Frustrated Over Crowded Calendar, Judge Pushes Back Murder Trial Until 2027

Two murder co-defendants were arraigned before DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman on May 22. However, because of an overcrowded felony docket, the judge could not schedule their trial until 2027.

During the proceeding, Karim Ibrahim, 22, heard the 11 count indictment against him including premeditated murder while armed, assault with intent to kill, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol without a license, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and assault with significant bodily injury while armed.

On behalf of Ibrahim, his attorney, Kevin Mosley, pleaded not guilty and asserted his constitutional rights including a speedy trial and full disclosure of the prosecution’s evidence.

Meanwhile, Delonte Terrell, 29, was charged in a five count indictment with premeditated murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed and assault with significant bodily injury.

Michael Bruckheim, his attorney, likewise pleaded not guilty on all counts while asserting his constitutional rights and requested relevant evidence in the case.

The pair of defendants are charged with the fatal shooting of Javonni Coleman on Jan. 16, 2024 on the 2400 block of S Street, SE.

No plea offer has been extended by the prosecutor but he alerted the parties he would be interested if they would consider a deal. He also said there was no intention to test the physical evidence in the case which amounted to recovered shell casings.

However, the main focus of the hearing was the struggle to come up with an acceptable trial date because of previous trial commitments by the attorneys and the backed up felony docket in superior court.

Judge Edelman said the calendar was “absurdly overcrowded.” As the judge paged through the 2026 calendar it was clear nothing was available that would satisfy everyone’s schedule. Finally, there was agreement of a Jan. 19, 2027 start date.

“Wow!” said the judge.

There was agreement to schedule a hearing to consider possible DNA testing issues on Oct. 3.

In the interim, Bruckheim asked the judge for relaxed release conditions for Terrell who’s currently on GPS monitoring. Judge Edelman asked Bruckheim to put the request in writing. Ibrahim is also released under similar restrictions.

Since there are possible mental issues in the case, Judge Edelman asked Ibrahim to comply with a mental health screening.

Judge Gives Non-Compliant Murder Suspect Another Chance

A murder defendant cited for a number of release violations was told by DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman that he needs to do better if he expects more lenient terms. The exchange came in a May 22 hearing to determine whether the 39-year-old defendant can stay out of jail pending trial.

Charles Jeter and Kevin Sewell, 33, are charged with two counts of first-degree murder while armed, conspiracy, burglary while armed, and three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for the fatal shooting of 46-year-old Kevin Robinson on Nov. 30, 2014, on the 600 block of Edgewood Street, NE. Robinson was Sewell’s father.

During the hearing, an official with DC Pretrial Services (PTS) said that Jeter’s GPS monitoring device wasn’t working between May 3 through May 5, thus a violation of his release conditions. He is required to keep the monitor sufficiently charged.

Carrie Waletz, Jeter’s attorney, said the failure was with the unit’s power supply and not Jeter’s fault.

However, the PTS official said the device was tested on May 19 and “it was in working order,”

Waletz said that Jeter was “surprised” by what happened and that this is his only infraction in 16 months. The prosecutor disagreed and claimed that Jeter has had other problems sticking with his release conditions.

A review of court records shows Jeter has had four earlier non-compliance notifications in the past year. Waletz says Jeter needs to move beyond his allowed locations to get medical care for a painful locked jaw problem. Further, he’d like to get a job.

“He has little support,” said Waletz.

Considering the matter, Judge Edelman said, “We’ve had all these compliance bumps.” However, the judge told Jeter, “Give me 30 days of compliance,” and he will reconsider the matter. Meanwhile, the judge discharged the order to review Jeter’s continued release.

Sewell, Jeter’s co-defendant, is also on release under similar restrictions.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Oct. 31.

Expert Connects DNA Samples to Murder, Shooting Suspects

An expert linked DNA evidence to three among six co-defendants in a mass shooting homicide trial before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on May 19.

Erwin Dubose, 31, Kamar Queen, 28, Damonta Thompson, 28, and William Johnson-Lee, 22, are charged with conspiracy, premeditated first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, among other charges, for their alleged involvement in the mass shooting that killed 31-year-old Donnetta Dyson, 24-year-old Keenan Braxton, and 37-year-old Johnny Joyner. The incident occurred on the 600 block of Longfellow Street, NW on Sept. 4, 2021, and injured three additional individuals.

