Judge Sets Trial in Gang-Related Homicide Case

During a status hearing April 17, a DC Superior Court judge set a trial date for a murder case that the prosecution says may be gang-related.

Joshua Artis is charged with first-degree murder while armed, conspiracy and obstruction of justice, among other charges, for his alleged role in the death of 28-year-old Ryan Addison on the 200 block of Elmira Street, SW in 2015.

Judge Ronna Beck scheduled Artis, 29, to go to trial on June 3. Her ruling was based on the Interstate Act on Detainers, an agreement entered by the United States and the District of Columbia that sets limitations on the timespan of cases brought to trial.

The act solely applies to prisoners sentenced for unrelated trials that are transferred between two states. The act states that if the prisoner’s trial doesn’t occur within 120 days of the prisoner’s arrival in the state, then the case is dismissed with prejudice.

According to the prosecution, Artis was transferred from Virginia, where he was carrying out a sentence for a gun charge. Apparently, Artis is scheduled to be released in December 2021.

The defense and the prosecution agreed Artis’ 120 day clock would end on June 7.

During the hearing, the prosecutor also said he does not plan on conducting DNA testing. In response, the judge ordered the prosecution to hand over any remaining case evidence to the defense so the defendant can decide whether or not he would conduct DNA testing.

According to a grand jury indictment, Artis is a member of the Imperial Gangsta Bloods also known as IGB, “a criminal organization operating in the United States, including in Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia.”

The indictment states that a regional IGB leader “authorized” Artis to travel from Virginia to Washington, DC to kill Addison, who they believed killed Rodney Davis, a friend of theirs. Davis was fatally shot on the Unit block of Galveston Place, SW in 2015.

Artis is scheduled for a trial readiness hearing on May 17.

Document: Homicide on Pomeroy Road, SE

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred April 15 on the 2400 block of Pomeroy Road, SE.

According to a press release, officers located 31-year-old Antwan Hucks suffering from a gunshot wound. He died on the scene.

The police department is 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 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.

Monthly Recap: March Tallies Nine Homicides

Throughout the month of March, the District tallied nine homicides, the majority occurring in Southeast DC.

While the number of homicides in March decreased when compared to February, overall gun-related deaths still account for the majority of the month’s homicides. There were five gun-related deaths, two stabbings and two deadly assaults in March.

On March 1, police found 64-year-old Jawaid Bhutto suffering from an apparent gunshot wound on the 2600 block of Wade Road, SE.

Police arrested and charged Hilman Jordan with first-degree murder while armed in connection to Bhutto’s death. Jordan, 45, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on April 19.

Five days later on March 5, police located Natina Kiah suffering from an apparent stab wound on the 5000 block of D Street, SE. Kiah, 40, was pronounced dead on the scene. Apparently, she was a security guard at a local homeless shelter.

According to WUSA9, police believe Lamont Stephenson is responsible for Kiah’s death.

News reports said that Stephenson was on the run for nearly five years for allegedly killing his fiancee and her dog in 2014 when Prince George’s County Police apprehended him on March 7.

DC police have not issued a warrant for Stephenson in conjunction with Kiah’s murder as of April 16.

On March 6, Brian Kennedy, Jr. was found on the Unit block of Halley Place, SE suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Kennedy, 27, was pronounced dead on the scene. According to a press release, police believe Kennedy may have been shot at a different location. Police have not appended a suspect in connection to the murder as of April 16.

Nearly a week later on March 12, police found 25-year-old Dawud Debruhl suffering from a gunshot wound on the 1300 block of Columbia Road, NW.

Police arrested and charged Deontay Britton with first-degree murder while armed in connection to Debruhl’s death. Britton, 25, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on April 25.

On March 17, police reported to the 1800 block of Q Street, SE on reports of assault and found Ahmed Simms unconscious and unresponsive. Simms, 37, was pronounced dead on the scene.

Later that same day, police located 59-year-old Thurman Knight suffering from a “puncture wound” on the 500 block of Montana Avenue, NE.

Police have not arrested any suspects in the assault on Q street or the stabbing on Montana Avenue.

On March 19, 3-month-old Skylar Newman succumbed to injuries stemming from a March 16, when the infant was found unconscious and unresponsive on the 4300 block of G Street, SE. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of the District of Columbia said the infant’s death was caused by blunt force injuries.

According to a press release, there is a warrant for 25-year-old Cornell Delvonte Holton’s arrest for first-degree felony murder in connection to the child’s death.

