Stabbing Defendant Rejects Plea Offer, Requests Trial

A defendant in a stabbing case rejected a plea offer, requesting a trial Feb. 25 before DC Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur.

Bianca Young, 36, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for her alleged involvement in a stabbing that occurred on the 1600 block of K Street, NE on Dec. 10, 2025.

Prosecutors extended a plea offer that would require Young to plead guilty to attempted assault with a dangerous weapon, which, according to the DC Sentencing Commission’s voluntary sentencing guidelines, carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison.

Prosecutors stated the sentencing guidelines would be capped at the bottom third in the offer.

The trial is set to begin on June 15.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on March 12 for a felony status conference.

Shooting Defendant’s Probation Terminated Unsuccessfully

A shooting defendant’s probation was terminated unsuccessfully due to his failure to pay the Victims of Violent Crimes fund in a probation show cause hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur on Feb. 25.

Michael Newman, 29, was sentenced on July 16, 2025 for attempted unlawful discharge of a firearm. This charge stems from Newman’s involvement in a shooting that occurred on the 100 block of Galveston Place, SW on April 14, 2025.

A representative from the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA), who was present via Webex, stated that Newman was compliant overall in his probation, but failed to pay the court ordered sum of $50 to the Victims of Violent Crimes fund.

The CSOSA representative suggested that Newman’s probation be terminated unsuccessfully, meaning while he was compliant, he did not satisfy all the terms of the probation.

The prosecutor agreed with the representative’s suggestion, but requested that Newman be required to pay the fee so the probation could be terminated successfully.

Newman’s defense attorney, Jamison Koehler, also requested that the probation be terminated.

Newman is still required to pay the sum, or he may face additional hearings.

No further dates were set as of Feb. 26.

Probable Cause found in DC Jail Stabbing

DC Superior Court Judge Dorsey Jones found probable cause Feb. 20 for a defendant accused of a DC Jail stabbing.

Christian Ware, 19, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a stabbing at the DC Jail on the 1900 block of D Street, SE, on Oct. 21, 2025. One victim sustained five stab wounds, two to the back, two to the right arm, and one to the abdomen.

The prosecution called the detective, who wrote the arrest warrant, to testify about his knowledge of the incident. The detective adopted the arrest warrant as evidence in this case.

The arrest warrant stated that two suspects, one who was identified as Ware, entered into a cell, a few seconds later they left. Following the attack, an individual identified as Ware was seen holding a metal object in his hand, which the suspect proceeded to throw over the railing. After throwing the object, another inmate at the jail was seen picking it up and sliding it into a cell nearby. Later, in that cell, a shank was recovered.

In their argument for probable cause, the prosecution said there was a shank recovered in a cell directly below where Ware was allegedly seen throwing it, and there is a video of him rushing into the cell where the stabbing happened.

The prosecution requested that Ware be held for his charges.

Varsha Govindaraju, Ware’s attorney, argued against probable cause because in the arrest warrant it stated that the identification process for Ware was done by his mugshot, rather than the video of the incident. She argued the victim did not identify Ware as a suspect, and Ware was not the one who attacked the victim.

Govindaraju requested his release, even though he is held on other matters, including a homicide and multiple carjackings.

However, the prosecution objected to the release because Ware has a serious criminal record. He is a significant danger to the community, the prosecutor said.

Judge Jones ultimately granted the hold due to the seriousness of the case.

Parties are set to meet again on March 4.

Defendant Accepts Plea Deal in Row House Murder

A defendant accepted a plea deal for a fatal shooting in front of a row house before DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson on Feb. 27.

Damion Brown, 26, was originally charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction greater than a year, and possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device. The charges stemmed from his involvement in the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Jordan Coates on Sept. 9, 2023 on the 1200 block of Duncan Place, NE. Coates died from two gunshot wounds to her torso.

All charges faced an aggravating factor of being committed while Brown was on release for another offense.