Mussay Rezene, 32, and Toyia Johnson, 53, are charged with accessory after the fact while armed and tampering with physical evidence for their alleged involvement in assisting the other defendants discard evidence and avoid arrests.

The prosecution called five forensic biologists from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) who performed laboratory work on DNA evidence linked to the case. Prosecutors informed the jury that parties agreed ATF received 24 cartridge casings collected from Longfellow Street and swabs of items found in a gray Nissan Maxima from the Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS). DFS also sent known DNA samples of Dubose, Queen, Thompson, Johnson-Lee, and Rezene.

Prosecutors allege the gray Nissan Maxima connects Rezene to destroying the getaway car used in the shooting.

The court qualified one of the forensic biologists as an expert witness in the field of forensic DNA analysis. The expert concluded Johnson-Lee was a possible contributor to DNA on one set of cartridge casings. He also found that Rezene was a possible contributor to DNA on items retrieved from the Nissan including four plastic bottles, a plastic cup, and the charging cord. In addition, he said Dubose was a possible contributor to DNA on a different plastic bottle.

The trial is scheduled to resume on May 20.

Document: Police Investigate Death of 16-Year-Old

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced they are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on May 20 in Southeast Washington, D.C.

The victim, identified as 16-year-old Dominique Dingle, was found with gunshot wounds on the 1000 block of 3rd Place, Southeast, and was pronounced dead at the scene. The case remains under investigation.

Judge Tries to Balance Consequences With Compassion in Sentencing Shooter

In a 90 minute sentencing punctuated by raw emotion, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt acknowledged it was difficult to thread the legal needle in a case where not only was the victim severely injured, but the defendant and his family faced severe duress.

“I can’t give him a slap on the wrist,” said Brandt of Adrian Lee, 49. He was facing judgement for a shooting that grievously wounded the victim following a minor car accident on April 18, 2023 on the 700 block of Gresham Place, NW.

“You’ve had one too many lapses in judgement,” said the judge. But on the other hand, she didn’t want to extract “a pound of flesh.”

Lee originally faced an eleven count indictment, including assault with intent to kill, assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, and assault with significant bodily injury while armed.

Last September a jury found him guilty of all counts except assault with intent to kill and one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.

The prosecutor painted a stark version of events that she characterized as “exceptional violence.” She said the victims had come to DC to celebrate their ninth anniversary when a vehicle owned by Lee sidewiped their 2020 gray Tesla. Lee went back to the scene but was unable to produce a valid insurance card.

In the ensuing dispute, the victims chased Lee to his nearby residence where Lee shot the husband in the abdomen and also fired at his wife.

The prosecutor reasoned that in addition to committing a violent crime Lee refused to accept responsibility and attempted to get friends and relatives to lie that the victims were armed.

An exacerbating factor, said the prosecutor, is that Lee was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2017. All of which, she said, justified a sentence of just short of 20 years.

While the victim listened to the proceedings virtually, the prosecutor read his impact statement.

“I found myself in a profound sense of despair,” wrote the victim who faced five months of rehabilitation for a bullet that lodged in his spine, almost all of the time bedridden. What should have been a joyous occasion turned into a moment of terror.

“The scars remain etched on my soul,” he continued.

However, defense attorney Albert Amissah attempted to paint Lee in another light. He showed a montage of Lee’s family photos and loved ones.

“Nobody should have to go through that kind of agony,” conceded Amissah about the victim but the lawyer said there were some extenuating circumstances. Lee, said Amissah, thought his life was in danger and he was simply trying to get away.

“The five seconds where he made that decision have upended his entire life, but the idea of self-defense is “not that far-fetched.”

At the start of the proceeding, Lee’s wife and infant son appeared in the courtroom, and judge Brandt permitted them to stay even though some judges do not allow the attendance of young children to prevent disruptions. Tearfully, Lee called out to his child, “I love you. I miss you.”

Lee’s wife spoke to the court about her unwavering support for him despite her desperate circumstance of trying to raise her children alone while facing severe health issues.

“What happened to daddy?” is a question she has to answer. “I can’t face my children any longer.”

For his part, Lee struggled to give a statement, ultimately deferring to Amissah on his behalf. “I’m a great father,” said the statement.

“So I’m here begging for mercy. I know what I did was wrong,” he continued. “I felt my life was in danger.”

