Murder Defendant Pleads Guilty

On Sept. 9, a murder defendant pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and assault with a dangerous weapon.

Timothy Gibson, 28, was initially charged with first-degree murder while armed for his role in the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Carl Day-Baker on the 1500 block of T Street, SE on Sept. 1, 2018.

Gibson was initially scheduled to begin trial on Sept. 9, but the trial was vacated in light of the plea.

Defense counsel, Eugene Ohm, told the judge that he and the prosecution agreed on a sentence of 9.5 years.

DC Superior Court Judge Danya A. Dayson accepted Gibson’s guilty plea, but she reminded Gibson that she could reject it at a later date.

According to the District of Columbia’s voluntary sentencing guidelines, a defendant with a criminal history score between 0 and 1.5, who is charged with voluntary manslaughter while armed could face a prison term between 7.5 years to 15 years. A first-degree murder while armed charges holds a voluntary sentencing span between 30 years-60 years in prison under the same score.

Gibson is scheduling for sentencing on Nov. 22.

Judge Rules Murder Under DC Jurisdiction

A judge ruled Sept. 9 that a homicide occurred in the District of Columbia instead of Maryland.

Terrance Barnes, who is also known as Michael Barnes, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Barry Holmes, 57, on the the 5100 block of Southern Avenue, SE near the border of DC and Maryland in April.

On July 31, Barnes’s defense attorney, Jefferey Stein, submitted a motion of dismissal for lack of jurisdiction.

Stein said the prosecution did not have sufficient evidence to prove whether the final shot was fired in the District or Maryland. Apparently, the street the incident occurred on is split by the border.

A witness said “the shooter ran up Heath Street, which is located in Maryland,” Stein told the judge. Apparently, witnesses of the alleged crime said they heard shots and saw the victim on the ground within DC city limits.

However, to prove the incident occurred in DC, a prosecutor said Holmes suffered from muzzle burns on his chest. The burns could only be inflicted by a close range shot, the prosecutor said.

DC Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe denied the defense’s motion for dismissal for lack of jurisdiction. He said his decision was based on the accounts of several witnesses as well as the burns on the victim’s chest.

A felony status conference is scheduled on Jan. 17.

Judge Finds Probable Cause, Holds Murder Defendant

On Sept. 9, a DC Superior Court judge decided there was probable cause a murder defendant shot a man earlier this summer. She ruled that he should be held without bail.

Keandre Barber is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 29-year-old Juan Marcell Grant on the 700 block of Princeton Place, NW on June 19.

Even though Judge Dana Dayson said the evidence presented by the prosecution pointed to more probabilities than actual certainties, she said video from the alley places Barber at the scene of the crime when it took place.

On the video, Barber,19, is seen with the victim and another person. The other person and Barber seem appear to be leading Grant in the video, the judge said.

Video and GPS evidence place Barber closer to the crime scene than the other person, so it is more likely that Barber shot and killed the victim, the judge said.

The preliminary hearing was initially scheduled on Sept. 6, however Judge Dayson continued the hearing because she needed more time to mull over the evidence.

Defense attorney, Mani Golzari said there was a need for the prosecution to identify the specific evidence that identified Barber as the shooter.

Golzari said there is more than one entrance and exit to the alley where the shooting occurred, leaving the possibility for a different shooter. Video footage of the defendant does not show intent to kill Grant, it also shows Barber and the other person leaving the alley from different directions.

Even so, the prosecution said the video indicates that Barber aided and abetted the other person in the pursuit of the victim.

The prosecutor also said the defendant admitted to knocking out the victim the day prior to the murder.

After finding probable cause, Judge Dayson also refused to release Barber to a halfway house, citing his prior firearms possession conviction. According to DC Courts, Barber was convicted of possession in March.

He is scheduled for a felony status conference on Oct. 3.

Judge Sentences A Murder Defendant to 15 Years in Prison

A judge sentenced Sept. 6, a murder defendant to 15 years in prison after denying his motion to take back a plea.

In April, Ricardo Daquan Boston pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. He was initially charged with first-degree murder while armed, among other offenses, for his role in the shooting death of 20-year-old Dante Coleman on the 3900 block of First Street, SE in 2017. The plea stipulated a sentence range of between 10 and 15 years.

The very next day, defense attorney Dorsey Jones filed an appeal of the sentence with DC Superior Courts. According to the appeal, Jones reason for appeal was because DC Superior Court Judge Todd E. Edelman denied Boston’s motion to take back his plea.

