The Metropolitan Police Department arrested Dec. 18 Malik Morris in connection to the shooting death of a Washington, DC resident from the Southeast section of the city.
According to a press release, Morris, 20, is charged with first-degree murder while armed (premeditated) for allegedly shooting 20-year-old Randall Francis on the 1800 block of Benning Road, NE on Nov. 26.
Follow D.C. Witness to get updates on the case.
On Dec. 17, the defense in a murder trial began their case by telling the jury that police failed to fully investigate another potential suspect.
Eric McDuffie is charged with first-degree murder and a related gun offense for allegedly shooting 23-year-old Antonio McCallister on the 2700 block of Langston Place, SE in 2015. McDuffie, 27, was initially tried in April; however, the jury was unable to make a unanimous decision.
According to the defense, a Metropolitan Police Department officer, who was in Woodland doing community service, was told the nickname of the shooter by a 6-year-old boy. Apparently, the person the boy identified was not McDuffie.
Multiple detectives on the case, including the lead detective, testified that they sought information on the potential suspect. However, none of them could say for sure whether or not they interviewed and/or followed up with the 6-year-old boy.
One of the detectives testified that they stopped investigating the potential suspect after McCallister’s mother identified McDuffie as the shooter. The mother said she was within feet of the shooting and caught her son when he fell.
The 6-year-old boy’s mother said she is close with her son and that he didn’t tell her that he saw the shooting. The boy’s mother also said her son was asleep in her room at the time of the murder. However, the boy’s mother said that police didn’t approach her or her son about the murder until April.
Closing arguments began on Dec. 18.
Even though two convicted murderers were sentenced Dec. 18, a DC Superior Court judge decided to continue the sentencing to determine if their sentences should fall under the Youth Rehabilitation Amendment Act of 2018.
Judge Judith Bartnoff sentenced Barry Giles and Marco Williams to 8.5 years and 15.5 years in prison, respectively for their involvement in the homicide of 37-year-old Timothy Lassiter on the 3100 block of Berry Rd., NE in 2016. The sentences were formed by an agreement between the prosecution and defense.
According to Judge Bartnoff, the only question is whether the sentences should be imposed under the act, which became effective in December.
The amended act changes the eligible age of youth offenders from 22 and younger to 24 and younger at the time of the offense. Giles, who was 20 years old at the time of the offense, and Williams, who was 23 yers old at the time of offense, are eligible to be considered under the amended law. However, if counsel and the judge decide that the sentences should fall under the statute, it will not change the defendants’ time in prison.
In October, Giles pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or office. Williams pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed.
“There’s nothing I can say that would fix this,” Judge Bartnoff told the family, several of whom travelled from North Carolina to attend the sentencing and other hearings in the case. “I don’t believe in the term closure, [but] this is a chapter that’s over.”
Although members of Lassiter’s family were not entirely happy with the sentencing agreement, the family accepted it as a form of justice.
“I don’t think any mother should be standing in this position,” Lassiter’s mother, who is a chief financial officer for a community health center in North Carolina, told the judge. “It’s been an awful thing. I just don’t want nobody to shoot nobody else.”
Family members spoke of their lost loved on as a man who put others needs above his own. In Fort Lincoln, the neighborhood where Lassiter lived, he was not only the local barbecue chef, but also went out of his way to do nice things for residents, especially children.
His daughter told D.C. Witness that he would often hold parties for kids as well as buy them clothes and supplies for school. “He treated kids in the neighborhood like his own,” she said.
However, even though those memories seem like good ones, they also remind her of her father’s death. Giles was one of the kids in the neighborhood that Lassiter helped. The daughter said Lassiter treated Giles like a son. She said the whole situation was “nerve-wrecking.”
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of Columbia, following Lassiter’s funeral, Giles posted a social media video where he bragged about his role in the shooting.