In the end, it was up to Judge Brandt to administer punishment regardless of conflicting emotions, she said. First, she encouraged Lee’s wife to persevere in that she is much stronger than she thinks. A mother’s love, said the judge, “runs 24-hours-a-day.”

Still, the victim’s pain is “not insignificant and can’t be ignored,” she said. Nor is there any excuse for what Lee did.

For all the charges aggregated, Judge Brandt sentenced Lee to 13 years in prison, short of what the prosecution wanted. And at the bottom of the sentencing guidelines.

However, Judge Brandt said that was the maximum penalty recommended for the most serious remaining count of aggravated assault knowingly while armed. She also suggested the case could be appealed.

Lee requested placement in a prison near DC to facilitate family visits. No further proceedings are scheduled in the case.

Document: Police Investigate Fatal Shooting in Northeast DC

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced they are investigating a homicide that occurred on May 20 on the 800 block of 26th Street, NE.

The victim, identified as 31-year-old Kian-Wayne Magruder from Temple Hills, MD, was found deceased with gunshot wounds. The case remains under investigation.

Document: Police Arrest Suspect in U Street Shooting

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of 20-year-old Davian Raines, who is alleged to be involved in a shooting on May 11 on the 900 block of U Street, NW.

The incident resulted in non-life-threatening injuries to two adult males and a juvenile male. Raines has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon (Gun).

Defense Grills Prosecution’s ‘Star Witness’ in Fatal Shooting

A witness who the defense claimed was motivated by self-interest testified he saw a suspected murderer shoot a victim in cold blood.

During hearings on May 13 and May 14, before DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman, the defense chipped away at the man’s credibility and challenged the truthfulness of his account.

Anthony Green, 39, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Terence Akindo on the 2300 block of 13th Place, NE on July 30, 2023. Akindo died from two gunshot wounds to his head and chest.

Akindo’s older sister said the family, including seven siblings, had immigrated from Cameroon in 2007. “He was loved by everyone,” she said of Terence.

Prosecutors built much of their case around a person who said Green was a resident of a house at the crime scene where the two were living and doing drugs. The 40-year-old witness said he didn’t know Green’s actual name but referred to him as “Black.” Green, according to the witness, was part of a circle of drug users living there.

The witness also said he knew the victim as “Tre,” or “T” from an encounter the previous year.

“He was a good kid,” said the witness, although he was dealing drugs. The witness said he was aware that Green and Akindo had a “beef” over money and saw Green and Akindo talking in the street the day of the incident.

As the confrontation escalated, the witness said he tried to get the group which had assembled for a meal out of harm’s way.

According to the witness, another aspect of the dispute was an earlier episode in which Akindo supposedly “jumped” Green’s live-in girlfriend as well as the witness’ romantic partner at a Home Depot.

The witness claimed he heard Akindo say to Green with his hands up, “I didn’t do it!” As Akindo was backing away in fear, the witness said he saw “Black” shoot Akindo, then stand over him and shoot him again.

“Everytime he breathed, I guess, blood kept going out of his stomach,” said the witness.

The next day, he said, he went to the police along with his girlfriend and tried to talk her out of getting involved. Meanwhile, he did identify “Black” as the killer in a letter to police. That was substantiated by a video interview in which he told a detective that “Black” was the shooter and that he was “carefree” about the killing.

“No impression he had taken someone’s life. He had a smile on his face,” said the witness. All of which infuriated the witness who said he contemplated killing “Black.”

In cross-examination, defense attorney Sylvia Smith went on the attack, pointing out that the witness has pending cases in Arkansas, Virginia, New Jersey and Philadelphia. There are other charges in Montgomery County, Maryland for weapons and drug violations as well as assault and battery.

She wanted to know why the witness didn’t call 911 for an hour after the shooting. He replied that he wanted to make sure his girlfriend was okay. Smith also wondered why he didn’t tell police initially that he saw the shooting.

“Hey, hey, hey, I saw a body,” said the witness.

Smith pressed on, suggesting that the witness could have been drug impaired when he talked to police.

“You were stealing everything under the sun to pay for those drugs,” said Smith who brought up an episode in which the witness allegedly threatened to kill employees in a store robbery.

“How did you become the star witness?” asked Smith sarcastically. “You’re using this case to help yourself,” she said, in particular that the witness had asked for a $25,000 reward for information.

“The truth Mr. Sanders is that you shot Tre,” said Smith.

