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Document: Two Arrests Made in November Homicide

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department arrested Nov. 21 a second suspect involved in a fatal stabbing in Northeast DC.

According to a press release, police arrested 29-year-old Donnell Mills and charged him with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 38 year-old Jelani Mohammed on the 1500 block of Benning Road, NE on Nov. 8.

Police also arrested Dale Thomas, 28, on Nov. 9 and charged him with first-degree murder while armed as well.

Mills and Thomas are scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 11.




Document: Arrest Made in August Homicide

Officers with the Metropolitan Police Department arrested Nov. 21 a suspect involved in a fatal shooting earlier this year.

According to a press release, officers arrested 24-year-old Carlos Galvez Pleitez and charged him with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Denard Orlando Hartwell, 44, on the 4400 block of Livingston Road, SE on Aug. 8.

Police are still investigating the case.

Officers are requesting that anyone with information on the case call the police at 202-727-9099.  Anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by sending a text message to 50411. A reward of up to $25,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.



Jury Finds Defendant Guilty of 2016 Murder

After five days of deliberation, a jury found a murder defendant guilty of first-degree murder while armed.

Kenneth ‘Kendawg’ Adams was convicted Nov. 19 of shooting and killing 21-year-old Dante “Te” Kinard on the 1800 block of Benning Road, NE in 2016. Adams, 20, was also found guilty of robbery and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.

According to court documents, Adams walked toward a group of people on Benning Road, pulled out a gun and started shooting. Kinard was not the intended target. 

The multi-week trial began on Oct. 22.

Closing statements for the prosecution and defense centered on witness statements.

The prosecution said witnesses changed their statements for “self-preservation,” referencing one witness who identified Adams during the trial, but not initially to police. The prosecutor said the witness didn’t initially identify Adams because he was scared Adams was still on the streets.

Adam’s defense attorney, Nikki Lotze, dismissed the prosecution’s explanation, saying the witness’s statement changed because the prosecution offered a deal. Lotze also said multiple witnesses testified that officers from the Metropolitan Police Department made them identify Adams as the shooter.

Adams is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 28, 2019.

Judge finds Substantial Probability for 5th Murder Suspect in Girl’s Homicide

A DC Superior Court judge found substantial probability Nov. 19 that a fifth murder defendant was involved in the shooting death of a ten-year-old girl.

Mark Price is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Makiyah Wilson on the 300 block of 53rd Street, NE in July.

The prosecution said an Instagram video and records of a phone call place Price, 24, in the area of the crime. The prosecution also said DNA evidence, matching Price, was found in a BMW that was involved with the shooting.

However, the defense claimed that Price was not at the scene, telling Judge Craig Iscoe that there were no witnesses who saw him.

Nonetheless, Judge Iscoe held Price without bond.

According to court documents, Wilson was killed during a shootout on July 16 while she was trying to purchase ice cream. Police believe the motive for the shooting was payback for a 2017 shooting. Four other people, including: Marquell Cobbs, 16; Gregory Taylor, 23; Qujuan Thomas,20; and Quentin Michals, 21, are also charged with first-degree murder while armed.

Cobbs and Price are scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 5. Michals, Taylor and Thomas are scheduled for a felony status conference on Feb. 1, 2019.

On Nov. 20, police arrested a sixth person involved in the case. Twenty-five-year-old Quanisha Ramsuer is charged with obstructing justice.

 

Document: Police Arrest Sixth Suspect in Makiyah Wilson Homicide

On Nov. 20, the Metropolitan Police Department arrested a sixth person in connection to the murder of a 10-year-old girl.

According to a press release, Quanisha Ramsuer, 25, is charged with obstruction of justice for her alleged role in the fatal shooting of Makiyah Wilson on the 300 block of 53rd Street, NE in July.

Police also arrested five other suspects, including Marquell Cobbs, 16; Gregory Taylor, 23; Qujuan Thomas,20; and Quentin Michals, 21 and Mark Price, 24. All five men are charged with first-degree murder while armed.

