The Metropolitan Police Department arrested July 20 a man they believe is connected to the death of a boy in Southeast, DC.
According to a press release, 29-year-old Tony Antoine McClam allegedly assaulted 11-year-old Karon Brown on the 2700 Block of Naylor Road, SE on July 18. McClam is charged with second-degree murder while armed.
His first appearance at DC Superior Court is scheduled on Aug. 22.
7 20 19 Arrest Made in a Homicide 2700 Block of Naylor Road, Southeast (Text)
The Metropolitan Police Department is investing a fatal shooting that occurred on July 20.
According to a press release, officers found 34-year-old Eric Byrd suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the 1100 block of U Street, NW. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
The department is offering a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone that provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction in this homicide or any other homicide case in the District of Columbia. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at 202-727-9099. Anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s Text Tip Line — 50411.
Two males were fatally shot in same residence in Northeast, DC on July 19.
According to a Metropolitan Police Department press release, police found two males, 17-year-old Ahkii Washington-Scruggs and 57-year-old Hugh Washington, suffering from gunshot wounds on the 1100 block of Queen Street, NE. Both victims died on the scene.
The Washington Post reported that the police do not know when the murders actually occurred.
Police have not made any arrests in connection to the murders.
A reward of up to $25,000 id being offered for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this homicide or any other homicide in DC. Anyone with information should call the police at 202-727-9099. Anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s Text Tip Line — 50411.
Follow D.C. Witness to get updates on the case.
7 20 19 Homicide 1100 Block of Queen Street, Northeast (Text)
A cooperating witness, who previously testified on July 9, said the defendant threatened him the day before.
Terik McLeod, 33, is charged with first-degree murder while armed with aggrivating circumstances for allegedly shooting Carlton Fisher on Oct. 1, 2006, on the 1100 block of21st Street, NE. McLeod is also charged with first-degree murder for shooting Devaun Drayton, 17, on the 700 block of 26th Street, NE on March 10, 2004. McLeod’s first trial resulted in a hung jury. He was indicted on the charges in January of 2018.
On July 18, the witness said that he and McLeod were being transported to the courthouse at the same time the day before he testified. However, there is a separation order between the men that is supposed to keep them apart.
Apparently, McLeod was starring at the witness during the transport. According to the witness, McLeod said, “If I lose, you lose.”
The witness also said McLeod told him he “had something” for him.
The witness said he was not sure what McLeod meant by the statement, but he took the exchange as a threat.
The trial is scheduled to continue on July 22.
The Metropolitan Police Department arrested July 19 a suspect for murder that occurred in Northeast, DC.
According to a news release, 19-year-old Raymond Avent is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 23-year-old Rafiq Hawkins on the 1200 block of Brentwood Road, NE on March 23.
Avent is a resident of Baltimore, Md.
7 19 19 Arrest Made in a Homicide 1200 Block of Brentwood Road, Northeast (Text)
An expert witness told a jury July 17 that the defendant’s DNA was not found at the murder scene.
Terik McLeod, 33, is charged with first-degree murder while armed with aggrivating circumstances for allegedly shooting Carlton Fisher on Oct. 1, 2006, on the 1100 block of 21st Street, NE. McLeod is also charged with first-degree murder for shooting Devaun Drayton, 17, on the 700 block of 26th Street, NE on March 10, 2004. McLeod’s first trial resulted in a hung jury.
An expert in fingerprint analysis said she received nine fingerprints from the crime scene of Fisher’s homicide. Three of the prints came from an Icehouse beer can and six from a can of Arizona tea.
The expert said she was only able to process five of the nine fingerprints because of the quality of the impression. She said she was able to conclude that those five finger prints did not belong to the victim, defendant or second suspect.
A firearms expert also testified about the guns and bullets used in both Drayton and Fisher’s cases.
The expert said that the bullets recovered from Drayton’s head and Fisher’s body were compatible with the .357 Magnum revolver that McLeod allegedly used to kill both men.
However, he said he could not confirm that the bullets were shot from the same gun due to some characteristics of the gun.
Before counsel begins arguments in a murder trial, the defense lawyer asked a DC Superior Court judge if he could ask questions about a witness’s mental health.
