Murder Defendant Pleads Not-Guilty to Nine Felony Charges

A murder defendant entered a plea of not-guilty to nine felony charges.

Barry Marable is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with intent to kill, carrying a pistol without a license, unlawful posession of ammunition and posession of an unregistered firearm. Marable, 23, allegedly shot Roger Marmet, 22, at a BP gas station on the 1200 block of 17th Street, NE on Oct. 24, 2018.

During an arraignment on Oct. 25, Marable pleaded not-guilty to all charges after a plea deal could not be reached with prosecution.

D.C Witness previously reported that,in early October, a plea deal was reached but then revoked after Marable did not agree with the events that took place on the night of the murder.

Marable’s defense counsel, Anthony Matthews, told D.C Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe that he anticipated a two week long jury trial.

The trial is set to start on Dec. 12.

Murder Defendant Rejects Plea Offer in 15-year-old’s Death

A murder defendant rejected a plea offer at a status hearing on Oct. 25.

Daquan Gray,17, is charged with first-degree murder while armed,possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and carrying a pistol without a license. Gray allegedly shot Jaylyn Wheeler, 15, on the 600 Block of Alabama Avenue, SE on May 16.

During a status hearing, Gray’s counsel, Dana Page, told a judge that defense was rejecting a plea deal offered from prosecution.

The conditions of the plea deal were not discussed in court.

D.C Witness previously reported that Gray and the prosecution had been in plea negotiations for the last two months.

Page told DC Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe that the defense has not decided if there will be independent testing.

A status hearing is scheduled on Jan. 10

Judge Dismisses Murder Defendant’s Charges

During a felony status hearing Oct. 25 a murder defendant’s charges were dismissed.

Antonio Booze 46, is charged with second-degree murder for allegedly shooting Eugene Johnson, 37, on the Unit block of Galveston Place, SW on Nov. 11 2018.

The prosecution had nine months to get a grand jury indictment, which expired on Sept. 30. However, D.C. Witness previously reported that DC Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna granted a 30-day extension,

The prosecution said there was still no indictment on file for Booze so Judge Mckenna proceeded to dismiss Booze of his second – degree murder charge.

Judge McKenna also removed Booze from the high intensity supervision program.

Document: Traffic Fatality Results in Homicide Charge

On Oct. 24, a pedestrian was killed in a traffic accident on the 3900 block of East Capitol Street, SE.

According to a MPD press release, a pedestrian was crossing from the south side of the 3900 block of East Capitol Street, Southeast to the north side, outside of a marked crosswalk. While the pedestrian was in the roadway, a grey in color sedan that was traveling eastbound on East Capitol Street, Southeast struck the pedestrian as she was crossing the outbound lane of travel. The driver of the striking vehicle fled the scene. Responding officers were able to locate the vehicle and the suspect was apprehended.

DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and transported the pedestrian to an area hospital for severe injuries. After all life-saving efforts failed, the pedestrian was pronounced dead.

The decedent has been identified as a 15 year-old Amoni Richardson, of Southeast, DC.

On Thursday, October 24, 2019, a 17 year-old juvenile male, of Northeast, DC, was arrested and charged with Murder Two.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is requested to contact the Metropolitan Police Department at (202) 727-9099.

Defense Plans to Call Psychologist in Child Murder Case

The defense attorney for a mother accused of murdering her 16-month-old daughter said he planned to call a forensic psychologist to testify during trial.

Faneshia Scott is charged with first-degree murder and child cruelty for her alleged role in the death of her daughter, Rhythm Fields, on the 5400 block of C Street, SE in 2017. Scott, 33, is currently confined to her home under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP). She is also required to wear a GSP monitor.

Defense attorney Steven Kiersh and the prosecution said Oct. 24 that they plan to call a number of expert witnesses. Counsel did not specify exactly how many witnesses would be called during the trial.

The prosecutor also said she would call a child psychologist and a Drug Enforcement Administration Agent.

The D.E.A. agent would testify about a bottle found at the crime scene which contained cough syrup.

According to Scott’s indictment, she “intentionally, knowingly and recklessly” tortured and beat her daughter.

D.C. Superior Court Judge Milton Lee noted that given the number of expert witnesses and documents involved in this case, the attorneys need to be conscious of disclosure deadlines.

“This can’t be an unending process,” said Judge Lee. “There has to be a fixed date somewhere.”

He also warned that he may not allow testimony from any witnesses announced too close to the trial date, which is set in May of 2020.

Judge Lee said he plans to set a deadline for expert witness notice at Scott’s next status hearing, which is scheduled on Dec. 17.