Follow D.C. Witness for updates on the case.

 







Document: Police Arrest Suspect in May Homicide

The Metropolitan Police Department arrested a man Nov. 20 for allegedly fatally shooting a man nearly twice his age in May.

David Hahqwon Beale, 20, 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.

Follow D.C. Witness for updates on the case.



Document: Homicide in Petworth Neighborhood

The Metropolitan Police Department is currently investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on March 19 in the Petworth neighborhood in Ward 4.

According to a press release, officers found 26 year-old Dwight Banks suffering from multiple gunshot wounds Sunday night. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed from his injuries.

Police have not identified a suspect at this time. Police did not reveal a motive.

Up to a $25,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest and conviction for this case or any other homicide in DC. Anyone with information should call 202-727-9099. Anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by sending a text message to 50411.



Convicted Murderer Receives 25 Years in Prison

On Nov. 16, a judge sentenced a convicted murderer to 25 years in prison and 5 years of supervised release.

Kevin Smith pleaded guilty in August to second-degree murder while armed for shooting Valerie Coleman on Dec. 2, 2017, on the 1700 block of 16th Street, SE.

DC Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna said she sentenced Smith to 25 years because of the cold and deliberate nature of the murder.

According to court documents, Smith, 47, apparently killed Coleman, 55, because he believed his girlfriend, who was Coleman’s youngest daughter, was cheating on him.

“I don’t have a mom no more,” Coleman’s oldest daughter told the judge during her impact statement. The youngest daughter did not go to the sentencing.

Review earlier articles of the case on D.C. Witnes.org.

 

 

 

 

Prosecution Extends Plea Offer to Murder Defendant

During a felony arraignment Nov. 16, the prosecution extended a plea offer to a murder defendant involved in a stabbing.

Jose Luzunaris is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 56-year-old Gregory Monroe on Feb. 3 at the Judiciary House Apartments on the 400 block of H Street, NW.

The prosecution offered Luzunaris a plea deal for second-degree murder. The offer is set to expire on Nov. 30. 

According to court documents, surveillance footage shows Luzunaris, 53, entered the apartment building early that morning. Shortly after, the defendant was seen walking towards the victim’s door.

A status hearing is scheduled on Nov. 30. Continue following D.C. Witness for updates on the case.

Judge Rules Man Had Probable Cause to Commit October Homicide

During a presentment Nov. 15, a DC Magistrate judge found probable cause that a 26-year-old man was involved in an October homicide. Defense counsel argued the man acted in self-defense.

Tondrick Murphy is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 26-year-old Marquis Jones on the 2000 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE. Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department arrested Murphy on Nov. 14.

Murphy’s lawyer said Jones initiated a physical altercation with his client prior to the shooting. The attorney also said Murphy and Jones were armed on the night of the murder.

Furthermore, the attorney said Jones moved his hand in a “threatening” manner moments before the shooting, which provoked Murphy to shoot. 

The prosecution refuted the self-defense claim, saying Jones was merely scratching his head.

Subsequently, Judge Errol Arthur found probable cause, acknowledging that Jones was responsible for starting a fight prior to the murder. The judge also said the fight clearly establishes a motive. 

Judge Arthur ordered the defendant held without bond, citing Murphy’s criminal history and his failure to comply with the terms of his supervised release for a 2009 burglary conviction in Prince George’s County, Md.

Murphy is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 29.

Document: Homicide on Minn. Ave SE

The Metropolitan Police Department arrested Nov. 15 D’Angelo Davis in connection with the murder of a 37 year old in Southeast DC.

Davis, 38, is charged with first-degree murder while armed. He allegedly shot 37 year-old Michael Miller on the 1600 block of Minnesota Avenue, SE on July 21. Miller died on the scene.



Who Stabbed Teen in NOMA Homicide?

During a preliminary hearing Nov. 15, a detective said no one could identify who stabbed a teen in NOMA in May.