Jones also requested a change of counsel.

The appeal was denied on Sept. 9 and Boston’s original 15 year sentence was reinstated, according to DC Courts.

Boston is also required to serve 5 additional years on supervised release after finishing his term in prison.

Judge Edelman recommended that Boston be sent to a facility that will allow him to have vocational training, anger management and drug treatment.

“If anyone thinks pictures are important, wait until that’s all you have left,” Coleman’s grandmother told DC Superior Court Judge Todd E. Edelman. Along with losing her grandson to violence, Coleman’s mother was also murdered. The date the victim’s mother was killed was not disclosed.

Boston maintained his defense that he shot Coleman after the victim attacked him and tried to take his gun. During the melee, Boston says he shot Coleman by accident and also shot himself in the arm.

“I do not believe your account,” Judge Edelman replied.

Judge Edelman said it didn’t make sense for Coleman to attack Boston when he knew he had a gun. Judge Edelman also said there was no evidence that Boston was ever shot.

Apparently, Boston flew to Texas and was arrested there. Authorities in Texas did not notice a bullet wound in Boston’s arm, the judge said.

Document: Third Homicide Occurs in Ward 7 within Five Days

The Metropolitan Police Department is currently investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on Sept. 7.

According to a press release, officers found 19-year-old DeAndre Person suffering from a gunshot wound on the 3600 block of Jay Street, NE. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Police are offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this homicide or any other homicide in DC. 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.

Judge Sentences Woman to 7.5 Years in Prison for Killing Husband

On Sept. 6, to the dismay of the victim’s family and the prosecuting attorney, a woman was sentenced to less than a decade for killing her husband.

On March 28, a jury found Dianna Lalchan guilty of voluntary manslaughter while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for shooting her 36-year-old husband, Christopher Lalchan, on the 1200 block of 4th Street, SW on March 28, 2013.

“Anything less than the maximum sentence would be allowing her to get away with murder,” the prosecutor told Judge Ronna Lee Beck as she requested the maximum sentence of 15 years for the 34 year-old. Dianna was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison.

Christopher’s family also shared the prosecutor’s sentiment, asking for the maximum sentence.

“I was privileged to travel 6,000 miles to see my son in a box,” Christopher’s father told the judge during his victim impact statement.

“She had no right to pull that trigger,” Christopher’s brother said.

Dianna’s family and friends also shared strong sentiments.

“This caring and empowering individual’s life is at stake today,” a friend of Dianna’s family told the judge.

Dianna’s defense attorney, Arthur Ago, told the court he believed his client was not a danger to society and “the court should not impose revenge on [Dianna] in this case.”

During the trial Dianna expressed love for her husband, she reiterated those sentiments when she addressed the judge during the sentencing.

“I live my life and will continue to live my life to honor Chris,” Dianna said.

Judge Sentences Murder Defendent to 8.5 Years in Prison for Voluntary Manslaughter

A murder defendent was sentenced Sept. 6 to 8.5 years in prision and five years on supervised release for killing a man in 2016.

Hakeem Jamal Burroughs pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter for shooting Jarell Walker who on the 3700 block of Hayes St., NE on June 2, 2016. Walker died on June 6. Burroughs was initially charged with first-degree murder while armed, possision of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with the intent to kill while armed and unlawful possesion of firearm with a prior conviction.

“The defendant got an incredibly generous plea offer because of a no snitch policy,” the prosecution said. Apparently, the other men involved in the case would not testify against Borroughs.

As part of his plea deal Burroughs gun possession and assault charges were dropped.

The prosecutor said two armed men got in an argument with Walker. While the victim was walking away, Burroughs shot him in the back three times.

“We don’t think eight and a half years is enough, but we will agree to it,” the prosecution said.

DC Superior Court Judge Juliet Mckenna said Burroughs, 24, “has a tremendous amount of potential.” Judge McKenna said she hopes he “will come back with a commitment to making the community better.”

Defense attorney, Dominique Winters, referred to Burroughs as “ one of my favorite clients, a sweetheart.” She said he expressed an interest in keeping in contact with her after the trial was over.

The defense asked Judge Mckenna to suggest Borroughs be placed in Allenwood Prison, located in Pennsylvania, in order to be closer to his family.

The prosecutor said the victim’s grandmother found the sentencing “too stressful to come”. Family members for both the victim and Burroughs did not attend the sentencing.

Murder Defendants Reject Plea Offers

During a status hearing Sept. 6, two murder defendants rejected plea offers.

