During a detention hearing on Aug. 14, a judge released a murder defendant, who is under home confinement, to a residence in Alexandria, VA.
Eric Smith, 20, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in a drive-by shooting. He is also charged with possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with the intent to kill against a minor, assault with the intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with significant bodily injury and unauthorized use of a vehicle for his alleged role in the death of 38-year-old Rondell Wills on the 200 block of 50th Street, NE on May 3, 2018. Wills was not the target in the shooting.
DC Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe decided to release Smith to his sister’s house in Alexandria, VA. While he expressed concern for community safety, he said the prosecution’s case was relatively weak.
Judge Iscoe specifically appealed to the blurriness of video footage that allegedly shows Smith, as well as inconsistent statements from an eyewitness.
Judge Iscoe also said the slightest violation of Smith’s terms of release would result in the release being revoked. If revoked, Smith would go back to DC Jail.
Defense counsel also requested that Smith be permitted to attend Maya Angelou Public Charter High School in Washington, DC. while on release. But, the prosecution expressed concerns about transportation between Smith’s home and the school.
Both the defense and the prosecution requested an additional status hearing so the transportation issue could be resolved in time for the beginning of the school year.
During a status hearing Aug. 15, defense counsel asked a judge for a continued trial date because she felt the prosecution purposefully delayed turning over case documents.
Deon Crowell, 50, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing Joni Rockingham, 53, on the 300 block of 34th Street, NE on Dec. 12, 2017.
Defense Counsel, Elizabeth Weller, said a multitude of things would prevent her and her co-counsel from being ready for trial, including the fact that the prosecution had not given her all the necessary materials to review. Crowell’s trial is set to begin on Oct. 15.
Weller also said the prosecution put a protective order on body camera footage without her approval.
According to Weller, the order indicated that she could not show the footage to her client or keep electronic files after trial. Weller said the restrictions would prevent her from preparing.
Weller also said the prosecution had not given her the two terabytes of material recovered from a computer that was seized in a search of Crowell’s house. She said there would not be enough time to send the material to her expert to review and build a defense. According to Weller, the prosecution has had the evidence since the beginning of 2018.
The prosecution objected to the continuance, stating that Weller has plenty of time to review the materials.
The prosecutor said the footage was uploaded electronically and that Weller received a notification that let her know the footage was available for view.
Weller told the judge that she never received a notification.
During the proceedings, the prosecution also turned over an external hard drive that contained the two terabytes of information Weller was seeking.
Judge Dayson ordered the defense to give a timeframe on the amount of time the expert needs to review materials and relay information.
Judge Dayson also set another status hearing on Sept. 12 to hear the defense’s motion to continue and another motion to release Crowell if a continuance is granted. According to DC Courts, neither motion has been filed as of Aug. 16.
According to court documents, Crowell, 50, and Rockingham, 53, were associates. Rockingham was reported missing in November of 2017. Apparently, several witnesses thought she was targeted because of information she had on previous homicides.
The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a fatal stabbing that occurred on the 1500 block of 45th Street, NE.
According to a press release, officers located 20-year-old Alonzo Hines Jr. suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on Aug. 14. DC Fire and Emergency Services transported the victim to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on Aug. 15
Police are offering up to a $25,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this homicide or any other homicide in Washington, DC. Anyone with information should call the police at 202-727-9099. Anonymous information may also be submitted to the department’s Text Tip Line – 50411.
The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a fatal stabbing that occurred on the 1900 block of Fredrick Douglass Court, SE.
According to a press release, officers located 25-year-old, Delante Colson suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on Aug. 14. DC Fire and Emergency Services transported the victim to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Police are offering up to a $25,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this homicide or any other homicide in Washington, DC. Anyone with information should call the police at 202-727-9099. Anonymous information may also be submitted to the department’s Text Tip Line – 50411.
During the month of July, there were 20 homicides, four more than June.
Eighteen of the homicides were gun-related, one involved a sharp object and a weapon connected to a fatal assault is still unknown. The murders occurred in every Ward except Ward 2, 3 and 4.
