According to court documents, two of the victims were found inside of a vehicle and the other victim was found ‘a few car lengths’ away. A police investigation indicates that the victims may have been in the area to buy guns or drugs. Police were informed by a witness from the area that Schuler and Abney may have also committed robberies together.
Apparently, Willis called Schuler multiple times months before the homicides and then on the same day of the homicides.
Due to ‘technical difficulties,’ DC Superior Court Judge Dayna Dayson was unable to proceed with the scheduled preliminary hearing.
For the last four years D.C. Witness has tracked every homicide in DC from act to judicial resolution. We have covered over 750 lost lives and gathered over 70,000 data points, striving to bring transparency to the judicial system and shining light on the blight that affects our community. Sadly, it continues to grow.
This week Courtland Milloy of the Washington Post captured the essence of what we are trying to do in an amazing column that you can read here.
If you are reading this note hopefully you find what we do of value.
We have grand plans to build on what we have started, to serve DC better and more deeply. Potential funders want evidence that we have community engagement. So, we are asking as many site visitors as possible for a single, one-time donation of $10.
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During a motions hearing for a 2015 murder case, counsel told a judge about issues with contacting witnesses involved with the case.
Gary Proctor, 41, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol outside a home or business and unlawful possession of ammunition for his alleged involvement in the death of Jerome Diggs, 42. The crime occurred on the 1300 block of First Street, SW on July 27, 2015.
Defense attorney, Steven Kiersh, said he is having problems getting in touch with a material witness. He informed DC Superior Court Judge Dayna Dayson that there have been two subpoenas ordered for this witness as of June 20.
The prosecution also told Judge Dayson that she was having difficulties contacting witnesses.
Judge Dayson continued the hearing to June 27 when counsel is expected to discuss the witness issue further.
During a felony status conference June 20, a prosecutor notified a judge that he would need until the Sept. 24 deadline to reach an indictment.
Stephen Maye, also spelled Steven, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvment in the death of Derek Anthony Walcott in December of 2018. Walcott, 46, was found stabbed multiple times on the 5100 block of B Street, SE.
According to court documents, Walcott’s death was the result of a fight between him and Maye, 49. A witness told police that Maye had a knife while he and Walcott were fighting. According to police documents, Walcott was at Maye’s apartment to smoke PCP.
Defense counsel, Mani Golzari, requested that any evidence the prosecution has against the defendant that could help the defense’s case be turned over as soon as possible. If the prosecution fails to provide this evidence, it would be a violation of the defendant’s fifth amendment right to due process.
Golzari also said he was in favor of negotiating a protective order regarding body-worn camera footage from the crime scene. He did not provide any further explanation about the details of the protective order.
At the crime scene, a blood trail led from the apartment to where Walcott was found by police. Walcott’s body and a knife were found behind a U-Haul truck, according to police documents.
Police found Maye in the driver’s seat of the truck. He said, “they said he took some drugs … they were going to kill him,” according to police documents. It is unclear who Maye was referring to when he said “they.”
Another felony status conference is scheduled on Aug. 23. DC Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe said if both parties could agree on the protective order and the prosecution begins to provide discovery, the hearing would be vacated.
The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred in the Park View neighborhood of Northwest Washington, DC.
According to a press release, 29-year-old Juan Marcell Grant was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on June 19 on the 700 block of Princeton Place, NW. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
The police are offering up to a $25,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this case or any other homicide case 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.
During a motion hearing June 18, defense counsel raised multiple objections to the prosecution’s draft of a protective order regarding the disclosure of witness identities.
Alonzo Lewis is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly shooting 40-year-old Jaquon Helm and 35-year-old Venius Badgetton 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.
The prosecution claimed all evidence has been given to the defense and they would continue to hand over any new material. The prosecutor then spoke with DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson under seal to explain the need for a protective order.
Judge Dayson suggested removing the clause to prevent future problems.
Fowler agreed, noting that PDS has procedures and counsel to address possible issues.
Fowler said the prosecution is making unfair promises to witnesses about keeping their identities hidden. He said if the case were to go to trial, the names could be released.
The defense also said the wording of the protective order lowered the requirement of the prosecution to make all evidence available, which is required by law. Fowler said he plans to file a motion by the next hearing scheduled on Sept. 20.
But, the prosecutor argued that the defense attorney doesn’t need to discuss the evidence with other attorneys, claiming the clause would prevent future conflicts if any other attorneys are representing one of the witnesses in a different case.
Judge Dayson suggested limiting disclosure at PDS to a practice group that is cleared for conflicts. She didn’t make a determination on whether the protective order would be granted.
