During a mental observation hearing May 7, a DC Superior Court judge declared a murder defendant competent to proceed to trial.
Mason Binion is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the shooting death of 21-year-old Michael Francis Taylor on the 600 block of Farragut Street, NW in 2008. Victor Carvajal and Joshua Massaquoi, 31, are also charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to Taylor’s death.
Despite receiving a competency report that said Binion, 32, was incompetent, Judge Todd Edelman said the report may have “confused his personality with symptoms.”
According to Judge Edelman, the report stated that Binion’s ability to consult with counsel was hindered by his current mental state. However, Judge Edelman said the competency report did not follow a standard procedure.
Both the prosecution and the defense said they are looking into hiring an expert who could speak to the competency matter.
According to court documents, witnesses told police that Taylor was involved in a “botched” drug deal with a group that included Binion, Carvajal and Massaquoi. Apparently, the group paid for marijuana but never received it. A witness told police Taylor got into a vehicle with a group of people, including Binion, shortly before his murder.
Binion and Carvajal are scheduled for a status hearing on July 12 and trial on Jan. 21, 2020. Massaquoi is scheduled for a status hearing on July 12 before Judge Hiram Puig-Lugo. He has not been scheduled for trial as of May 10.
After a nearly 10 month search, the Metropolitan Police Department arrested a suspect in a fatal shooting on the 4300 block of 4th Street, SE.
According to a press release, 28-year-old Marcus Whitakerwas arrested May 8 and charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the death of 22-year-old David Hart on July 27, 2018.
During a presentment May 6, a DC Magistrate judge found probable cause that a man was responsible for his 3-month-old daughter’s death.
Cornell Delvonte Holton is charged with felony murder and first-degree cruelty to children for his alleged role in the death of his 3-month-old daughter, Skylar Newman, on the 4300 block of G Street, SE on April 19. Holton, 25, was ordered held without bail.
Judge Errol Arthur said he made his decision based on court documents detailing the infant’s death as well as statements from several witnesses. Apparently, Newman was in the “exclusive” care of Holton when she became unconscious.
During the hearing, Holton’s attorney, John Fowler, unsuccessfully argued against the probable cause finding, saying maltreatment of a child is not a basis for murder. Fowler said it’s not child abuse to drop your child because another child runs into you. He also said it’s not child abuse for another person to drop your child.
Fowler said Newman’s death was “sad and unfortunate” but that it was not murder.
However, according to the prosecution, Holton “tortured, beat or willfully mistreated” his daughter. Apparently, the infant’s injuries included multiple skull fractures, a brain bleed, and multiple rib fractures that were in different stages of healing.
The prosecutor said Holton told police three different stories including, the infant choked on a bottle, the infant was dropped down the stairs and a six-year-old child dropped the infant. The prosecutor noted that Holton fled the scene and called from a blocked number to inform the mother about the child, which the prosecutor said shows a “consciousness of guilt.”
With regard to Holton’s release status, the defense requested he be released to a half-way house or under the high intensity supervision program (HISP). However, Judge Arthur denied the request, noting the weight of the prosecution’s evidence, the defendant’s criminal history and the fact that Hoslton tested positive for synthetic cannabinoids and other drugs when he was arrested.
According to DC Courts, Holston has three convictions, including a bail reform act violation, second-degree theft and a misdemeanor for simple assault.
Holton is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on June 21.
A DC Superior Court judge sentenced a man to 12 years in prison for his role in the death of another man.
In January, James Manuel Johnsonpleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed for his role in the death of 29-year-old Johnathan Grady on the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE on June 28, 2018.
“Johnny was a critical member of his family, church and community,” a pastor, who spoke on behalf of Grady’s family, told Judge Ronna Beck during the sentencing on May 3.
The pastor said Grady had a “desire to help” and was an honorary usher at his church in Southeast DC. He said Grady was a “productive and striving member of society.”
The pastor also said that while Grady’s mother has forgiven the defendant, she is “still looking for justice.” The pastor said there needs to be “consequences for bad behavior.”
The prosecutor said that while Johnson, 44, appears to express remorse for his actions, he still persists to minimize his role in the murder.
The prosecutor acknowledged that Grady was armed with a knife. However, he pointed out that Johnson was the “aggressor.” Apparently, Grady and Johnson exchanged words and that’s when Grady started running. The prosecution said Johnson then chased Grady for eight minutes, weaving in and out of traffic, before fatally stabbing him.
