The Metropolitan Police Department is trying to identify a suspect, caught on a nearby surveillance camera, in the fatal stabbing of Maria Antoinette Evans on the 500 Block of Oakwood Street, SE on March 29.
Document: Traffic Fatality on 7th Street and Missouri Avenue NW
John Henry Pelham recently dies from injuries he received from a traffic incident on April 13 at the intersection of 7th Street and Missouri Avenue, NW. The Metropolitan Police Department is currently investigating the incident.
Document: Victim Identified in Homicide on Forrester Street SW
The Metropolitan Police Department have identified Rory Felton, 57, a resident of Temple Hills, Md. as the victim of a fatal stabbing on the Unit Block of Forrester Street, SW. According to news reports, Felton was a Go-Go music legend in the D.C. area.
Judge Sentences Man to 22 Years for Fatally Stabbing Ex-Girlfriend
Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna recently sentenced a man who fatally stabbed his ex-girlfriend to 22 years in prison.
In January, Larry Fearn pled guilty to second-degree murder while armed for killing Paula Renee Coles on Sept. 27, 2017. Following the sentence, Fearn will be placed on five years of supervised release.
Fearn and Coles had an 11-month-old son. Apparently, Coles was holding the baby when she was stabbed at her home located on the 3000 Block of 30th St., SE.
The homicide was not the first time Fearn had assaulted Coles.
On July 5, 2017, Fearn was arrested for assaulting Coles, their infant child, and his mother. The following day, Fearn was arrested for violating a court order to stay away from Coles.
Fearn also pled guilty on Aug. 17, 2017, to attempted second-degree cruelty to children and simple assault and served 75 days in prison. Even though it was a probation violation for him to see or be near Coles after his release, he began residing with her shortly after.
Man Charged with Killing 2-year-old Held Without Bond
The man who allegedly killed a baby boy was charged April 19 with first-degree and second-degree murder with an intent to kill.
The incident took place on the 3400 block of A Street in SE. Two-year-old Aceyson Aizim Ahmad was apparently the son of James Embre‘s girlfriend.
According to the D.C. Medical Examiner, Ahmad died from multiple blunt force trauma. According to court documents, Embre may have assaulted Ahmad in the past. Court documents said Embre apparently abused the boy’s sister as well.
Jason Embre is being held without bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 24.
Counsel Delivers Closing Arguments for 2015 homicide
During closing arguments April 18 counsel rehashed facts presented during a 2015 murder trial to outweigh the other side.
Eric McDuffie is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly shooting 23-year-old Antonio McCallister. McCallister allegedly died in front of his mother on the 2700 block of Langston Place, SE.
The prosecution said McDuffie waited for McCallister to let his guard down and followed him before shooting him in the back of the head.
Additionally, the prosecution cited McCallister’s mother, who said she was outside on a friend’s porch, when she saw her son fall over and McDuffie fleeing the scene.
“This man intended to kill Antonio McCallister,” the prosecution said. “Use your judgment and find him guilty.”
The prosecution replayed camera footage from Metropolitan Police Department officers. The footage shows the mother telling officers, “He came from over there, the white car,” referring to McDuffie.
The defense argued that the police and the prosecution mishandled the case because a motive to suspect McDuffie was never provided.
McDuffie’s attorney, Russell Hairston, said the investigation was not thorough because Officer Latonya Elliott, who works in the school safety division, told investigators that a juvenile told her about a different suspect. A follow-up was not documented.
The defense also noted that McCallister’s mother admitted to drinking alcohol and smoking PCP, a hallucinatory drug, on the night of the shooting. She also waited three days before speaking with police about the incident.
The jury is expected to begin deliberations on April 19.
Document: Arrest Made in Baby’s Homicide on A Street SE
On April 17, the Metropolitan Police Department arrested 24 year-old James Embre for the homicide of 2-year-old Aceyson Aizim Ahmad. Embre has been charged with first-degree felony murder.
Women Killed in D.C.
The D.C. Witness infographic shows the number of women killed in D.C. from 2016-Febuary 2018.
Counsel Debates Admissibility of 911 Call
Counsel in a 2016 homicide case argued April 17 over the introduction of a witness’ 911 call regarding a prior domestic altercation between Donald Hairston and Stephanie Goodloe.
According to Hairston’s defense attorneys, Mani Golzari and Lauren Johnson, the testimony should not be allowed because the prosecution didn’t find any police records to corroborate the allegation.
Hairston is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly shooting Goodloe on June 18, 2016, on the 700 block of Kentucky Avenue, SE.
The prosecution said they were also planning to introduce evidence showing Hairston’s controlling behavior and consistent stalking as a motive to kill Goodloe.
Apparently, Hairston showed up at Goodloe’s work unannounced on multiple occasions and was often violent. The prosecution told Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson that Hairston allegedly stole Goodloe’s keys and physically assaulted her.
The trial is expected to move forward on April 19 after jury selection is completed.