Demonte Hewitt and Kurt Hewitt are charged with second-degree murder while armed for their alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Tyshon Perry on the 1300 block of 2nd Street, NE, which is located near the NOMA-Gallaudet metro station. According to the Metropolitan Police Department, the suspects are cousins.

Demonte, 16, and Kurt,18, are both being charged as adults.

“We keep talking about the word involved … but nowhere in the four corners of the affidavit does it say Demonte Hewitt physically assaulted the decedent, correct?” Demonte’s attorney, James King, asked.

The detective agreed and said a Snapchat video implicated the cousins because they were part of the group of people involved in the stabbing. However, the detective said authorities have not verified if the video was actually taken on the day of the murder.

According to court documents, the victim was a friend of a male student who got into a confrontation with a female student earlier that day at KIPP DC College Preparatory, a charter high school in Northeast DC. The female student allegedly told the male student that she was going to “‘bring her hood boys to the school to fight [him].’”

When the male student, victim, who was also a student at the school, and their friends were walking to the metro station to go home, they apparently ran into the female student, but at that time, she was with four other boys who did not attend Kipp. A fight broke out between the groups. 

The defense was not able to conclude arguments on Thursday, so DC Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe continued the preliminary hearing until Dec. 3 due to a previously scheduled trial.

Continue following D.C. Witness for updates.

Prosecution Requests Delay in Double Homicide

On Nov. 13, nearly an hour after opening arguments for a murder trial were scheduled to begin, a DC Superior Court judge notified the jury that a trial wouldn’t begin until next year because one of the prosecutors had a “severe family emergency.”

Terik McLeod is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Devaun Drayton and Carlton Fisher on the 700 block of 26th Street, NE and on the 1100 block of 21st Street, NE, respectively. Fisher, who was killed in 2006, was apparently a witness to Drayton’s homicide in 2004.

According to the prosecution, another attorney wouldn’t be prepared to take on the case on such short notice. As a result, Judge Ronna Beck scheduled the trial to resume on March 25, 2019.

McLeod’s defense attorneys, Bruce Cooper and Michael Madden, requested their client be released because of the delay. According to the defense, McLeod would be detained for nearly two years by the time of the new trial date.

Judge Beck denied the defense’s request because of McLeod’s prior firearm convictions and because he is an “extreme risk” to public safety.

 

Jury Should Disregard Statements that ID Murder Defendant as Shooter, Defense Says

During closing arguments in a murder trial, the defense demanded that the jury disregard  statements that said a murder defendant was the shooter.

Kenneth Adams is charged with first-degree murder while armed, obstruction of justice and other firearms offenses for allegedly shooting 21-year-old Dante “Te” Kinard on the 1800 block of Benning Road, NE in 2016. According to court documents, Adams,20, walked toward a group of people on Benning Road, pulled out a gun and started shooting. Kinard was not the intended target in the shooting.

Adams’ defense attorney, Nikki Lotze, said the two witnesses, who identified Adams during trial, should not be trusted. She said one witness admitted to only being about 80-85 percent sure about her identification. 

“[She] said it was so dark that it looked like people were wearing masks,”  Lotze told the jury. “Everything was black.”

Another witness told police, days after the shooting, that he did not know who shot Kinard. Lotze said the witness changed his story because he made a deal with the prosecution. 

The prosecution denied making a deal with the witness. The prosecution also said the witness did not initially identify Adams as the shooter because he was afraid Adams “was still on the street.” 

Other witnesses, who initially identified Adams as the shooter, told the jury that police coerced them into making the identification.

The jury began deliberating Nov. 14.

Document: Homicide in U Street Corridor

The Metropolitan Police Department is currently investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on the of 800 block of Florida Avenue, NW, inside the U Street corridor, on Nov. 14.

According to a press release, police found 26 year-old Javon Smith suffering from gunshot wounds on the 2100 block of 8th Street, Northwest. He died at a hospital hours later on Nov. 15.

Police are requesting information that can lead to an arrest and conviction. A reward of up to $25,000 may be provided. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at 202-727-9099.  Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by sending a text message to 50411.