At the hearing, Brown accepted a plea deal from prosecutors that required him to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed and robbery while armed in an unrelated case. Prosecutors agreed to dismiss the remaining and greater charges against Brown in both cases.

As part of the agreement, Brown will serve between 15-to-19 total years of imprisonment for both cases, subject to Judge Dayson’s approval at sentencing.

The prosecution said if the case had proceeded to trial, they would have proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Brown shot and killed Coates in front of a row house where he lived with his aunt. Coates was there to visit her ex-girlfriend, a relative of Brown’s, when Brown asked her to leave.

Brown shot Coates with a firearm with an extended magazine. She fell backwards over a short wall, landing in the mulch of an adjacent home. There was no legal justification and Brown acted knowingly, intentionally, and without mistake or accident, concluded prosecutors.

In the robbery case, prosecutors said they would have proven that on Sept. 8, 2022 on the 2700 block of Langston Place, SE, Brown and two other suspects forced the victim to the ground with a handgun and took her car keys, phone, and debit card. Then, the suspects demanded the victim withdraw money from her bank account at an ATM.

Judge Dayson determined there was a factual basis and that Brown knowingly and voluntarily accepted the deal.

Brown is scheduled for sentencing in both cases on June 26.

Judge Releases Homicide Defendant Despite Pushback From Victim’s Family

DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan released a murder defendant following his preliminary hearing despite pushback from the victim’s family on Feb. 25 and 26.

Martell West, 23, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Treyvon Wilson on the 2300 block of Good Hope Road, SE, on Nov. 19, 2023.

Prior to the hearing, prosecutors offered West a deal under which he would plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed. In exchange, the prosecution would drop the arrest charge and not seek an indictment with additional charges related to the incident. Additionally, West would be sentenced to seven-and-a-half-to-11 years in prison. West rejected the plea offer and proceeded with his preliminary hearing.

The prosecution called a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective who responded to the scene on the night of the incident and investigated surveillance recordings from nearby residential buildings.

Prosecutors played a portion of the footage recovered by the detective, which showed a person identified as the suspect vehicle entering a parking lot. After the vehicle stopped, surveillance video showed the driver exiting the vehicle as a second individual, who the detective identified as Wilson, left a house and approached the suspect.

The detective explained that the victim and suspect met for a pre-negotiated marijuana exchange.

According to the detective’s analysis of the video, the victim used his flashlight to look into a bag being held by the suspect, then grabbed the bag and attempted to flee the scene. The suspect then pulled a gun on the victim and fired shots before he chased the victim out of the camera’s point of view.

Moments later, surveillance footage showed the suspect reappearing, sprinting towards his car, entering the vehicle, and driving away.

The prosecution then showed the detective photos from the scene, which the detective identified as shell casings from a 9mm handgun, a pile of spilled marijuana on the ground near a parked car, and gunfire damage to an AC unit.

On cross-examination, West’s attorney, Shawn Sukumar, questioned the detective about filing the arrest warrant. The detective said that he filed two arrest warrants, but the first was rejected by the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) in a letter saying they wouldn’t pursue the case.

In the first arrest warrant, the detective wrote that the surveillance footage showed the victim holding something “consistent with a firearm” in his right hand. According to the detective, he filed a second arrest warrant more than a year-and-a-half after the first, adding additional information about an eyewitness and an anonymous tip received by MPD. The detective said he also altered the wording discussing the alleged firearm in the victim’s hand in the second warrant, making the weapon’s presence on the scene sound less conclusive.

Sukumar pressed the detective further about the eyewitness whose testimony was added to the second warrant. The detective stated that this witness had an intimate friendship with Wilson and was granted immunity for cooperation with MPD.

Sukumar pointed out that according to the eyewitness, he was inside the house from which the victim originally exited during the shooting. However, Sukumar said another witness claimed that the eyewitness exited the house with the victim and was outside the house during the shooting, only re-entering the home after the shooting, putting his testimony in conflict with other pieces of evidence.