Stephon Evans, 18, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, and 19-year-old Kewon Hunter is charged with second-degree murder while armed for their alleged involvement in the shooting of 21-year-old Dion Boyd. The incident occurred on the 1400 block of Maryland Avenue, NE on July 30, 2018.

The prosecution offered Evans a plea deal for first degree murder while armed. Hunter was offered a plea deal for second-degree murder while armed.

A jury trial has been scheduled on March 22, 2020.

The next status hearing is scheduled on Nov. 8.

Judge Denies Murder Defendant’s Request for Counsel Change

A murder defendent said Sept. 6 his defense attorney was not giving him effective counsel. However, a judge disagreed.

Chad Everette Hawthorne is charged with the first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the death of 35-year-old Antonio Bassett on the 3900 block of Pennsylvania Ave., SE on May 22, 2017.

On Sept. 6, after speaking wit the 36-year-old defendant and his attorney about the issues at the bench, DC Superior Court Judge Juliet Mckenna ruled that Kiersh and the investigator followed through on all of their duties.

She said Kiersh had kept Hawthorne fully informed.

Apparently, Hawthorne had concerns that his lawyer was not trying to locate witnesses. Hawthorne filed for ineffective assistance of counsel on Aug 8. He sent a letter containing his concerns with his attorney, Steven Kiersh, to the judge.

Judge Mckenna said she looked at the investigative voucher and was informed by Kiersh about the actions the investigator had taken to find witnesses.

Kiersh will remain Hawthorne’s defense attorney moving forward.

Hawthorne is scheduled for a trial readiness hearing on Sept. 20.

D.C. Witness Welcomes New Fall Interns

It’s that time again.

A new school year is beginning and, along with it, comes a new cohort of eager young minds ready to partake in D.C. Witness’s seriously taxing business of tracking and reporting on homicides in Washington, DC.

Although my opinion may be biased, I think these interns and all of the past interns that D.C. Witness has tutored and mentored since 2015 will gain a perspective that is lost in today’s academia. These interns will get to see, up close, the ramifications of violent crime on a city and its residents. These interns will also get to partake in data collection that could help solve DC’s homicide problem.

What more could a student ask for?

D.C. Witness not only equips interns with stronger data tracking, note-taking, communication and writing skills, it also provides them with an educational experience on the court process. Each semester there is an intern who is astonished by the court process and how different it is from “Law and Order.”

An intern told me that even though she was an avid viewer of crime shows, it was shocking that the murder defendants she reports on could have been someone she passed on the street going home.

I can relate to the shock.

Before I began my tenure at D.C. Witness as the nonprofit organization’s editor-in-chief, I, too, was a bit sheltered from the sheer reality of crime and murder in not only DC, but also in my hometown. Both areas have held the title of the murder capitol of the United States in previous years.

Like any average American, I thought the law was open and closed. If a person was charged and convicted of a murder, they did something to deserve the conviction and needed to pay the consequence. I looked at homicide as more of this cinematic event that only happens in Hollywood type scenarios by heartless villains.

But, that is not the case. Interns at D.C. Witness see a presence of humanity in some defendants, a gesture not often shown on television.

As a third party sitting in a courtroom and seeing a case unfold, you notice the tragedies that homicide wreaks in its wake. You see the families suffer. At times, you even see how one ill-thought action turns into a consequence that takes away decades of a person’s life.

The emotional toll is heavy.

After being at D.C. Witness, I have realized that the atmosphere of homicides is not sensational but rather an occurrence of where the city is lacking resources. D.C. Witness has tracked that not only do a majority of homicides occur from petty disputes, but that most of the homicides have occurred from gun-related shootings. As we track each homicide, our data shines more light on the root causes of these murders.

D.C. Witness believes the underlying causes of these homicides need to be addressed if we ever hope to get a handle on the number of murders that happen in the city.

As I instruct interns, all of whom come from various colleges and universities both inside the city and around the world, I marvel at their passion to help DC deal with its homicide problem.

I look forward to the work my next group of students, ranging from criminal justice majors to communications majors, will produce this semester.

Judge Decides to Revisit Substantial Probability Ruling at Later Date

During a motions hearing Sept. 5, a judge decided to revisit her substantial probability finding on Sept. 13.

