On Feb. 8, a pedestrian was killed in a traffic accident on the 1400 block of Southern Avenue, SE.
According to a MPD press release, a Chevrolet Malibu was traveling south in the 1400 block of Southern Avenue, Southeast, when it evasively maneuvered to the right and collided with a Metro Bus to avoid striking a pedestrian.
The Metro Bus then struck the pedestrian, causing the pedestrian to be trapped under the bus.
DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and extricated the pedestrian. After all life-saving efforts failed, the victim was pronounced dead on scene.
The victim was identified as 38 year-old Rickey Carey, of no fixed address.
This case remains under investigation.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is requested to contact the Metropolitan Police Department at (202) 727-9099.
On Jan. 8, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department arrested a 21-year-old man in connection to a homicide that occurred in the Benning area of Washington, DC.
According to a press release, Kemonte Marting a resident of Northeast, DC was charged, with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 17-year-old Eric Mercer on the 4700 block of Benning Road, SE on Nov. 26, 2019.
Mercer, who was a resident of Northwest, DC died at a local hospital.
This case remains under investigation.
The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone that provides information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at 202-727-9099. Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by sending a text message to 50411.
On Feb. 7, A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a new hearing date for a case that involves a fatal shooting.
Brandon Wiggins, 22, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for alledgedly shooting Damon Bell, 43, and Donald Lewis, 25, both residents of Northeast, DC, on the 1600 block of West Virginia Avenue, NE on June 14 2019, and the 1700 block of West Virginia Avenue, NE on Dec. 18, 2018, respectively.
DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman scheduled a status hearing on Feb. 28.
According to court documents, Bell was found unconscious with multiple gunshot wounds in a vehicle, and Lewis was found unconscious and with multiple gunshot wounds inside a residence at the listed location.
During a status hearing Feb.7, the prosecution told a judge that a retest of DNA evidence was completed and the results were shared with the defense.
Cedric Selinus Alexander, also known as Tony White, 47, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, robbery while armed with a firearm, and unlawful possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for allegely shooting Daquan Hooks, 38, on March 23, 2017, on 1900 block of 13th Street, SE.
The prosecutor said that due to some previous DNA issues, a retest of the evidence was necessary. During the retest of evidence, no new DNA was found.
The prosecutor also said that not everything was tested in either round, and that if the defense wanted to test the same evidence or less, then the defense might as well test all of the evidence.
Cadman also told Judge Beck that the defense wanted to discuss release conditions with the prosecution. She said she wanted to finalize release conditions within the next two weeks.
Judge Beck told counsel that release conditions would be discussed at the next status hearing, along with the results of the defense’s independent DNA testing.
Alexander is scheduled for a status hearing on Feb. 28.
During a felony arraignment Feb 7, a murder defendant pleaded not guilty.
Barbara Sanders is charged with second-degree murder while armed with a knife for allegedly stabbing 59-year-old Thurman Knight on the 500 block of Montana Avenue, NE in March. According to court documents, Sanders, 53, and Knight resided together and were in a romantic relationship for nearly eight years.
After the clerk read Sanders her constitutional rights, her defense attorney Matthew Davies, pleaded not guilty on the defendant’s behalf. He continued with asserting her right to counsel and request for a speedy trial.
The prosecutor said she sent the defense a discovery letter with numerous pieces of evidence found on officers’ body worn cameras in relation to the incident.
She said she also sent a consent motion along with an attached order in regards to the grand jury.
Lastly, the prosecutor said DNA testing was completed, and she shared the results with the defense.
The prosecution has not extended any plea deals as of Feb. 7.
A murder defendant is sentenced to 11-years in prison for shooting a 19-year-old from a car.
Keith Jenkins, 20, is sentenced to prison for voluntary manslaughter while armed, for shooting Alvin Barnes, 19, on the 2200 block of Alabama Avenue, SE on Oct. 23, 2019. The two had gotten in a physical dispute, whereby Jenkins drove away and then and shot Barnes in the back of the head from a car.
DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman said he considered sentencing Jenkins under the Youth Rehabilitation Act, which is a sentencing alternative for offenders who are convicted under the age of 22.
Jenkins turned himself in to the police with great speed, pleaded guilty, and has been greatly cooperative thus far, Judge Edelman said in reference to his consideration.
However, Judge Edelman said he decided against sentencing Jenkins under the act because of the nature of the crime and his other charges.
Even though Jenkins had no prior criminal history, he is currently released on bond in Prince George’s County, Md. for an alleged robbery.
