Judge Denies Defendant’s Self Defense Claim in Labor Day Homicide

A District of Columbia Superior Court judge said a murder defendant did not act in self-defense when he killed a man during the labor day weekend.

Timothy Gibson, 27, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly killing Carl Day-Baker, 28, on the 1500 block of T Street, SE on Sept. 1.

“He (Gibson) had no reason to believe he was in imminent danger or harm,” Judge Danya Dayson said. “There was no evidence that suggests the defendant knew the decedent was carrying a gun or was known to carry a gun.”

However, Judge Dayson said there were mitigating circumstances in the case because the defendant was provoked and attacked by Day-Baker and his brother prior to the shooting.

“To say this is some sort of a mutual fight is not clearly characterizing it,” the judge said. “This seems to be a provocation, though the act is not a reasonable response.”

Gibson, who does not have any prior felonies or convictions, will be held at a halfway house. He will also be required to wear a GPS monitoring device, and is prohibited from leaving the premises.

According to testimony from a Metropolitan Police Department detective, Gibson’s sister said she was in a seven-year relationship with Day-Baker.

She told the detective she was choked by the decedent and kicked out of his house with her child on the night of the incident. With nowhere to stay, she called her friend, whom Gibson was with at the time, to pick her and her son up.

According to court documents, a witness saw the decedent pull Gibson out of the car and punch him. The witness said Day-Baker and his brother jumped the defendant, slamming him to the ground “as if he were a pretzel,” to end the altercation.

Gibson then pulled out a weapon and fired multiple shots at the decedent and his brother. Day-Baker was shot twice.

“I’m extremely troubled by the nature of this offense,” Judge Dayson said. “The crux of the offense is the following: it involves two families, each side escalating levels violence, resulting in a murder. I’m going to limit more gasoline on the fire that may still be burning.” Judge Dayson ordered Gibson to stay away from the decedent’s brother.

A felony status conference is scheduled for Oct. 25.

Continue following D.C. Witness for further updates on the case.

D.C. Witness intern Shams Sohani co-wrote this story.

Judge Denies Bond, Indictment Still Pending for Murder Defendants

A DC Superior Court judge found Sept. 18 probable cause against two murder defendants regarding a homicide that occurred earlier this year.

Kevin Carter, 30, and Keith Sweptson, 30, are charged with first-degree murder for allegedly assaulting Yusef Turner inside the Spring laundromat on the 3500 block of Georgia Avenue, NW.

According to court documents, a witness told detectives with the Metropolitan Police Department that there was a physical altercation between Sweptson and Turner, 33, one week before the homicide. Sweptson tried to rob the decedent, but lost the gun when Turner fought back.

Sweptson and Carter allegedly attacked the decedent with a large wooden stick. Surveillance video captured the entire incident.

Judge Craig Iscoe granted the prosecution a continuance to seek a grand jury indictment.

The judge also ordered the prosecution to provide all documentation on the case to the defense by Oct. 12.

A felony status conference is scheduled on Nov. 18.

Police Arrest Suspect in Logan Circle Stabbing

On Sept. 20, the Metropolitan Police Department arrested a suspect, charging him with the fatal stabbing of a women in Northwest DC.

Anthony Crawford, who police Chief Peter Newsham said had a residence in Northwest DC, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing Wendy Karina Martinez as she jogged near her home in Logan Circle. The stabbing occurred on the 1400 block of 11^th Street, NW on Sept. 18.

“A combination of the information we received from our third district patrol officers and tips from the community helped our homicide detectives establish an identification of the person of interest that we showed in the video,” Newsham told reporters during a press conference that same day. He said the community’s tips were instrumental in closing the case.

Crawford was presented in DC Courts on Sept. 20.

According to the police chief, Crawford was located in a park on 14th and Girard streets in Northwest DC. He was not in the same shirt from the surveillance video, Newsham said.

It is not known if Crawford has any mental issues. The chief said police are investigating the suspect’s criminal and mental past.

Police have not established a motive for the stabbing. But, a knife was recovered from the scene.

“I live in this city,” Newsham said. “I think it is unsettling for anyone in the city for this to happen.” He called the attack unprovoked and isolated, saying that it did not appear to be a robbery.