Additionally, Sukumar asked the detective about the anonymous tip he received a week before sending the second warrant to USAO, in which an individual claimed he saw West at a party. According to court documents, the tip allegedly said West bragged about the murder. The detective admitted that he had no previous contact with the individual who left the tip, never followed up with them, identified them, or verified the validity of their information.

Prosecutors argued for probable cause, claiming the video evidence did not support the notion that the victim was holding a gun during the incident, negating any arguments for self-defense.

Additionally, the prosecution claimed that West’s reaction to Wilson taking the marijuana, as shown by surveillance footage, did not resemble the reaction of someone at gunpoint.

The prosecutors said if probable cause was found, they expect an indictment on a first-degree felony murder charge against West.

Sukumar replayed the surveillance video, pausing it at the point Wilson allegedly grabs the bag of marijuana from West, where, according to Sukumar, the presence of a gun appears to be “absolutely clear as day” in the victim’s hand. Sukumar argued that as West and Wilson ran off camera, the gun Wilson was allegedly holding may have still posed a danger to West’s life, necessitating the use of deadly force for self-defense.

Furthermore, Sukumar said that the victim was allegedly known to previously rob people at gunpoint.

The prosecution asserted that no gun belonging to the victim was found on the scene.

Judge Ryan found probable cause due to the strength of the prosecution’s arguments and because West didn’t appear visibly threatened by Wilson in the surveillance footage, regardless of whether or not he had a gun.

West’s other attorney, Michelle Stevens, asked for West to be released on 24 hour home confinement at his mother’s and stepfather’s residence in Maryland. Stevens claimed that West demonstrated exceptional behavior in the community and had a substantial employment history, working at Dunkin’ Donuts, Amazon, and volunteering with the homeless.

Stevens said that West would fully cooperate with any release conditions the court enforced, describing the conditions as a “tight leash.”

Prosecutors argued that due to the severity of the crimes and surveillance video evidence, West should remain in the DC Jail until his next hearing.

During arguments, Judge Ryan allowed the Wilson’s mother and father to express their strong support for detention. The victim’s father described release conditions as a “slap on the wrist,” and asked the judge to “keep him locked up.” Similarly, the victim’s mother pleaded with the judge to keep West detained, not wanting what happened to their son to happen to another family.

Nonetheless, Judge Ryan released West on 24 hour home confinement and ordered a stay-away from any of the victim’s family members, as well as a witness described as the defendant’s ex-girlfriend.

While Judge Ryan claimed it would be far easier to simply keep West locked up, he believed that he met the conditions of release due to his clean record and the fact that he is living with a supportive family.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on March 13.

Carjacking Defendant Accepts Plea Deal

A carjacking defendant accepted a plea deal before DC Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean on Feb. 26.

Ira Shaw-Bates, 23, was originally charged with armed carjacking and robbery while armed for his involvement in a carjacking on the 300 block of N Street, NE on June 6, 2025.

According to court documents, Shaw-Bates and his co-defendant, 40-year-old Derrick Coltrane, approached the victim outside of their car and demanded the victim hand over their phone. Shaw-Bates and Coltrane seized the victim’s phone, wallet, and car before driving away in the victim’s car.

Coltrane pleaded guilty to unarmed carjacking and possession of a prohibited weapon on Oct. 31, 2025. His sentencing is scheduled for April 17.

During the hearing, Shaw-Bates accepted a plea deal from the prosecution requiring him to plead guilty to unarmed carjacking. In exchange, the prosecution agreed to dismiss any greater and remaining charges in this case in addition to an unrelated robbery case.

In the plea deal, the parties agreed upon a sentence of six-to-eight years in prison, subject to Judge McLean’s approval.

After ensuring Shaw-Bates understood his rights and knowingly pleaded guilty, Judge McLean accepted his decision.

Had the case gone to trial, the prosecution said they would have proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Shaw-Bates assisted in carjacking the victim and was in the passenger seat of the stolen car when Coltrane drove away with the stolen property.

The parties are slated to reconvene on June 5 for Shaw-Bates’ sentencing.

