The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced they are investigating a shooting that occurred on May 11 on the 600 block of H Street, NW, which resulted in non-life-threatening injuries to two women.
A person of interest has been identified through surveillance footage, and the investigation is ongoing.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of 23-year-old Derrick Stokes-Seegars on May 12.
He is allegedly shot Nico Rector, 36, on Jan 30 on the 900 block of M Street, SE. Stokes-Seegars was charged with second-degree murder while armed.
A jury in DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson’s courtroom acquitted a defendant of a shooting in a complex domestice dispute on May 2.
Tyshay Moore, 27, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, simple assault, and four counts of possession of a firearm during crime of violence for her alleged involvement in a shooting that injured one individual. The incident occurred on May 10, 2023, on the 700 block of 7th Street, NW.
Javonee Jackson was severed as a co-defendant after taking a plea deal with the prosecutors, which required her to testify against Moore and plead guilty to simple assault.
The prosecution argued that Moore shot the victim following a dispute rooted in a “complicated web of relationships” involving Moore, her ex-girlfriend–Jackson–and the victim. He was also in a previous relationship with Jackson, from which they share a son. Prosecutors allege Moore was driven by jealousy and anger after the victim commented on her deceased cousin.
According to prosecutors, a masked individual, who they claimed was Moore, showed up at the Gallery Place shopping mall, found Jackson and the victim and shot him four times.
Hannah Claudio and Varsha Govindaraju, Moore’s attorneys, claimed the prosecution presented “assumptions, not evidence,” and insisted a proper investigation was lacking, citing the absence of physical evidence, like DNA testing of the bullet casings.
Claudio challenged the credibility of key witnesses, focusing in particular on Jackson, who initially told police she didn’t know who the shooter was. According to the defense, Jackson only implicated Moore after entering a plea agreement in March 2025, under which her own charges were dropped in exchange for cooperation.
Following multiple days of deliberation, the jury acquitted Moore of all charges. Judge Dayson signed a release order for the DC Jail.
No further dates were set.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of two juveniles in connection with an armed carjacking that occurred on May 9 in the Navy Yard area located on the 1200 block of 4th Street SE.
A 15-year-old male from Southeast, DC, was charged with armed carjacking, and a 14-year-old male from Glenarden, MD, was charged with carrying a pistol without a license and unauthorized use of a vehicle.
Two additional suspects remain at large.
DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt admonished argumentative attorneys and obstreperous defendants after a jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict in a homicide case on May 7.
Demonte Gibson, 27, and Asani Forte, 27, are charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, conspiracy, assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and destruction of property for their alleged involvement in the murder of Delonte King, 34, on Nov. 3, 2021, on the 2800 block of 14th Street, NW.
Following eight days of deliberation, Gibson was convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, but the jury was unable to reach a verdict for the other charges. Consequently, Judge Brandt declared a mistrial.
Prior to the verdict, Judge Brandt told Gibson and Forte “let [their decision] wash over you,” adding the Marshals would remove them ,“if you wanna choose this point in time to act a fool in front of the jury.” The judge was responding to the defendants’ actions for the last few days.
As Judge Brandt thanked the jury in their deliberation room, the prosecutor and one of Gibson’s defense attorneys got into a heated argument. Although the gallery was unable to hear the nature of the dispute, Judge Brandt’s law clerk advised the parties they would have to be separated if they kept arguing. At that point US Marshals intervened, telling them to stop.
Judge Brandt admonished the parties when she returned, specifically telling the prosecutor “sometimes you’re just downright rude… you wear it like a badge of honor, that is not a good look.”
Judge Brandt added the parties had been acting “immature, uncivil, and rude” throughout the trial.
“I don’t want any rash decisions made today,” Judge Brandt told parties, stating they would reconvene another day to decide next steps
Parties are slated to reconvene June 6.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of 21-year-old Kyiel Kearny in connection with a shooting that occurred on May 10 in Columbia Heights.
Officers responded to the 1300 block of Columbia Road, NW, where they found an adult male victim with serious injuries, who was then transported to a hospital.