Martinez, 35, who was recently engaged, was able to run into a Chinese carryout, located on the corner of P Street and 11 Street, NW, where she received medical attention. Despite life-saving efforts, Martinez succumbed from her injuries at a local hospital.

“She was living the most beautiful moment in her life; it was the happiest last seven days,” her mother told the Washington Post.

According to one of Martinez’s friends, who spoke on behalf of the family, a vigil for Martinez is scheduled at 7 p.m. on Sept. 20 in Logan Circle.

Police Search for Suspect in Fatal Stabbing Near Logan Circle

A woman was fatally stabbed Sept. 18 as she jogged near her home in Logan Circle. Police are currently searching for the man they believed committed the homicide.

Wendy Karina Martinez, chief of staff at FiscalNote, a company that analyzes data for government relations, was attacked during the evening hours on the 1400 block of 11^th Street, NW. According to news reports, Martinez, 35, was able to run into a nearby Chinese carryout restaurant where she received CPR from a practicing nurse.

Despite all life-saving efforts, Martinez succumbed to her injuries at a local hospital.

The person of interest who police believe attacked Wendy Karina Martinez.

The Metropolitan Police Department released surveillance video of her attacker. The person of interest is described as a black male wearing a mustard-colored sweatshirt that was about thigh-length, dark-colored sweatpants that were rolled up to expose part of his shins with white socks and light-colored sandals on his feet.

“This is one of those types of unsettling incidents that sometimes happen in large cities, but it seems like a singular incident,” Police Chief Peter Newsham said during a press conference Sept. 19.

Logan Circle is located in Ward 2. According to D.C. Witness data, three homicides occurred in Ward 2 in 2018. As of Sept. 19, the stabbing is the only homicide to occur this year in or near Logan Circle.

There have been 110 homicides in DC so far this year compared to 89 homicides during the same time last year.

A reward of up to $25,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this homicide or any other homicide in DC.

https://youtu.be/lUPVapzYxHk

Wint Trial Proves Nightmares Are Real

The murder trial of Daron Wint is proving to be a communal nightmare for all. What happened in the Woodley Park mansion seems like something from “Nightmare on Elm Street.” Only this time the victims and the killer are real.

Wint, a person who already maintained assault and destruction of property convictions, is charged with multiple counts of felony and first-degree murder along with other charges for allegedly killing Savvas Savopoulos, 46; his wife, Amy, 47; their son, Philip, 10, and one of their housekeepers, Veralicia Figueroa, 57, at the Savopoulos home located on the 3200 block of Woodland Drive, NW in 2015.

For the next two-months, jurors will have to analyze each piece of evidence from photos of the decedents to taped recordings from Savvas and Amy before they died, to emotional testimonies from family, friends, neighbors and employees. Unfortunately, there is no waking up from this nightmare.

On the other hand, is the nightmare a communal rush to convict?

During opening statements, Wint’s defense team said he was set-up by his brothers. Apparently, one of his brothers was charged with attempted murder and pleaded guilty to first-degree assault in Maryland for a case that involved different victims. That would mean that even if Wint is convicted, perhaps not all those responsible will see justice.

During the trial, the prosecution opened with emotion, using the testimonies of one of the family’s two housekeepers; the Chief Financial Officer at American Ironworks, Savvas’ company; and Amy’s father who spoke of his grandson.

But, whatever the verdict, this grandfather will probably always wonder whether the Louisville Slugger baseball bat he gave to his grandson, was the very bat used to torture and beat his daughter, son-in-law and their maid? Did the killer(s) beat Philip with his own bat as well? These answers are too horrifying to even consider, but the 16-member jury has to.

And yet, too many questions remain. Could this have been an inside job? After all, several calls were made before the murders to understand the security system and know where the footage was housed. Now, that upstairs computer is gone. No one knows if it will ever be recovered. Were the killer(s) that smart, professional?

There is also the nightmare of second-guessing. Figueroa’s husband, the family’s neighbors, friends and co-workers are left with “what if.” What if they questioned Amy more when they saw her that day? What if the husband went to the police after his wife didn’t come home and he heard that scraping sound? What if more alarms were raised when Savvas requested that large sum of cash? What if the pizza delivery person disregarded instructions and waited to see who answered the door? What if Savvas’ assistant chose to disregard his instructions?

Some nightmares never end, even when we wake up.