In addition to his prison term, Jenkins will serve five years on supervised release. He will also need to register as a gun offender after he is released from prison.
“Nobody wins here,” the prosecutor said. “There’s a dead young man and a man who is going to be incarcerated for a lot of his life.”
A judge decided Feb. 6 to reject testimony from an officer, citing two prior incidents in which the officer did not tell the truth.
Keith Archie, 39, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing Demond Marcel Rush on the 3600 block of 22nd Street, SE in 2017.
On Feb. 6, DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz said that testimony from a responding Metropolitan Police Department officer would not be allowed in trial because the officer lied to fellow officers while on patrol in two separate incidents. The incidents were not connected to the homicide.
In one incident, the officer was outside of his designated patrol area when his cruiser got stuck in a muddy field in Maryland. The told fellow officers that he pulled off the road and into the field to make an urgent family call.
However, the officer later said he and a fellow officer were just “hanging out” and being “disobedient.”
The trial is slated to begin on Feb. 10. It is expected to last for about two weeks.
During a status hearing on Feb. 6, a victim’s mother was placed on speaker phone while the murder defendant, who killed her son, pleaded guilty.
MacArthur Venable is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the death of 34-year-old James Eric Ferrell on the unit block of Massachusetts Avenue, NE on Oct. 31, 2018.
Before Venable entered a guilty plea, the prosecutor asked DC Superior Court Judge Anita Josey-Herring to call the victim’s mother and place her on speaker phone so that she could listen to the defendant plead guilty since she was unable to make it to court.
The judge agreed, and the mother was able to listen to Venable accept the prosecution’s plea deal for second-degree murder while armed.
Counsel agreed that Venable would be subject to serve 15 to 18 years in prison. Then five years of supervised release afterward. Judge Josey-Herring accepted Venable’s plea.
Venable is currently in a mental health program called Step-Down. His attorney requested him to be sentenced after he completes his program.
Venable’s sentencing is scheduled to occur on July 20.
Even though the defense questioned the creditability of a Metropolitan Police Department detective, a judge still found probable cause in a murder case.
Paul William Daniel is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 59-year-old Kevin Jerome Harrison on the 4100 block of Hayes Street, NE on Jan. 26, 2019.
DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman found that because of testimony from a new witness and a possible motive, the burden has been met for probable cause.
During a preliminary hearing on Feb 6, Daniel’s defense attorney, John Fowler, said the detective didn’t adequately investigate the case, noting that she didn’t question witnesses in person, ask detailed questions and that she failed to verify stories that she heard from witnesses throughout her investigation.
Fowler also said the forensic investigation on Daniel’s house and his car came up completely clean, with no evidence of blood, guns, drugs, or any other contraband.
“I would call her a liar,” Fowler said, referencing a lack of forensic evidence.
In addition, Fowler told the judge that the detective, in a previous case that is not related to the homicide, arrested and held the wrong man for 13 days.
However, the prosecutor argued that the case in which the detective arrested the wrong person was not relevant.
Daniel is being held without bond.
Two felony status conferences are scheduled to occur on Feb. 13 in Judge Edelman’s courtroom and on April 3 in DC Superior Court Judge Anita Josey-Herring‘s courtroom.
According to DC Courts, Edelman is supposed to hear about motions and a request from counsel regarding evidence.
A prosecutor said Feb. 5 a defense attorney of not identifying the items of evidence that was being independently tested.
Robert Edward Green, 27, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Andre Junior. According to the Metropolitan Police Department, Junior, 43, was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the 1500 block of Park Road, NW on March 15.
The prosecutor said the defense failed to send a proposed order indicating all the items that would be tested.
She also said there are a few items she would object to testing because the items do not tie the defendant to the crime.
Green’s defense attorney, Mani Golzari, said he would file an ex parte motion that would clearly explain the defense’s theory on why the items are relevant.
DC Superior Court Judge Anita Josey-Herring required the defense to file a constitutional motion by June 5. The judge gave the prosecutor until June 19 to respond. Expert notices must be filed by July 13.
Judge Josey-Herring asked both parties if there were any previous plea offers.
Golzari said the case’s previous prosecutor offered a plea deal to the defendant, but Green rejected the offer. There are no current plea offers.
A status hearing is scheduled to occur on March 6.
After a 2019 trial ended in a guilty verdict a DC Superior Court judge set a new date citing missing evidence.
Kimberly Thompson was convicted of first-degree murder in March of 2019 for shooting Charles Mayo, 53, on the 1900 block of Bennett Place, NE.