Four days later, on March 23, police found 23-year-old Rafiq Hawkins suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the 1300 block of Saratoga Avenue, NE. According to a press release, the shooting occurred on the 1200 block of Brentwood Road, NE. A suspect has not been arrested as of April 16.

The final homicide of the month occurred on March 30, when police located 54-year-old Anthony Williams suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the 300 block of 62nd Street, NE. Police have not appended a suspect for Williams’ death as of April 16.

Defendant ‘Murdered a Child,’ Prosecution Says

During opening arguments, the prosecution in a murder trial appealed to the jury’s sensitivity regarding violence against children.

Derryck Decuir is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the shooting of Malek Dayvon Mercer on the 2800 block of 28th Street, SE. Decuir, 26, has been tried twice before. Both trials resulted in mistrials after the juries could not come to a unanimous decision regarding Decuir’s murder charge.

“Derryck Decuir murdered a child, a 15-year-old child,” the prosecutor told the jury on April 15.

According to the prosecution’s theory, Mercer was waiting at a bus stop with his friend when they ran into a group of three men, including Decuir. The prosecution said Decuir made a comment about Mercer’s belt, but became enraged when Mercer “snickered” at him in response.

Surveillance footage from a Metrobus shows Mercer, his friend and the three men board the same bus. Decuir can be seen sitting directly behind Mercer.

The prosecution said Decuir was watching Mercer for the entire nine minute bus ride until Mercer notified the bus driver that his stop was coming up. The three men then followed Mercer and his friend off the bus.

According to the prosecution, Decuir made a “beeline” toward the two teens, ran up behind them and shot Mercer in the back of the neck, instantly crippling him.

But, the defense had a different story.

“He fired in fear. He fired in self-defense,” defense attorney Lee Goebes told the jury. “MPD’s investigation was sloppy. It was incomplete. Because of that, it failed to uncover the truth.”

Goebes said his client fired in self-defense after he saw Mercer pulling a shotgun out of a duffel bag. However, according to police, there was no shotgun on the scene.

Goebes said Mercer’s friends “cleaned-up” the scene before the police arrived. There is evidence that places a shotgun at the scene, he said.

A crime scene technician told the jury that evidence left on the scene, included various items of clothing, a black duffel bag, a .9mm cartridge casing and a yellow shotgun shell.

The trial is scheduled to continue on April 17.

Defendant Finally Appears in Court After 6-Week Delay

After nearly six weeks of continuances, a murder defendant was presented in court April 15 in connection to a 2018 homicide.

Robert Henson is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the death of 37-year-old Richard Lee Dudley on the 2500 block of Elvans Road, SE in December of 2018. Henson, 39, who was arrested on Feb. 28 is being held without bail.

According to DC Courts, Henson was initially scheduled to be presented on March 5. However, he was in the hospital. D.C. Witness could not verify why Henson was in the hospital for such an extended amount of time.

He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on April 25.

Court documents state that multiple witnesses identified Henson as the shooter. Apparently, the men were arguing and fighting prior to the murder. One witness said Henson walked back to his car after the fight ended. However, soon after, the same witness saw Henson shooting at Dudley. Henson fled the scene in a black SUV.

Judge Finds Probable Cause Following Court of Appeals Decision

Even though a DC Superior Court judge downgraded a murder defendant’s substantial probability ruling, he found probable cause that the defendant was involved with killing a 10-year-old girl.

Darrise Jeffers is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the shooting death of 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson on the 300 block of 53rd Street, NE in 2018. According to court documents, Wilson was in the area getting ice cream and was an unintended target.

After hearing arguments from the prosecution and defense, Judge Craig Iscoe said April 15 that the prosecution’s evidence doesn’t surpass the threshold for substantial probability. But, he said the prosecution “easily” proved probable cause.

Judge Iscoe released Jeffers, 19, to home confinement under the High Intensity Supervision Program. Judge Iscoe also ordered Jeffers to stay away from the Clay Terrace and Wellington Park neighborhoods as well as other defendants in the case. Apparently, the shooting stemmed from a feud between the two neighborhoods.

The judge also told Jeffers that he couldn’t have any contact with guns of any kind. As part of his release conditions, Jeffers is required to wear a GPS monitor and undergo drug testing. He is only permitted to leave his grandmother’s home to go to work, school and court.

D.C. Witness previously reported that the DC Court of Appeals reversed Judge Iscoe’s finding of substantial probability in Wilson’s murder. Jeffers’ attorney, Veronice Holt, said the prosecutors only showed small portions of the videos during the original preliminary hearing which made her client appear guilty.