Police have arrested suspects in four of the homicides as of Aug. 12.
Keonte Haynesworth
The first murder of the month occurred on the Fourth of July, when 23-year-old Keonte Haynesworth was shot on the 4200 block of 7th Street, SE.
Demarco Jones
On July 6, Demarco Jones, 25 was found shot multiple times on the 400 block of Burns Street, SE.
On July 9, Anfernee Walker, 22, was found with multiple gunshot wounds on the 3900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SW. He was the first of two pronounced dead from the shooting and one of four people who were shot. Less than two weeks later, another victim died from the same shooting. Timothy Richardson, 23, succumbed to his injuries on July 23.
Dominic Robinson
On July 9, Dominic Robinson, 32, was found inside a vehicle with multiple gunshots on the 900 block of Division Avenue, NE.
The next day, Andre Broadie, 22, was found inside an establishment, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. On July 27, 22-year-old Delonta Jackson was arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed. His case was dismissed on Aug. 8.
Clifton Telfaire
The following day, 33-year-old Clifton Telfaire, died at a local hospital after he was shot on the 1100 block of North Capitol Street, NW.
On July 15, 59-year-old Ronald Jones was found dead in a residence after suffering from multiple stab wounds. On the same day, Alisa Randall was arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed.
Randall, 31, told DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee that Jones sexually assaulted her daughter. Randall said she stabbed Jones in self defense. She is scheduled for a felony status conference on Oct. 21. Randall is also being held without bail.
Mondell Valentine
Two days later, on July 17, 28-year-old Mondell Valentine died at a local hospital after he was found on the 3800 block of 2nd Street, SE suffering from a gunshot wound.
The next day, July 18, 11-year-old Karon Brown was found with shot on the 2700 block of Naylor Road, SE. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Two days later, police arrested 29-year-old Tony Antoine McClam on July 20. McClam is charged with first-degree murder while armed. He is scheduled for a status hearing on Aug. 30.
The following day, 17-year-old Ahkii Washington-Scruggs and 57-year-old Hugh Washington were found dead. Both victims suffered from multiple gunshot wounds.
On July 20, Delwaun Lyons, 23, was found with multiple gunshot wounds on the 3000 block of 30th Street, SE. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
That same day Eric Byrd, 34, was found shot on the 1100 block of U Street, NW. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Jamal Bandy
On July 21, Jamal Bandy, 27, was pronounced dead at a local hospital after being found on the 1300 block of Congress Street, SE with multiple gunshot wounds.
The same day, 30 year-old John Thomas was transported to the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds after being shot on the 2600 block of Sherman Avenue, NW.
The next day, July 22, officers found Curtis Lowell Franklin, 32, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the 1300 block of Saratoga Avenue, NE. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
On July 26, 37-year-old Francis Savoy, was found shot inside of a vehicle located on the 300 block of 50th Street, NE. He was pronounced dead on the scene.
On July 29, Lucas Thomas, 33, succumbed to his injuries he received from an assault the day before. Michael Grant, 34, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection to the homicide. He is scheduled for a felony status conference on Aug. 19.
The final murder of the month occurred on July 30. Officers located Anthony Hooks, 26, on the 1300 block of Savannah Street, SE. He was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Hooks was pronounced dead on the scene.
During a status hearing on Aug. 14, a murder defendant received another lawyer to assist his primary counsel.
Denzel Grandson, 26, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 36-year-old Simwone Milstead on the 2700 block of Langston Place, SE in 2014. Milstead succumbed to his injuries at a hospital the following day.
D.C. Witness previously reported on Aug. 1, that defense counsel Charles P. Murdter requested an additional hearing so a qualified lawyer could be found to replace Andrea P. Antonelli, who withdrew from the case.
Defense counsel also requested that Grandson be released under the high intensity supervision program (HISP) with GPS tracking and home confinement.
Judge McKenna denied the request on the grounds that Grandson has prior firearm offenses, including one that occurred while he was already under supervision. She said there was no condition of release that could guarantee the community’s safety.