April 9, 2019, defense filed a motion for dismissal due to the prosecution’s negligence to disclose information that would have been helpful to the case.
DC Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna denied the dismissal of the case. Instead, she set a new trial date.
One of the two prosecutors on the case said they are open to creating a plea deal as long as Thompson and his defense counsel are open to accepting a plea deal.
Defense attorney Kevin Mosley said he would need to speak to his client before making any decisions.
A trial readiness hearing is set for Aug. 12. The first day of trial is scheduled to begin on Sept. 8.
During closing arguments of a jury trial, a prosecutor asked the jury not to decide a murder defendant’s fate based on doubts that come from speculation.
Michael Francis “Mickey” Taylor
Mason Binion, 32, is charged with first-degree murder while armed after allegedly shooting Michael Francis Taylor, 21, on the 600 block of Farragut Street, NW on June 22, 2008. Apparently, Binion and Taylor were friends. Binion’s co-defendant, Victor Carvajal’s case was dismissed the day before opening statements. Carvajal was also charged with first-degree murder while armed.
“We don’t know if Mr. Binion actually pulled the trigger but, what we do know is that he was the last person seen with Mr. Taylor before he died and we know that because of corroborated testimony by multiple witnesses who identified him in court. He was a part of this conspiracy to kill Michael Taylor,” said the prosecutor.
The prosecutor conceded that more than one person could have been at the scene with a gun after Binion’s defense attorney, Kristin McGough, pointed to another type of shell casing that was found on the scene.
The prosecutor asked the jury not to choose whether Binion was guilty or innocent based on doubts that McGough brought up.
He said that to convict Binion on a murder charge would mean that the jury could find him guilty for being a part of the conspiracy to commit the murder.
“If every witness came up here and testified with perfect memory of a 12 year old murder, the defense would say that it’s just way too good to be 100 percent true and accurate,” the prosecutor said referencing witness recollections, such as the testimony of 32-year-old Joshua Massaquoi.
Massaquoi, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, carrying a pistol during a crime of violence and accessory to second-degree murder, said he was with Binion. Phone records also indicate that Massaquoi and Binion were together during the time Taylor was killed.
The prosecutor said that even though Massaquoi was,”clearly a troubled man,” that the jurors should not consider his mental illness in deciding his credibility.
With a total of 15 homicides in Washington, DC in January, one-third of them occurred in Ward 6. The homicide count is higher than any other Ward in January.
In December, D.C. Witness recorded one homicide in Ward 6. According to D.C. Witness data, there were four shootings and one stabbing in Ward 6, including:
Jimmy Beynum, who succumbed at a local hospital on Jan. 29. The 36 year old was shot on Jan. 23. Stanley Brown was arrested in connection to the murder on Jan. 30. The 27 year old is charged with first-degree murder while armed. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 26.
Anthony Williams, 20, was fatally stabbed on Jan. 26 on the 700 block of 1st Street, NE. Two suspects were charged in connection to the homicide. Angel Moses, 20, is charged with second-degree murder while armed. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 6. Edward Everstine, 29, is charged with accessory after the fact. He is also scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 6.
According to the police, the homicide resulted from a dispute between the victim and the defendant on a metro platform at Union Station.
Malick Cisse
Malick Cisse, who was 18 years old, was fatally shot on Jan. 8 on the 1300 block of 7th Street, NW. A suspect has not been apprehended in the case.
Xavier Tate
Xavier Tate, 26, died from gunshot wounds on Jan. 5 on the 1400 block of 3rd Street, SW. Bratrell Hawkins was arrested in connection to the homicide. The 27 year old is charged with second-degree murder while armed. He is scheduled for a mental observation hearing on March 9.
Anthony Ward
Anthony Ward, 39, died from gunshot wounds on Jan. 4 on the unit block of K Street, NW. A suspect has not been apprehended for his murder.
Out of the 15 homicides, 12 were from gun-related shootings and three were stabbings.
The number of homicide increased from December to January from 10 to 15 homicides, respectively. But, the percentage of gun-related deaths compared to the total number of homicides per month decreased by 10 percent.
Ages for the 15 victims ranged from 18 years old to 60 years old.
During a motion hearing on Feb. 5, counsel argued over evidence the defense says they are entitled to.
Michael Fahnbulleh, also known as Mike Mike, 26, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Michael Andre Francis, 28, on Nov.30, 2019, on Unit block Danbury St., SW.
