‘Robert Carpenter Did What He Had To Do,’ Defense Argues in Homicide Closing

A homicide trial wrapped up with its final witnesses and closing statements before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan on May 5.

Robert Carpenter, 46, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, for his alleged involvement in the shooting of 42-year-old Tremaine Nicholson. The incident occurred on the 3400 block of 25th Street, SE, on May 7, 2024.

The defense called its final two witnesses, both of whom testified to experiencing previous violent behavior from Nicholson.

“I saw him dragging her down the steps like a caveman… by the hair,” said one witness, who was a relative of Nicholson’s. “Every woman that he brought around, I witnessed things.”

The other witness was a police officer who responded to a call in Virginia about Nicholson. After taking him to the regional jail, the witness testified that Nicholson bit his left forearm and kicked him in the shin.

As their only witness in their rebuttal case, the prosecution called a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer to explain the online records system that allows officers to look up reports. The witness testified that after searching names of the individuals and cross-referencing, no reports were filed in DC about any of Nicholson’s alleged violence against previous partners.

“Outnumbered, unarmed, and shot in the back four times,” prosecutors said about Nicholson in their closing statement. “It is not self defense, it is not justified.” The prosecution walked back through the tangible evidence, witness testimony, the elements of each charge, and why self defense was not an appropriate defense for this murder.

“Is trying to see your son a death sentence?” questioned the prosecution. They pointed to Nicholson’s Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) being 0.28, and reasoned that a severely intoxicated man could not have posed a threat for serious bodily harm.

While acknowledging the elements of the lesser included charge of voluntary manslaughter while armed, the prosecution urged the jury to find Carpenter guilty of second-degree murder while armed.

“You don’t put two bullets in someone’s head and call it self defense,” concluded the prosecution.

“Robert Carpenter did what he had to do,” argued defense attorney Christen Phillips in her closing statement. “The people that brought you the evidence don’t want you to believe it.”

Phillips emphasized the presumption of innocence, burden of proof, and standard of proof being beyond a reasonable doubt to the jury.

“It’s the highest standard because the stakes are the highest – a man’s liberty.”

Phillips reiterated the statements of fear and panic from the eyewitness testimonies, especially the threat of violence that Nicholson posed to other men in the room shortly before he was shot.

Phillips asked the jury to put themselves in the shoes of Carpenter, and think about what would be reasonable for him at that exact moment; seeing an erratic, abusive man lunge towards his girlfriend. “Hindsight is 20/20,” said Phillips, urging the jury to acquit Carpenter on the defense of self-defense and defense of others.

The prosecution concluded with a final rebuttal, arguing they had met their burden of proof and disproved the defense of self defense.

“He was a drunk man in his feels,” argued the prosecution, justifying Nicholson’s emotions about wanting to see his son.

The prosecution pointed out that subjective witness testimony clashed with objective evidence, and mentioned the shakiness of some of the subjective testimony of multiple witnesses.

“Mr. Nicholson would not be dead if there was not a gun in that room,” concluded the prosecution.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene once the jury reaches a verdict.

Murder Defendant Accepts Plea Deal with 15-to-20-Year Sentence

Andre Clark accepted a prosecution offer and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed in return for a sentence limited to 15-to-20 years’ incarceration during a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman on May 5.

Clark, 34, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Leonard Taylor, Jr., on Oct. 20, 2024, on the 1500 block of 19th Street, SE.

The prosecutor said Clark walked out of a vacant building toward a vehicle parked by the curb and pointed a gun at the driver, who was Taylor. When Taylor began to drive away, Clark shot him in the back, killing him.

According to arrest records, Clark told police he visits that vacant building to consume illicit substances.

Thomas Key, Clark’s attorney, said the maximum sentence that can be imposed in DC for second-degree murder while armed is 40 years in prison and/or a fine of $250,000. Since this plea offer was made according to Rule 11(c)(1)(C) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the sentence is limited to the length the parties agreed on.

Judge Edelman said Clark will also be required to serve five years of supervised release, pay between $100 and $5,000 to the Victims of Violent Crime fund, and register as a gun offender.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene for sentencing on July 11.