Grandson is scheduled for a trial readiness hearing on Sept. 6.
On Aug. 13, a pedestrian was hit by a car on the 2600 block of North Capitol Street, NE.
According to a press release, Jascha Wilson, 29, was struck by a 2012 Dodge Challenger while in the roadway outside of the crosswalk. Wilson was transferred to a local hospital where he died on Aug. 14.
The driver of the Dodge Challenger did not remain on the scene, according to the press release.
If anyone has information about the incident, please contact the Metropolitan Police Department at (202) 727-9099.
This story will be updated as more information is released.
The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a fatal stabbing that occurred on the 3400 block of 22nd Street, SE.
According to a press release, officers located 25-year-old, Lamont Johnson suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on Aug. 14. DC Fire and Emergency Services transported the victim to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Police are offering up to a $25,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this homicide or any other homicide in Washington, DC. Anyone with information should call the police at 202-727-9099. Anonymous information may also be submitted to the department’s Text Tip Line – 50411.
DC Superior Court Judge Hiram E. Puig-Lugo scheduled Massaquoi, whose case was separated from the other two defendants, for a status hearing on Aug. 28. Massaquoi’s trial date has not been set, yet.
According to court documents, the defendants picked up Taylor after he failed to acquire marijuana that Binion and Carvajal gave him money to purchase. Taylor was supposed to sell the marijuana and then pay back Binion and Carvajal.
The documents said Massaquoi was the driver when Taylor was picked up at a recreation center in Silver Spring, Md. Massaquoi drove everyone to an alley in the Brightwood Park neighborhood in DC, approximately 5 miles away.
Carvajal and Binion stepped out of the car with Taylor. Carvajal then struck Taylor in the head with a rock, and Binion allegedly shot him in the head with a pistol that belonged to Massaquoi.
According to court documents, Massaquoi approached the police with information about the murder in August of 2015, seven years after the murder took place. Apparently, he confessed to his role in the murder in subsequent interviews.
Massaquoi also told the police that when he picked Taylor up he expected Binion would shoot and kill him.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department arrested Aug. 12 a transgendered man for fatally shooting another man in Northeast, DC.
According to a press release, police arrested and charged 23-year-old Michael “Meisha” Hines with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Wendell Youngblood on the 1500 block of North Capitol Street, NE on Aug. 3.
Hines is also charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for an unrelated offense that occurred on Aug. 11 in the Unit block of Florida Avenue, NW. Apparently, Hines struck a person with a bat and fled the scene. The person was taken to an area hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
Hines is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 11.
On Aug. 14, a murder defendant apologized to the family of his victim after being sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Joshua Artis pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for shooting Ryan Matthew Addison, 28, on the 200 block of Elmira Street, SW on Aug. 11, 2015. Artis, 29, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, conspiracy, obstruction of justice and unlawful possession of a firearm.
All other charges were dropped in the agreement.
Addison’s family and close friends were present in court to speak to the character of the victim. They spoke about his love for fashion and how Artis had taken away a good person who the community needed.
They said they wanted Artis to find peace with his mistake.
Artis said in court that he did not mean to kill Addison and it was a case of mistaken identity. He also said he was remorseful for what he did.
DC Superior Court Judge Ronna Beck sentenced Artis to 20 years in prison with five years of supervised release on the recommendation of the prosecution. His sentence will be served concurrently with a sentence from a conviction in Virginia.
D.C. Witness previously reported that Artis is part of the Imperial Gangsta Bloods’ (IGB) gang. Apparently, he was “authorized,” by the leader, to kill Addison in retaliation for the killing of Rodney Delonte Davis on July 28, 2015.
Artis was transferred to Virginia to serve out his sentence.
During a preliminary hearing Aug. 12, a murder defendant pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.
Tyler Hurley, 21, is charged with voluntary manslaughter for his alleged involvement in the death of Kunal Talwar, 38, on Dec. 23 2018, at the intersection of 19th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW. According to court documents, Hurley was driving between 64 and 73 miles-per-hour in a 25 miles-per-hour zone. He drove through a red light before colliding with Talwar’s car.