Jail Stabbing Defendant Refuses to Appear in Court for Second Time

A DC Jail stabbing defendant refused to appear in court for his preliminary hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Dorsey Jones on Feb. 26.

DeVaughn Gibbs, 18, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in the stabbing of another inmate in the shower area at the DC Jail. The incident occurred on Sept. 25, 2025 on the 1900 block of D Street, SE. The victim sustained two stab wounds to his back.

Kwesi Pyne, 20, Marlan Smith Jr., 18, Antoine Jones, 23, and Jaliel Holland, 25, are also charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for their alleged involvement in the same incident.

Gibbs was the only defendant scheduled for a hearing. Before the case was called, US Marshals informed the parties that Gibbs refused to be transferred from DC Jail to the courthouse. According to court records, this is the second time in less than two weeks that Gibbs has refused to appear.

Given his refusal, Judge Jones was “not really willing” to schedule his next preliminary hearing for an “earlier date.” Michael Bruckheim, Gibbs’ attorney, is unavailable for the preliminary hearing scheduled for Pyne, Smith, Jones, and Holland on March 11.

The parties for Gibbs are slated to reconvene for another preliminary hearing on March 19.

Defendant Waives Preliminary Hearing For Non-Fatal Shooting in Domestic Violence Case

A non-fatal shooting defendant waived his right to a preliminary hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Renee Raymond on Feb. 25.

Warren Wills, 46, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in the shooting of a woman he was romantically involved with on the 2000 block of E Street, NE on Jan. 14.

At the hearing, Wills’s attorney, Gregory Copeland, informed parties that his client signed a waiver to a preliminary hearing of the evidence. Judge Raymond ensured that Wills’s waiver was knowing and voluntary.

According to court documents, Wills had been in a romantic relationship with the victim for two-and-a half-years. He allegedly became upset that the victim had left the rear door of their home open, believing she had someone in the house. When the victim tried to leave the residence, Wills allegedly shot at the car door, striking the victim’s leg. However, the victim was not driving the car.

Copeland then requested Willis be released under home confinement with substance abuse treatment. Copeland explained that, during the incident, Willis was intoxicated.

Copeland said Wills’ mother would provide him with a place to stay, he has a stable job as a mechanic, and his father recently passed away, so the defendant wants to be able to support his family.

The prosecution objected, asking for a continued hold, stating the seriousness of the offense. The prosecutor emphasized the incident involved a romantic partner and a gun, which was fired at a moving vehicle.

Judge Raymond agreed with prosecution, maintaining Wills’s pretrial hold.

Additionally, Judge Raymond extended the stay-away order from the victim to include the driver of the vehicle that the victim fled in at the time of the offense.

Parties are slated to reconvene on April 8.

Witness Agrees Day of a Murder Was ‘Nothing Out of the Ordinary,’

A woman who had an affair with a homicide defendant agreed with his attorney that the suspect’s behavior was not abnormal the day of the incident during a trial before DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park on Feb. 26.

Christopher Tyler, 48, is charged with first-degree felony murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, first-degree burglary while armed, and attempt to commit robbery while armed for his alleged involvement in the July 7, 2023 shooting death of Nolan Edwards, 34, on the 4100 block of Ames St, NE. Edwards sustained four gunshot wounds.

The prosecution alleged that Tyler wanted to get “money, marijuana, or anything else” from Edwards, who lived on the same floor.

A witness called by the prosecution, who was having an extramarital affair with Tyler at the time of the crime, testified that she was approached by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) lead detective in the case a couple of weeks following the incident.

The woman claimed that the detective confiscated her truck and two phones, an iPhone and an android. According to the woman, Tyler gave her the android to use to communicate with him. When she came to the station to retrieve her phones, the woman said an MPD detective “ambushed” her with questions about the incident.

At the time, the woman said she had no idea about the incident and refused to give Tyler’s name to the detectives, instead calling him “Henry.”