During the preliminary hearing on April 11, a prosecutor showed videos taken from Jeffers’ Instagram account. In the footage, Jeffers is seen wearing a white long sleeved shirt and yellow hat dancing with what appears to be a semi-automatic pistol. The footage also shows two other pistol-like objects on a table.

In another video, Jeffers is seen wearing the same outfit and appears to have an automatic rifle in his possession. But Holt said the gun was a BB gun and not a rifle. The prosecutor said that examiners from the Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms office could not confirm if the gun in the video was real.

A detective from the Metropolitan Police Department also testified that he was not sure if the rifle used in Wilson’s murder was the same rifle shown on the footage.

Along with Jeffers, police also arrested Marquell Cobbs, 17; Mark Tee Price, 24; Quentin Michals, 21; Gregory Taylor, 23, and Qujuan Thomas, 20, for their alleged roles in Wilson’s death. Quanisha Ramsuer, 25, was charged with obstruction of justice in connection with the murder. Prosecutors argued that Jeffers assisted the shooters by acquiring and storing guns, but was not at the scene during the shooting.

All of the defendants are scheduled to appear in court on May 23.

Thamar Bailey contributed to this article.

Defense Requests Witness’s Contact Information

During a hearing April 15, a defense attorney in a murder case requested information about a witness that could potentially prove his client is innocent.

Roscoe Jones is charged with first-degree murder while armed and 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.

Jones’ attorney, Blase Kearney, said a witness gave a statement to police that was “inconsistent” with surveillance footage in the case. Apparently, the witness said Mosley was involved in robbing Mosley, but not his murder. However, the witness refuses to cooperate, citing safety concerns. If called to testify, the witness plans to recant, documents state.

According to DC Courts, Kearney filed a motion on April 13 to compel the prosecution to hand over the witness’ contact information. However, the prosecutor said the law does not mandate her to fulfill the defense’s request.

The prosecution is scheduled to file a response to Kearny’s motion by April 19.

DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman is expected to make a ruling at the next hearing, which is scheduled on April 22.

According to court documents, footage shows three suspects approach Mosley in a courtyard. Apparently, one of the suspects was holding a gun and began pushing Mosley out of the view of the camera, where he was later found by police suffering from gunshot wounds.

A witness identified the suspect with the gun as Jones, documents state. The witness told police Roscoe and the two other suspects robbed Mosley, going through his pockets and taking his jacket in the process. Apparently, Roscoe and the two other men then left the area. The witness said he later found out Mosley was killed “outback” near a garden area.

Defense Challenges Conflicting Expert Testimony

The defense in a murder case requested a hearing to address conflicting expert testimony.

Cinquan Cartledge and Marquette Tibbs are charged with first-degree murder while armed for their alleged roles in the death of 37-year-old Orlando Silver III on the 1300 block of Howard Road, SE in 2016.

During the status hearing April 11, the defense requested an evidentiary hearing to examine conflicting testimony made by the prosecution’s expert witnesses. It’s unclear what areas the witnesses specialized in.

According to the defense, “issues need to be flushed out” by questioning the prosecution’s expert witnesses.

While Judge Todd Edelman acknowledged the court was dealing with “different experts saying different things” he said he was not up-to-date on the facts of the case and therefore couldn’t make a ruling. He scheduled a hearing on April 18, when he is expected to make a ruling.

D.C. Witness previously reported that Cartledge, 24, and Tibbs, 26, had their cases separated on March 19 because they wanted to have the ability to testify on each other’s behalf.

Tibbs is scheduled to go to trial on May 6. Cartledge’s trial is scheduled on Jan. 27, 2020.

Defendant Appears in Court for First Time In Nearly a Year

A murder defendant appeared in court for the first time in more than a year.

Joshua Massaquoi is charged with first-degree murder while armed, conspiracy and a gun-related offense in connection to the death of 21-year-old Michael Francis Taylor on the 600 block of Farragut Street, NW in 2008. Massaquoi, 31, is currently being held at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric hospital.

According to DC Courts, Massaquoi was last in court on April 3, 2018.

During the hearing April 11, Massaquoi’s attorney said the case was progressing well and that he had no issues to raise.

Massaquoi is scheduled for a status hearing on July 12.

Mason Binion and Victor Carvajal are also charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to Taylor’s death. Carvajal, 32, is scheduled for a status hearing on July 12. Binion, 31, is scheduled for a mental observation hearing on May 7.

According to court documents, a witness told police that Taylor helped “broker a deal” between a drug dealer and a group of individuals, including Binion, Carvajal and Massaquoi. Apparently, the group paid for marijuana but never received it.

Binion told police he supplied the gun and set up the murder. Massaquoi told police Binion shot Taylor and that Carvajal hit Taylor in the head with a rock.

