Judge Rules Murder Defendant Competent

During a status hearing July 5, a DC Superior Court Judge ruled a murder defendant competent to stand trial.

John James is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Ernest Massenberg-Bey Jr. on the 1100 block of Eaton Road, SE in 2015. An unnamed individual was also injured during the shooting. They were admitted to an area hospital in critical condition.

According to court documents, Massenberg-Bey, 21, identified James as the shooter before succumbing to his injuries. The unnamed individual also identified the defendant.

On July 5, Judge Milton Lee found Massenberg-Bey competent after receiving a report from the Bureau of Legal Services that determined James was competent to stand trial.

James is scheduled to go to trial on Nov. 13. He is also scheduled for a status hearing on Aug. 28.

Court Determines Trial Date For Murder Defendant

The judge and counsel determined the trial date for a murder defendant.

Carmelita Henderson is charged with first-degree murder while armed for the shooting death of Levi Kinte Davis on the 4200 block of East Capitol Street, NE in 2015. Henderson, 49, was arrested in 2016.

DC Superior Court Judge Judith Bartnoff scheduled Henderson’s trial for April 29, 2019.

Judge Bartnoff said she expects the prosecution to turn over all evidence to defense counsel by the trial readiness hearing which is scheduled for March 29, 2019.

Henderson’s past defense attorney Michael S. Morsier previously advocated for her release. The judge denied release due to Henderson’s unemployment status.

Henderson is also scheduled for another status hearing on Sept. 14.

Was the Murder Victim Conscious After the Attack?

On July 3, a medical examiner said her analysis of the victim’s body was consistent with witness testimony.

Lenard Wills, 50, was beaten and stabbed to death in an apartment on the 700 block of 24th Street, NE in 2015. Joseph Barbour, Willie Glover and Charles McRae are charged with first-degree murder while armed for Wills’ death.

According to the medical examiner, lacerations found on Wills’ face and head were likely caused by a small or medium-sized object, which could have been a gun.

The examiner also said someone with wounds as severe as Wills’ might have been able to walk around and speak for a period of time after being stabbed. According to an eyewitness, Wills was moving shortly after the attack.

Another witness, whose expertise was in forensic anthropology, said she could not tell from Wills’ stab wounds whether a bloody knife recovered from a trash can near the apartment was the murder weapon.

The witness said,”It’s very possible a standard kitchen knife was used.”

The trial is scheduled to resume on July 5.

Document: Homicide on 4400 Block of E Street, SE

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the murder of a Southeast, DC man.

On July 3, MPD responded to a reported shooting on the 4400 Block of E Street, SE, where they found Tyron Anthony Johnson unresponsive and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Johnson, 24, was brought to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Police are offering a reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

Judge Finds Probable Cause For Stabbing Suspect

A man charged with murder was denied release after a DC Magistrate Judge found probable cause for the crime on June 29.

Deon Crowell is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing Joni Rockingham on the 300 block of 34th Street, NE in 2017. Rockingham, 53, was found dead with 73 stab wounds across her upper body.

Crowell, 49, apparently had a sexual relationship with Rockingham.

Judge Errol Arthur found probable cause based on Crowell’s actions leading up to the murder. Apparently, Crowell called Rockingham 11 times before she was reported dead. He also called her mother to ask if she was home.

Crowell’s defense lawyer Ieshaah Murphy led his defense with the fact that there were no eyewitnesses nor video footage that captured Rockingham’s death. Murphy also said the Metropolitan Police Department didn’t know when Rockingham, 53, was killed.

Murphy told Judge Arthur that there were five individuals who allegedly had motive to kill Rockingham. Murphy said one of these individuals, identified as “Sean” in court documents, is known for kidnapping and killing people. Sean was not interviewed as a witness by the police.

However, the prosecution said Crowell’s initial interview with police left too many inconsistencies.

According to the prosecution, Crowell, 49, lied about having sexual relations with Rockingham. Crowell initially said they had intercourse, but later retracted that statement. The prosecution told Judge Arthur that they plan to administer DNA testing on a bloodied linen sheet, which police found at the crime scene.

Crowell is being held without bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on July 27.

Police are Searching for Two Persons of Interest in June Murder

The Metropolitan Police Department is searching for two persons of interest in the murder of a Southeast DC man.

On June 28, police found Johnathan Grady fatally stabbed on the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. Grady, 29, was taken to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

According to the Washington Post, Grady’s death was the result of a dispute with an unidentified man.