Gary Proctor 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 allegedly shooting Jerome Diggs, 47. The crime took play on the 1300 block of First Street, SW in 2015. Proctor, 41, is the victim’s cousin.
According to the prosecution’s findings, one of the witnesses, who is testifying during trial, has a history of mental health issues and auditory hallucinations. This witness allegedly made a statement saying she heard someone tell her that Proctor killed the victim.
Defense attorney, Steven Keirsh, said he would like to question the witness about how the auditory hallucinations could have impacted her statement about the alleged accusation she heard.
However, the prosecution told the judge that the witness has not experienced hallucinations since 1990.
Judge Dayna Dayson told defense counsel he could only question the witness’s mental health history if he makes a relevant connection to Diggs’ murder.
Opening statements are scheduled to occur on July 22.
On July 17, a DC Superior Court judge found a juvenile involved in a murder earlier this year.
Judge Lynn Leibovitz found the juvenile was responsible for the charges of second-degree murder while armed, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition for the murder of 23-year-old Jamal Kwame Crump on the 1300 block of Monroe Avenue, NW on Feb. 27.
Judge Leibovitz determined that the juvenile and two friends attacked Crump.
According to the prosecution, the attack was to rob Crump of a firearm that he was carrying.
However, Judge Leibovitz could not establish that Crump was robbed beyond a reasonable doubt on the grounds that video footage does not clearly show anyone removing a gun from Crump’s person during the attack. She said she did not want to rely on the testimony of the two individuals who conspired with the juvenile since they had been unreliable in the past.
Although the defense suggested that the friend that Crump grabbed may have been the real shooter, Judge Leibovitz said she was certain the juvenile was the shooter from video footage of the attack.
She said the juvenile’s distinctive clothing set the defendant apart from the other suspects during moments when his face was not entirely clear.
During closing statements, the prosecution said there was a pause after the second shot, which was followed by six additional shots. The pause between the second and third shot, meant the juvenile decided to kill Crump.
But, Judge Leibovitz said the shots occurred in “rapid fire.” She said there was no evidence that suggested that the juvenile met Crump with a plan to murder him.
The defense requested that Judge Leibovitz consider the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter instead of first or second-degree murder. The defense lawyer said the juvenile saw a friend was under attack and acted out of passion and fear for the friend’s life.
The lawyer also said Crump had a reputation for owning two guns, and there was no way for the juvenile to know if Crump was still armed. However, a second gun was not found on Crump.
The juvenile is scheduled for a status hearing on Aug. 7. A disposition hearing is set to occur on Sept. 23.
Paul Mulholland wrote this story.
The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on the 2700 block of Naylor Road, SE near a BP Gas station and a shopping center on July 18.
According to a press release, officers were notified that 11-year-old Karon Brown was taken to a Prince George’s County fire station and then to the Children’s National Medical Center in the District where he was pronounced dead.
Apparently, the shooting stemmed from a fight. Police do not know what sparked the fight. Assistant Police Chief Robert J. Contee III said the juvenile got into a car that was directly shot at.
Police are searing for the gunman who is described as being a black male in his 20s to early 30s with a medium complexion, a medium build, wearing black pants, and no shirt.
“We’re asking for the public’s assistance,” Contee said. “I want to add my condolences to the family.”
There have been 91 homicides in 2019 in the District of Columbia, according to D.C. Witness data, as of July 19. Of those homicides, four juveniles have died.
Police are offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction for this homicide or any other homicide in the District of Columbia. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at 202-727-9099. Anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s Text Tip Line — 50411.
7 18 19 Suspect Wanted in a Homicide 2700 Block of Naylor Road, Southeast (Text)
The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on the 3800 block of 2nd Street, SE.
According to a press release, officers found 28-year-old Mondell Valentine, a resident of Takoma Park, Md., which is located in Montgomery County, suffering from a gunshot wound on July 17. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
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
is asked to 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 arrested a suspect in connection to a homicide that occurred in February.
According to a press release, officers arrested 31-year-old Brandon Randall, a resident of Churchton, Md., which is located in Anne Arundel County, on July 17.