Witness Takes Responsibility for Shooting Teen in 2004

A witness told a jury that he, not the murder defendant, is responsible for fatally shooting a teenager fifteen years ago.

Terik McLeod is charged with two counts of first-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the deaths of 17-year-old Devaun Drayton and 23-year-old Carlton Fisher in 2004 and 2006, respectively.

Apparently, the witness is currently serving time for another unrelated murder charge. According to the defense, the witness has immunity protection and can’t be prosecuted for any of the information contained in his testimony.

The witness said he and Drayton had a “misunderstanding” a few weeks before the murder. He said he let Drayton borrow a gun after the teen claimed his little brother had been robbed.

According to the witness, Drayton said he’d bring the gun back but didn’t follow through. The witness said Drayton made up a story about losing the gun after a shootout.

“The story didn’t make sense,” the witness said. “I believe he stole from me. His intention was to keep the gun.”

The witness told the jury that he and Drayton got food at a local golf course on the day of the murder. After the golf course, he said they walked to school.

“When we got behind the school, I shot him,” the witness said. He said no one else was there at the time of the shooting.

After the shooting, the witness said he was riding a bike to his grandfather’s house when he saw an individual he knew standing on a corner. The witness said he told the individual that “someone shot Devaun,” and the two went back to the scene and called 911.

“I believe I told [police] ‘we was walking and we had bumped into somebody back there. He and Devaun exchanged some words and he got shot,’” the witness said.

The witness said he later told his mother it was McLeod who shot Drayton.

“I already didn’t know what to tell her,” the witness said. “I wasn’t gonna tell her that I did it. Detectives had already asked me about [McLeod]. It was just easier.”

However, earlier in the trial, another witness said he was walking with Drayton and a group of people to school, heard gunshots and saw McLeod with a gun and Drayton on the ground.

The trial is scheduled to continue on April 17.

Judge Finds Probable Cause Defendant Killed His Brother

A DC Superior Court judge found probable cause April 11 that a 60-year-old man did not stab his brother in self-defense.

Joseph Smith is charged with voluntary manslaughter while armed for his alleged role in the stabbing death of 62-year-old brother, Arnold Smith, on the 600 block of Galveston Place, SE on April 9. Joseph, 60, is being held without bail.

During the hearing, the lead detective narrated body camera footage taken from the night of the murder. Apparently, Joseph, 60, told police his brother attacked him and there was a tussle that began in the living room and continued into the kitchen. Joseph said he ended up on the floor with Arnold on top of him and that’s when he grabbed what was closest to him, a knife, and stabbed Arnold.

Judge Danya Dayson said she made her ruling based on inconsistencies in Joseph’s testimony in connection to the physical scene, which was supported by the detective’s testimony and the footage. She also said that while Arnold had a folded pocket knife on him, she believes it wasn’t a threat.

Regarding the inconsistencies, Joseph told police the fight began in the living room, but Judge Dayson pointed out that the living room looked “undisturbed” and that it would be “reasonable” to believe there would have been items displaced.

Judge Dayson also pointed out that there was blood splatter on the ceiling of the kitchen. She said it was likely the two men weren’t on the ground when the stabbing occurred, which contradicts Joseph’s account. Judge Dayson also said the location of the victim’s stab wounds was not consistent with being stabbed from below.

According to court documents, Arnold had a stab wound to the chest, lower back and a superficial wound to his right arm.

Judge Dayson said she would be willing to release the defendant into home confinement with an order to stay away from the District of Columbia; however, she wants to be sure he doesn’t have a drug dependency. Apparently, Joseph’s sister told the prosecution that he has an “intense” addiction to PCP, a mind-altering drug.

Judge Dayson scheduled a hearing on April 18, when she is expected to receive Joseph’s drug test results and make a ruling on his release.

Judge Grants Motion for Defense Attorney to Withdraw

During a status hearing April 11, a DC Superior Court judge granted a motion for a defense attorney to withdraw from a murder case.

Mark K. Bowser is charged with first-degree murder while armed and obstruction of justice for allegedly stabbing 39-year-old Tracy Womack on the 4600 block of Benning Road, SE in 2014. Bowser, 39, is currently being held without bail.

Judge Todd Edelman granted defense attorney Jason Tulley’s motion to withdraw due to a conflict of interest. According to DCCourts, Tulley filed the motion on March 22.

Apparently, an unredacted document that was examined by the defense revealed names that created a conflict of interest for Tulley. The context of the conflict of interest was not made clear in court.

The court appointed Betty Ballester as Browser’s new defense attorney.