On July 2, MPD released area surveillance footage of two unidentified suspects fleeing the area. The video shows two males crossing several streets. One suspect is seen wearing a grey shirt and basketball shorts and the other suspect is wearing a grey shirt and black pants.

The police are offering a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone that provides information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

Document: Homicide on 2nd Street, NW

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the fatal shooting of 34-year-old William Mayo.

On July 2, police found Mayo suffering from gunshot wounds on the 400 block of 2nd Street, NW. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The police are offering a reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

Document: Homicide on 23rd Street, SE

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on the 1800 block of 23rd Street, SE.

On July 1, police found 60-year-old Stephen Cade unconscious in a residence. Cade was pronounced dead on the scene.

The police are offering a reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

Murder Defendant Rejects Plea Offer

Defense counsel, in a homicide case, rejected a plea offer from the prosecution and asked the judge to set a trial date.

Tavon Davis is charged with second-degree murder for allegedly assaulting Michael Vest on the 1300 block of Trinidad Avenue, NE in 2017. According to court documents, officers found Vest, 29, unresponsive and suffering from blunt force trauma. One witness said Vest and Davis, 22, got into a verbal argument earlier in the week.

During an arraignment on June 29, counsel agreed to schedule the trial date for May 13, 2019. According to the prosecution, they plan to have six or seven witness. The defense said they plan to have at most one witness.

Davis is scheduled for a status hearing on Sept. 5.

Murder Defendant Pleads Guilty, Again

During a hearing June 29, the attorneys of a man charged with first-degree murder said the defendant wished to plead guilty and proceed with sentencing.

David Bright allegedly shot two housemates, Clifton Francis, 51, and David Watkins Jr., 45, on the 500 block of 58th Street, NE in 2016.

Bright, 31, pled guilty on Feb. 21 for two counts of voluntary manslaughter while armed. However, he withdrew his guilty plea on June 8 in a letter addressed to DC Superior Judge Ronna Beck.

On May 18, Bright’s mother told D.C. Witness that Bright was initially coerced into pleading guilty.

Bright is scheduled for sentencing on July 13.

Witness Said Defendant Claimed he “Punished” Victim

A witness in a murder trial said he heard one of three co-defendants admit to the crime.

Lenard Wills was allegedly stabbed by Joseph Barbour, Willie Glover and Charles McRae when the trio attempted to rob an apartment, located on the 700 block of 24th Street, NE in 2015.

The witness said he saw McRae, 66, at the bus stop after the attack. He said McRae talked about stabbing Wills, 50, saying “I punished his ass.” McRae has not been linked to the scene by DNA evidence.

According to the witness, McRae initially left the apartment, that was known to have drug activity, after an argument with Wills’ girlfriend. Later, McRae came back with two men in masks. The witness identified the masked men as Chill Will and Short, which are nicknames for Glover, 40, and Barbour, 38, respectively.

The witness said Wills looked like he was going to give the robbers what they wanted until McRae punched his girlfriend. After that, the witness said Wills started swinging a knife. The witness said he gave Wills the knife.

According to the witness, Wills was alive and looked “normal” when the witness left the apartment. However, the witness admitted to taking drugs to treat depression.

A firearms expert said a casing, which could have come from a clip for a Ruger rifle, was found on the scene.

The trial is scheduled to resume on July 2.

2011 Murder Convict Files Complaint Against Attorney

A man who pleaded guilty to murder now blames his attorney for his 31-year sentence.

Per the terms of his plea deal, Stephen Page and his co-defendant James Brewer pled guilty to first-degree murder while armed for the fatal shooting of Solomon Reese on the 2300 block of Good Hope Road, SE in 2011.

Following his sentencing in 2014, Page filed ineffective assistance of counsel paperwork against his attorney, Justin Okezie. Page said he is unhappy with his 31-year sentence because Okezie told him he would receive no more than an 18-year concurrent sentence.

On June 28, Page told DC Superior Court Judge Herbert Dixon, that prior to pleading guilty he told Okezie that he wanted to go to trial. Page said he did not want to accept the plea, but Brewer did. Since they could not agree, the plea deal was rejected.

When the prosecution asked if there was anyone who could corroborate his claim, Page said there was not.

During the hearing, Okezie said that he did not make any promises to Page about his sentence.