However, the defendant says Grady threatened him and his family.
“This whole incident was bad for me,” Johnson told the judge. “I didn’t mean to cause the family any harm.”
Johnson’s attorney, Anthony Matthews, told the court that Johnson didn’t start the conflict with Grady. He said his client was just there and that he went too far.
“Every day I think of June 28 and how it changed my life completely,” Johnson said. “And I know it changed the (Grady) family completely.”
Prior to delivering her sentence, Judge Beck noted that Johnson had a “very hard life,” acknowledging that he was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. However, Judge Beck said she refutes the notion that he was threatened. After viewing surveillance footage, she said she believes Grady wasn’t threatening anyone.
Johnson is also required to serve five years on supervised release following his prison term.
On March 29, Johnson’s codefendant, Roderick Terrell Gaither, was sentenced to two years in prison for “facilitating” Grady’s murder. Gaither’s attorney said his charge stems from 12 seconds during the chase when Gaither, 24, told Johnson where the victim was headed.
Gun-related homicides are turning out to be more of a problem in Washington, DC than it was two years ago when a Metropolitan Police Department gun recovery program was implemented to curb the violence.
According to D.C. Witness data, there has been a 27 percent increase in gun-related homicides from 2018 to this year. In 2019 as of March 31, there have been 28 gun-related homicides. The data only shows 22 gun-related homicides in 2018 during the same time period. There were 23 gun-related homicides during the first three months in 2017.
Map of DC shooting homicides that occurred from Jan. 1, 2019 to March 31, 2019.
From January to March, according to a MPD weekly firearms report, police confiscated 448 illegal firearms from throughout the District as seen on the map below.
Map of firearms recovered from Jan. 1 to March 31, 2019.
In total, there were 197 firearms recovered in Southeast DC, 121 from Northeast, 108 from Northwest and 19 from Southwest. Three firearms did not have a reported address.
The graph below shows the majority of illegal firearms confiscated in 2019 were recovered from Southeast DC, where the most gun-related homicides, 10, have occurred.
The graph above also shows there were seven gun-related homicides in Northeast, seven in the Northwest and four in Southwest, DC.
In comparison to previous years, the Southeast quadrant has consistently had the highest number of gun-related homicides. However, the frequency of gun-related homicides in Southeast DC has dropped over the last two years.
MPD officers have arrested suspects in connection to seven of the 28 shootings that occurred this year. The cases in which arrests have occurred, include:
Michael Taylor was shot on Jan. 12 in an apartment complex on the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE. Alonzo Brown, Stephon Evans and Carlos Turner are currently charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to the shooting. Court documents state that Taylor, 22, sustained gunshot wounds to the head, left thigh, and left heel.
Brown, 22, Evans, 18, and Turner, 20, are scheduled for a felony status conference on July 2. All three defendants are being held without bail.
On Feb. 26, Tyree Irvingwas arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 22-year-old Davane Williams on the 1200 block of North Capitol Street, NW on Jan. 15.
Irving, 22, is scheduled for a felony status conference on Aug. 1. His case is still pending a grand jury hearing. Irving is being held without bail.
Elhadji Babacar Ndiaye is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the death of 21-year-old Travis Deyvon Ruth on the 2700 block of Jasper Street, SE on Jan. 18. According to court documents, Ruth was shot nine times.
Ndiaye, 19, is scheduled for a felony status conference on June 21 and is being held without bail.
Roscoe Jones was arrested April 4 for allegedly shooting 33-year-old Mark Mosley on the 600 block of 46th Place, SE on Feb. 24. Jones is charged with first-degree murder while armed. Court documents state that Mosley was found lying face-down with a gunshot wound to the head.
Jones, 23, is scheduled for a felony status conference on June 7. He is also being held without bail.
Jamal Kwame Crump was shot on the 1300 block of Monroe Street, NW on Feb. 27. A 15-year-old juvenile male was charged with first-degree murder while armed and a gun-related offense in connection to the shooting. According to a press-release, Crump, 23, was pronounced dead at a local hospital after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.
The juvenile is pending trial and scheduled to appear in court on June 5.
Hilman Jordan was arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 64-year-old Jawaid Bhutto on the 2600 block of Wade Road, SE on March 1. According to court documents, Bhutto was shot once in the chest.
Jordan, 45, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 17 and is being held without bail.