Randall is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 30-year-old David Elijah Brandon on the 4300 block of Georgia Avenue, NW on Feb. 24. Brandon was a resident of Burtonsville, Md., which is located in Montgomery County, Md.
Randall is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 16.
7 17 19 Arrest Made in a Homicide 4300 Block of Georgia Avenue, Northwest (Text)
7 17 19 Arrest Made in a Homicide 4300 Block of Georgia Avenue, Northwest (Text)
Before a murder trial begins, counselors told a DC Superior Court judge that they are still trying to secure witnesses.
Gary Proctor 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 his cousin, Jerome Diggs, 42. The crime occurred on the 1300 block of First Street, SW on July 27, 2015.
Judge Dayna Dayson said she expected opening statements would start July 17, but counsel is struggling to contact critical material witnesses.
Steven Kiersh, Proctor’s defense attorney, said he is waiting for a response from two witnesses. The prosecution is waiting for one more witness to respond. At this point counselors are concerned the witnesses will fail to show up to testify in the trial.
Jury selection occurred on July 17.
Opening statements for the trial are expected to begin on July 18, the courtroom’s law clerk told D.C. Witness.
The prosecutor told the judge that, despite the slow start, he thinks the case will move faster that expected.
Nine months after a man died from a fatal shooting, the Metropolitan Police Department is still asking for the public’s assistance in finding two suspects connected to a homicide that occurred on Oct. 16, 2018.
According to a press release, Rubelio Gomez Cervantes was shot on the 1100 block of 51st Street, NE. The 40 year old 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 case or any other homicide case in Washington, DC.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the police at 202-727-9099. Anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s Text Tip Line — 50411.
A defendant pleaded guilty to murdering his friend.
Mario Alfaro pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter for shooting 22-year-old Jonathan Vilchez on the 5400 block of Georgia Avenue, NW in 2017. Alfaro, 24, also pleaded guilty for attempted possession of a prohibited weapon after staff from the Department of Corrections (DOC) found a seven inch metal shank in his jail cell in 2018.
According to the terms of the plea agreement, the defendant could spend up to 30 years in prison for the charges.
Alfaro was initially charged with second-degree-murder while armed, which has a maximum sentence of 27 years, according to the he District of Columbia Voluntary Sentencing Guidelines.
The defendant and the victim were allegedly apart of the same street gang.
Alfaro and the victim’s mother said Vilchex and Alfaro were friends. Apparently, the two young men got into an altercation behind the Lucky Corner Market, when both pulled out firearms and began to fire.
“I would like to ask for your forgiveness,” Alfaro told Vichez’s mother in Spanish, adding “He was my friend.”
“I hope that God can forgive you because I cannot,” Vilchez’s mother said in response.
According to DC Courts, Alfaro is scheduled for a trial readiness hearing on Aug. 1. However, his sentencing is scheduled on Aug. 30.
A witness said a man was targeted twice because he was allegedly cooperating with police.
Terik McLeod, 33, is charged with first-degree murder while armed with aggrivating circumstances for allegedly shooting Carlton Fisher on Oct. 1, 2006, on the 1100 block of 21st Street, NE. McLeod is also charged with first-degree murder for shooting Devaun Drayton, 17, on the 700 block of 26th Street, NE on March 10, 2004. McLeod’s first trial resulted in a hung jury.
The witness said that, in 2004, the defendant approached her when she went to get cooking supplies from his house. According to the witness, McLeod asked her if she was still with Fisher, 23, since he snitched on him.
The witness said she called Fisher while he was incarcerated in 2004 and he denied snitching on McLeod.
Several people told the police that when Fisher died, there was a rumor was that he was killed because he was cooperating with police.
In 2006, a few months before Fisher was killed, the witness said she went to visit him in jai. She said she noticed a scratch on Fisher’s face when she visited him.
According to the witness, Fisher said he was involved in a fight after someone accused him of being a snitch because he was getting out of jail early. Fisher was released a week later.
According to court documents, McLeod told Fisher he killed Drayton over a stolen gun.
The trial is scheduled to continue on July 17.