When questioned by the prosecution about her decision to protect Tyler’s identity, the woman said she was concerned about keeping their relationship a secret from her husband, not the incident itself.

The day of the incident, the woman said she and Tyler had spent the day together working, smoking, and being intimate. Then, the woman said they drove to Tyler’s cousin’s residence, where Tyler was staying, and in the same apartment complex as the incident location.

The woman confirmed that she and Tyler would “hang out” three-to-four times per week leading up to the murder, during which they would drink alcohol and consume Molly, a powerful mood altering drug, and marijuana. They often spent time at the woman’s cousin’s house, but sometimes went to where Tyler was staying as well, said the woman.

Additionally, the woman stated that she and Tyler occasionally spent time together in her vehicle, either to hang out or to purchase drugs from a location near her cousin’s apartment.

In cross-examination by Gardner, the woman claimed their visit the day of the incident where Tyler was staying was not abnormal. She confirmed they would often stop by so Tyler could retrieve belongings from his cousin’s residence.

When questioned by Gardner, she affirmed that she waited outside the residence for Tyler for less than two minutes. When he returned, she said they drove to a liquor store.

Gardner asked about Tyler’s demeanor when he exited the residence and when he went into the liquor store. The woman agreed with Gardner’s suggestions that “nothing [was] out of the ordinary.” In addition, Gardner confirmed with the woman that there was no blood on Tyler’s clothing and he was not in a rush when he returned from his cousin’s apartment.

Gardner also asked about the woman’s conversations with MPD in which she said she could not clearly recall the day. Due to time constraints, Gardner will resume questioning the woman at the next hearing.

An DNA analyst testified that she analyzed results from crime scene items sent from the Department of Forensic Services (DFS) she said a blood sample from a cardboard box found at the scene very likely belonged to the victim, but no DNA evidence was recovered from six cartridge casings.

Other than a cheek swab taken from Tyler as a reference sample, none of the DNA evidence was connected to him.

Gardner questioned the expert on why DFS only requested testing for certain crime scene evidence and the expert confirmed that they only tested the items received from DFS.

Another witness who works for MPD was called by the prosecution to identify surveillance footage from the day of the incident. Court documents identify Tyler as the individual in some of the videos, and some footage shows the car with his lover driving in the area.

Parties are slated to reconvene on March 2.

Weed ‘Entrepreneur’ Left Dying In Apartment, Prosecutors Claim

Prosecutors told a jury Feb. 24 that they suspected a homicide victim was targeted because he grew marijuana inside his apartment.

Christopher Tyler, 48, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, first-degree burglary while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, attempt to commit robbery while armed, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction greater than a year. These charges stem from his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 34-year-old Nolan Edwards on the 4100 block of Ames Street, NE, on July 7, 2023. Edwards sustained four gunshot wounds.

The prosecutor argued that Tyler left Edwards, who was “bleeding” and “dying,” on the wood floor of his apartment and fled the scene. He alleged Tyler’s girlfriend owned a Ford Explorer that was seen on surveillance footage in the general location of the shooting around the time of the incident. The car has identifiable damage, says the prosecutor.

He said Tyler smoked marijuana and “boot,” a combination of marijuana and Molly–another mood altering drug–with his girlfriend on the day of the murder. The drug’s can impair clear thinking.

The two were “hanging out” at an apartment that belonged to Tyler’s girlfriend’s cousin in Southeast DC, the prosecutor said. They allegedly left that apartment and headed to Tyler’s cousin’s apartment on Ames Street, NE.

The prosecution alleged that Tyler wanted to get “money, marijuana, or anything else” from Edwards, who lived on the same floor.

The prosecution said that Edwards was an “entrepreneur” who cultivated marijuana and sold it to his friends.

Tyler knew about the marijuana because Edwards’ brother had “conversations” with him about it, the prosecution said.

However, the defense had a different story. Elizabeth Paige White, one of Tyler’s defense attorneys, said that before heading to Edward’s apartment complex, Tyler and his girlfriend were cleaning houses. White said Tyler’s girlfriend owned a residential cleaning business.