On the prosecutor’s redirect, the witness said he smiled when Smith asked the question because of the ”absurdity of it. It didn’t make sense.”

Prosecutors called another witness who saw the shooting’s aftermath from her front porch.

“I heard shots, bam, bam, bam, bam,” she said. Trained as an Army medic, she went to the victim in a futile attempt to help. “There was a young black man lying in the street,” she said with no signs of life.

The trial is slated to continue on May 15. .

Murder Defendant Denied Release

DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park refused defense attorney Eliza Buergenthal’s request that he release her client, Tyquan Jennings, from DC Jail pending trial at a hearing on May 19.

Jennings, 26, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Vonte Martin and the wounding of another victim. The incident occurred on the 3000 block of Stanton Road, SE, on Aug. 19, 2024.

Court documents state Martin suffered two gunshot wounds to his left arm and one to his upper left chest.

According to arrest documents, multiple witnesses told police that Martin was in a conflict with two brothers, known by the nicknames “TyTy” and “KyKy,” who blamed Martin for the arrest of their relative.

Buergenthal argued for Jennings’ release on the grounds that he is the sole caretaker for his nine-year-old daughter and the evidence against him isn’t strong. Buergenthal said the surveillance video footage of the incident is dark and grainy, and the witness testimony is contradictory.

“All this shows that the evidence here is not overwhelming. It is not cut and dried, as the [prosecution] has alleged,” Buergenthal said.

“The fact that this entire murder occurred on video is the overwhelming nature of the evidence,” said the prosecutor.

The prosecutor said Jennings allegedly committed the murder while on release in a felony domestic violence case. Jennings was charged on March 31, 2023, with carrying a dangerous weapon outside his home or place of business (offense committed during release), possession of an unregistered firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. The case was dismissed on April 15, 2025.

Judge Park said the dismissal of the domestic violence case doesn’t negate the fact that Jennings was arrested for Martin’s homicide during pretrial release and therefore is considered to have violated the conditions of his release.

The next hearing in this case is scheduled for Aug. 15.

Judge Excludes Witness Aiming to Impeach Key Prosecution Witness

DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park refused to allow the testimony of a witness called in by Steven Kiersh, defense attorney for Alonzo Brown, during court proceedings on May 19.

Brown, 28, and Naquel Henderson, 27, are charged with first-degree murder while armed, conspiracy to commit a crime of violence, five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and four counts of assault with intent to kill while armed. The charges stem from their alleged involvement in the shooting that killed 21-year-old Michael Taylor and injured two additional victims on Jan. 12, 2019, on the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE.

Brown and Henderson are two of five men charged with Taylor’s death. Stephon Evans, 24, and Tavist Alston, 31, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed in 2022. Carlos Turner, 27, is scheduled for sentencing on June 5, following a guilty plea to undisclosed charges.

At trial, Kiersh proposed calling a pharmacologist to testify that requests made by a key prosecution witness for prescription medication in jail didn’t seem substantiated by the witness’ blood test results. Kiersh said he intended to use this testimony to impeach the credibility of the prosecution’s witness by showing the witness didn’t accurately report the person’s need for medication.

“To my mind, all these issues are of vanishingly little relevance to [the witness’] truthfulness,” Judge Park said.

Judge Park allowed the defense to introduce into evidence certain medical records that contradicted what the witness said about their past drug use while testifying in trial last week.

Julie Swaney, a defense attorney for Henderson, called a witness who testified to knowing Henderson for the past ten years. The witness said Henderson was a friend of his cousin, and the three of them often got together at his cousin’s residence in the Trinidad neighborhood.

The witness said he knew Henderson by the nickname of “Quel” and never heard the name “Hakim” applied to him. A key prosecution witness testified last week that he knew Henderson as “Hakim.”

Parties are set to reconvene on May 20.

Stabbing Suspect Nixes Testing of DNA Evidence

Christopher Moore waived his right to independently test DNA evidence with the assistance of his attorney, Sellano Simmons, at a court hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on May 16.

Moore, 31, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, threat to kidnap or injure a person, assault with intent to kill while armed, and aggravated assault knowingly while armed. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in a non-fatal stabbing that left one person injured on March 1, 2024, on the 700 block of 15th Street, NE.

The prosecution informed the court that they don’t intend to test any physical evidence collected in this case for DNA.