Document: Police Search for Persons of Interest in Northwest Shooting

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced they are seeking assistance in identifying two persons of interest and a vehicle involved in a shooting on May 3 in Northwest.

The incident occurred on the 2500 block of Ontario Road, NW where an adult male was found with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound and transported to a hospital.

Surveillance footage of the suspects and vehicle is available for public viewing.

Document: Police Make Arrest in 57th Place Shooting

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced the arrest of 30-year-old Issac Rogers, who allegedly shot at a man during a dispute on April 19 in 57th Place in Northeast Washington, D.C. An exact block number was not given.

The incident, which involved derogatory comments and escalated to gunfire, resulted in no injuries but caused property damage to the victim’s vehicle.

Rogers was arrested on May 3 for another incident, leading to his identification as a suspect in this case, and he faces charges of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (Gun). The case is under investigation as potentially motivated by hate or bias.

Case Acquitted: Defense Claims ‘Laundry List of Doubts’ During Closing Arguments in Shooting Trial

Editor’s Note: Tyshay Moore was acquitted of all charges by a jury on May 2, 2025.

DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson heard closing arguments in a non-fatal shooting trial during hearings on April 30 and May 1.

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 recently severed as a co-defendant after taking a plea deal with the prosecutors.

Prosecutors began with their closing statements, reiterating that Moore was the shooter, and no matter what the victim had done in his past, “it doesn’t mean he deserved to be shot four times in the face and body.”

They 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, who was also in a previous relationship with Jackson, where they share a son. Prosecutors allege Moore was driven by jealousy and anger after the victim commented on her deceased cousin.

Throughout the closings, prosecution highlighted surveillance footage from the incident, cell site evidence that allegedly tracked Moore near the shooting, and the testimony of Jackson and the victim.

“The defendant wanted to get rid of the victim,” the prosecutor told jurors, calling the shooting a deliberate act of violence and arguing Moore’s actions showed clear intent to kill.

The prosecution walked the jury along their timelines of events through surveillance footage. It showed someone masked and faceless, whom the prosecution claims is Moore, with a friend of Jackson’s. They both approach the victim after he was seen arguing with Jackson, when the masked suspect punches him and pulls out a gun, firing four shots at the victim.

“There is no proof beyond a reasonable doubt, because there is a laundry list of doubts.,” Hannah Claudio, Moore’s defense attorney, told the jury.

She 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 both 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, including ten felony counts and conspiracy, were dropped in exchange for cooperation.

“Faced with prison time and never seeing her son again,” Claudio argued, Jackson gave the prosecution what they needed.

The defense highlighted Jackson’s changing testimony multiple times, especially about when and how Moore allegedly confessed to the shooting. In the first meetings with the prosecutors, Jackson claimed Moore admitted guilt the day after the shooting, when she showed Jackson her XD-style gun. But, while on the witness stand, and after the defense showed Jackson proof they never met the day after the shooting, she said the confession happened on her son’s birthday.

Claudio also noted that surveillance footage does not clearly identify Moore and that cell site data only showed her phone briefly pinging in the area, which the expert witness testified could mean she was possibly passing through.

Claudio also argued that the motive Jackson offered the prosecution in exchange for her severance from the case was false because, during the victim’s testimony, the defense asked if he knew the cousin he was being subject to aspersions, to which he said no.

“The prosecution built its case on assumptions, not evidence,” Claudio said. “There are no assumptions when a person’s life is on the line.”

Parties are slated to reconvene when the jury reaches a verdict.

Defense Urges Jury to Set Aside Sympathy in Homicide Trial

Parties delivered closing arguments before DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park in a homicide trial on May 1.

Ranje Reynolds, 28, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 27-year-old Tarek Boothe on Jan. 31, 2022, on the 3200 block of M Street, NW.

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.

Reynolds was said to have injured his hand during the fight, with DNA evidence linking him to both the store where the fight happened and the area of where the shooting occurred, according to the prosecution. Furthermore, witnesses were allegedly able to identify Reynolds in surveillance footage of the scenes.