Judge Sentences Convicted Murderer to 24 years

A DC Superior Court judge sentenced Sept. 14 a convicted murderer to 24 years in prison after removing him from the courtroom after several outbursts.

Christian Romero stabbed Dimas Fuentes-Lazo in 2016 on the 800 block of Kennedy St, NW. A jury found him guilty of second-degree murder while armed on Feb. 23. In addition to the murder conviction, Romero, 26, also has a 2012 conviction for assault with a dangerous weapon in Prince George’s County, Md. Apparently, he was on probation for the assault when the homicide occurred.

“The offense in Maryland was also a stabbing and the underlying conduct in the previous case is similar to this case,” Judge Juliet McKenna said.

According to court documents, the homicide occurred after Romero began slapping the side-view mirrors of cars parked along Kennedy Street, NW. When Lazo’s friend yelled out, Romero aggressively confronted Lazo and his friend.

Surveillance footage shows Romero waving his arms aggressively, attempting to strike the men. He then appears to drop a knife, pick it up and charge at Lazo, 38, who appears to step backwards. Lazo was stabbed multiple times around his face, upper chest and arms.

The knife along with a Coca-Cola bottle and a broken watch were left on the scene. All items contained Romero’s DNA, according to the documents.

Judge Grants Second Indictment Extension in Murder Case

A DC Superior Court judge extended the prosecution’s indictment deadline to Oct. 5, nearly a week after the first extension, which was scheduled on Sept. 27.

Markale Moore and Tyrone Harris are charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 27-year-old Arthur Thompkins on the 5400 block of Hunt Place, NE in 2017.

According to court documents, one of Thompkins’ family members told police that Moore, 29, shot Thompkin and that Harris, 30, drove the getaway car. Another witness told police Moore said he wanted to kill Thompkins on multiple occasions.

Moore’s defense attorney, Kevin Mosley, along with Harris’ attorney, Michael Madden, objected Sept. 17 to the extension. Mosley said he and his client were “sitting in the dark with no information.” According to Mosley, the defense has not received any updates on the prosecution’s investigation.

Judge Danya Dayson scheduled a felony arraignment on Oct. 10. Moore and Harris have a trial date set for Sept. 3, 2019.

Judge Grants Defendant More Time to Consider Withdrawing Plea

A DC Superior Court judge gave a murder defendant extra time to seek outside counsel after he withdrew his guilty plea because he was skeptical of the deal he made with prosecutors.

Kadeem Quarles, 26, is charged with felony murder while armed for allegedly shooting and robbing Timothy Spicer on the 1100 block of Howard Road, SE in 2007.

According to court documents, Quarles, Maurice Blakey, Randolph Williams and a fourth individual, robbed Spicer, 25, at the Anacostia Metro Station. Quarles’ girlfriend allegedly orchestrated the set-up, convincing Spicer to meet her. She has not been charged in the murder.

When Spicer arrived, he was shot twice, crashing his vehicle before exiting and fleeing inside the metro station. Quarles and Williams, 27, drove Spicer’s car, a 1994 Chevrolet Caprice, from the scene. Blakey, 27, and the fourth individual followed behind in a different vehicle, documents stated.

Quarles and Williams were forced to abandon the car when the police spotted them. Even though Quarles initially escaped, Williams was apprehended.

Nearly seven years later, in 2014, a baseball cap recovered during the chase matched Quarles’ DNA. In 2016, witness testimony placed him at the scene of the robbery and he was officially charged with murder later that year.

During a hearing Sept. 12, the prosecution requested that Judge Judith Bartnoff uphold the defendant’s initial plea, citing concerns that a resolution could take an additional six to eight months and delay closure for the victim’s family.

“Withdrawing a guilty plea is much harder to do after sentencing than before,” the judge said.

Judge Bartnoff said she would appoint independent counsel to consult with Quarles because his defense attorney, Michael Madden, “exhausted his advice.” Sentencing was continued to Sept. 26, when the court is expected to discuss whether there is a basis for a plea withdrawal.

Williams is scheduled for a sentencing in October. Blakey pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 22 years in prison for Spicer’s murder.

Prosecution Expects DNA Results in Fall, Indictment to Follow

DNA results on evidence recovered from a murder scene would be available in October, the prosecution said.