The two regularly spent time “hanging out” together at her cousin’s apartment.

White said anyone could have shot Edwards because he led a dangerous lifestyle and was a target. He had “a firearm in almost every room of his apartment, ” she said.

According to the defense, it was common knowledge that the door to the building and Edwards’ apartment were unlocked. Edwards had large amounts of drugs and his clients knew they could come and go as they pleased, White said. She said the police did not investigate a “single person” among Edwards drug customers.

However, a witness, who knew Edwards for seven years, confirmed that he owned a few registered guns, and considered himself a collector.

The witness also mentioned that Edwards was always discreet with his clients. There was never any money exchanged and Nolan would give weed as gifts. “If he was a pit bull and you pulled his tail, he would lick you, not be violent,” the witness said.

The police investigation was not conducted properly, and there is no forensic evidence tying him to the murder, White claimed.

White said the description of the shooter, given by two witnesses, did not match Tyler. According to a witness, the shooter sported a haircut. White emphasized that Tyler was bald at the time of the incident. Additionally, the suspect was identified as wearing a black shirt, but Tyler was not seen wearing a black shirt in the surveillance footage.
Parties are slated to reconvene on Feb. 25 before DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park.

Fatal Stabbing Defendant Takes a Plea

A fatal stabbing defendant accepted a plea deal before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt in a hearing on Feb. 24.

Kevin Johnson, 40, was originally charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, felony murder while armed, and robbery while armed for his involvement in the fatal stabbing of Antonio Woody, 44, on the 1700 block of Lincoln Road, NE, on Oct. 6, 2024.

At the hearing, Johnson entered into a plea agreement from prosecutors that required him to plead guilty to second-degree murder while armed. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to dismiss any greater and remaining charges against Johnson.

As part of the plea agreement, parties, including Johnson’s attorney, Elizabeth Weller, settled on a range of 18-to-23 years of imprisonment, subject to Judge Brandt’s approval at sentencing.

Prosecutors said if the case had proceeded to trial they would have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that around midnight that night, Johnson and Woody were captured on video footage with a few other individuals on the sidewalk of the address where they both lived. Johnson approached Woody, who was paraplegic and wheelchair bound, struck him, and knocked him out of his wheelchair.

The prosecutors continued that once on the ground, Woody attempted to crawl away from Johnson, when Johnson struck him again four more times, causing stab wounds to the right arm, lip, mouth, left hand, and left lower back. Woody was transported to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Parties are set to meet for sentencing on June 12.

‘You Can’t Bring a Gun to a Mace Fight,’ Prosecutor Says in Shooting Trial

Prosecutors asserted that a shooting defendant did not act in self-defense during closing arguments in a trial before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on Feb. 25.

Gerald Day, 34, a Special Police Officer, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence or dangerous offense, carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, and threatening to kidnap or injure a person for allegedly pointing a gun at a woman after a fight on Oct. 29, 2023, at the intersection of O Street and Carrollsburg Place, SW.

Day’s co-defendant, Paul Poston, 32, was sentenced on June 26, 2024, to two years of imprisonment, with all but 10 months suspended, for shooting at the same victim’s car after the altercation.

During closing statements, the prosecution summarized witness testimony and a video of the incident. They argued the evidence proved Day’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and that he did not act in self-defense or in the defense of others. The prosecution stated that even if the victim threatened Day, he escalated the situation.

You, “can’t bring a gun to a mace fight,” prosecutors said and they asked the jury to return a guilty verdict on all charges.

IDay’s attorney, Stevin Polin, focused on the credibility of the witnesses and the reasoning for Day’s pulling out his weapon. Polin described the situation as a “girl fight” and the victim as an “out of control woman” who “was looking for a fight” and made Day feel as if his or others’ lives were in danger. According to Polin, the victim “has to get out and start something because that’s her nature.”

Polin asserted that Day’s “actions were reasonable” because he pulled his gun as a de-escalation tactic that he was taught in his role as a Special Police Officer (SPO) for Howard University. A SPO is authorized by the mayor to exercise police powers at a certain location.