Document: Arrest Made for Homicide on MLK Ave. SE
John Jabar McRae was arrested April 17 for the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Marty McMillan, Jr. McRae, 40, is charged with second-degree murder while armed.
Jury Finds Vernon Hedrick Not Guilty of Murder
On April 12, about a week and a half after Vernon Hedrick‘s murder trial began, a jury found him not guilty for the shooting death of Titus Jackson.
According to the defense, the prosecution charged the wrong man with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly killing the 26-year-old on Sept. 11, 2014, on the 5200 block of Clay Street, NE.
Hedrick’s attorney, Rosemary Szanyi, said one of the prosecution’s witnesses told detectives multiple stories over the course of three interviews, which showed he was actually the killer.
The witness allegedly said “I can’t go to jail, I’m too young,” after the shooting because he feared he would be charged with murder. Even though the witness was at the scene of the crime, he was not arrested on any charges.
The defense also placed doubt in the minds of jurors by accusing detectives of malpractice for losing the recording of the witness’ final interview with the homicide unit of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Szanyi said Hedrick, who was 25 at the time, had no reason to kill Jackson, noting the prosecution never provided a motive. In addition, physical evidence was never recovered despite the fact that police searched Hedrick and his girlfriend’s residences.
The prosecution argued Hedrick was guilty because he was captured on video allegedly following Jackson and “luring” him into an alley.
Prosecutors also presented videos, captured on multiple cameras, allegedly showing Hedrick making a U-turn and fleeing the crime scene in a truck. However, the defense said because the turn wasn’t captured on camera, it was only an assumption.
Hedrick is still being held, pending sentencing on two convictions. He pled guilty to an aggravated assault incident in 2015 and to an assault with significant bodily injury incident in 2014. Hedrick is scheduled for a status hearing on May 10 for both cases.
Document: Arrest Made in Homicide on Riggs Rd. NE
The Metropolitan Police Department arrested April 14 Shelby Jones for the shooting death of Davon Fisher, 17, on Jan. 12. Jones, 17, has been charged with first-degree murder while armed.
D.C. Homicides in March
D.C. Witness documents 16 homicides in the District of Columbia during March.
Of the total amount of homicides in March, 10 homicides occurred in Ward 8, four homicides occurred in Ward 5 and two homicides occurred in Ward 1.
The map shows the percentage of homicides each Ward has within March. The graphic will be updated monthly.
Decedent’s mother says defendant killed her son
The decedent’s mother in a 2015 homicide trial told the jury April 12 that 26-year-old Eric McDuffie is responsible for her son’s death.
According to Antonio McCallister‘s mother, he was shot right in front of her on the 2700 block of Langston Place, SE, on July 24, 2015.
The mother said she was outside on a friend’s porch when she saw her son and walked towards him. She said he collapsed when she got close to him. Even though she said she never heard the gunshot, she realized he had been shot in the head. The mother says she saw McDuffie flee the scene.
The prosecution played camera footage from Metropolitan Police Department officers who arrived on the scene. The mother is heard telling the officers, “He came from over there, the white car,” referring to McDuffie.
“I didn’t want nobody to feel this pain of losing a child,” the mother said, crying. “I can’t see my baby no more.”
However, when the defense cross-examined the mother, she revealed she had been drinking alcohol and smoking PCP, a hallucinatory drug, on the night of the shooting.
The mother admitted she didn’t tell police it was McDuffie until three days after her son’s death because she was scared to “snitch.” She said her motto was to “let the streets handle the streets,” indicating McDuffie would pay for what he did.
McDuffie’s attorney, Russell Hairston, impeached the mother’s testimony by reading transcripts of her interviews with detectives when she said she saw a man fall down and went over to help him before someone told her it was actually her son.
Hairston also said the mother never actually saw McDuffie with a gun.
Additionally, the defense called Officer Latonya Elliott of the school safety division, who said a juvenile had told her about a different suspect the next day. The tip was passed to investigators, but there was no documentation of follow-up with the juvenile.
The lead detective on the case, Jonathan Shell, said further investigation was conducted, but probable cause was never found for anyone but McDuffie.
McDuffie is charged with first-degree murder while armed.
The trial is expected to resume on April 18.
Women Charged with DUI Death Pleads Not Guilty
A woman who was arrested for striking a D.C. resident while chemically impaired was arraigned April 12 on second-degree murder charges.
Briana Miller was also charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or a drug and reckless driving. The defendant’s action allegedly led to the death of D.C. resident Delane Scales on July 8, 2017.
According to the Gernstein, Miller apparently lost control of the Hyundai she was driving, mounted a curb, struck a parked vehicle, hit a tree and stuck the decedent, dragging him until the Hyundai hit a fire hydrant. The Gernstein said the responding officer smelled a heavy odor of PCP, a drug that has mind altering affects, on the defendant.
Miller pled not guilty to the charges and is currently released on bond.
Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe granted a request for continuance so the defense could determine how to proceed. A status hearing is scheduled for July 13.
According to the prosecution, a plea agreement may be offered by July.