Homicides Rise More Than 80% in July

Thirty homicides occurred in Washington, DC during the month of July, an 88 percent increase from June.

Homicides rose in all wards except for Ward 3 from June to July. There were 16 homicides in July.

According to D.C. Witness records, 27 of the homicides resulted from shootings, there was one stabbing, one trauma related incident and a missing person investigation that was also classified as a homicide investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department.

The July count includes a missing person investigation for 34 year-old Olga Ooro. According to a press release, Ooro has been missing since July 18. Even though her body has not been located, police believe evidence suggests that she may have been murdered.

The case was turned over to the department’s Homicide Branch. Police say the matter appears to have stemmed from domestic violence.

A suspect, 55-year-old Darnell Sterling was charged with second-degree murder in connection to the case. The case is pending a grand jury. Sterling is scheduled for a hearing on Aug. 26.

The case is still being investigated.

Police also arrested three other suspects who are linked to a homicide that occurred in July.

Kenneth Wayne Stewart was arrested on July 24 for allegedly stabbing Courtney Jones the day before on the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. Stewart, 58, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and scheduled for a hearing on Aug. 26.

David Robinson is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 40-year-old Tia Cokley on the 1900 block of 16th Street, Se. Robinson, 39, has a hearing scheduled for Aug. 27.

Willie Hunter was arrested on July 16. The 38-year-old is currently charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for allegedly shooting Marc Mayo on the 5400 block of Bass Place, SE on July 16. Mayo succumbed to his injuries on July 27. Hunter is scheduled for a hearing on Aug. 21.

There have been 114 homicides in the District of Columbia, as of July 31. According to D.C. Witness data, homicides increased by nine percent from the same time period the year before.

Document: Police Seek Suspect in Homicide Case

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a suspect that is wanted for a homicide that occurred on July 12 on the 800 block of 19th Street, NE.

Police are looking for 29-year-old Steven Martin Robinson, of Southeast, DC, in connection with 28-year-old Shanika Williams‘ death.

Robinson is wanted for second-degree murder while armed. He is considered armed and dangerous and can be seen in the photos below.

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Document: Police Seek Suspect and Vehicle in a Homicide

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department are seeking a suspect and vehicle of interest in a homicide that occurred on July 1 on the 4000 block of Grant Street, NE.

Officers responded to the scene at approximately 1:20 a.m. where they found an unconscious male victim suffering from gunshot wounds.

The victim, now identified as 36-year-old Dennis Dykes was pronounced dead on the scene by DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services.

A suspect and vehicle were captured by a nearby surveillance video, which can be seen below.

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Document: Police Arrest Burglary Suspect

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers arrested a suspect for first-degree burglary.

At around 5:24 a.m. on Aug. 4, a suspect forcibly entered a home on the 2700 block of Jasper Street, SE. Once inside, the man brandished a handgun and barricaded himself in the bathroom.

Later that day, police arrested a 37-year-old resident of Southeast, DC.

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Document: Police Arrest Suspect for Second-Degree Burglary and Unlawful Entry

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers have arrested a suspect for offenses that occurred in Northeast, DC.

At around 3:06 a.m. on Aug. 1, a suspect entered an establishment of the 100 block of 41^st Street, NE, which is located in the Benning neighborhood of DC. The suspect took property and fled.

At around 12:16 p.m. on Aug. 2, the suspect entered an establishment at that location. The suspect fled the scene before police arrived.

On Aug. 5, officers arrested an 18-year-old resident of Southeast, DC for second-degree burglary and unlawful entry.

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Document: Juvenile Arrested for Armed Carjacking

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrested a juvenile male for armed carjacking.

On Aug. 4 at around 3:03 p.m., a suspect approached the victim on the 4800 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW. The suspect brandished a knife and told the victim to get out of their vehicle. The victim did so, and the suspect fled the scene in the vehicle.

That same day, police arrested a 17-year-old resident of Southeast, DC.

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Judge Sentences Defendant to Probation

A DC Superior Court judge sentenced a defendant to probation after he pleaded guilty to carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business.

