March hearing date set for 2004 murder case

A Southeast D.C. man continues to fight against a 2006 second-degree murder conviction.

Johnel McQueen is currently serving a 41 year sentence for a 2004 murder.

When McQueen was 17-years-old he was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in a March 22, 2004 shooting on the 1300 block of Congress Street, SE.

According to court documents, McQueen was seen talking to KaRon Barksdale, 22, near a burning car. Witnesses said Barksdale began to run toward his apartment when McQueen shot him in the back of the head. Both men lived on the block where the shooting occurred.

McQueen was eventually found guilty of second-degree murder while armed and related weapons offenses in connection with the murder.

Shortly after the result, the defense petitioned for the disclosure of Grand Jury proceedings and filed a motion to vacate convictions or grant a new trial on the grounds of actual innocence.

At a hearing on Jan. 24, Chief Judge Robert Morin appointed Attorney Janai Reed to represent McQueen as his new attorney. The decision was supported by both McQueen’s attorney, Leroy Giles Jr. and Attorney Tony Quinn, who appeared on behalf of the government.

Giles Jr. stated that the defense plans to only call one witness to the stand and stressed that McQueen would prefer that the case continue on a “fast track” while he remains incarcerated at Federal prison FCI Butner, a medium security correctional institution in Butner, N.C.

McQueen’s next hearing is scheduled for March 9, 2018, where witnesses are expected to take the stand. A status hearing is scheduled a week prior to confirm that all witnesses will be present.

Trial set for man accused of killing Federal employee

A trial has been set on July 9, 2018, for a man accused of fatally shooting a 46-year-old FBI janitor in March of 2016.

Kelby Gordon has been charged with the second-degree murder of Gabriel Turner. A trial readiness hearing was set for June 22; Turner’s trial is expected to commence three weeks after.

Turner, 46, was the victim of a bullet that was intended for someone else, according to reports from the Metropolitan Police Department that say he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Detectives recovered surveillance footage that shows an unidentified man walking behind Turner. The video shows Gordon, age 29 at the time, shooting in the direction of the unidentified man. The altercation occurred on the 2600 block of Birney Road, SE.

According to Gordon’s attorney, Richard Holliday, Gordon is “anxious to have the situation resolved.”

Holliday stated that Gordon has more issues to raise but not without Lindsay Merikas, the prosecution attorney, present. She is scheduled to be present at Gordon’s trial readiness hearing.

Arrest made in murder of 66-year-old man

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch announced on Dec. 15, 2017, that an arrest has been made in reference to the homicide of 66-year-old Awlachew Ayele, a resident of Northeast D.C.

40-year-old Garrett Taylor, a resident of Northeast, D.C. has been charged with first-degree murder. The incident occurred on the 1100 block of Queen Street, NE on Jan. 26, 2017.

Ayele was found dead upon arrival. According to medical examiners, his death resulted from a fire that was intentionally set.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 31, 2018.

Mother awaits trial for newborn’s drowning

A D.C. woman has been accused of drowning, strangling, and dismembering her newborn son in 2013. She is set to return to court on March 12, 2018.

Lillian Alvarado will return before Judge Milton Lee in just under two months to give her defense team time to dissect exam results from two doctors assessing Alvarado’s mental health.

Even though the government filed a motion, requesting the results of the doctors’ exams, prosecution has not received the documents.

Both the prosecution and defense would like time to review the documents in preparation for an upcoming status hearing, which has been approved by Judge Lee.

Alvarado, 24, has been charged with first-degree murder and first-degree cruelty to children.

Prosecutors said she never told her family she was pregnant and tried to flush the partially dismembered infant down the toilet.

The incident took place inside her family’s apartment in Northwest D.C. in November of 2013. The discovery of the infant’s body was made when neighbors in the apartment below Alvarado reported bloody water leaking through their ceiling.

Alvarado’s defense team argued that she is not mentally competent for trial and should remain at a psychiatric hospital, but initial psychiatric evaluations revealed she is in fact competent.

A previously scheduled trial date of Jan. 7, 2019, remains.

D.C. man sentenced to 24 years for homicide

A D.C. man charged with fatally shooting 22-year-old Herbert Dowtin has been sentenced to 24 years in prison.

Malik Hough, who is also 22, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder from a shooting that occurred on Dec. 27, 2016, on the 800 block of Xenia Street, SE.

Hough was sentenced on Jan. 3, 2018, after being taken into custody in January of 2017.

Teen fatally shot in Southeast D.C.

A teenage boy was fatally shot on Dec. 18, 2017.

James Anthony Smith was found unconscious and unresponsive with apparent gunshot wounds on the 1900 block of Frederick Douglass Court, SE. Smith, 17, was transported to a local hospital, but was pronounced dead by medical personnel.