Deontae Britton is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the death of 25-year-old Dawud Debruhl on the 1300 block of Columbia Road, NW on March 14. D.C. Witness previously reported that surveillance footage captured a man walk up behind Debruhl, who was standing in a parking lot with a group of people, and shoot him in the back without “provocation.”
Britton, 25, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 15 and is being held without bail.
No firearm recoveries were reported from any of the arrests made.
According to the MPD, firearms recovered in DC are typically purchased legally in states such as Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and Georgia.The guns are then brought into the District illegally, meaning they are not registered.
According to the MPD website, conceal and carry licenses are issued in DC as long as a person meets all of the requirements for registering a firearm pursuant to DC law.
The Washington Post reported that illegal guns recovered in the District are “melted down” and ultimately destroyed by law enforcement.
D.C. Witness inquired to MPD about how gun destruction was documented. MPD said the Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) handles all gun destruction. However, DFS told D.C. Witness that they only handle examination and all firearms are turned back over to MPD for destruction.
According to GunBusters, LLC, an organization that specializes in firearm destruction, illegal firearms are typically confiscated from criminal activity or turned into the police.
GunBusters is licensed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and now offers a free nationwide program that thoroughly documents the destruction of all firearms safely and securely.
According to Gus Orr, a GunBusters representative, the organization’s policy requires a recording of the destruction, including each weapon’s serial number and description. The documentation is then handed over to law enforcement.
GunBusters, LLC firearms destruction system.
“We’ve destroyed 37,000 weapons in five years,” Orr said. He said the free service provides hard-copy evidence of destruction and eliminates law enforcement personnel from transporting weapons.
Orr said law enforcement agencies used to destroy guns using methods such as a chop-saw to or a steel-mill incinerator. He said those methods were not only dangerous and time-consuming, but also expensive and inaccurately reported. He said there was a chance the lack of security when using one of the methods could put confiscated guns into someone else’s possession.
In 2019, the free service was made available to law enforcement agencies nationwide. However, Orr said the program is not yet being utilized in the District.
MPD did not respond to D.C. Witness’s inquiries about current firearm destruction methods or programs.
During a detention hearing May 7, a DC Superior Court judge found probable cause and ordered a murder defendant held without bail for his alleged role in a February homicide.
Roscoe Jones is charged with felony murder while armed for his alleged role in the death of 33-year-old Mark Mosley on the 600 block of 46th Place, SE on Feb. 24.
According to the prosecution’s theory, three individuals, including Jones, robbed Mosley of his jacket and fatally shot him in the process. However, the prosecutor said it was unclear which of the three men actually shot the victim.
Judge Danya Dayson found probable cause under an aiding and abetting theory. She said that while it’s unclear who shot the victim all of the individuals knew two or more of them were armed when they attempted the robbery.
Judge Dayson said she made her ruling based on a witness’s account to the police along with surveillance footage. Apparently, the footage shows three individuals, including Jones, approach Mosley. Furthermore, one of the individuals was holding a “dark object” that appeared to be a gun.
Judge Dayson said Mosley was found fatally shot in the same complex that the three individuals robbed him of his jacket.
With regard to the witness’s account, Judge Dayson said the witness assisted in identifying Jones as one of the three individuals. She said that while the witness may not cooperate in a grand jury, the account was still truthful.
Ultimately, Judge Dayson denied Jones’ release and noted that he has a history of violating his release conditions. She said that while Jones was on supervised release in a 2011 Maryland carjacking case he picked up an unauthorized use of a vehicle charge in DC. Furthermore, she said he was on supervised release for the DC charge he was allegedly involved in Mosley’s murder.
Jones is scheduled for a status hearing on June 7.
A DC Superior Court judge denied May 6 the prosecution’s request to delay a murder defendant’s trial.
Dewayne Chatman is charged with first-degree murder while armed and mayhem while armed, among other charges, for his alleged role in the death of 29-year-old Evan Williams on the 4000 Block of 3rd Street, SE in 2016.
According to court documents, an unidentified man was also shot in the process. Apparently, the man was shot in the head. He suffers from issues with his speech and balance.
Chatman’s trial is scheduled to begin on May 13.
During the hearing, the prosecution said they needed more time to investigate issues in the case. The prosecutor said there are “steps we need to take” and “things we need to follow up on.” The prosecutor didn’t disclose specifics about what she was referring to.
According to DC Courts, the prosecution filed a motion to continue on April 25.
Judge Danya Dayson said she would not be willing to grant the continuance and continue holding the defendant without bail solely based on the prosecution’s representations that they need additional time to investigate.