The prosecution reminded the jury of the key facts of the case.

Reynolds fled to Jamaica several days after the shooting, cutting off contact with his best friend and girlfriend at the time. Reynolds was even overheard confessing to the shooting while he was in Jamaica, insisted the prosecution.

The prosecution urged the jury to consider the evidence carefully, asking the jury why an innocent person would flee the country and ignore his closest friends.

Cheryl Stein, Reynolds’ defense attorney, told the jury “this case cannot be decided on sympathy,” during her closing arguments.

She acknowledged that Boothe’s family has attended every day of trial, and that “his death left a hole in many people’s lives,” but jurors must be impartial when reaching a verdict.

Stein focused on undermining the credibility of the FBI agent from the Cellular Analysis Survey Team (CAST) and the witness who overheard Reynolds’ confession in Jamaica.

She argued Reynolds’ cell phone was turned off for a period of time during the crime, in a “four minute blackout” where it was impossible to determine reynolds exact locationr.

As for the confession, Stein brought up the fact that the witness received $1,500 dollars for giving information that led to Reynolds’ arrest, and could receive more money if he is convicted.

Stein also disputed the prosecution’s video of Reynolds walking around Georgetown before the shooting.

She stated that this was not him “planning” or “rehearsing” the murder, but actually Reynolds blowing off steam because he was angry after losing the fight and under the influence of marijuana and alcohol. Stein asked the jury, “Who needs practice walking around the block?”

Stein to the jury to “to consider that [Reynolds] was too enraged to premeditate or consider.”

The prosecutor disputed Stein’s claims, stating that “there is no rage defense” and “we’re asking you to convict the defendant because the evidence dictates it.” She told the jury that yes, this is a sad case, but “based on the video evidence alone he is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Parties are set to return once the jury reaches a verdict.

‘I Was Afraid For Everyone That Was In the Apartment,’ Eyewitness Testifies in Homicide Trial

A prosecution eyewitness testified about a homicide that took place in his friend’s apartment before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan on April 30 and May 1.

Robert Carpenter, 36, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, for his alleged involvement in the shooting of 42-year-old Tremaine Nicholson. The incident occurred on the 3400 block of 25th Street, SE, on May 7, 2024.

One eyewitness testified that he and his wife had gone to their friend’s apartment so his wife could get her hair done. Two more people entered shortly after – Carpenter, who was the boyfriend of the apartment owner, and Nicholson, who was the previous romantic partner of the apartment owner with whom had a son.

The witness testified that Nicholson came barging in, sweating, pacing, and scanning the apartment looking for his son. The witness said that Nicholson seemed like he was high on PCP, with erratic and out of control behavior.

“I was afraid for everyone that was in the apartment,” stated the witness. Nicholson was yelling at his ex-partner, reiterating multiple times that he wanted his son, according to the witness. Eventually, Nicholson appeared to have calmed down, then unexpectedly lunged at his ex-partner, allegedly reaching for her neck.

The witness heard four shots ring out, and saw Nicholson fall to the ground.

The prosecution also called the wife of the first witness, who had been there to get her hair done. She testified about the same sequence of events that her husband did, reiterating that the apartment owner seemed frightened and fearful for herself and others in the apartment.

A forensic firearm and toolmark examiner testified to his ballistics report of the scene, affirming that the casings were consistent with those fired from the recovered firearm.

A forensic toxicologist who conducted the report for Nicholson testified that his Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) was 0.28 at the time of death, three-and-a-half times the legal limit.

Finally, the prosecution called on a deputy medical examiner who conducted the autopsy for Nicholson. She testified to the gunshot wounds in his back, and one that pierced his tongue and shattered his teeth. She ruled the cause of death to be gunshot wounds, and the manner to be homicide.

The defense began their case with the mother of the ex-partner and apartment owner. She testified to her daughter’s abusive relationship with Nicholson, saying that he was physically violent with her and providing examples. She recalled moments that he had punched her, hit her, spit on her, given her a black eye, choked her, and threatened to kill her.

Parties are slated to reconvene May 5.

