying Mayor Muriel Bowser’s curfew, which went into effect at 6 p.m. that evening.

The other five defendants are charged with carrying a pistol without a license, violation of an emergency order curfew, possession of a prohibited weapon and assault on a police officer. Almost all of the defendants are not DC residents and 27 were ordered to stay out of DC entirely until their cases are resolved.

The final 18 defendants, charged with various misdemeanors and felonies, were all released with various release conditions except for four, who will be held at DC Jail pending their next hearing.

Document: U.S. Capitol Police Officer Dies of Injuries Sustained During Capitol Storming

On the evening of Jan. 7, United States Capitol Police (USCP) Officer Brian D. Sicknick succumbed to injuries he sustained while responding to the storming of the U.S. Capitol the previous day.

Officer Sicknick was injured while physically engaging with protesters, according to a press release. He collapsed upon returning to his division, and was taken to a local hospital. He died at around 9:30 p.m.

He had been with the USPC since July of 2008. The department is asking the public that the privacy of his family, as well as other USCP officers and their families, be respected.

“The entire USCP Department expresses its deepest sympathies to Officer Sicknick’s family and friends on their loss, and mourns the loss of a friend and colleague,” the press release states.

The Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) homicide branch as well as the USCP and their federal partners will be investigating his death.

Andrea Keckley wrote this article.

Crime Alerts: January 7-8

Between 7 p.m. on Jan. 7 and 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 8, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out three crime alerts.

The most recent alert was sent at 1:24 a.m. for a shooting investigation on the 2300 block of Good Hope Road. Police are looking for a Black male, 5’10” in height, with a slim build weighing 160 pounds, wearing a black jacket, black mask and black pants. The suspect was last seen on the 1900 block of Good Hope Road.

Another shooting alert was sent at 11:54 p.m. on the 1300 block of Harvard Street, NW. Police do not have a description of the suspect(s) involved.

The final alert was sent at 9:36 p.m. for a shooting investigation on the 1300 block of Columbia Road, NW.

Defense in Murder Case Asks for Earliest Possible Hearing Date

A defense attorney asked for the earliest possible preliminary hearing date for a murder case due to apparent doubts over if it will be found to have enough evidence to go to trial.

Judge Gerald Fisher agreed to the request made by Ronald Resetartis, who said he does not normally make such requests. Judge Fisher scheduled the hearing for Feb. 19.

The defendant, 17-year-old Deon Walters, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the Oct. 1 shooting of 42-year-old Arthur Daniels IV on the 6200 block of 8th Street, NW.

Walters was charged as an adult. He is currently being held in the custody of the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS,) where he has been since his presentment hearing on Dec. 19, 2020.

Three Fatal Medical Emergencies and One Shooting on Capitol Grounds

The three people who died from medical emergencies during the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 experienced those emergencies while on the grounds of the Capitol, Acting Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Robert J. Contee III said during a Jan. 7 situational update.

A woman was also fatally shot inside of the Capitol. The Washington Post identified her as 35-year-old Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt.

Chief Contee said on Wednesday that she was shot by a U.S. Capitol Police Officer.

Multiple people forced their way into the Capitol building and tried to gain access to the house room, which was still in session, he said. They were confronted by plain clothed U.S. Capitol Police officers, one of whom discharged their service weapon, striking the woman. She was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead.

“I’m upset that my police officers were put in harm’s way when they were just doing their jobs,” Mayor Muriel Bowser said during the next day’s situational update. “And I’m even upset that somebody died in that building who was breaking into the building. We should all be upset about all of those things.”

During the update, Chief Contee also took time to update the public on arrests made by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) related to the unrest.

Sixty-eight people were arrested during the evening of Jan. 6 into the early morning hours of Jan. 7, he said. Forty-one of those arrests happened on Capitol grounds and, to his knowledge, only one of those arrested was from DC. Sixty of those arrested were adult males and eight were adult females.

Andrea Keckley wrote this article

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