However, Judge Dayson said she may have a different stance if the prosecution had a witness availability issue.
According to the prosecution, they plan to call the unidentified man as a witness. However, the prosecutor said he has had two relapses recently and underwent surgery. She said it was likely the man may not be able to take the stand all day in his current condition.
Chatman is scheduled for a status hearing on May 8, when counsel is expected to discuss whether or not the witness would be able to take the stand.
After nearly two weeks of deliberation, a jury notified the court May 7 that jurors couldn’t reach a unanimous decision on whether or not a murder defendant was guilty of killing a teenager and then another person to cover it up.
Devaun DraytonCarlton Fisher
Terik McLeod is charged with two counts of first-degree murder while armed for shooting 17-year-old Devaun Drayton and 23-year-old Carlton Fisher in 2004 and 2006, respectively. According to DC Courts, McLeod, 33, was arrested in April of 2017.
McLeod is scheduled for a status hearing on May 17, when counsel is expected to discuss how the case will proceed.
Throughout the nearly three week trial, the prosecution sought to prove that McLeod shot Drayton over a stolen gun. The prosecution said Drayton was shot once in the back of the head in the parking lot of Phelps A.C.E. High School, located on the 700 block of 26th Street, NE. The prosecutors said McLeod later killed Fisher because he believed Fisher “snitched” to police about Drayton’s murder.
A witness, who was serving a sentence for an unrelated murder, previously testified that McLeod’s cousin “set [Drayton] up” to be killed by McLeod because of the stolen gun. However, during his testimony, the witness denied the statements, saying that he made them up so he would be released.
A friend of McLeod testified that he saw McLeod in possession of a .357 revolver, which prosecutors believe is the murder weapon in Fisher’s murder. A firearms expert testified that, at the scene of Fisher’s murder, there were no recovered shell casings, suggesting that a revolver had been used. The bullets recovered from Fisher’s body could have been fired from a .357 revolver, but the expert could not say for certain based off of the bullet markings.
The prosecution called a witness who testified that he was with McLeod, Drayton and two other individuals on the morning of the murder. The witness said he heard the gunshot and then saw McLeod holding a gun and Drayton on the ground.
The witness said someone was supposed to sell a gun to McLeod, however, the transaction was never completed because Drayton “lied about losing it.” The witness also said McLeod told him that he “put [Fisher’s] brains all over the mailbox.”
The prosecution said McLeod shot Fisher seven times after Fisher told police about Drayton’s murder. Apparently, Fisher was shot in front of his apartment building on the 1100 block of 21st Street, NE.
The defense, however, said McLeod did not commit either murder. The defense’s case was built on the testimony of another witness, who took responsibility for shooting Drayton in 2004. The defense said the witness is currently serving time for an unrelated murder charge and was given immunity in exchange for his testimony.
According to the witness, he and Drayton had a “misunderstanding” over a stolen gun. Apparently, on the day of the murder, the witness said he and Drayton got food at a local golf course and then walked to school, where he ultimately shot Drayton.
During closing arguments, the defense said a “warm sandwich” found under the victim’s body corroborates that the witness killed Drayton. The defense said the sandwich was from the golf course.
The defense said that if McLeod didn’t kill Drayton, then the theory that he killed Fisher for “snitching” doesn’t make sense. They also said there was no DNA evidence linking McLeod to either murder.
Olivia Osborne and Rebekah Herman contributed to this article.
During a hearing May 6, a prosecutor in a murder case said his grand jury investigation is on-going.
David Hahqwon Beale is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the death of 42-year-old George Johnson, Jr. on the 800 block of Oglethorpe Street, NE on May 7, 2018.
According to court documents, police recovered Beale’s cellphone from a stolen pizza delivery vehicle. Apparently, the phone contained a video of Beale holding a black 9mm Glock. After obtaining a warrant, police recovered multiple firearms, including the Glock, from Beale’s residence. Court documents state the police were able to determine that shell casings from the scene were fired from the gun found in Beale’s residence.
Beale is scheduled for a felony status conference on Aug. 6.
During a murder trial, a witness told a jury May 6 that a defendant confessed to having her boyfriend killed.
Carmelita Henderson is charged with first-degree murder while armed for her alleged role in the death of 38-year-old Levi Kinte Davis on the 4200 block of East Capitol Street, NE in 2015. According to court documents, Davis and Henderson, 52, were in an intimate relationship.