According to arrest documents, surveillance video footage of the incident showed four individuals chasing the victim, then attacking him after he fell to the ground.

Court documents state that a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective identified Moore as one of the attackers. The identification was based on body-worn-camera footage from an earlier incident, in which MPD officers arrested Moore as he assaulted the same victim.

Moore allegedly told officers the victim killed his father, 53-year-old Christopher King, who was stabbed to death on Feb. 24, 2024, at the intersection of Maryland Avenue and Bladensburg Road, NE.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on Sept. 12.

Shooter Takes a Plea, Denied Release in Long-standing Beef

Terry McNeal, 44, stood before DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld on May 19 and accepted a guilty plea for a shooting based on a longstanding grudge.

In accepting the prosecution’s offer to plead guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and carrying a pistol without a license, McNeal avoided an indictment and other sanctions that could enhance his punishment. The prosecution is recommending sentencing at the bottom third of the guidelines.

According to court documents, McNeal followed the victim as he was driving and fired several shots into the air on Feb. 2, 2024 on the 2400 block of H Street, SE. This was apparently the culmination of a longstanding dispute between the two.The victim allegedly had a romantic relationship with McNeal’s wife some seven years ago.

Given the evidence, in particular, that the victim knew and could identify McNeal, he was arrested and charged. Cell phone data also placed him in the area of the shooting.

The prosecutor, in his proffer to the court, said McNeal would have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt had the case gone to trial. Police records note that there were additional shots fired after the initial discharge. There were no reported injuries.

If convicted, McNeal could have faced a maximum of ten years jail time on the assault charge, and a year for the weapons count.

McNeal’s attorney, Matthew Davies, asked Judge Hertzfeld to release McNeal pending disposition because “he’s an excellent candidate for supervised release,” and this is an opportunity to show that he can follow court instructions.

The prosecutor was opposed and the judge agreed.

“This is an incredibly serious offense,” said Judge Hertzfeld. She ordered a presentencing report and set the date for July 17.

Suspect in Murder, Robbery Pleads Not Guilty at Arraignment

David Key was arraigned on four charges and pleaded not guilty before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on May 16.

Key, 38, is charged with first-degree murder premeditated while armed, first-degree murder while armed while committing or attempting to commit a robbery, robbery while armed, and carrying a dangerous weapon outside his home or place of business. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of 33-year-old Devon Greenfield on April 1, 2024, on the 300 block of 61st Street, NE.

Key’s attorney, Howard McEachern, alerted the court that Key intended to plead not guilty to all charges and asserted his constitutional rights.

Parties are slated to reconvene Sept. 26.

Murder, Armed Robbery Defendant Waives Right to Test For DNA

Jaime Macedo waived his right to independently test DNA evidence with the assistance of his attorney, Jessica Willis, at a court hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on May 16.

Macedo, 24, is charged with felony murder while armed, robbery while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Maxwell Emerson, 25, on July 5, 2023. The incident occurred on the 600 block of Alumni Lane, NE, on the campus of Catholic University.

According to police documents, Emerson’s family told police they were visiting DC so Emerson, a teacher, could attend a program offered by the Library of Congress. The family member received a text from Emerson minutes before the shooting that read, “Help. Being robbed. At gun point.”

Arrest records state that surveillance camera footage showed Emerson walking from the Brookland CUA Metro Station to the scene of the shooting with his hands raised, while an individual identified as Macedo walked behind him. When the suspect tried to snatch something from Emerson, the footage showed Emerson tackling him.

According to court documents, Emerson died of a single gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Arrest documents report that the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) connected DNA from a ski mask found at the scene of the shooting to Macedo.

Parties in this case are next scheduled to meet on Aug. 1.

Assault Defendant Rejects Plea Offer

Alvin Thomas, Jr., the defense attorney for Demarco Bates, informed the court that his client was rejecting a plea offer extended by the prosecution at a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on May 16.

Bates, 28, is charged with four counts of assault with intent to kill, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict, two counts of destruction of property worth less than $1,000, and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting that occurred on April 10, 2024, on the 2700 block of Langston Place, SE. Two individuals sustained injuries during the incident.

According to the prosecutor, the plea offer would have required Bates to plead guilty to two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. In return, the prosecution would have agreed to limit their sentencing request to eight-and-a-half-to-10 years in prison.

The next hearing in this case is scheduled for June 6.

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