Since 2015, a group of aspiring young journalists has chronicled every homicide in the District on the site D.C. Witness. No killing goes unnoticed. Every victim gets a story, usually accompanied by a photo. Every arrest. Every courtroom hearing. Every verdict. That gets reported, too.
The result is a view of killings as cause for both alarm and sadness.
The stories are brief, but they provide an opportunity for people to see that their loved one existed.
“Through our work, we can see how a homicide can affect people who live throughout the city, sometimes the region,” said LaTrina Antoine, editor in chief at D.C. Witness. “People who are killed usually have lots of family and friends here.”
During the past four years, D.C. Witness has reported on 641 homicides in the city — a count that tracks closely with stats published by the D.C. police department. That’s more than the 550 people killed in mass shootings in the country, from the Sandy Hook massacre in 2012 to the Virginia Beach killings in May.
Mass shootings strike terror because the public never knows when or where one might happen. But D.C. Witness reporters know from covering the trials of homicide victims that there is also terror in living in a neighborhood where killings are all too frequent, where a fatal gunshot could be precipitated by no more than a perceived slight.
“The District is actually a safe city, but not if you’re a young black man between 18 and 27,” said Amos Gelb, founder and publisher of D.C. Witness.
“I see it constantly in the courtroom,” Antoine added. “Black men saying if they weren’t going to be the perpetrator they were going to end up being the victim. And you see the tears of the family. I’ve seen so many tears, and I just keep adding more black male victims to the website.”
D.C. Witness covers every murder in the District. From left, writers Annie Brennan, Regina Woolridge, editor in chief LaTrina Antoine and writer Julia Guercio. Back row from left, writers Nick Slater, Brooke Welsh and publisher Amos Gelb. (Brooke Welsh/D.C. Witness)
Gelb started the website to provide journalism and law school students internships where they could learn how a courtroom works and write about it. He soon saw a need to provide more information about developments in homicide cases — especially for the family and friends of those involved in the tragedy. The work is also supported with grants from the Poynter Institute for Media Studies and the Charles Koch Foundation.
He first hired three students, then later increased that number to five to work with Antoine and an assistant editor as court reporters.
D.C. Witness focuses on a steadily growing mountain of human life cut short.
For instance, combing the homicide tallies for three years — from 2015 to 2017 — there were 339 black males killed in the District, compared with 11 white males, according to D.C. police. During that same period, 36 black women were victims of homicide, compared with four white women.
On average, about 30 percent of homicide cases remain unsolved, according to police statistics.
The primary agencies that handle homicide cases — the D.C. police, the U.S. attorney’s office and D.C. Superior Court — have websites that provide the basic facts about a killing — who was killed, when they were killed, trial dates. Family members need that information, but much more.
D.C. Witness combines data from all three agencies and follows each case as it makes its way through the criminal justice system. The information includes daily updates on court proceedings.
Asked what drives her, Antoine recalled how she had been affected by homicide.
In 2002, she was in an automobile accident that left her in a coma, she said. When she came out of it, she learned that her father, Richard Antoine, 54, had been shot and killed. (His killer was arrested and convicted of reckless use of a firearm.)
“I didn’t know what had happened and getting answers from my family was really difficult,” she recalled. “Part of the reason was they didn’t want to talk about it but also they hadn’t been able to get answers either. That’s what motivates me. Helping families get answers about their cases and telling the stories.”
Gelb had his motivation as well.
“My son just graduated from Wilson [High School in Northwest Washington], and he knew Breon Austin and Jamahri Sydnor,” he said.
“On the school bus, on his way to a football game, one of my son’s teammates got word that his dad had been shot at a Metro station,” Gelb said. “And I’m thinking, ‘This is my kid, this is my city; we have to do more to put an end to this.’ ”
During a felony status conference June 18, counsel in a murder case discussed a warrant for a defendant’s DNA.
Tyree Irving is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 22-year-old Davane Williams in January on the 1200 block of North Capitol Street, NW. Irving, 22, is also charged with assault with a dangerous weapon as part of a separate offense in February.
The prosecution applied for the warrant ex-parte, which defense attorney, John Fowler, objected to.
Fowler argued that collection of Irving’s DNA is an intrusion on his body. He also said he did not want the DNA sample to be entered into evidence if the case went to trial.
Fowler said the prosecution’s discussion of the warrant with the judge should not be ex-parte. It’s inappropriate to test a detained person’s DNA, he said.
Fowler also said he believes the evidence will go nowhere but gave no further explanation.