Document: Homicide on 21st Street, NE

The Metropolitan Police Department is currently investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on Oct. 24.

According to a press release, officers found 32-year-old Alie Labay suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the 900 block of 21st Street, NE. Labay was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The suspect in this case has been identified as 30 year-old Gregory Antwan Washington. Washington is described as 5’9” tall and weighs approximately 150 lbs. He is currently wanted on a DC Superior Court arrest warrant for First Degree Murder While Armed. He can be seen in the photo below:

The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone that provides information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia. 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.

Document: Arrest Made in February Homicide

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department apprehended Oct. 24 a man for the murder of another man in Northeast, DC in February.

According to a press release, 21-year-old Matthew Walker, a resident of Northeast, DC, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 32-year-old David Anthony Remen. The shooting occurred on the 1700 block of Hamlin Street, NE on February 14, 2019.

Document: Homicide on Alabama Avenue, SE

The Metropolitan Police Department is currently investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on Oct. 23.

According to a press release, officers found 19-year-old Alvin Barnes suffering from a gunshot wound on the 2200 block of Alabama Avenue, SE. Barnes was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Police are offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this homicide or any other homicide in DC. Anyone with information is asked to call the police at 202-727-9099. Anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s Text Tip Line — 50411.

Judge Ponders New Counsel Appointment

On Oct. 23, A DC Superior Court judge said he is considering whether or not to appoint a public defender as co-counsel in a murder case because of a possible conflict of interest.

Master Matthew Thomas is charged with felony murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for allegedly shooting 59-year-old Chijioke Agbakahi on the 5100 block of Georgia Avenue, NW. Thomas, 33, is also charged with first and second-degree murder in Prince George’s County, Md.

DC Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe said he may appoint Jessica Willis, who is with the public defender’s service, to Thomas’ case. However, Thomas is currently being represented by Heather Pinckney, who is a Criminal Justice Act attorney, and Sellano L. Simmons, who has a private law firm in the District.

Judge Iscoe said he was not sure if the appoint of the public defender would create a conflict of interest when paired with other two attorneys who are representing Thomas.

Judge Iscoe said if there is no conflict of interest with the public defender and the CJA attorney being co-counsel, Willis would be appointed immediately.

“I’m just sorry that I’m not going to be on this case because I find it to be very interesting,” Judge Iscoe said. His felony calendar term will be over in December.

Willis would to assist the defense in responding to the prosecution’s use ballistics evidence of the crime scene.

The defense said they were no longer prepared to proceed with the case at the next motion hearing scheduled on Nov 4, requesting more time. Another motions hearing has not been scheduled as of Oct. 23.

Pinckney has until Jan. 3, 2020 to file any motions on any ballistic evidence issues.

The case is scheduled for a jury trial in May of 2021.

Thomas is being held without bail.

Homicides in Last 3 Months Nearly Half the Amount of Murders in First 6 Months of 2019

Gun-related homicides from July 1 to Sept. 30 totaled nearly half of the number of homicides that occurred in the first half of the year.

According to D.C. Witness data, there were 61 gun-related homicides from Jan. 1 to June 30. There were 41 homicides from July 1 to Sept. 30.

During the first three months of 2019, there were 28 gun-related homicides in DC, according to D.C. Witness data. From April to June, gun-related homicides increased to 34.

There have been 52 homicides in total from July to September, according to D. C. Witness data. In July there were 20 homicides, 18 of which were gun related; August had 17 homicides, nine of which were gun related; and there were 15 homicides in September, 14 were gun related.

In an effort to reduce gun-related crime, the Metropolitan Police Department collected 425 guns from July to September. There were 160 recoveries in July, 140 in August and 145 in September.

Of the four quadrants in the district, Southeast and Northeast had the most gun recoveries. Police recovered 184 guns in Southeast, DC; 118 guns in Northeast and 11 guns in Southwest. Northwest had the least amount of recoveries, resulting in only six firearms.

D.C. Witness previously reported, the police department collected 333 firearms from April 1 to June 30. The department collected 448 firearms were collected from Jan. 1 through March 31.

The DC Council passed a law that temporarily seizes guns, the red flag law, in December of 2018.The law is being used as a broader gun control package, reported the Washington City Paper.

The law allows residents to report a person, who they believe is a danger to themselves or others and are in possession of one or more firearms. The police are then able to confiscate the firearms from that individual for a temporary time frame.

Eighteen states have implemented the red flag law, including California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.