Alonzo Lewis is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly shooting 40-year-old Jaquon Helm and 35-year-old Venius Badgett on the Unit block of Galveston Street, SW in May of 2018. Lewis, 33, is also charged with possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill while armed against a minor and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Defense attorney John Fowler filed a motion Aug. 24 to revisit the substantial probability finding and to release Lewis. He also requested all remaining discovery from the prosecution, including the names of witnesses so he could interview them.

DC Superior Court Judge Danya A. Dayson ended the proceedings after the attorneys began interrupting one another, and did not rule on the motion.

Lewis is scheduled for a motions hearing on Sept. 13.

Counsel Considers What Graphic Images to Show Jury in Murder Case

During a status hearing on Sept. 5, a defense attorney referred to a 2-year-old victim’s body as being “fileted” in photos that could potentially be shown to a jury.

James Embre is charged with felony murder, first-degree cruelty to children and second-degree cruelty to children for his allerged role in the death of 2-year-old Aceyson Aizim Ahmad on the 3400 block of A Street, SE on April 17. According to court documents, Embre, 26 was involved in a romantic relationship with Ahmad’s mother.

The prosecution and defense attorney, Andrew L. Ain, discussed which photos to share with the jury because they displayed graphic content.

Counsel also agreed to remove the sounds of police sirens from a video where the boy’s mother and sister are talking. Counsel said the sirens would trigger the girl.

D.C. Witness reported that DC Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna ordered Aug. 28 that the girl could testify in the case.

According to court documents, Ahmad’s sister was six years old at the time of the murder. She is seven now. Ahmad’s sister is the only eyewitness to the events leading up to Ahmad’s death besides Embre, 24.

In addition to deciphering photos and removing the sound of the sirens from the video, the prosecution is trying to narrow down witnesses from more than 60 to 10.

A status hearing is scheduled on Sept. 9.

Witness Stranded Because of Hurricane Dorian

During a preliminary hearing Sept. 5, a witness in a murder case was unable to appear due to flight cancellations from substantial winds and floods from Hurricane Dorian along the Southern Eastern Coast of the United States.

On June 22, Keith Toney, 41, allegedly shot and killed 45-year-old Melton Grant on the 600 block of Morton Street, NW.

The preliminary hearing was rescheduled to Sept. 20.

Judge Says Evidence Shows Murder Defendant Needs to be Held in Jail

A murder defendant, who is claiming self defense, is being held without bond based on visual evidence.

Tony Antonie McClam, 29, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 11-year-old Karon Brown on the 2700 block of Naylor Road, SE on July 18. McClam was orginially charge with second-degree murder by officers from the Metropolitan Police Department. On July 24, DC Superior Courts Magistrate Judge Renee Ryamond increased the charge.

On Sept. 4, D.C. Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe found probable cause with substantial probability that McClam could have committed the crime. Judge Iscoe held McClam because he said he believed the defendant “wouldn’t follow conditions of release” because of previous criminal charges in two other states, including Virginia.

Defense attorney, James King, said his client acted in self defense because McClam thought the driver of the Nissan Sentra was reaching for a weapon.

King also said McClam carried a handgun around for protection because his brother was a victim of a gun-related murder in 2015. Apparently, McClam believed the people who killed his brother were still at-large and looking to kill him.

According to court documents, a witness also told police that he saw McClam with a gun on multiple occasions. However, that witness told police that he never saw McClam fire the gun.

Additionally, surveillance video showed smoke coming from a gun that McClam was allegedly pointing at the Nissan as it started driving away.

King said bullets are fired faster than smoke appears, therefore it is unclear if the smoke shown in the video was at the exact time the gun was fired. Additionally, King said McClam did not know Brown was in the car, saying he has a glass eye and therefore couldn’t see that well.

Despite McClam’s glass eye, the prosecution said he would have been able to see inside the car because the windows were not tinted.

The prosecution argued that if the gun was fired while the car was stopped, then the bullet holes would be located on the side of the car instead of the trunk. Therefore, the prosecutor said he believes McClam was not acting in self defense.

Court documents state that two rounds went through the trunk and struck Brown in the back.

A felon status conference is scheduled on Oct. 3.

Bus Crash Makes Murder Defendant Miss Hearing

During a status hearing Sept. 5, a murder defendant was unable to make a court hearing because of a bus crash that included multiple inmates.

Xavier Culbreth,19, is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly stabbing 40-year-old Jamal Ferrell at the Potomac Avenue Metro Station located on the 700 block of 14th Street, SE on April 28.

Jada Jena Smith was charged in the homicide, but her charges were dropped on July 1. She was released the following day.

The status hearing was rescheduled to Sept. 12.

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