Search Icon Search site

Search

Anniversary of September homicides from 2015-2017

In September 2015, there were 15 homicides. Of these cases, three suspects have been arrested in connection with these homicides. There were two vehicular homicides, two dismissed cases, and one conviction. Seven homicides have yet to have a suspect identified.

In 2016, there was an increase in the number of homicides, from 15 in 2015 to 20. Of these 20 homicides, 11 are still unsolved with no suspects identified. Four cases have identified suspects and are in the trial process. There were four vehicular homicides, one of which is a police involved shooting.

In 2017, there have been ten homicides, a significant decrease compared to the prior two years. Four of the cases have charged suspects, while six have yet to arrest any suspects.

Of these cases, ranging from 2015 to 2017, three of them have been resolved. The 2015 homicide of Uyer Hooper, 55, went to jury trial this past year, where the case and alleged murderer Dejuan Renardo Etheredge, 27, was dismissed without prejudice.

Deontray Ingram, 22, died in 2015. The suspect Nathaniel Beasley, 24, was charged with second-degree murder while armed. The case went to trial and the charges were dismissed on May 17.

The only case that has ended with a conviction is the murder of Delany Christopher Epps, 29. The convicted murderer Raphael Antonio Roy, 29, who was convicted on Feb 12 2016 to 20 years in prison plus 5 years of supervised release.

Police investigating fatal shooting

The man found fatally shot Sunday night has been identified by police as Andre Ricardo Harris.

Harris was found fatally shot in the 1900 block of Savanah Terrace, SE.

At the scene. a second victim was located nearby and treated for non-life threatening injuries. Police have not yet released any suspect information.

Woman found fatally shot on U Street

Police are investigating after Shawntese Murphy, 20, was found fatally shot.

Police arrived at the scene at approximately 10:53 p.m. on Oct. 20 and found Murphy, of Suitland, MD, in the 1600 block of U Street, SE., dead upon arrival. A second victim, an adult male, was located and received treatment for non-life threatening injuries.

No suspects have been identified.

Jasper Spires accepts plea offer; sentencing scheduled for early 2018

A man who randomly stabbed another man aboard a red-line metro train on July 4 pleaded guilty to murder, and could face at least 30 years in prison if his plea is accepted.

Jasper Spires pleaded guilty to first-degree murder while armed as part of a plea deal. Spires killed 24-year-old Kevin Sutherland on July 4, 2015.

If Judge Judith Bartnoff accepts the terms of the plea deal, Spires faces a minimum sentence of 30 years, and a maximum sentence of life without parole.

Spires has been held at St. Elizabeth’s hospital as the case against him continued. According to police, Spires killed Sutherland a day after he was released from jail for an unrelated incident. Spires was accused of threatening and trying to rob a man on Wisconsin Avenue NW in Friendship Heights, according to an article by The Washington Post. Shortly after Spires was released, he boarded the metro-train where he killed Sutherland.

 

As part of the deal, other charges against Spires from the July 2 and July 4 incident will be dropped, including attempt to commit robbery while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, robbery while armed of a senior citizen, robbery while armed and carrying a dangerous weapon.

While he was held, Spires was ordered to undergo mental evaluations, where he was found competent twice. 

Judge Bartnoff will make her ruling and sentencing on Jan. 12, 2018. Spires will be held at St. Elizabeth’s hospital until then.

Suspect charged with Omar Earl Rogers’ murder

Police announced the arrest of a suspect for the murder of Omar Earl Rogers, 25, who was found fatally shot.

Michael Leonard Jones, 21, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed.

Police arrived dat the scene at approximately 3:50 a.m. on Oct. 8 and found Rogers, of Southeast, in a vehicle in the 1300 block of Good Hope Rd., SE. He was transported to an area hospital and pronounced dead once lifesaving efforts failed.

A hearing has been set for Oct. 31 at 9:30 a.m.