Homicide Defendant Pleads Not Guilty, Trial Scheduled

A homicide defendant was arraigned before D.C. Superior Court Judge Jason Park in a hearing on May 1.

Desmond Barr Jr., 23, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, all offenses committed during release, for his alleged involvement in the death of Ambria Farmer, 20. Farmer’s body was found in Fort Dupont Park, on July 13, 2024, located near the 3600 block of F Street, SE, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

During the hearing, Barrs’ defense attorney, Dominique Winters, entered a plea of not guilty on all counts and asserted his constitutional rights, including the right to a speedy trial.

A trial date was set for Jan. 25, 2027.

Parties are slated to reconvene on Nov. 13.

Homicide Defendant Rejects Plea Deal, Prepares For Trial

A homicide defendant rejected a plea deal before DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park in a hearing on May 1.

Christopher Patrick Haynes, 31, is charged first-degree premeditated murder while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict, carrying a pistol without a license and escaping from an officer for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Brent Hayward, 33, on Aug. 12, 2023, on the 1500 block of Kenilworth Avenue, NE. A second individual sustained non-life threatening injuries.

According to the two plea deals, Haynes would plead guilty to one count of second-degree murder while armed and one count of aggravated assault while armed, with five years of supervised release. One offer had Haynes serving 18-to-36 years in prison, while the other required a sentencing range of 20-to-32 years in prison.

Haynes rejected both offers, with his defense attorney, Nikki Lotze, choosing to set hearing dates in preparation for trial in March 2026.

Parties are slated to return on July 29.

Jail Employee Says Mass Shooting Defendant Previously Attacked at DC Jail

A DC Jail correction officer testified about an inmate incident involving one of six co-defendants in 2016 before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on May 1.

Erwin Dubose, 30, Kamar Queen, 27, Damonta Thompson, 28, and William Johnson-Lee, 22, are charged with conspiracy, two counts of premeditated first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, two counts of assault with the 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 Donnetta Dyson, 31, Keenan Braxton, 24, and Johnny Joyner, 37 on the 600 block of Longfellow Street, NW on Sept. 4, 2021 where three other individuals were injured..

Additionally, Dubose, Queen, and Johnson-Lee have an additional nine counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Thompson and Queen each have an additional count of first-degree murder while armed with aggravated circumstances, and Johnson-Lee has two additional counts of first-degree murder while armed with aggravated circumstances. Dubose, Queen, and Thompson each add a charge of assault with intent to kill while armed.

Dubose and Queen are charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction. Dubose also faces another charge of premeditated first-degree murder while armed and tampering with evidence. Queen and Johnson-Lee each add carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business to their list of charges.

Another shooting occurred on the 800 block of Oglethorpe Road, NE that left one individual injured, where prosecutors claim Queen and friends were shot at.

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 co-defendants with disposing of evidence and attempting to avoid arrest in connection to the shootings.

A correctional officer from the DC Jail testified about a fight that occurred between inmates in April of 2016, involving Dubose. He explained that when incidents occur at the jail, such as inmates fighting or assaulting an officer, any officer who witnesses the event has to write an incident report.

Summarizing his document, the witness testified that on April 8, 2016, two inmates assaulted Dubose. According to the officer, Dubose was taken to the infirmary on a stretcher. However, the officer was unable to recall much detail.

Michael Bruckheim, one of Dubose’s defense attorneys, cross-examined the witness about his inability to recall the incident he described on direct examination without his notes. The witness replied that he could not recall the details because the incident occurred almost ten years ago.

Additionally, Kevin Robertson, on behalf of Rezene, asked the witness about his inability to confirm that he made the report within an hour of the incident because there was no timestamp or proof. He also challenged the witness on the fact that the report does not say anything about a stabbing, which is what the prosecution claimed occurred.

An assisting detective from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) testified about security footage that was obtained from the apartment complex at 400 Galloway Street, NE, which prosecutors claim is where Dubose resided at the time of the shooting and where the shooters withdrew after the attack. Security footage of the front door of the apartment complex shows several individuals entering by scanning a key fob moments after the shooting. However, he was unable to identify any of the men in the video.