Raphael Ward fired a gun in self defense on Jan. 10, 2019, after being shot on the 2600 block of 3rd Street, NW. However, Ward was not supposed to have a gun because he has a prior felony conviction.

During the Aug. 4 hearing, Judge Kimberley Knowles said she understood why Ward had a gun. She also said his story is made very believable because he bought the gun in anticipation of violence and then was actually shot. However, she also pointed out that Ward knew it was illegal for him to buy the gun.

Judge Knowles sentenced the defendant to 18 months, all of which were suspended, plus nine months of probation.

Conditions of Ward’s probation include drug testing, a mental health evaluation and maintaining or seeking employment.

Defendant Pleads Guilty, Sentenced to Time Served

On Aug. 5, a defendant pleaded guilty to destruction of property.

Jeremiah Littman, 31, threw a brick into the windshield of a police cruiser that was parked outside the 6th District Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Police Station on the 5000 block of Hayes Street, NE on April 16. According to police, Littman said that she was homeless and did not want to sleep on the street.

Littman’s attorney Edward Joseph clarified during the proceedings that Littman had an outstanding parole warrant, and she wanted to turn herself in so that she would have somewhere to sleep. However, the police station did not have the warrant on file and refused to take her in. Joseph said the offense that she committed was out of self-preservation.

“This was the only thing in her mind at the time,” Joseph said. “This is the reason she did what she did.”

Littman has been held in DC Jail since her arrest.

Due to the significant amount of time Littman had spent in jail while awaiting trial on a misdemeanor charge, DC Superior Court Judge John Campbell sentenced her to time served. She did not receive any probation time.

The prosecution requested that Littman pay some amount in restitution to the MPD for the damage she caused to the police cruiser. However, Judge Campbell did not order any.

“I don’t think that imposing restitution for the cost of damage to a police cruiser is appropriate given the circumstances,” Judge Campbell said. “The police likely have some insurance of some sort.”

However, because of the parole violation, Littman will not be immediately released from DC Jail.

Defendant Receives Probation for unlawful entry and property destruction

On Aug. 5, a defendant pleaded guilty to four charges in two different cases.

Michael Mayo, 51, pleaded guilty to unlawful entry onto private property, second-degree theft and two counts of destruction of property worth less than $1,000. He was originally charged with second-degree burglary, destruction of property and simple assault.

Judge John Campbell sentenced Mayo to 60 days of inccarceration for each charge, nearly four months. He suspended the time. Judge Campbell also sentenced the defendant to nine months of probation for both his felony and misdemeanor cases. The terms of probation are concurrent.

Mayo also received credit for the time he has served at DC Jail while awaiting trial. He has been held in jail since June 26.

Both the prosecution and Kevin Parke, Mayo’s defense attorney, argued that the significant amount of time hanging over Mayo’s head would motivate him not to reoffend.

On March 30, Mayo threw a brick and a bottle at windows of the Jamaican Embassy on the 1500 block of New Hampshire Avenue, NW, damaging them. Later, on June 22, he committed two separate offenses: prying open the window of a business on the 1700 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW and stealing nearly $10,000 worth of alcohol. He was later caught by police as he struck the driver’s side window of a car, for which he was also charged.

Due to limitations because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Judge Campbell did not order Mayo to participate in any court-mandated treatment programs. However, he indicated that Mayo could benefit from both substance abuse and mental health treatment under normal circumstances.

“I have a lot of mental health issues, and I will be addressing them when I get out,” Mayo said.

“Please do, Mr. Mayo,” Judge Campbell said. “Please do.”

Mayo is scheduled to return to court on Sept. 15 to address the status of his probation in another case in which he pleaded guilty to destruction of property worth less than $1,000 in March and was sentenced to 30 days in jail and one year of supervised probation.

A notice of noncompliance was filed on July 1.

Defendant Waives Right to Hearing

On Aug. 5, a defendant waived his right to have a hearing to determine if his case has enough evidence to go to trial.