In their rebuttal, the prosecution emphasized that the jury should consider how Day responded to the situation and claimed his response was unreasonable.

The parties will reconvene when the jury reaches a verdict.

‘Make Sure My Brother is Okay,’ Recalling Agonizing Screams in Fatal Shooting

A homicide victim’s brother told jurors he heard “agonizing” screams coming from an apartment moments after the gunfire, during a Feb. 25 trial before DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park.

Christopher Tyler, 48, is charged with first-degree felony murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, first-degree burglary while armed, and attempt to commit robbery while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Nolan Edwards, 34, on July 7, 2023 on the 4000 block of Ames Street, NE.

The prosecution called Edwards’ brother to the stand, who said he and Edwards lived as neighbors in the same apartment complex for a few years. When the shooting occured, Edwards’ brother said he was in an adjacent apartment and heard the shots.

He testified after business call ended around 3:48 p. m., two-to-three minutes later, he heard several loud bangs inside the building. Then, he described hearing his brother’s “agonizing” screams coming from the neighboring apartment.

After hearing the shots, Edwards’ brother said he heard footsteps but did not see anyone leave the building. When he went to check on Edwards, he said he found him sliding down the wall, visibly shot. “It was a lot,” he told the jurors. When asked what he did when the first responders arrived, Edwards’ brother remembered repeating, “Make sure my brother is okay.”

Edwards’ brother also testified that he and Edwards operated a marijuana business out of Edwards’ apartment, primarily selling to friends and family. They were frequently in and around the building, handling orders, inventory, and making sales, said Edwards’ brother.

According to Edwards’ brother, after a new tenant moved into the building, he noticed unusual activity in the complex, including tampering with the front door of the complex so it wouldn’t lock properly. Edwards’ brother added that he observed Tyler coming in and out of an apartment on the same floor as Edwards.

The brother also testified that he was unaware of any direct contact between Edwards and Tyler. He recalled only one personal interaction with Tyler, when Tyler asked him for five dollars, and he gave him the money.

During cross-examination, Tyler’s attorney, Kevann Gardner, asked about Edwards’ firearms. Gardner asked how Edwards stored his guns and whether they were kept in a safe or loaded. Edwards’ brother testified that Edwards owned multiple registered firearms but said he did not know specific details about how they were stored or whether Edwards was carrying a weapon at the time of his death.

Gardner also questioned Edwards’ brother about the day of the incident. Edwards’ brother described the day as “nothing out of the ordinary,” calling it a “standard shipping day.”

Jurors also heard from a former Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer, who testified he was the first to arrive at the scene. Prosecutors played the officer’s body-worn camera footage that showed the officer running into the apartment, finding Edwards lying on the kitchen floor in a pool of blood, and a firearm nearby.

Gardner asked if the officer could identify “bloody footprints” in the video and the officer said he could not confirm whether it was footprints but he identified the blood stain.

A Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) forensic scientist photographed the scene and collected evidence.

The jurors were shown photographs of cartridge casings recovered from inside the apartment. Four firearms were recovered from different areas of the unit, including a handgun inside a bag and others found on the bedroom dresser and the floor, said the forensic scientist.

The photographs depicted what appeared to be a marijuana operation inside the apartment. The forensic scientist said the apartment included tall, vertical “grow towers,” which grow marijuana indoors under artificial light. In addition to the towers, there were several jars and bags of marijuana present in the apartment.

Photographs showed one bullet’s path, which included bullet holes in a grow tower, a bedroom wall, and the bedroom door past the wall.

On cross-examination, the forensic scientist acknowledged that he did not swab cartridge cases from the scene, and only the blood found on a box in the kitchen. He also did not dust cartridge cases or firearms for DNA testing, but asserted that he collected all the evidence steriley.

He explained that detectives primarily direct DFS workers on what to collect, but the forensic scientist must deem their value “forensically valid.”

