A D.C. Superior Court judge granted an exception to the conditions of release for a woman who allegedly beat her baby to death.
Faneshia Scott is charged with first-degree murder and child cruelty for her alleged involvement in the death of her 1-year-old daughter, Rhythm Fields, on the 5400 block of C Street, SE in 2017.
According to her indictment, Scott, 32, “intentionally, knowingly and recklessly” tortured and beat her daughter.
Scott is currently released under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP). Per the conditions of her release, Scott is not allowed to be alone with children.
The defense previously submitted a request seeking permission to allow Scott to attend church on Sundays. However, during the hearing on Nov. 27, the prosecution argued against the request, saying it is common for small children to attend church.
Despite the rebuttal, Judge Milton Lee granted the request. He said Scott must be supervised while she is at church.
Scott is scheduled for a status hearing on Feb. 8, 2019. Her trial is slated to begin on May 6, 2019.
The Metropolitan Police Department arrested Nov. 26 a man who allegedly beat a man to death in Shaw.
Police charged 24-year-old William Alexander Marrouquin Gallardo with second-degree murder for allegedly assaulting Noe Alberto Gallardo Ponce on the 1600 block of New Jersey Avenue, NW earlier that same day.
Ponce, 22, was found inside a residence unconscious and unresponsive, according to a press release. He was pronounced dead at an area hospital. According to the Washington Post, the police have not established a motive for the attack.
Gallardo is being held without bond and scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 4.
Throughout the last three months, the District has seen an uptick in teenage homicide victims. According to D.C. Witness data, during the month of August there were no teenage homicides, in September there was one in Southeast DC and in October there were three: two in Southeast DC and one in Northeast DC.
During the month of October, there was a total of 23 homicides: two stabbings, four vehicular homicides and 17 fatal shootings. The Metropolitan Police Department made arrests in three shootings, both stabbings and one vehicular homicide.
Ramona Williamson
On Oct. 2, Ramona Williamson was fatally struck on the 5500 block of Central Avenue, SE. Williamson, 49, was pronounced dead on the scene.
On Oct. 5, Walter Leon Baylor, 32, was found suffering from a gunshot wound on the 300 block of 15th Street, NE. Later that day, Rodney Kinardwas arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection to Baylor’s death.
On March 20, 2019, Kinard, 25, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter while armed. He has to serve at least five years in prison before he can be considered for parole. Also, after his sentence, Kinard is required to serve five years on supervised release.
Marquis Jones
Minutes into Oct. 6, police found 26-year-old Marquis Jones on the 2000 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE. On Nov. 14, police arrested and charged Tondrick Murphy with second-degree murder while armed in connection to Jones’ death. Murphy, 26, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 29.
Avery Anderson
Avery Andersonwas also found Oct. 6 suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the 4600 block of Benning Road, SE. Anderson, 21, was pronounced dead on the scene.
Jean-Claude Jackson
On Oct. 7, police found 30-year-old Jean-Claude Jackson suffering from multiple stab wounds on the 1300 block of Good Hope Road, SE.Dazmine Anderson was arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection to Jackson’s death. Anderson, 16, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 30.
Robert Merritt
On Oct. 9, police located a man and a woman suffering from multiple gunshot wounds 1600 block of Montana Avenue, NE. Both individuals were brought to a nearby hospital, where the male, 26-year-old Robert Merritt, succumbed to his injuries. The woman was admitted in critical but stable condition.
Curtis Barnum
Later that day, police found 53-year-old Curtis Barnumsuffering from a fatal stab wound on the 3700 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE. The following day, Antione Little was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection to Barnum’s death. Little, 42, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 20.
Roderick Thomas
On Oct. 11, 27-year-old Roderick Thomas was found inside a vehicle, on the 3200 block of 12th Street, SE, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Police arrested and charged 18-year-oldDeAndre Houstonwith first-degree murder while armed in connection to Thomas’s death. Houston is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 11, 2019.
Thomas is the first of four people who were found fatally shot inside a vehicle in October.
Carol Joan Tomason
On Oct. 12, 70-year-oldCarol Joan Tomason was crossing the street at the intersection of 15th and H Streets, NW when she was fatally struck by a 2016 Chevrolet Pick-Up Truck.