The Metropolitan Police Department has not named any suspects.

D.C.’s first homicide of 2018

A 19-year-old man was fatally shot on Jan. 10.

Officers found Paris Brown, a resident of Southeast D.C., with apparent gunshot wounds on the 2400 block of Skyland Place, SE.

At 10:29 p.m., officers responded to a location after reports of gunshots and found Brown. He was pronounced dead at the scene. According to the Metropolitan Police Department, Brown’s death is the first homicide in D.C. for 2018.

Homicide Suspect Scheduled for September Trial

A man who was arrested for allegedly killing Terry Crutchfield is scheduled to go to trial later this year.

Clinton Womack was arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed after Crutchfield was found on the 1500 block of Olive St., NE. Officers arrived around 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 6, 2016, and found Crutchfield with apparent gunshot wounds.

Crutchfield was pronounced dead on the scene and taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Womack is scheduled to go to trial on Sept. 27. He is currently being held without bond and will appear back in court on March 23 for a status hearing.

New Years Eve traffic incident leads to death of 60-year-old

Roderick Scott was struck by a vehicle on Dec. 31.

At around 5:30 p.m., the driver of a Honda Civic hit Scott on the 1300 block of Rhode Island Ave., NE. The driver remained on the scene until Scott was taken to a local hospital for life-threatening injuries.

Scott, a resident of Northeast D.C., was pronounced dead a week later. His remains were taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to determine the actual cause of death.

Police are still investigating the incident, but charges have not been filed.

Derrick Hart arrested for allegedly shooting Maleak Coffin

A man has been arrested in connection with a shooting that led to Maleak Coffin’s death.

Derrick Hart, 22, was arrested on Jan. 2 for allegedly shooting Coffin and was charged with first-degree murder while armed.

Officers arrived on the 2900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., SE on Dec. 23, 2017 after reports of gunshots. Coffin was found inside of a car with apparent gunshot wounds and taken to a local hospital where he was treated for life-threatening injuries. Coffin died three days later.

Hart is due back in court on Feb. 9 for a preliminary hearing. He is currently being held without bond.

Boy fatally shot on Sunday

A juvenile male was fatally shot on Jan. 12.

On Jan. 14, officers responded to reports of a shooting on the 1700 block of Minnesota Ave., SE.

Steven Slaughter, 14, was found with apparent gunshot wounds. He was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead.

Police have not released any suspect information.

Man arrested in connection with fatal shooting

A man was arrested for allegedly shooting Ronzay Green, a resident of Northeast D.C.

Dennis Whitaker, 23, was arrested on Dec. 31 and charged with first-degree murder while armed.

Officers arrived on the 900 block of Eastern Ave., NE after reports of a shooting and found Green with apparent gunshot wounds. He was taken to the local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Whitaker is being held without bond and is due back in court on Jan. 26.

Juvenile killed after fatal shooting

A 17-year-old male was fatally shot on Jan. 12.

Just after 2 p.m., Davon Fisher and two other adult males were found by officers in a residence on the 400 block of Riggs Road, NE with apparent gunshot wounds.

Fisher, a resident of Northeast D.C., was taken to a local hospital for treatment and later pronounced dead. The two other victims were treated for non life-threatening injuries.

The Metropolitan Police Department is currently searching for a black gunman with a slim build who is about 5 feet 9 inches tall.

IPA scheduled for defendant in 2017 case

A man charged with allegedly killing Waliyatou Amadou is scheduled for an innocence protections act (IPA) inquiry. IPA seeks to minimize the occurrence of innocent people being put to death.

Deangelo Thorne was arrested in January 2017 and charged with second-degree murder while armed.

Judge Judith Bartnoff explained the government had tested evidence for DNA and had given that information to the defense. The defense is still determining whether they want to do independent testing.

Thorne is currently being held with no bond and is scheduled to appear back in court on March 9.

Case file for DNA testing to be provided in 2016 homicide

The man who was arrested in connection with the 2016 murder of his ex-girlfriend is still pending trial after DNA testing was conducted.

Donald Hairston was arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly killing Stephanie Goodloe.

Hairston originally agreed to DNA testing in October, and prosecutors said they will provide Hairston’s defense team with the case file for DNA testing within the next two weeks.

According to court documents, Goodloe filed a restraining order against Hairston days before her death. Hairston has also previously been charged with violent crimes such as assault with a deadly weapon and simple assault.

On June 18, 2016, police officers arrived on the 700 block of Kentucky Avenue, SE after receiving a call from the listed location. At 1:25 a.m. they found Goodloe with apparent gunshot wounds. After being pronounced dead, she was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Hairston is currently being held without bond and is due back in court on Feb. 23 for an Innocence Protection Act. Hairston is scheduled for trial in April.

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