Trial is set to resume Feb. 26.

Judge Won’t Let Carjacking Defendant Reject Plea Before Reviewing Evidence

DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld told a carjacking defendant to review all of the evidence in his case before officially rejecting a plea offer on Feb. 24.

Dartanian Owens, 21, is charged with armed carjacking, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and three counts of armed robbery for his alleged involvement in an armed carjacking on the 4300 block of Polk Street, NE on April 6, 2025.

The additional charges stem from Owens’ alleged involvement in three armed robberies on April 7, 2025 on the 2700 block of Naylor Road, SE, the 2600 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE, and the 3800 block of South Capitol Street, SE.

The prosecution previously extended an offer to Owens that would require him to plead guilty to unarmed carjacking, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol without a license, and robbery. In exchange, prosecutors would not seek an indictment and dismiss any greater or remaining charges against Owens.

As part of the agreement, the prosecution stated that the sentences for carjacking and the possession charge would be served concurrently. The sentences for robbery and carrying a pistol would also be served concurrently.

Owens stated he wanted to reject the plea offer. Judge Hertzfeld explained that rejecting the plea offer would mean Owen would serve a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years if he were convicted during trial as opposed to seven years if he accepted the plea offer.

Before Owens made a final decision regarding the plea offer, his attorney, Albert Amissah, stated they hadn’t received all the evidence in the case even though the prosecution denied it. However, Judge Hertzfeld determined that Owens had not yet seen some of the video evidence in his case.

As a result, Judge Hertzfeld did not permit Owens to formally reject the plea offer, stating that, because he had not seen the video evidence, he was unable to make an informed decision.

Judge Hertzfeld scheduled a follow-up hearing so the defendant could review the video evidence before making a final decision.. The prosecution stated the plea offer would remain open until the next hearing.

Parties are slated to reconvene on March 10.

Carjacking, Robbery Defendant Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison

DC Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean sentenced a carjacking defendant to seven years in prison on Feb 23.

Michael Mitchell, 34, pleaded guilty on Dec. 10 to unarmed carjacking and possession of a prohibited weapon for his involvement in a carjacking that occurred on the 3000 block of 4th Street, SE, on April 29, 2025. He also pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property for his involvement in an unrelated matter.

At the sentencing, the prosecution asked Judge McLean for the mandatory minimum sentence, which according to DC Sentencing Commission’s sentencing guidelines, was seven years.

The prosecution also spoke on behalf of the carjacking victim, saying he remains unemployed after the incident. Formerly a delivery driver, the man is now too traumatized to return to work and is struggling to provide for his family. According to the prosecutor, the victim suffers from persistent nightmares.

The prosecution also noted the increasing violence of the defendant’s actions, escalating from robbery to carjacking, and requested a stay-away order from the victims if Mitchell is granted probation.

In a statement on Mitchell’s behalf, defense attorney Anthony Dimillio said that Mitchell has had a difficult life. He said that all of Mitchell’s charges occurred at once, indicating that he does not have an extensive criminal history, but rather made a few bad decisions. Although Dimillio linked Mitchell’s actions to his mother’s death, he did not indicate when she died.

Mitchell apologized to the court and the victims of both the robbery and the carjacking, stating he took full responsibility for his actions. He specifically apologized for the delivery driver’s job loss, of which he was not aware.

Judge McLean said she appreciated his apology and taking responsibility for his mistakes. She acknowledged Mitchell’s own trauma but noted it does not excuse the ordeal he inflicted on others..

Judge McLean said Mitchell requested a second chance and a probationary sentence in his letter to the court, but she ruled that this was not an option.

She explained that she is technically bound by the terms of the plea agreement and the mandatory minimum sentence.

Judge McLean sentenced Mitchell to seven years in prison for unarmed carjacking, six months in prison for possession of a prohibited weapon, and six months in prison for receiving stolen property. The sentences are scheduled to run concurrently, followed by three years of supervised release. Mitchell must also register as a gun offender for two years after his release

No further dates were set.

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