Ferdinand Fotachwi
Three days later, police found Ferdinand Fotachwi, 28, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in a vehicle on the 5300 block of D Street, SE. Fotachwi was pronounced dead on the scene.
Ezequiel Fernando Jimenez Pinto
On Oct. 16, Ezequiel Fernando Jimenez Pinto was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the 1300 block of D Street, NE.
Nearly six hours later, a motorcycle and a Toyota 4Runner collided in the intersection of 16th Street and Good Hope Road, SE. Both drivers were brought to a nearby hospital, where Marcellus Delmar Rooths, the operator of the motorcycle, would ultimately succumb to his injuries. Police did not arrest the driver of the Toyota.
Rubelio Gomez Cervantes
Later that same day, police found 40-year-old Rubelio Gomez Cervantes on the 900 block of Eastern Avenue, NE suffering from a gunshot wound.
On Oct. 19, a Mercury Grand Marquis sped down South Capitol Street, SW and struck multiple cars stopped at a red light before striking a traffic pole and catching on fire. DC Fire and EMS arrived and pronounced the passenger, 32-year-old Kevin Thomas, dead. The driver,Rodney Bell, was brought to an area hospital; however, he was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and possession of PCP.
Malik McCloud
Bell is being held at the DC Jail without bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled on Nov. 30.
On Oct. 20, police found 19-year-oldMalik McCloud suffering from a gunshot wound on the 3500 block of Wheeler Road, SE. McCloud is the first of three 19-year-old males to be fatally shot in the District during the month of October.
Antonio Dixon
Nearly two hours later, police found 19-year-old Antonio Dixonsuffering from a gunshot wound on the 900 block of 5th Street, SE. Dixon was pronounced dead on the scene.
On Oct. 21, police locatedMarc Anthony Bolden, 28, inside a vehicle, on the unit block of New York Avenue, NW, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Roger Marmet
Three days later, Roger Marmet, 22, was found inside a vehicle, on the 1200 block of 17th Street, NE, suffering from a gunshot wound.
On Oct. 27, police found 19-year-old Trayvon Woodsuffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the 4400 block of Douglas Street, NE.
Terrance Johnson
On Oct. 30,Terrance Johnsonwas found suffering from a gunshot wound on the 5000 block of Fitch Place, NE. Johnson, 26, was pronounced dead on the scene.
Taquan Smith
Later that day, 25-year-old Taquan Smithwas found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the 4800 block of Alabama Avenue, SE.
Kevin Jackson
On Oct. 31, Kevin Jackson, 29, was found on the 100 block of Mississippi Avenue, SE suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Later that same day, police found 34-year-old James Eric Ferrellsuffering from multiple gunshot wounds outside of Union Station on the Unit block of Massachusetts Avenue, NE. In early November, police released the image of a person of interest in the case.
James Eric Ferrell
As of Nov. 27, police have not made any arrests for the homicides of Williamson, Anderson, Merritt, Tomason, Fotachwi, Pinto, Rooths, Cervantes, McCloud, Dixon, Bolden, Marmet, Wood, Johnson, Smith, Jackson and Ferrell.
Follow D.C. Witness for updates on all of these cases.
A murder defendant waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Nov. 26.
Brian Wooden is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly killing his girlfriend’s 1-year-old son, Carter Sanders, on the 4700 block of Benning Road, SE on May 16.
The prosecution also offered Wooden, 28, a plea deal for second-degree murder. Under the agreement, all other charges would be dropped. Attorneys are currently negotiating parts of the agreement. As of Nov. 26, the terms that are being negotiated were not specified.
According to court documents, Sanders sustained a fractured skull, fractured ribs and a lacerated liver. Wooden, who was allegedly caring for the boy at the time of the murder, tried to blame other children for the infant’s death.
A felony status conference is scheduled on Nov. 29.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
According to D.C. Witness data, Banks’ homicide is the 150th homicide in DC in 2018, nearly a 32 percent increase from this same time last year.
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.
During a felony arraignment Nov. 16, the prosecution extended a plea offer to a murder defendant involved in a stabbing.
Jose Luzunarisis 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.
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.
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.