After DC Superior Court Judge Dayna Dayson allowed the prosecution to proceed with the warrant application, Fowler said he would file a motion to quash the warrant.
Judge Dayson gave the defense until June 24 to file a motion to quash the warrant. She said the warrant could not be executed until the motion to quash was resolved.
The prosecution’s response to Fowler’s motion is due by June 25 and a motions hearing is scheduled on June 26.
The Metropolitan Police Department is searching for a suspect who is connected to a homicide on the 1300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.
Police are searching for Peter Nhek Neth in connection to a homicide on June 15.
According to a press release, police are currently looking for Peter Nhek Neth. Neth, 30, is wanted on an DC Superior Court arrest warrant for allegedly shooting 37-year-old Richfield Chang in a residence on June 15. Chan was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
A woman, who was also in the residence, sustained multiple gunshot wounds as well. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment of life threatening injuries.
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Neth, or who has knowledge of this incident should call the police at 202-727-9099. Anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s Text Tip Line — 50411. The police department is offering a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone that provides information that leads to an arrest and conviction for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) obtained surveillance footage that shows a vehicle that is possibly involved in June homicide.
Darryl Johnson, 27, was shot multiple times on the 300 block of 62nd Street, NE on June 12. He died on the scene.
Police are currently looking for the vehicle described as a blue ‘newer’ ford fusion with tinted windows.
Vehicle of Interest in Darryl Johnson’s homicide.
If anyone has information about the vehicle, please call the police at 202-727-9099. A reward of up to $25,000 is being offered to anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this case or any homicide case in DC. Anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s Text Tip Line — 50411.
A DC Superior judge rescheduled a murder defendant’s preliminary hearing to July 19.
Travis Russell is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvment in killing Michael Hooker on the 2700 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE on May 26.
Judge Craig Iscoe made the ruling after the defense requested a continuance. The reason why the defense asked for the hearing to be continued was not disclosed.
According to court documents, Hooker, 44, and Russell, 35, stayed at the same homeless shelter. Russell allegedly got into an altercation with Hooker at a bus stop near the shelter. A short time later, Russell allegedly pushed Hooker to the ground and stabbed him three times with a glass bottle. At the time of the murder, Hooker was allegedly intoxicated.
A DC Superior Court judge ordered a full competency examination for a murder defendant during a mental observation hearing on June 18.
George Anderson, 21, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 24-year-old Devin Butler on the 1200 block of North Capitol Street, NW on June 13.
Judge Todd Edelman said that based on a forensic examination on June 17, a mental health counselor for the court “could not form a definitive opinion on [Anderson’s] competency for trial.”
There was no objection from counsel regarding the order for a full competency examination. Defense Attorney, Blase Kearney, requested that Anderson’s evaluation be performed at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric hospital.
Judge Edelman also agreed that based off his first evaluation, Anderson should be in a “detained setting,” such as a hospital for his safety.
Anderson’s next mental observation hearing is scheduled on July 22.
During a status hearing June 17, a murder defendant pleaded guilty to negligent homicide.
Ryan Thompson was initially charged with second-degree murder and wreckless driving for the death of Matthew Roth on July 19, 2015. Thompson, 26, was racing 31-year-old Rasheed Murray down 16th Street, NW when Murray lost control of his vehicle and struck Roth.
Under the terms of Thompson’s plea agreement, Thompson faces up to five years in prison and three years of supervised release.
Defense attorney, Rebecca Sibloch, also requested that Thompson and Murray’s sentences be separate. DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee accepted Thompson’s plea and set his sentencing date on Oct. 18.
Murray accepted a plea agreement in July of 2018. His sentencing is scheduled on July 10.
Defense counsel for a murder defendant said they have begun the process of DNA testing during a status hearing on June 14.
Leonard Smith, 33, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and carrying a dangerous weapon for allegedly stabbing 26-year-old Leonte Butler on the 4000 block of South Capitol Street, SE, on March 11, 2017.
Defense counsel said every item of evidence that they want to test has been transferred to the lab and has undergone “some degree of testing.” However, Dinah Manning, one of Smith’s defense attorneys, said they intend to test items of additional evidence that the prosecution introduced more recently. Counsel expects to finish testing in time for the scheduled Nov. 12 trial date.
The prosecution has completed all necessary DNA testing for the case.
DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson scheduled a hearing on July 26 to give the defense an opportunity to discuss the results of the DNA testing and decide what further actions to take.
According to court documents, officers of the Metropolitan Police Department found Butler lying unconscious in an alley suffering from multiple stab wounds to the body. Butler was pronounced dead on the scene.