“You can’t have a lawyer who is representing someone with conflicting interests,” Judge Edelman said.

According to court documents, Bowser allegedly entered Womack’s apartment as she was sleeping and attacked her. Police found Womack with her pants pulled down, suffering from more than 40 stab wounds.

Bowser is scheduled for a trial readiness hearing on April 19.

Judge Gives Prosecution More Time for DNA Testing

During a status hearing April 11, the prosecution in a murder case requested more time to receive DNA results.

Co-defendants Robert Washington and Derrick Hart are charged with first-degree murder while armed for their alleged role in the shooting of 22-year-old Maleak Coffin on the 2900 block of Martin Luther King Jr Avenue, SE in 2017. Both men are being held without bail.

The prosecution told the court that they would not be able to receive and file the DNA results by April 15. As a result, D.C. Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman gave the prosecution more time to obtain the results and to see if a plea offer would be extended.

Judge Edelman scheduled a status hearing on May 17.

According to court documents, the shooting allegedly occurred after several young men parted ways at a mini-mart near the crime scene. Surveillance footage shows Hart, 23, running down an ally with a gun and shooting at a vehicle that was stopped at a gas station.

Footage also shows Washington, 21, who was driving in the opposite direction, make a U-turn after the initial shots and drive up to the stopped vehicle, documents stated. Additional shots were fired at the stopped vehicle, but it is unclear in the footage if the shots came from Washington’s car.

DC Judge Transfers Murder Defendant to Maryland

A DC Superior Court judged ordered the transfer of a murder defendant to Maryland to handle attempted murder, assault and gun charges before addressing his murder charge in the District of Columbia.

Reginald Turner is charged in with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the death of 37-year-old Malik Muhammad on the 800 block of Taylor Street, NE on November 26, 2018.

During the hearing April 11, a prosecutor said that Turner, 34, had second-degree attempted murder charges in Prince George’s County, Maryland from an incident involving a police chase. For that reason, Turner would be transferred to Maryland so his charges could be resolved. According to court documents, the police chase Turner was involved in left multiple officers injured.

DC Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe said he would continue to hold Turner without bail before his transfer to Maryland so that his time in jail could be credited if he were convicted of murder.

According to court documents, DC police officers stopped Turner, who was driving a black Hummer, on the Beltway. DC police then called Prince George’s County officers to assist in an arrest because the officers believed Turner was involved in the murder. Turner then began to fight the officers and sped away, striking officers from Prince George’s County with his car. Police chased Turner for nearly 20 miles before arresting him.

County police also found a 9mm handgun in Turner’s car, which a firearms expert, said he believed matched the shell casings found at the scene of Muhammad’s murder in DC.

Even though a preliminary hearing is scheduled on April 18 in DC Superior Court, Judge Iscoe said it would be cancelled because of the transfer.

Witness Has ‘No Doubt’ Murder Defendant is Guilty

A witness told a jury that there was “no doubt in his mind” that the defendant is responsible for a shooting that occurred in 2004.

The witness, who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed for a different murder, entered a cooperation agreement in 2016 and agreed to testify against McLeod. The witness said he had knowledge of the two shootings and said McLeod, 33, was responsible for both.

The witness also said he and McLeod lived in the same neighborhood and hung out with the same group of people. The witness described their relationship as “okay” and said there was “no beef.”

On the morning of Drayton’s murder, the witness said he was walking to school with McLeod, Drayton, and two other individuals. The witness said the group was smoking marijuana, so he started walking ahead a few feet in front of them because he didn’t want smoke blown at him.

The witness said he heard one gunshot behind him, so he ducked, turned and saw McLeod with a gun and Drayton on the ground.

Apparently, Drayton was supposed to sell a gun to McLeod, however, the transaction was never completed because Drayton said it “went missing.”

“He lied about losing it,” the witness said, referring to the gun. The witness said it was a big deal to take someone’s gun because a gun is a means of protection.

The witness also testified that after he was released from jail in 2010, he had a conversation with McLeod, who said he shot Fisher for snitching. Apparently, McLeod told the witness that he “put his brains all over the mailbox.”

The witness said he believed McLeod approached him about shooting Fisher because the witness previously killed a man for snitching.

During cross-examination, the defense tried to discredit the witness and said he was only forthcoming with information after entering a cooperation agreement. The defense said the witness was only helping the prosecution to receive a lighter sentence.

However, the witness said he had no reason to lie because he could be charged with perjury, lose his plea agreement or get more time.

“I killed someone for doing this,” the witness said, referring to snitching. “That very same thing could happen to me.”

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