Jury Finds Height and Young Guilty of 2nd-Degree Murder

A jury recently found two murder defendants guilty of the 2014 shooting of Willard Carlos Shelton.

After a three week trial, the jury found April 5 Tyrone Height and James Young guilty of second-degree murder while armed, felony murder while armed, armed robbery, first-degree burglary while armed, tampering with evidence, obstruction of justice, and other related weapons offenses after only two days of deliberations. Height, 25, and Young, 25, are scheduled to be sentenced on June 22 by Superior Court Judge Milton Lee.

On April 3, the prosecution told the jury about the defendants’ desperation as the men tried to unsuccessfully cover up Shelton’s murder by fabricating stories to law enforcement, attorneys and a judge.

Shelton, 38, a resident of Alexandria, Va., was said to have been in the Wellington Park neighborhood to by PCP, a drug that has mind altering effects, including hallucinations, distorted perceptions of sounds, and violent behavior, on Aug. 31, 2014. The prosecution said Young and Height thought no one would care about the death of an “outsider.”

Several eyewitnesses testified that Young and Height were the shooters, but they did not cooperate with authorities and changed their stories, frequently. “You see the same thing over and over… a neighborhood where people don’t trust the police,” the prosecution said, noting that witnesses are placed in difficult positions when they are called to testify.

However, testimonies from witnesses were not the only pieces of evidence available to the jury. The jury also considered physical evidence, including a photo of a bloody print, on a vehicle, from the hand Shelton supposedly used to hold a revolver; two revolver shell casings and 13 shell casings from a .40 caliber pistol — the murder weapon — among other objects.

The verdict was rendered despite defense lawyers attempts to show reasonable doubt through stories about piloting an airplane and working on a ranch, a 50-foot margin of error with a GPS tracking device, Young’s testimony, the prosecution’s inability to connect Height to the “Wellington Over Everything” moniker and efforts to invalidate witness testimonies. The defense also tried to present a case for self defense, arguing that Shelton was carrying a revolver.

The defense said the desperation lay with Shelton, who was unemployed at the time, because he went to the Wellington Park neighborhood to rob Young.

However, according to the prosecution, robbing someone in Wellington Park was a fool’s errand because the apartment complex located on the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road, SE only had one way in and out.

Defense delivers closing argument for Lee’s homicide

Joseph Minor’s defense team recently delivered their closing argument for a 2014 murder trial.

According to Minor’s attorney, Archie Nichols, the jury must find Minor, 27, not guilty for the shooting death of 28-year-old Gregory Lee because the prosecution did a “horrible and inadequate job of producing evidence.”

In addition, Nichols said the friend’s recollection was unreliable because he was smoking marijuana and drinking tequila. According to the friend, Maurice Blakey, 26, shot at him with a shotgun but missed, while Minor shot Lee several times with a handgun.

Even though Blakey’s DNA was recovered from the shotgun, the handgun was never found, which indicates the prosecution did not investigate properly, Nichols said.

The defense said a former cellmate of Minor, who said Minor admitted to the murder while in jail, couldn’t be trusted because he was only testifying to reduce his potential prison sentence for an unrelated murder.

During their rebuttal, the prosecution said DNA and ballistics corroborated the stories of all the witnesses who testified. The prosecution also said the former cellmate could be trusted because he risked a maximum 40-year prison sentence if he lied.

“Gregory Lee didn’t deserve to die, not like that,” the prosecution said. According to the prosecution, Minor was motivated to kill Lee after an unsuccessful robbery attempt a week before the shooting.

Minor has been charged with second-degree murder while armed.

Blakey is currently serving a 22-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree murder for an unrelated homicide that occurred in 2007. Blakey’s charges for Lee’s homicide were dismissed as part of a plea deal.

The jury is expected to continue their deliberations on April 12.

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Prosecution delivers closing argument for Christmas Eve homicide

The prosecution in a 2014 homicide trial delivered their closing argument April 10 regarding the Christmas Eve death of 28-year-old Gregory Lee.

According to Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Bruckmann, Joseph Minor is guilty of fatally shooting Lee on the 1200 block of Stevens Road, SE on Dec. 24, 2014.

Bruckmann said Minor attempted to rob Lee about a week before the shooting, but was unsuccessful. He said the failed attempt prompted Minor to recruit the help of his friend Maurice Blakey, 26, to kill Lee.

The prosecution said Lee was in a neighborhood alley smoking marijuana and drinking tequila with his friend.

Bruckmann said Minor, armed with a handgun, and Blakey, armed with a shotgun, surprised the men in the alley. Blakey allegedly shot at Lee’s friend, but missed, while Minor allegedly shot Lee three times. Lee’s friend fled the scene.