Thomasine Bennett cries while apologizing to Walter Clark’s family at sentencing

Thomasine Bennett was sentenced to 10 years for beating Walter Clark to death with a bat earlier this year.

During her sentencing on Friday, Bennett turned to Clark’s family and close friends in tears and said, “I’m very sorry that this happened, Walter meant a lot to me”.

Three days after Valentine’s day, 63-year-old Clark was found by police in a closet. According to police, Clark was found alive and unconscious when he was taken to the nearest hospital where he died an hour later.

Bennett was originally charged with first-degree-murder, but she accepted a plea deal earlier this year for voluntary manslaughter. According to the deal, Bennett would be sentenced between 10-14 years. Both her defense and the prosecution argued that she be given 10 years because of her age and her acceptance of responsibility early on in the case. Though prosecution argued that she be given the minimum sentence in the deal, the two prosecutors emphasized the harsh nature of her crime.

After taking a brief recess, Judge Jose Lopez returned to the courtroom and mentioned the “brutality” of her crime. However, he said that “Ms. Bennett has taken responsibility with convincing remorse.”

Judge Lopez sentenced Bennett to 10 years with 5 years of supervised release.

Case remains ready for trial after Antwon Green status hearing

Antwon Green’s November trial date remains unchanged after a status hearing on Oct. 16.

Green is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting and killing Breond Keys on Oct. 10, 2014.

Keys was found with multiple gunshot wounds October 10,2014 in the 1400 block of Good Hope Road, SE. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Scheduling around the Thanksgiving Holiday was discussed, and Judge Judith Bartnoff decided not to ask jurors to sit for a half day before the holiday.

Green’s trial is scheduled for Nov. 13 at 9:30 a.m.

Woman charged with killing boyfriend released from halfway house

Sean Maichael Baker, 35, charged with the fatal stabbing of her boyfriend, has been released as she awaits trial.

The judge decided that a halfway house was no longer necessary, and Baker was released. Baker will continue to undergo weekly blood tests and have to report to pre-trial services.

Baker is charged with allegedly stabbing her boyfriend, Robert Wiggins, 35, during an argument in their apartment in 2016. The charges were changed from assault with intent to kill to second-degree murder while armed after Wiggins died from his injuries on Jan. 31, 2016. Baker’s defense has suggested she Baker acted out of self-defense.

Baker’s attorney requested that Baker be released from the halfway house on work release with placement in supervision. When the government suggested that instead Baker remain in the halfway house, to continue her positive developments, the judge made it clear that, “two months in a halfway house feels like a pretty long time,” to which Baker agreed.

Baker’s character was also positively attested to by a counselor, who said that she always, “sends pictures or calls. [She] is very consistent with contact and very responsible.”

Baker has been released from jail and has been staying at a halfway house. She has been commended for her good behavior while residing in the house, as well as for attending a psychiatrist for LGBTQ related issues.

The next court date is set for Feb. 1, 2018 at 9:30 a.m.

Mark Beasley sentenced for nightclub murder of Darryn Conte

The family and friends of 39-year-old Darryn Conte sat in court on Friday, as Mark Beasley was sentenced to 40 years for murdering Conte after an argument at a nightclub.

On April 26, 2015, police responded to reports of gunshots when they found Darryn Conte and his brother, Dennis Conte, with apparent bullet wounds. Though his brother was transported and treated for his wounds, Darryn Conte had died by the time the police arrived.

In July of this year, Mark Beasley was found guilty at his trial for shooting Conte after they got into an argument at Takoma Station Club. According to the prosecutor’s narrative, Beasley argued with Conte at the nightclub after Conte almost hit Beasley’s friend with his elbow while doing a dance. When Conte had left the club and was waiting with his brother in the car, Beasley approached from the passenger side and shot Conte nine times and his brother one time. Several witnesses heard the gunshots, and when one of Beasley’s friends asked him why he had a gun, he responded with “this is what I do.”