In addition to impact statements from Lassiter’s mother, daughter, sister and brother-in-law, the prosecutor also read a letter from a loved one who did not want to be identified. “The oldest child blames herself because she left her dad in DC…the middle child lost faith in the world…and the youngest wants to be a doctor to save people so they won’t die like her daddy,” the letter said.
Neither Giles nor Williams said anything at the sentencing. The men have been held without bond since March. In addition to their prison terms, Giles and Williams are required to serve five additional years on supervised release and pay a $100 fine to the crime victim’s fund.
On Dec. 17, a judge placed a murder defendant on personal recognizance.
Anthony Campbell is charged with first-degree murder, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business and tampering with evidence for allegedly shooting Antwain Henderson in 2011.
In January, Campbell was released to a halfway house after spending five years in jail because the prosecution failed to disclose critical information to the defense. The defense filed a motion to dismiss in October.
According to DC Courts, the case is scheduled for a hearing to rule on the defense’s motion on Feb. 1, 2019.
According to police documents, Henderson and Campbell got into an argument when Campbell shot Henderson in the head and got help from two others to bring him inside. Apparently, they cleaned up any traces of blood and placed Henderson inside the trunk of his own vehicle. The vehicle was set on fire on Aug. 31, 2011.
On March 22, 2019, a judge dismissed Campbell’s case with prejudice due to an evidence violation by the prosecution. Campbell was charged with first-degree murder, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business and tampering with evidence for allegedly shooting Antwain Henderson in 2011.
The Metropolitan Police Department arrested Dec. 16 a suspect they believed is involved with the shooting death of a man in Northeast DC.
According to a press release, police arrested 45-year-old Maurice White. He is charged with first-degree murder while armed and assault with the intent to kill. White allegedly shot two men on Dec. 1, 2016, on the 1800 block of Capitol Avenue, NE. One of the men, 45-year-old Timothy Pretlow, was pronounced dead at a local hospital, while the other sustained non-life threatening injuries.
Follow D.C. Witness to receive updates on this case.
The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on the 1100 block of 1st Street, NW.
According to a press release, police found Curtis Davis suffering from gunshot wounds during the evening hours on Dec. 15. Davis, 21, was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Up to a $25,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this case or any other homicide in DC.
On Dec. 14, a DC Superior Court judge decided to put all witnesses to a murder case under protective orders. The decision followed a request from defense counsel to get the witnesses’ identifications.
Robert Edward Green is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly shooting Andre Junior, 41, on the 1500 block of Park Road, NW on March 15.
The defense requested the information to question two witnesses who gave police inconsistent statements. One witness, who picked Green out in a lineup, told police that the shooter had short, black hair. But, Green, who was 27 at the time of arrest, is bald.
Judge Danya Dayson decided to put all of the potential witnesses under a protective order because Green has tried to contact witnesses in the past. It is unclear if Judge Dayson ordered the prosecution to give the defense the witnesses’ identities.
Green’s trial is scheduled to begin on Jan. 21, 2020. A status hearing is scheduled on Jan. 30, 2019.
A DC Superior Court judge sentenced Dec. 14 a convicted murderer to 15 years in prison for killing his girlfriend in front of their children.
On Dec. 4, Reynaud Cook pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed for shooting 31-year-old Yolanda Stone on the 3300 block of Alden Place, NE in 2012.
According to the Washington Post, Cook, 35, and Stone were arguing in the middle of the street, when Cook pulled out a gun and shot her. Apparently, at least two of their three children were in a car, which was feet from the shooting. The Post reported that in the years leading up to the murder, Stone had multiple restraining orders against the defendant because of repeated physical abuse.
“You didn’t win,” Stone’s sister told Cook during the sentencing. “You took a lot from me, but you made me stronger.”
Through tears, Stone’s niece told the court that it feels like her family is living through a “nightmare.” She said Stone’s loss left a lot of broken pieces.
“You broke us by taking Yolanda away,” the niece told Cook.
Without mentioning specifics, the defense said Cook has a mental health history that should be considered. The defense also said the defendant was the one to approach his attorneys about a resolution, saying that he didn’t want to add any more harm to the children.