Additionally, Bruckmann cited testimony from a former cellmate of Minor who claimed Minor admitted to the murder while in jail. Bruckmann said the cellmate’s account of the altercation was accurate because it lined up with all the other witnesses, despite the fact that the cellmate did not witness the shooting.

The prosecution also played videos of jail calls between Minor and his girlfriend. On the calls Minor is heard telling his girlfriend to stay quiet when she was subpoenaed to testify before the grand jury.

Although the handgun was never found, Bruckmann said ballistic evidence at the crime scene and DNA evidence recovered from Blakey’s shotgun left the jury with no other choice than to find Minor guilty.

“This murder was premeditated and deliberated,” said Bruckmann. “Gregory Lee deserves justice.”

Minor has been charged with second-degree murder while armed.

The defense is expected to deliver their closing argument on April 11.

Defense blames eyewitness for shooting

On April 12, one day after the jury began deliberations, they found Vernon Hedrick not guilty for the murder of Titus Jackson.

During closing arguments, defense counsel for Hedrick blamed an eyewitness for the homicide of

Hedrick, who was 25 at the time, is charged with shooting and killing the 26-year-old on Sept. 11, 2014, on the 5200 block of Clay Street, NE.

According to the defense, the witness displayed guilt when he allegedly said “I can’t go to jail, I’m too young,” after the shooting because he feared he would be charged with murder.

Hedrick’s attorney, Rosemary Szanyi said the witness told detectives multiple stories over the course of three interviews, which showed he had something to hide. Additionally, the defense claimed malpractice because detectives lost the final interview.

Szanyi said Hedrick had no reason to kill Jackson, noting the prosecution never provided a motive.

The defense also said physical evidence wasn’t recovered even though the police searched both Hedrick and his girlfriend’s residences.

However, Assistant United States Attorney Jen Park said Hedrick, who knew Jackson for almost a decade, was captured on video allegedly following him before luring him into an alley. According to the D.C. Medical Examiner, Jackson died from a fatal shot to the head.

The prosecution argued the witness could be trusted even though he initially lied to the police.

The witness said he originally claimed he didn’t see the shooting because he was scared and did not want to be involved. He later testified that Hedrick was the killer.

Additionally, Park said Hedrick displayed a muted reaction when detectives accused him of murder, which showed guilt. She said he lied to detectives as well when he told them that he was visiting a friend.

Hedrick was charged with first-degree murder while armed.

D.C. Homicides Numbers by Ward

D.C. Witness aggregated the number of homicides in the District of Columbia from 2016-2017. The numbers have been categorized by ward.

Check out D.C. Witness’ infographic on the increase and decrease of homicides throughout the city.

Prosecution plans to retry Decuir for 15-year-old’s homicide

Prosecutors recently told Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe that they plan to retry Derryck Decuir for first-degree murder while armed against a minor and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence after a second jury declared a mistrial in March.

The third trial against Decuir for the shooting of 15-year-old Malek Mercer is expected to be held on April 29, 2019. To monitor the status of both the prosecution and the defense’s cases before the trial, the court scheduled a status hearing on Oct. 12.

The court also convicted and plans to sentence Decuir on unlawful possession of a firearm — prior conviction, carrying a pistol without a license, obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence.

Decuir allegedly shot Mercer in the neck on the 2800 block of 28th Street, SE on June 16, 2015. Mercer died at an area hospital on June 19, 2015 — days before his 16th birthday.

Even though Decuir told the jury that he shot Mercer in self defense after the teen wielded a shotgun at him, the validity of his statement was questioned by the prosecution. According to the prosecution, and corroborated by the defendant, Decuir did not help Mercer after the shooting or call for help.

Both the prosecution and the defense say that Mercer had a shotgun, however, the weapon has not been found.

Who was Malek Mercer?

Mercer, a sophomore at Ballou High School, located in Southeast D.C., was a bright student who worked hard in school, according to his mother, Sharon Becks. He was slated to begin the city’s youth employment program in the summer of 2015.

Becks said her son dreamed of becoming a social worker or psychiatrist to help children.

She said the memory of her son stays with her. “He’s on my mind a lot. I dream about him a lot,” she told D.C. Witness.

Becks said Mercer was always fashionable. According to the prosecution, a red Versace belt Mercer was wearing could have been a motive for his death.

Becks said she wants to help reduce gun violence amongst teens and young adults. She said she created a fundraiser — Change for Malek — to raise money and awareness to gun violence. Becks said she wants to use the money to start a foundation that looks at the cause of gun violence and works to make a difference in preventing it.

Defense questions detective’s homicide investigation procedures

A detective in a 2014 homicide case was questioned April 9 by the defense about his investigation procedures.

The detective interviewed a friend of Vernon Hedrick, after Hedrick, who was 25 at the time, was arrested for the fatal Sept. 11, 2014 shooting of 26-year-old Titus Jackson that occurred on the 5200 block of Clay Street, NE.