After having the court listen to the statements of the victim’s family, the prosecutor asked for “no leniency” in Judge Jose Lopez’s sentencing decision. Beasley already had an extensive criminal history before this case, including two armed-robbery charges and a rape charge. Because of this, the prosecutor asked for at least 30 years in order to have consolidation for his crimes and in order for him to take responsibility for his actions.

The defense attorney asked that Beasley be sentenced a maximum of 30 years, due to his age. Beasley’s attorney also mentioned that though Beasley did not directly say it to anyone involved, he “sends his condolences.”

After a brief recess, Judge Lopez agreed that Beasley’s age would be taken into consideration. However, Judge Lopez deemed Beasley as a “dangerous person” due to his criminal history. Since Beasley continued to conduct criminal behavior after his other charges, Judge Lopez said that his penalty should present “a measure of justice.”

Beasley was sentenced to 40 years with 5 years of probation.

Jerrell Powell’s defense opposes statement of competency

In court on Friday, Jerrell Powell’s counsel rejected a Mental Competency Restoration Report that said he was competent to stand trial.

Powell was arrested in August of 2016 for the alleged murder of Antoine Danell McCullough in July.

Jeremiah Jordan was also arrested and charged for McCollough’s death and is scheduled for trial next year.

Both Powell and Jordan are being held without bail and are being charged for murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm. The two have pleaded not guilty.

Though their trial has already been set for July of next year, Powell has been undergoing mental observation and is staying at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. The prosecutor presented the report that he is competent to stand trial in court, and defense counsel requested that an independent expert be hired to do another examination. Judge Zoe Bush granted this request, and Powell will continue to stay at St. Elizabeth’s while both parties prepare for the agreed hearing.

Powell is set for another mental observation hearing on March 23, 2018, and his trial along with Jeremiah Jordan’s is set for July 31, 2018.

Andre Joyner rejects another plea deal and new trial date is set

Amid new evidence, a new case has been scheduled for the murder charges against Andre Joyner.

In court on Friday, Joyner’s defense requested that the charges and trial against him for Jamie Washington’s alleged murder be pushed back due to the appearance of new evidence. Judge Judith Bartnoff granted this request and the trial date has been pushed to June 4 of next year.

Also on Friday, the government mentioned that they offered Joyner a new plea deal. Joyner is currently being charged with second-degree murder.

As part of the plea deal, Joyner would have to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed in exchange for dropping the other charges and a shorter sentence. Joyner rejected this offer before the hearing and also clarified his rejection in court.

Joyner is set for a trial readiness hearing in May of 2018, and his trial is set for June 4, 2018.

Donald Hairston agrees to DNA testing

The man charged with the murder of his ex-girlfriend agreed to DNA testing as the case against him moves forward.

Hairston has been charged with allegedly murdering his ex-girlfriend, Stephanie Goodloe. Goodloe was found shot to death in her home in June of 2016. Days before she was found, Goodloe had filed a restraining order against Hairston. In her restraining order request, she requested Hairston stayed away from her 11-year-old daughter’s school.

In court on Friday, the government requested DNA testing and Hairston agreed to it. However, during the testing defense will have an investigator present. Hairston pleaded not guilty in July of this year, and is being held without bail.

He is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 15 and is set for trial in April of 2018.

Deangelo Thorne pleads not guilty to killing ex

Deangelo Thorne pleaded not guilty during his felony status conference on Oct. 18.

Thorne allegedly stabbed and killed 23-year-old Waliyatou Amadou on Jan. 8, with footage and a GPS tracker placing Thorne at the scene of Amadou’s stabbing.

Amadou was taken to a hospital where she died from her injuries.

Thorne’s charges were changed from second-degree murder while armed to first-degree murder while armed during a felony arraignment on Oct. 11.

The defense still has to decide whether they want to independently test DNA that the prosecution tests.

A status hearing is scheduled for Dec. 1.