Judge Sentences Murderer to 10 Years for Fatal Stabbing

A judge sentenced Oct. 23 a murder defendant to ten years in prison for killing a young woman.

Deangelo Thorne, 29, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed in July for stabbing 23-year-old Waliyatou Amadou on the 1400 block of W St., NW on Jan. 8, 2017. He was initially charged with second-degree murder while armed.

“There is a certainty of conviction by plea opposed to uncertainty of trial,” said DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman.

Judge Edelman said he accepted the plea deal because, even though he wanted to sentence Thorne to more than ten years in prison, he would have to put the case back in pre-trial, which would have taken longer to get a conviction.

However, the amount of time of the conviction did not sit well with Amadou’s family.

“Ten years,” said Amadou’s brother. “Is that all a life is worth?”

The brother told the court how much pain he had been in since the loss of his sister.

The brother said he went to look for Thorne after the stabbing and considered taking the law into his own hands. However, he had faith in the justice system and remained nonviolent.

“The pain, the loss, the guilt I feel inundates me,” he said

Thorne’s defense attorney, Matthew Davies, asked Judge Edelmn to accept the plea deal and requested that he recommend placing Thorne at Federal Medical Center Butner, a federal medical prison in North Carolina.

Davies said Thorne has struggled with mental health issues all his life and placement at Butner would help him recover.

According to court documents, Amadou’s death was the result of a dispute between her and Thorne. Amadou was found in the laundry room of an apartment building with multiple stab wounds. There is no evidence that suggests Thorne and Amadou were in a romantic relationship.

Document: Homicide in Kenilworth

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a homicide that occurred on the 4400 block of Ponds Street, NE.

According to a press release, officers found 23-year-old Juwaun Robert Smith, a resident of Northeast, DC, suffering Oct. 22 from multiple gunshot wounds inside a vehicle. Smith was taken o a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The police are offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest or conviction in this homicide or any other homicide in Washington, DC. Anyone with information should call the police at 202-727-9099. Anonymous information may also be submitted to the department’s Text Tip Line — 50411.

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Document: Homicide on Ponds Street, NE

The Metropolitan Police Department is currently investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on Oct. 22 .

According to a press release, officers found 23-year-old Juwuan Robert Smith unconscious, in a vehicle, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the 4400 block of Ponds Street, NE. Smith was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Defense Attorney Withdraws from Murder Case

During a status hearing on Oct, 22 a defense attorney withdrew herself from a murder case.

Marquette Jordan was arrested on April 30, 2018, for allegedly stabbing 58-year-old Ivan Lynch on the 900 block of 5th Street, SE. Jordan, 28, was indicted on first-degree murder while armed.

Defense counsel, Khadijah Ali, filed a motion to withdraw from the case for reasons not given in open court.

DC Superior Court Judge Milton C. Lee, granted Ali’s motion to be removed while defense counsel Howard McEachern will remain on the case.

D.C. Witness previously reported that Ali also wanted Jordan to receive a forensic evaluation, however, Judge Lee did not rule on the matter during the proceedings.

Judge Lee also gave both parties more time to figure out all the evidence issues, such as getting Jordan a copy of his complete interview with police and the surveillance videos Jordan claimed were tampered with during his hearing on Oct. 21

The prosecutor said she filed protective orders for grand jury documents as well.

A trial readiness hearing is scheduled on February 21, 2020.

Defendant Pleads Guilty to Killing Man Over Cigarette

A murder defendant pleaded guilty Oct. 22 to killing a man over a cigarette.

Donnell Mills, 30, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed with all remainder charges dismissed. He was initially charged with first-degree murder while armed and attempt to commit armed robbery for allegedly stabbing Jelani Mohammed, 38, on the 1500 block of Benning Road, NE on Nov. 8, 2018.

During a status hearing, Mills took a plea deal. According to the terms of the deal, Mills could serve 16-22 years in prison.

If the case had gone to trial, Mills could have faced 30-60 years in prison under DC voluntary sentencing guidelines.

Mills’ co-defendant in the case is 28-year-old Dale Thomas. Thomas was also charged with first-degree murder while armed. Thomas was not present for the hearing. A plea offer has not been extended to Thomas, according to DC Courts.

According to a police report, the victim said the men attacked him over a cigarette. Video surveillance also showed the men trying to take Mohammed’s backpack.

Thomas, who is pending a grand jury indictment, was scheduled for a felony arraignment on Oct. 25. However, the hearing was vacated. Another hearing has not been scheduled, according to DC Courts.

Mills is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 24, 2020.

Mills and Thomas are both being held at DC Jail without bail.

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