Fahnbulleh’s attorney, Madalyn R. Harvey, said the evidence she was given was video surveillance. She was denied other materials, including witness identification.
Harvey said that the video is contradictory. She said it does not incriminate Fahnbulleh, as the prosecution said it does. Instead, it questioned the witnesses’ credibility by showing images that did not reflect the statements.
Harvey said the video should not be shown in trial at all.
Witness identification cannot be given and the defense is not entitled to it in order to protect the integrity of the investigation and the witnesses, said the prosecution.
The prosecution continued to say that the video itself is helpful to their case and therefore should be admitted into trial.
“I take everything at face value, if it shows he’s not the one it impacts what is relevant and important,” said DC Superior Court Judge Todd. E. Edelman. The judge said he would decide if the evidence is necessary to share or not.
During the next motion hearing, Judge Edelman is expected to decide whether the prosecution needs to share certain pieces of evidence with the defense.
The next motion hearing is slated for Feb. 7.
This article was written by Jailynn Caraballo and Lea Gianasso.
There was a 36 percent increase in homicides from December of 2019 to January.
In January of 2020 there were 15 homicides in the District. In January of 2019 there had been 19 homicides.
There were 14 males and one female killed in January. According to D.C. Witness data, all of the victims were between the ages of 18 and 60, spanning four separate generations.
Twelve of the homicides resulted from gun violence while three murders resulted from stabbings.
Charles Robinson
The first murder of the month was 60 year-old Charles Robinson, a resident of Southeast, DC, who suffered from multiple gunshot wounds inside a residence on the 2000 block of 19th Place, SE on Jan. 4. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Anthony Ward
On the same day, 39 year-old Anthony Ward, a resident of Northwest, DC, was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the Unit Block of K Street, Northwest. He was pronounced dead on the scene.
Dy’Mani Priestly
One day later, 22-year-old Dy’Mani Priestley was found stabbed to death on the 1200 block of U Street, NW. MPD officers arrested 35 year-old Reginald Hooks on Feb. 19 and charged him with second-degree murder while armed. Hooks is currently awaiting a preliminary hearing.
Xavier Tate
Xavier Tate, 26, was found shot to death on the 1400 Block of 3rd Street, SW on the same day. Police arrested 27 year-old Bratrell Hawkinsand charged him with first-degree murder while armed in connection to the murder. Hawkins is awaiting a mentally competency hearing.
On Jan. 6, 21-year-old Tia Carey was found shot multiple times on the 3700 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE.
Tierra Posey, 21, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection to the homicide. She is scheduled for a felony status conference on March 18. Dejon Ford is also charged with kidnapping and carrying a pistol in relation to the homicide. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on April 3.
Lamar Walters
On the same day, 38-year-old Lamar Walters was found suffering from multiple gun shot wounds on the 2400 block of Franklin Street, NE. He was shot along with two other people.
Malick Cisse
Two days later on Jan. 8 police found 18-year-old Malick Cisse shot to death on the 1300 block of 7th Street, NW.
On Jan. 11, police officers responded to the 700 block of 24th Street, NW where they found 41-year-old Tavon Cox suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. On Jan. 12, Cox succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.
Three days later 48-year-old Kevin Chamberlain was found with multiple stab wounds on the 2400 block of Virginia Avenue, NW. He was transported to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. Police arrested Jospeh Melton, a resident of Southeast, DC, charging him with first-degree murder while armed.
The next three homicides occurred 12 days later on Jan. 26, 36-year-old Eric Delonte Barbour was shot to death on the Unit block of N Street, NW.
MPD officers found 20-year-old Anthony Williamssuffering from multiple stab wounds on the 700 block of 1st Street, NE.
Andy Bonilla
Andy Bonilla, 19, was found shot to death on the 2600 block of Sherman Avenue, NW.
The shootings are not related.
MPD arrested Angelo Moss, 23, charging him with second-degree murder while armed in connection to Williams’ homicide. Edward Everstine, 29, was also arrested and charged with accessory after the fact in connection to Williams’ homicide. Both men are scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 8.
Angus Houston
On Jan. 27, 44-year-old Angus Houston succumbed to his injuries after being found with multiple gunshot wounds on the 1300 block of Congress Street, SE.
On Jan. 29, 36-year-old Jimmy Beynum was found shot to death on the 1600 block of F Street, NE.
The final homicide of the month occurred on Jan. 30 when 30-year-oldJohn Seegars was found shot to death on the 100 block of Atlantic Street, SE.