Kearny was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon (Gun), and a firearm was recovered at the scene.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced they are seeking multiple suspects involved in an armed carjacking that occurred on May 9 on the 1200 block of 4th Street, SE.
The suspects approached the victim, brandished a handgun, and stole a gray 2017 Mazda CX-5.
Surveillance cameras captured images of the suspects, and the MPD is requesting public assistance in identifying them.
A jury in DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park’s courtroom convicted a homicide defendant of all charges on May 5.
Ranje Reynolds, 28, was charged with first-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 27-year-old Tarek Boothe on Jan. 31, 2022, on the 3200 block of M Street, NW.
During the trial, prosecutors provided evidence that Reynolds shot and killed Boothe following a verbal dispute during work.
According to the prosecution, Reynolds and Boothe were involved in a fight on Jan. 31, 2022. After Boothe won the altercation, Reynolds felt “disrespected” and later sought Boothe out again, after acquiring a firearm.
Prosecutors demonstrated that Reynolds escaped to Jamaica following the homicide.
Cheryl Stein, Reynolds’ attorney, urged the jury to set aside their sympathy for Boothe, and requested they remain impartial when reaching a verdict.
Following three days of deliberations, the jury reached a unanimous guilty verdict.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 25.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of 24-year-old Wayne Blake, who is alleged to have been involved in the homicide of 1-year-old Journee Moore from Upper Marlboro, MD.
The incident occurred on Sept. 28, 2024, on the 3700 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW, where the child was found in cardiac arrest and later pronounced dead due to multiple blunt force injuries.
Blake has been charged with first-degree murder – felony murder and cruelty to children, with the offense determined to be domestic in nature.
The trial in a fatal shooting case continued on May 7 before DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park with a witness recounting how the bloody victim pleaded for help.
Naquel Henderson, 27, and Alonzo Brown, 28, 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. These charges stem from their alleged involvement in a shooting that killed Michael Taylor, 21, and injured two others on Jan. 12, 2019, on the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE.
In addition to Henderson and Brown, three other men are charged with the death of Taylor. Tavist Alston, 31, and Stephon Evans, 24, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed, and Carlos Turner, 27, is set for sentencing on May 16.
As the trial resumed, an eyewitness to the shooting testified that she saw two men dressed in all black and wearing ski masks in the courtyard outside her apartment building while she was with her children, getting ready to go grocery shopping.
She testified that when shots rang out, she quickly brought her children back into her apartment, before calling 911 to report the incident. She said she saw two individuals injured, one who sustained a gunshot wound to the face and another who sustained one to the chest.
An additional eyewitness testified that she tried to assist Taylor with his injuries. She said that she was inside her apartment when she heard shots ring out, and instinctively got down on the floor.
Afterwards, she went into the hallway to see what happened and Taylor was outside her door, with a gunshot wound to the face and pleading for help. She didn’t know Taylor, but attempted to administer first aid by applying pressure with sheets gathered from her apartment.
Additionally, a detective sergeant from the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) electronic surveillance unit testified to receiving a request a few days after the shooting to download CCTV footage from the area where the shooting took place. However, the sergeant testified that he had no additional involvement in the investigation.
Trial is slated to resume May 12.
A juror communicated concern to DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz‘s chambers about potential retaliation if murder and mass shooting defendants are found guilty. The issue came up during a trial proceeding on May 7.
William Johnson-Lee, 22, Erwin Dubose, 30, Kamar Queen, 27, and Damonta Thompson, 28, are charged with conspiracy, two counts of premeditated first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, and three counts of assault with significant bodily injury while armed, for their alleged involvement in the mass shooting that claimed the lives of 31-year-old Donnetta Dyson, 24-year-old Keenan Braxton, and 37-year-old Johnny Joyner.
Dubose, Queen, and Johnson-Lee each have nine additional counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Queen and Thompson each face one additional count of first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, and Johnson-Lee has two more identical counts. Dubose, Queen, and Thompson are also accused of an additional charge of one or more counts of assault with intent to kill while armed.