Parties are slated to reconvene on May 6.

Judge Allows Co-Defendant in Mass Shooting, Rapper Case to Serve Separate Sentence Elsewhere

DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park allowed a homicide co-defendant to complete his sentence at the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) during a status hearing on April 29.

Earl Robinson, 32, Johnny Wilkins, 34, Marcel Gavin, 37, Kharee Jackson, 31, and Darryl Little, 30 are charged with three counts of first-degree murder while armed, premeditated first degree murder while armed, premeditated first degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, three counts of robbery while armed, nine counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and conspiracy for their alleged involvement in a mass shooting that resulted in the death of 21 year old Albert Smith Jr. on June 14, 2020 on the 1300 block of Congress Street SE. Three other individuals sustained injuries during the incident. Smith, a Tennessee rap artist, was on a visit to DC when he was killed.

During the status hearing, Kevin Irving, Robinson’s attorney, stated that he had spoken to Robinson about continuing to appear for hearings remotely while serving his sentence at BOP. According to court records, Robinson is serving a ten year sentence in connection to an unrelated shooting.

Judge Park allowed Robinson to be transferred to BOP to serve his sentence.

Robinson also waived his right to independently test DNA evidence recovered from the crime scene, including shell casings, bullet fragments, clothing from the victim, and a shirt tested by the prosecution.

Parties are slated to reconvene June 20.

Murder Defendant On Release Told to Comply With Terms or Face Jail

DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park gave Steven Washington until July 11 to demonstrate that he is complying with the terms of his release after the DC Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) recommended he be detained at the DC Jail during a court hearing on May 2.

Washington, 25, and his co-defendants, Dijon Williams, 25, and Daivion Williams, 26, are charged with first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, conspiracy, attempt to commit robbery while armed, carrying a pistol without a license, and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. The charges stem from their alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 30-year-old Nurudeen Thomas on July 21, 2020, on the 4100 block of 14th Street, NW.

At the hearing, a PSA officer told the court that Washington has repeatedly violated the terms of his release. On one occasion, Washington was away from his residence without authorization for several hours.

Veronice Holt, Washington’s defense attorney, asked the court to give her client another chance. She said Washington has been on release for more than two years with no other violations, aside from a period of time when he was homeless.

Judge Park said he would review Washington’s compliance again after 60 days. He noted that it’s very rare for a defendant charged with felony murder to be on release and warned Washington to cooperate with PSA in order to avoid spending the next year in jail waiting for trial.

Parties are slated to reconvene on July 11.

Prosecution Presents DNA Testing Results Against Murder Co-Defendants

The prosecution presented DNA testing results supporting a murder co-defendant murder case before DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman during a status hearing on May 2.

Emmanuel Lewis, 35, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a license outside his home or business, and tampering with physical evidence for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Kwame Keith, 25, on the 1800 block of Fairlawn Avenue, SE, on Oct. 30, 2023.

George Pendleton, 43, is charged as an accessory after the fact to murder and tampering with physical evidence for his alleged involvement in the same incident.

The prosecution stated that they provided defense teams with all evidence available. Prosecutors also indicated that their DNA testing of crime scene blood and gloves was complete and that the results were inculpatory towards defendant Lewis.

Parties are slated to reconvene May 15.

Defendant’s Attorney Criticizes Police Actions In Homicide Investigation

Defense attorney Sylvia Smith criticized police for entering the apartment where her client lived without a warrant, turning off a bodyworn camera inappropriately, and allowing evidence to be destroyed during a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman on May 5.

Anthony Green, 39, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Terence Akindo on the 2300 block of 13th Place, NE, on July 30, 2023.

Smith filed motions to suppress evidence that was obtained when Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers entered the apartment where Green lived with his girlfriend without a warrant.

Judge Edelman denied the motions, ruling that Green didn’t have a reasonable expectation of privacy in the apartment because he was living in an abandoned building without permission from the owner. Thus, Green didn’t have standing to object to the police entering without a warrant.