Anthony Owens, 40, and his co-defendant, Johnnie Burke, are charged with assault with intent to commit robbery for allegedly attempting to kidnap and rob a victim on the 1300 block of Good Hope Road, SE, on April 15. An uninvolved subject shot at both of the defendants, causing them to be wounded.

Owens and his attorney, Everald Thompson requested that the case be returned to the Judge Michael Ryan, who was previously overseeing it.

Judge Ronna Beck granted Thompson’s request.

Owens is scheduled to appear in court again on Oct. 30. He is currently being held in DC Jail.

Judge Waits to Schedule Preliminary Hearing

A DC Superior Court judge decided that she would wait to schedule a preliminary hearing because the defendant has not been tested for COVID-19 yet.

The defendant is a 36-year-old man who is charged with assault with the intent to commit first-degree sexual abuse.

He is accused of grabbing a woman’s private parts on the 4500 block of Benning Road, SE on May 29. When the victim refused to have sexual relations with him, he allegedly assaulted her before a witness stopped him

Defense attorney Sylvia Smith said the Department of Corrections (DOC) has not yet given her client a COVID-19 test. Still, she asked that a preliminary hearing begin as soon as possible.

Judge Danya Dayson said the defendant must wait to undergo testing before he could be scheduled for a preliminary hearing because he could still infect people at the jail if the hearing is remote.

She also said she did not have the right to change any “institutional rules.”

Document: 2 Men Die from Fatal Shooting in Carver Langston Neighborhood

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the death of two individuals from a shooting that occurred on Aug. 4.

According to a press release, officers found 18-year-old Montrell Lucas suffering from a gunshot wound inside an apartment building located on the 1600 block of Maryland Avenue, NE.

He died on the scene.

Officer also located 28-year-old Jakeem Chandler, who was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds inside the hallway of that building. The individual succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.

A juvenile was also located at the scene. The juvenile suffered from a gunshot wound, but it being treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Police say the shooting occurred inside the apartment.

The department is offering a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone that has information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this case or any other homicide case in the District of Columbia. Anyone with information is asked to call the police at 202-727-9099. Anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s Text Tip Line — 50411.

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Document: Second Arrest Made for Child Sex Trafficking

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives and FBI special agents announced that a second arrest has been made for offenses including child sex trafficking that occurred throughout DC.

A 37-year-old resident of Clinton, Md. was arrested for sex trafficking of a minor, conspiracy to sex traffic a minor, conspiracy to transport a minor for sexual activity, use of a facility of interstate commerce in aid of racketeering activity and tampering with a witness on Aug. 2.

On May 1, 2019, a 27-year-old male resident of Clinton, Md. was arrested for sex trafficking of children, sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion and obstruction of justice.

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Crime Alerts: Aug. 4-5

Between 9 p.m. on Aug. 4 and 9 a.m. on Aug. 5, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out three crime alerts.

The most recent alert was sent at 12:48 a.m. for a shooting on the 4000 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE.

Another alert was sent at 9:45 p.m. for a shooting on the 5400 block of Georgia Avenue, NW.

The third and final alert was sent at 9:30 p.m. for a confirmed shooting on the 1600 block of Maryland Avenue, NE.

Police do not have descriptions of the suspects in any of the cases.

If anyone has information about these incidents, please call 911.

Judge Schedules Next Hearing for Burglary Defendant

On Aug. 4, a DC Superior Court judge scheduled a defendant’s next hearing.

Willie Ingram, 47, is charged with second-degree burglary for allegedly throwing a rock through an establishment window on the 4100 block of Georgia Avenue, NW on April 26. He then allegedly stole various items from the establishment.

Ingram’s attorney, Charles Murdter, said the prosecution extended a plea offer at the end of April. However, Ingram rejected the plea and indicated that he was not interested in continued negotiations.

Murdter also said that Ingram was under the impression he would be able to live with a relative if he was released. However, after checking with the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA,) Murdter found out that the relative would be unwilling to do so.

Murdter asked if Judge John Campbell could schedule another hearing in order for Murdter to have more time to contact his client. Judge Campbell granted Murdter’s request.

Ingram will return to court on Oct. 16 to discuss how to proceed with the case.

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