Marquette Jordan is charged with second-degree murder for allegedly stabbing Ivan Lynch on the 900 block of 5th Street, SE on April 30. According to court documents, Lynch, 48, was stabbed twice in the chest and twice in the back. The incident apparently followed a physical altercation between the two men.

The prosecution said it would file an indictment after the evidence is tested.

Defense attorney Jeffrey Stein submitted a motion for District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Milton Lee to release Jordan, 26, due to mitigating circumstances.

Judge Lee said the motion would be heard at a felony status conference scheduled on Sept. 28.

Judge Denies Bond, Schedules Prelim for Murder Defendant

A District of Columbia Superior Court Magistrate judge denied Sept. 14 bond for a murder suspect based on concerns for public safety.

Timothy Gibson is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Carl Day-Baker on the 1500 block of T Street, SE on Sept. 1.

According to court documents, the two men were involved in a physical altercation that stemmed from a domestic fight between Day-Baker, 28, and Gibson’s sister.

Apparently, Gibson’s sister called her friend, whom Gibson, 27, was with at the time, and said her boyfriend kicked her and her child out the house.

Gibson’s sister received a call from the decedent’s brother asking her to speak with Day-Baker and himself about the domestic incident that had occurred moments earlier. Gibson’s sister agreed to meet them on T Street.

According to a witness, Gibson, his sister and the woman were sitting in the car when the decedent and his brother approached the vehicle.

Apparently Day-Baker threw the first punch in the altercation. The decedent’s brother joined the fight and slammed Gibson to the ground, which ended the fight, according to the documents.

Witnesses said Gibson then retrieved a gun from his vehicle and shot Day-Baker twice as the decedent was leaving the scene. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Gibson is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 19.

Counsel Set to Review Motions Before Murder Trial

A murder trial for Kenneth Adams, which was scheduled to begin on Oct. 1, has changed to a motions hearing. The trial is now set for Oct. 9.

Adams, 20, allegedly shot Dante Kinard, 21, on the 1800 block of Benning Road, NE in 2016. He is charged with first-degree murder while armed.

On Oct. 1, counsel will deliberate on three motions, including a motion to suppress identification, which would allow the prosecution to conceal the names of witnesses; a motion to exclude certain facts from the jury; and a motion to review evidence provided in the case.

Nikki Lotze, Adams’ defense attorney, said the defense would be ready for trial after reviewing ballistics analysis obtained by the prosecution.

Opinion: News site steps up to battle homicides in DC

The DC Line featured a commentary from D.C. Witness Editor-in-Chief LaTrina Antoine on the non-profit organization’s mission to deliver data-driven statistics to help community members and government officials create better solutions to solve the city’s homicide problem.

Read the Story

Defense Needs More Time for DNA Evidence

The defense for Carmelita Henderson told a judge Sept. 13 that DNA evidence would be tested “very soon.”

Henderson, 50, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Levi Kinte Davis, 38, on the 4200 block of East Capitol Street, NE on Sept. 16, 2015.

The defense said it is deciphering between what evidence to send an independent lab after the prosecution found a positive match of Henderson’s DNA on one of the gun shells found in Henderson’s car.

The defense also expressed difficulty accessing videos sent by the prosecution. The prosecution offered to assist, telling the court that a specific process is required to open the files.

A trial readiness hearing is scheduled for March 29. A trial is scheduled for April 20.

Document: Pedestrian Fatality in Northwest DC

The Metropolitan Police Department is currently investigating a pedestrian fatality Sept. 12 that occurred at the intersection of North Capitol Street and Channing Street, NW.

According to a press release, around 9:30 p.m., the operator of a white Hyundai Sonata struck 67-year-old Johnson Woolo Doerue while he was crossing from the east side to the west side of North Capitol Street.

The police could not specify if the driver is going to face any charges.

Police are requesting the public’s assistance. Anyone with information on the fatality is asked to contact the Metropolitan Police Department at 202-727-9099.

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

Document:Traffic Fatality in Southeast DC

The Metropolitan Police Department is currently investigating a traffic fatality that occurred Sept. 12 on the 1500 block of 18th Street, SE.

According to a preliminary investigation, 37-year-old Keisha Whitaker was a passenger in a Subaru Forrester when it mounted the northeast curb at the intersection of 18th and Q Streets and hit a tree. Whitaker succumbed to her injuries at a local hospital.

Police have not released information about the cause of the accident or if the driver of the vehicle was also injured.

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