The witness testified that he had a sexual relationship with Henderson while Davis was in jail. The witness said he stopped sleeping with Henderson after Davis was released but still spoke with her regularly.
The witness said he ran into Henderson one day and asked her why she hadn’t been answering her phone. The witness said she told him that police had her phone and then told him about the murder.
“She said she got him killed,” the witness said. “He got her fired. She said she wanted to kill him.”
D.C. Witness previously reported that Henderson was fired from her job in the DC Jail’s mailroom because of her intimate relationship with Davis, who was incarcerated at the jail.
According to the witness, Henderson said she was in the parking lot of her apartment complex with Davis when two of her friends came up to her car and shot him. Henderson said she wanted him killed in her car so it would seem “less suspicious.”
The witness told the jury he was not forthcoming about the information at first because he wanted to use it as an “ace in the hole” in case he got arrested, again.
According to court documents, Davis was shot while inside Henderson’s vehicle by two suspects. A witness said Henderson was outside the vehicle at the time of the murder and seemed “calm” after the shooting. Prosecutors believe that Henderson orchestrated the shooting and convinced two men to kill Davis.
A murder defendant’s preliminary hearing, which was initially scheduled on May 6, was continued after a mutual request was made by the defense and prosecution.
Keith Anthony Johnson is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the fatal stabbing of 49-year-old Edwin Richardson on the 2900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, Southeast on April 5. Johnson is being held without bail.
DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson pushed back Johnson’s hearing to May 16. According to DC Courts, there may be a possible disposition.
D.C. Witness previously reportedthat during his presentment the prosecution said Johnson was identifiable on surveillance footage.
The prosecutor said Johnson chased Richardson through an intersection with a group of other men, which the prosecutor argued is proof that Johnson knew of the stabbing. Apparently, Johnson also spoke to police and admitted to getting in an argument with Richardson, saying he “enjoyed” chasing him.
The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a traffic fatality that occurred on the intersection of South Capitol Street and Firth Sterling Avenue, SE on April 21.
According to a press release, on May 5 Latoya Markee Anderson succumbed to her injuries stemming from an April 21 crash. Apparently, Anderson, 34, was driving down South Capitol Street when she crossed the intersection with Firth Sterling Avenue and struck a traffic signal.
Anyone with information regarding this incident should contact the police at (202) 727-9099
After nearly a month of searching, the Metropolitan Police Department arrested a man allegedly responsible for the injuries that lead to a 3-month-old girl’s death.
According to a press release, Cornell Delvonte Holton was arrested and charged with first-degree murder – felony murder and first-degree child cruelty for his alleged role in the death of Skylar Newman on the 4300 block of G Street, SE. Newman died at the hospital on March 19, three days after police found her unconscious in a residence. Her cause of death was ruled multiple blunt force injuries.
Holton, 25, is scheduled to be presented in court on May 6.
The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on the 3000 block of Stanton Road, SE on May 5.
According to a press release, police found 18-year-old Saoun Coplins suffering from a gunshot wound. Coplins was brought to a nearby hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Up to a $25,000 reward is being offered 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.
Nearly four years later, a man was convicted and sentenced for his role in a fatal shooting that occurred in Southeast DC.
In January, Kenneth Donato Stewartpleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed for his role in the death of 35-year-old Eric Anthony Jackson on the 2200 block of Mount View Place, SE in 2015.
Per the terms of the plea agreement, the prosecution and defense agreed to a 12.5 year sentence.
The prosecution said the plea agreement was indicative of the strengths and weaknesses of the case.
The prosecutor said there was no question of the identity of the shooter, which was captured on surveillance footage. However, the prosecutor said the victim was out of the camera’s view. He said the murder occurred during a block party and that the majority of the prosecution’s witnesses were on their way to work.
The prosecutor said it was possible the jury could become hung or compromised once they learned Jackson shot Stewart, 31, a year prior. He also said Jackson’s criminal history might pose an issue. Apparently, Jackson was also involved in a home invasion.
“I just want to apologize,” Stewart said. “ I wish the family was here so I could apologize in person.”
Defense attorney, Raouf Abdullah, said his client was 15 years old when he left home. Abdullah said Stewart was a “troubled youth” who lacked parental guidance.
Following his release from prison, Stewart must also serve five years on supervised release and register as a gun offender.
The graph above also shows there were seven gun-related homicides in Northeast, seven in the Northwest and four in Southwest, DC.