Dubose and Queen are also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, as well. Dubose was hit with additional charges of premeditated first-degree murder while armed and tampering with physical evidence. Finally, Queen and Johnson-Lee each have an additional charge of carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business.
The incident occurred on the 600 block of Longfellow Street, NW on Sept. 4, 2021, and left three others suffering from injuries.
Toyia Johnson, 52, and Mussay Rezene, 32, are charged with accessory after the fact while armed and tampering with physical evidence for their alleged involvement in assisting the other defendants in getting rid of the evidence and avoiding getting caught in connection with the case.
The fearful juror sent a note to Judge Kravitz’s chambers saying that he lives near an address that had been mentioned in witness testimony the day prior. He expressed fear of “retaliation” from anyone with an interest in the case, specifically if the defendants were found guilty.
All six sets of defense counsels filed a motion to dismiss this juror, worried that the person had already come to a guilty verdict based on his fear. Judge Kravitz granted the motion, excusing the juror.
Throughout proceedings on May 6 and 7, body-worn camera and surveillance footage was admitted into evidence from a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective’s testimony, as well as from a Department of Forensic Services (DFS) forensic scientist. The forensic scientist testified about the process of removing a gas can melted into a trash bin that the prosecution alleges belonged to the defendants.
The prosecution called another forensic scientist who was involved in the search warrant for Thompson’s home. The scientist testified about images of Thompson’s bedroom and tangible evidence found such as a facemask, cards, IDs, shoes, a sweatshirt, and a shoebox filled with mail matter.
The prosecution also called a relative of Thompson’s, who identified him in pictures and testified to the search warrant and his arrest. The witness said she did not know where he had been on the evening of Sept. 4, 2021.
“Kamar is the closest godchild I have,” said the final witness, explaining her close relationship to Queen. She identified him in multiple images and videos, and testified about her Oglethorpe residence getting shot at on the evening of Sept. 4.
According to previous testimony, Queen and friends were shot at while at his godmother’s home hours before the mass shooting. Prosecutors alleged that the defendants committed the mass shooting in retaliation.
Parties are slated to reconvene May 12.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced May 8 the arrest of five juvenile suspects involved in two armed carjackings on May 7 in Northeast Washington, D.C.
The incidents occurred within an hour, with the suspects stealing a 2013 white Toyota Camry on the 2400 block of 4th Street, NE, and a 2017 silver Honda Accord on the 1400 block of Otis Street, NE.
The juveniles, aged 14 to 16, were apprehended after fleeing on foot, and both vehicles were recovered along with imitation firearms.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of 46-year-old Donald Shields, who is alleged to be involved in a fatal stabbing in Dupont Circle on Dec 30.
The victim, identified as 36-year-old Dominique Ratiff of Southeast, DC, was found with a stab wound and later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Shields, who was arrested on May 8, has been charged with second-degree murder while armed.
DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz ordered a 2016 homicide defendant be released from St. Elizabeths hospital during a hearing on May 2, and his attorney says the case should be dismissed.
Brandon Byrd, 29, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and carrying a dangerous weapon outside his home or business, for his alleged involvement in the stabbing death of his father, Otis Byrd, 44, on Aug. 10, 2016, on the 100 block of Michigan Avenue, NW.
Byrd has been detained at St. Elizabeths since September of 2016, since he’s consistently found mentallly incompetency to stand trial.
Byrd’s attorney, Craig Hickein, told DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz that Byrd is forced to appear in court “every year for the last five years” and all they do is set a new date.
Hickein discussed his intention to file a written motion to dismiss the case. Judge Kravitz ruled that the defense has until July 2 to file it.
Parties are slated to reconvene Oct. 3.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced an investigation into a shooting that occurred on May 1 in Northeast Washington, D.C.
Three suspects brandished handguns and fired at a victim in the parking lot of a school on the 700 block of 26th Street, NE, causing damage to the school's building but no injuries.
The suspects fled the scene in a vehicle and were captured on surveillance cameras.