According to Judge Edelman, the police were justified in entering without a warrant because they had received information that squatters were illegally present in the building and that a pregnant woman was in danger from a person who had committed a murder the day before.

Although the pregnant woman, who was Green’s girlfriend, quickly told police she was not in danger, police still had a reasonable suspicion that Green had committed unlawful entry, which gave them a basis to arrest Green. The officers also learned Green had an extraditable warrant for his arrest in Maryland.

In her motions, Smith objected to the police taking a photo of Green when they arrested him and used it to confirm his identity with the two witnesses of the shooting.

Judge Edelman said it’s accepted protocol for police to use a single confirmatory photo instead of a photo array to identify a person the witness knows well. In this case, both witnesses lived near Green and saw him regularly.

Smith also filed a motion for sanctions against the prosecution for failing to preserve evidence. Judge Edelman heard both parties’ arguments and the testimony of two MPD officers.

One officer testified that he responded to a non-emergency call by a resident three days after Akindo’s death that asked police to investigate a vehicle suspected of being stolen. When the officer discovered the vehicle belonged to Akindo, he contacted the lead detective in Akindo’s case, who said the car didn’t have evidentiary value and should be turned over to a private towing company.

The lead detective investigating Akindo’s murder testified that the prosecutor in the case asked him to locate the vehicle as evidence, but he was unable to find it. He later learned the towing company had sent it to a scrap yard.

Smith pointed out that the officer investigating the car didn’t complete the appropriate paperwork regarding it and deactivated his bodyworn camera contrary to MPD guidelines. She produced reports showing this officer has been disciplined in the past for not using his bodyworn camera as required and for mishandling evidence.

Smith questioned the lead detective’s decision that the car didn’t have evidentiary value. He said he would have preserved the car if it had contained ballistics evidence, but Smith pointed out that he didn’t direct the officer to search the car, so he didn’t know what evidence it contained.

Judge Edelman said he would rule on the motion for sanctions the next day.

The prosecution filed motions in limine, asking Judge Edelman to rule on the admissibility of certain evidence and testimony prior to the trial. Judge Edelman said he would make his rulings during the trial as the issues arose.

Parties are set to reconvene on May 6.

At Sentencing, Shooting Defendant Pledges to do Better

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan sentenced Jinmar Fuentes to 60 months in prison on May 2 for a shooting and assault that occurred in 2022.

Fuentes, 23 pled guilty to one count of aggravated assault and one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for a shooting that stemmed from an assault on two male victims in a robbery attempt on July 31, 2022, on the 2000 block of 14th Street, NW.

Neither party had additional information to present to Judge Raffinan at the time of the hearing. However, Fuentes’ attorney, Jesse Winograd, spoke on Fuentes’ behavior after being in prison.

Winograd explained Fuentes completely changed his life after entering the justice system. According to Winograd, Fuentes has joined Young Men Emerging, a program that pairs older incarcerating individuals with younger inmates in prison. The goal is to mentor and eventually prevent recidivism.

The man in charge of the program, told Winograd that Fuentes is “one of my success stories, Mr. Fuentes came in a completely different person than he is now. I know Mr. Fuentes can do great things.”

“As a God fearing man I pray that you are able to forgive me for my actions,” Fuentes told the court, adding he is remorseful for the damage he caused to the victims and his family.

Additionally, Fuentes stated his goal is to create a better life for himself and his family, saying, “I am committed to change and action… I want to use the credits I earned through Georgetown University to graduate with a degree in business and open up a restaurant. I pledge to do better”

Judge Raffinan took all the facts into consideration, emphasizing the severity of the crime committed. She argued that despite no one being killed during the incident, Fuentes put countless people in danger. Still, Judge Raffinan acknowledged the changes Fuentes is making in his life, especially in Young Men Emerging.

Judge Raffinan said, “I do not think based upon the information in front of me that there be a sentence below or above the mandatory minimum” and imposed a sentence of five years of incarceration and three years of supervised release.

In closing, Judge Raffinan said if Fuentes maintains good behavior after his release, the Youth Rehabilitation Act will eventually set aside his conviction and allow him to start over with a clean slate.

No further dates were set.