Hurley was originally charged with second-degree murder.
The prosecution recommended a three-year sentence under the Youth Act.
While DC Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe accepted Hurley’s guilty plea, he is not legally required to honor the prosecution’s sentencing recommendation.
D.C. Witness previously reported that Hurley had been offered a plea agreement on June 25. It is not apparent if the plea Hurley accepted was the same agreement offered in June.
Hurley has been released under the high intensity supervision program (HISP). He will remain on HISP until his sentencing hearing, which is scheduled on Oct. 18.
During a trial readiness hearing Aug. 12, a judge ordered a murder defendant to undergo a mental competency evaluation.
Bernard Coleman III, 26, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, burglary, robbery while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior crime of violence for allegedly shooting his father, Bernard Coleman Jr., 43. The shooting occurred on the 4000 block of Cole Boulevard on March 17, 2017.
DC Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe accepted the DC Department of Mental Health’s recommendation that Coleman receive mental evaluation to determine his competency to stand trial.
All of Coleman’s trial dates have been vacated pending the results of his mental evaluation. His trial was scheduled to begin on Aug. 19.
D.C. Witness previously reported that defense counsel requested a mental exam on July 25 due to Coleman’s disciplinary issues while in custody.
Judge Iscoe said he expects the results of the evaluation to be ready by the next hearing.
Coleman is scheduled for a mental observation hearing on Sept. 9.
During a preliminary hearing Aug. 9, a judge found probable cause that a murder defendant killed a man from his cellphone records.
Raymond Avent, 19, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for the killing of 23-year-old RafiqHawkins on the 1200 block of Brentwood Road, NE on March 23.
A Metropolitan Police Department detective told DC Superior Court Judge Kimberly Knowles that he believed Avent was connected to the murder based on cellphone records as well as photos and videos found on Avent’s phone.
The detective said surveillance video, that was not shown in court, showed three individuals getting out of a car and shooting at someone near Brentwood Road on March 23.
Another surveillance video, which was also not shown in court, showed three individuals walking into an apartment complex on Bladensburg Road in Maryland, the detective said.
The detective said the distance between the crime scene and the apartment complex is about two miles and that the individuals walked into the complex six minutes after the murder.
The detective said the photos and videos, found on Avent’s phone, were of him holding guns that matched the description of the guns that were recovered six days after the murder.
Apparently, an eye witness told police that people got out of a dark colored Cadillac and shot at the victim on the night of the murder.
According to the detective, a Cadillac Seville, which Avent was riding in, was pulled over on March 29. Avent was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm.
The detective also said the guns were thrown out of the Cadillac before the individuals were pulled over.
Defense counsel, Elizabeth Weller, said Avent’s DNA was not found on the weapons and the detective only received the arrest information through other officers, which she said she believed was hearsay.
Judge Knowles said there was probable cause that Avent killed Hawkins because of cellphone tower evidence that placed Avent near the crime scene and an apartment complex in a short timespan after the murder.
During a motions hearing Aug. 13, defense counsel argued that the District of Columbia Superior Court system may not have jurisdiction over his client’s murder case.
Terrance Barnes, a resident of Southeast DC, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 57-year-old Barry Holmes on the 5100 block of Southern Avenue, SE.
Defense attorney, Jeffrey D. Stein, said Barnes, 28, may have been in Maryland at the time of the shooting even though Holmes’ body was found in DC. Stein said there is a possibility that the case would be relocated to Maryland.
But, the prosecution disagreed, saying Barnes was in DC when he fired at Holmes.
Even if he wasn’t, DC has jurisdiction over him since the “consequence” of the crime was in DC, the prosecutor said.
DC Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe said he believed the prosecution was correct, but gave the defense until Aug. 20 to find case law supporting their interpretation.
The prosecution has until Aug. 28 to respond to any additional arguments made by the defense.
Barnes is scheduled for another motions hearing on Sept. 9.