According to Okezie, Page wanted to accept the prosecution’s deal, but Brewer refused. Furthermore, Okezie said when the co-defendants got closer to trial Brewer changed his mind and decided to plead guilty. Brewer and Page ultimately accepted the plea deal.

Judge Dixon said he would take the case under advisement.

Witness Says Defendant Was Angry at Decedent’s Girlfriend on the Night of a Murder

A witness said one of three co-defendants in a homicide trial had a verbal altercation with the decedent’s girlfriend shortly before the murder.

Joseph Barbour, Willie Glover and Charles McRae are charged with first-degree murder for allegedly stabbing Lenard Wills in 2015 on the 700 block of 24th Street, NE.

The witness said she bought crack cocaine at the apartment. She said she overheard McRae telling Wills’ girlfriend that she should stay in “a woman’s place” and “be more respectful” before storming out.

The witness said McRae returned later with three men to try to rob the apartment. The witness said she tried to run, but McRae punched her.

The trial is scheduled to resume July 3.

Police Close 4 DC Homicides in 2 Days

During a Metropolitan Police Department press conference June 28, Chief of Police Peter Newsham announced that the department arrested four homicide suspects from June 26-28, closing several cases before the Independence Day holiday.

Police arrested Deon Crowell,49, on June 28, in connection with the stabbing death of Joni Rockinham on Dec. 12, 2017, on the 3300 block of Ames Street., NE.

Crowell is charged with first-degree murder while armed. Newsham said he believes the motive was related to a domestic issue.

According to police documents, sanitation workers found 53-year-old Rockinham’s body in a trash receptacle. Stab wounds were all over her body, according to Nesham. Family members reported Rockinham missing the day after Thanksgiving.

Police closed another homicide case after apprehending Javonte Brown, 25, on June 28. Police charged Brown with first-degree murder while armed and one count of attempted murder.

Police said, Brown allegedly shot two victims in their residence on the 3100 block of Buena Vista Terrace, SE on Jan. 6, 2017. One of the victims, Carl Gray, 26, died on March 16 from complications of the shooting. The second victim survived with non-life threatening injuries.

On June 27, police arrested 22-year-old Steven Robin in connection with the fatal shooting of Kenneth Poindexter, 29, on the 4700 block of D Street, SE on Jan. 20.

Police charged Robin with first-degree murder while armed and carrying a pistol without a license. Another suspect Charles Wennen Young, was arrested on Feb 28. Young is also charged with first-degree murder while armed.

Police arrested Kaevone Sutton, on June 26 for allegedly fatally shooting aspiring boxer Aujee Tyler, 22, on the 3500 block of Stanton Road, SE on March 19.

Sutton, 17, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and will be tried as an adult.

Follow D.C. Witness for updates on each suspect’s court proceedings.

Alleged Murderer Rejects Plea Deal

During a preliminary hearing, a defendant, who is accused of first-degree murder while armed, rejected a plea offer that would have downgraded his charge.

Police say Kavonte Richardson allegedly stabbed Matthew Scott Rooker on the 600 block of 7thStreet, NW on May 23. Apparently, surveillance footage from the crime scene shows Richardson, 24, assaulting and robbing Rooker, 26.

In a prior hearing, the prosecution asked the court to find “substantial probability” that Richardson committed the stabbing based on the video footage and testimony from a detective assigned to the case.

According to court documents, a witness from the scene was able to identify Richardson as the man who committed the robbery.

Defense counsel Mani Golzari tried to shift the blame to Matthew McCullough, another suspect who was in the area at the time of the murder. According to court documents, McCullough was not questioned by police because a witness at the crime scene said McCullough was too slim to match the description of the robber.

Golzari also argued that, per the surveillance footage, Richardson’s clothes didn’t have blood on them and that he was not carrying a knife during his initial search.

On June 28, the prosecution offered Richardson a deal in which he would plead guilty to second-degree murder while armed. In accordance to the plea, Richardson could receive a sentence of 18 to 22 years in prison.

Richardson rejected the plea offer. Golzari then motioned for his client to be released from jail and placed in a halfway house or on house arrest.

DC Superior Court Judge Ronna L. Beck denied Richardson’s release because she said he had multiple bench warrants for failure to appear to previous hearings.

“Because of this aggravated burglary, you are a danger to the community,” Judge Beck said.

A felony status conference is scheduled for Sept. 5, where the prosecution said they would offer another plea deal.