Apparently, if the case had gone to trial the prosecution planned to call the children to testify.
Following his release, Cook is required to serve five years on supervised release.
Cook is currently serving a 20 year sentence for the murder of Nacarto Gladden.
A judge sentenced two defendants Dec.14 for their roles in a homicide that transpired after one of the defendants and the victim “happened to bump shoulders.”
In October, Justin Robinson and Kevin Grover pleaded guilty to assault with intent to kill and second-degree murder, respectively, for their roles in the shooting death of 22-year-old Demetrius Medlay on the 3100 block of MLK, Jr. Avenue, SE in 2016.
D.C. Superior Court Judge Judith Bartnoff sentenced Robinson, 19, to five years in prison and Grover, 26, to 20 years in prison. Robinson, who was 16 years old at the time of the murder, was sentenced under the Juvenile Rehabilitation Act.
According to the prosecution, on the day of the murder, Robinson and Medlay “happened to bumped shoulders” at a Smiley Mart on Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. The two got into an argument. Apparently, Robinson left and returned to the area with a gun that included an extended magazine. The prosecutor said Robinson was waving the gun and yelling at Medlay but eventually got in a car and drove away.
A short distance away, Robinson told Grover, “ You can smoke him.” Shortly after Grover arrived on the scene, he shot Medlay twice in the chest.
During the sentencing, Medlay’s mother addressed the court and said that she has seen no remorse from either defendant.
“He was my child and they had no right,” the mother said. “ I will never let him be forgotten.”
Robinson later addressed the victim’s family, saying they should have sympathy for him because he knows what it is like to lose a family member. “Everybody goes throughout situations like this, especially in our neighborhood,” he said.
According to Robinson’s defense attorney, Robinson, who lost a brother to gun violence, had just returned from the funeral when he entered the market. Robinson’s attorney said his client believed he was standing up for himself.
Grover also spoke during the hearing and apologized to the family, saying “ I’m not going to sit (here) like I’m an angel and don’t deserve this.”
Following their release, Robinson will be required to serve three additional years on supervised release. Grover will have to serve five additional years on supervised release.
During a status hearing Dec. 14, counsel informed a judge about possible modifications to a murder defendant’s protective order.
Giovanti Young is charged with first-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for allegedly shooting Andre Jahmal Johnson, 42, on the 5000 block of H St., SE in 2017. Young, 24, is currently being held without bond.
Counsel told DC Superior Court Judge Judith Bartnoff that they agreed on a new protective order. Initially counsel intended for the agreement to only be verbal. Modifications to the protective order were not revealed.
Judge Bartnoff said that she would approve whatever modifications both sides agreed on. However, she informed counsel to formally submit the new agreement to Judge Edelman in January.
The prosecution also informed the judge that it did not plan on conducting any DNA testing in the case. However, the defense, who has not seen the evidence collected, said they may request testing.
A status hearing is scheduled on Jan. 25, 2019. A jury trial is slated to begin on June 24, 2019.
A convicted murderer was sentenced Dec. 14, to 9.5 years in prison. However, the victim’s family was not pleased with the duration of the sentence.
Talib Clay pleaded guilty in September to voluntary manslaughter while armed for shooting 22-year old Ernest Edwin Baylor, Jr. on the 2200 block of Hunter Place, SE in 2017. Clay was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed.
Baylor’s mother told the judge that the sentence was “a slap on the wrist.”
During their impact statements, both the victim’s mother and father expressed their grief over their son’s loss.
In response to the parents statements, Clay apologized for his actions and said he hopes to find forgiveness one day.
After his prison term, Clay is required to serve five years on supervised release.
Read about the case on D.C. Witness.
A man convicted for killing an innocent bystander was sentenced to 37 years in prison.
Kelby Gordon was convicted in July of second-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, and other related firearms offenses for shooting Gabriel Carlos Turner on the 2600 block of Birney Pl., SE in 2016. Turner was a janitor at the FBI building.