According to the detective, three formal interviews were conducted and recorded, but the final interview was lost, which the defense indicated is a sign of malpractice.

Hedrick’s attorney, Mary Kennedy, noted the detective never mentioned any malfunction of technology during the last interview in his reports, which he previously said was standard practice.

Additionally, the prosecution presented videos captured on multiple cameras to the jury, allegedly showing Hedrick making a U-turn and fleeing the crime scene in a truck. The defense said because the turn wasn’t captured on camera, it is only an assumption.

Hedrick has been charged with first-degree murder while armed.

The trial is expected to resume on April 10.

Minor’s cellmate admits he only testified to reduce sentence

A former cellmate of Joseph Minor admitted during cross-examination April 9 that his only motivation in testifying was to reduce his potential prison sentence.

The cellmate previously said Minor, 27, admitted in jail that he planned to shoot and kill Gregory Lee with his friend, Maurice Blakey, on Christmas Eve. The cellmate said he was told that if he told the truth, the prosecution would recommend a shorter sentence for his second-degree murder while armed conviction from an unrelated homicide. Minor and his former cellmate shared the same cell for approximately three months.

Minor’s attorney, Archie Nichols, presented letters the cellmate wrote to a friend while in jail where he said he was hoping to enter the witness protection program and receive a new identification if he testified truthfully. The cellmate also worked with prosecutors in five other cases in attempts to reduce his sentence.

The prosecution said the cellmate’s account of the homicide was accurate despite not being shown any evidence, which shows his truthfulness. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Bruckmann said that although the cellmate cooperated in other investigations, Minor’s trial has been the only one he has testified in.

According to Bruckmann, the cellmate’s letters showed his remorse and desire to change his life. Additionally, Bruckmann said the cellmate has no reason to lie because the prosecution told him they would recommend imposing the maximum sentence of 40 years if he did.

Minor has been charged with second-degree murder while armed for shooting Lee, 28, on the 1200 block of Stevens Road, SE on Dec. 24, 2014.

The trial is expected to continue on April 10.

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Murder suspect’s defense team argues bad faith

The defense team in a murder case said the prosecution was acting in bad faith during a trial readiness hearing on April 5.

Donald Hairston‘s defense attorneys, Mani Golzari and Lauren Johnson, said the prosecution acted in bad faith when they withheld information of one of the witnesses in the case making a large financial gain from the murder of Stephanie Goodloe, 40, on June 18, 2016.

The gain was made through the use of a GoFundMe page for the victim. The page was ultimately shut down because of a fraudulent credit card transaction of $9,000.

According to Golzari, the prosecution has no system for sharing information. However, the prosecution refuted the statement, saying that there is a system in place for sharing information.

Judge Danya Dayson requested that both parties send her written information. For the prosecution, she requested to know about what systems are in place to share information and how those systems were followed. For the defense, the judge requested to know where counsel was regarding the investigation into the GoFundMe fraud.

Hairston is charged with first-degree murder.

The defense’s motion to dismiss the case was held pending further argument. Another trial readiness hearing is scheduled for April 10. The trial is scheduled for April 17.

Cellmate says Minor admitted to planning murder

A cellmate of Joseph Minor testified April 5 that Minor told him that he allegedly planned to murder Gregory Lee on Christmas Eve.

According to a cellmate, Minor, 27, said he planned to kill Lee with his friend, Maurice Blakey, 26, and asked for advice on his defense. The cellmate said Minor told him that he wanted to provide the jury with information that would show innocence rather than guilt.

Lee was pronounced dead on the 1200 block of Stevens Road, SE on Dec. 24, 2014.

Additionally, the cellmate said Minor told him that he attempted to rob Lee about a week before to the shooting, but was unsuccessful. The cellmate said Minor heard rumors Lee was planning to retaliate and wanted to act, first.

The cellmate also told the jury that Minor said he dismantled the handgun he used to kill Lee and hid pieces of the gun in a friend’s residence.

Minor’s lawyer, Archie Nichols, said the cellmate was testifying under an agreement that if he told the truth, the prosecution would recommend he receive a shorter sentence for a second-degree murder while armed conviction in an unrelated homicide that occurred in June of 2013. Additionally, the cellmate testified in five other court cases in cooperation with prosecutors, which shows his only concern is getting out of jail, Nichols said.

According to the medical examiner who conducted Lee’s autopsy, there were three gunshot wounds, including a fatal wound that hit Lee’s right rib cage, heart and both lungs.

Blakey is currently serving an unrelated 22-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree murder for the homicide of Timothy Spicer in 2007. Blakey’s charges for Lee’s homicide were dismissed as part of a plea deal.

Minor has been charged with second-degree murder while armed.

The trial is expected to continue on April 9.

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