During the sentencing on Dec. 13, DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee said Gordon, 32, made a series of bad decisions. Decisions that affected not only him, but also Turner, 46; Turner’s family and the defendant’s family, especially his children.
This is the “most senseless and foolish behavior,” Judge Lee said.
Turner’s family did not attend the sentencing.
The prosecutor said Gordon did not show any remorse for killing Turner, noting that the defendant was lucky that only one person was killed during the shooting. As reported by D.C. Witness, Gordon apparently tried to rob an individual who he saw holding a lot of cash. However, when Gordon went to rob the person, who was armed, the two began running a shooting at each other.
Turner, who had intellectual disabilities, was caught in the middle. He was in the area because he visited his mother, daily. “He didn’t see it coming” the prosecutor said during the trial. “One shot, that was all it took and he immediately fell to the ground.”
Gordon, whose parents sat in the courtroom, maintained his innocence, saying he felt the trial wasn’t fair. However, Judge Lee said that he had no doubt about the jury’s verdict.
In addition to serving time in prison, Gordon is required to serve five years on supervised release. He is also required to pay $270 in restitution to a neighbor whose home was destroyed by the bullets and $600 to the Crime Victims Compensation Fund.
Read about the case on D.C. Witness.
A 15-year-old boy was fatally shot on Dec. 13 in an area that wasn’t far from where members of his family lived.
According to Metropolitan Police Chief Peter Newsham, officers responded to reports of gunshots on the 2900 block of Knox Place, SE. When they arrived at the location, they discovered Gerald Watson suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Newsham told reporters that night that detectives are reviewing surveillance cameras in the neighborhood. The chief said it appears as if the boy was chased before he was killed.
“It doesn’t make any sense. Who’s going to shoot a kid. This is the holiday season. It is a celebratory time,” Newsham told News4, NBC’s local news affiliate. He said it was “heartbreaking.”
A reward of up to $25,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this case 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.
On Dec. 13, a medical examiner contradicted a mother’s testimony about the night her son was killed.
Eric McDuffie is charged with first-degree murder and a related gun offense for allegedly shooting 23-year-old Antonio McCallister on the 2700 block of Langston Place, SE. McDuffie, 27, was initially tried in April; however, the jury was unable to make a unanimous decision.
McCallister’s mother previously told the jury that she saw McDuffie walking behind her son as she was approaching him. The mother said she held her son’s head as he fell to the ground. She said his last words were, “ I love you ma.”
However, a medical examiner from the Office of the Medical Examiner of the District of Columbia said the victim had injuries to his face that were consistent with his face hitting the ground. Furthermore, the medical examiner said McCallister couldn’t have said anything after he was shot because his spinal cord was injured. Apparently, McCallister was shot once in the back of the head.
The defense previously noted that the mother was under the influence of alcohol and PCP, a mind-altering drug, on the night of the murder.
The defense also questioned if the mother was testifying in order to receive a reward. Apparently, she was diagnosed with manic depression and was also homeless.
“I’m testifying because I want justice,” the mother told the jury.
The defense is scheduled to begin their case on Dec. 17.
On Dec. 13, a DC Superior Court judge rescheduled a murder trial so that the defense could conduct DNA testing.
Leonard Smith is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing Leonte Butler on the 4000 block of South Capitol St., SE in 2017. Smith was initially charged with second-degree murder while armed.
The new trial date was moved from Jan. 22, 2019, to Nov. 12, 2019. The January date was converted to a status hearing.
Defense attorney Dinah Manning said she will conduct a separate testing on some items after receiving the prosecution’s DNA results. The items to be tested were not specified.
According to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of the District of Columbia, Butler suffered from multiple stab wounds to the head and torso. Court documents said the stabbings occurred because Butler hit Smith, who was “continuously teasing” him about his speech impairment.
Counsel said the trial is expected to last five days.
