Thurgood Marshall Academy student killed after fatally wounding attacker

A student from Thurgood Marshall Academy was shot and killed Wednesday night, while trying to fend off an attacker, who was also killed.

Officers discovered Zaire Kelly, 16, unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the head in the 2200 13 St. NE at around 8:40 p.m. Further down the alley, Sequan Gillis was found lying on the ground with a severe laceration to the abdomen. Kelly died on the scene, while Gillis was transported to the local hospital and later pronounced dead.

Kelly was walking home from a convenience store near the intersection of 13th and Downing Street when he was approached by the gunman, according to an article by FOX 5 DC. Preliminary information at the scene suggests Gillis was attempting to rob Kelly and in self-defense Kelly produced a knife and stabbed Gillis multiple times before being shot.

MPD believes Kelly was a robbery victim and not the aggressor, as stated in an email from Dustin Sternbeck, the Director of the Office of Communications at MPD.

Police are still investigating the incident.

Suspect charged with David Norwood murder awaits status hearing

The case against a suspect charged with the murder of David Norwood moved forward.

Malcolm Cunningham, 21, allegedly fatally stabbed Norwood, 79, in the 600 block of C St. NE. in April.

Cunningham allegedly used a knife to threaten to kill Norwood weeks prior to the fatal stabbing, according to charging documents.

Whether Cunningham was competent to stand trial was discussed. A hearing was scheduled to determine if his previous confession could be used in court.

The competency of the suspect has been repeatedly called into question, and a jackson hearing has been requested, which is used to determine whether the defendant’s confession was voluntary or involuntary.

A status hearing will be held on Oct. 20 at 9:30 a.m.

Brandon Byrd mental observation hearing continues

The man charged with killing his father is continuing to undergo mental evaluations and a stay at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital.

Brandon Byrd, 20, allegedly stabbed his father Otis Byrd, 44, on Aug. 10, 2016.

Expert witnesses testified about Byrd’s competency, and treatments for schizophrenia. The defendant has been at St. Elizabeths hospital engaged in individual treatment programs. While there he has expressed aggression, and has refused medication.

“With Mr. Byrd, the illness isn’t stabilized,” said one expert witness. “Medication is the first line of defense for people with schizophrenia […] people with symptoms similar to Mr. Byrd respond well to medication.”

Byrd faces second-degree murder charges, and has been ruled incompetent to stand trial by Judge Lopez.

Man arrested in the shooting of Antwaun Smith

Detectives are investigating a fatal shooting that took place Sept. 10 in the 600 block of Newton Place, NW.

Antwaun Smith, 41, was discovered suffering from a gunshot wound around 9:28 p.m., according to the Metropolitan Police Department. When DC Fire and EMS responded to the scene, Smith had no signs of life and was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Antonio Williams, 36, of NW DC on Sept. 18. He has been charged with second-degree murder while armed.

Driver in traffic fatality pleads guilty to manslaughter

Lawrence Dukes waived his right to a trial and pleaded guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter for the death of Tyre Donnell Bailey.

On Oct. 12, 2016, Dukes was traveling on Suitland Parkway, failed to stop at the red traffic signal and struck a Metrobus, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. The driver and three passengers on the Metrobus received minor injuries and were transported to a local hospital. The passenger in Dukes’ vehicle was pronounced dead on the scene.

During Dukes’ hearing, the prosecutor said the weather conditions were dark, cool and clear with no rain. Footage from the Metrobus cameras and traffic cameras on the intersection of Suitland Parkway and Stanton Road, SE, showed Dukes driving erratically and above the speed limit of 30 MPH. The bus had the right of way when Dukes ran the red light, which had been red for 20 seconds before he drove through the intersection.

Dukes’ red Buick Century struck the Metrobus and flames erupted from the collision. Officers and detectives made the decision to stay back from the vehicle until firefighters could extinguish the flame. Bailey was not extracted from the passenger seat and succumbed to his injuries.

Dukes will be released to a halfway house before his trial date so that he can attend medical appointments.

Dukes will be sentenced on Jan. 19, 2018 at 9:30.

Kenneth Adams set for trial early 2018

The case against Kenneth Adams, the 18-year-old who allegedly shot Dante Kinard, moved forward this week, and his trial is still on track for next year.

Last February, Adams was charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly fatally shooting Kinard. Court documents have shown that Adams had a few other charges, including robbery, that were dropped last year.

After the judge ruled there was probable cause to hold Adams, the defense requested testing of DNA materials. However, the judge denied the defense’s request because the items were only speculated to be related to the suspect.

Adams is now scheduled for a trial readiness hearing on Dec. 18. His trial is scheduled for January 2018.

Police investigating the fatal shooting of Danielle Williams

A 29-year-old woman was killed in a shooting where two others were wounded.

At around 9:15 p.m. last Wednesday, police found Danielle Williams and two adult males suffering from gunshot wounds. All three shooting victims were taken to the hospital. Williams died from her injuries the following day.

Police have not yet released any suspect information.

Teenager fatally shot Sunday

DC police are investigating the fatal shooting of a teenager Sunday night.

According to police, MyAngelo Starnes, 16, was found at around 8:15 p.m. suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries.

Police have not yet released any suspect information.

Trial against Leon Stewart scheduled for February

The man charged with the murder of Darnell Lee Richardson is scheduled for trial next February.

Leon Stewart allegedly shot and killed Richardson while inside a car last March.

Investigators later found four cell phones inside the vehicle, presumably holding important information for the case, according to defense attorney Gabriel Diaz. However, Diaz said the two password-protected cell phones were broken during the investigation and the stored information was lost. The remaining two cell phones have not been touched.

There was also conversation in court about whether the suspect is tied to another homicide. While Stewart was in jail in Sept. 2016, there was a phone call that connected Stewart to the death of a witness in his existing murder case.

Stewart is due in court on Dec. 15 for his next status hearing, and will be held without bond until his Feb. 26 trial.

Man charged with murder may avoid trial if deal is reached

The man charged with the murder Demond Marcel Rush may avoid a trial if he accepts a plea deal.

Keith Archie, 36, appeared in court Thursday for a hearing, where another hearing date was set for Sept. 28 at 10 a.m.

Archie, charged with second-degree murder while armed, was found covered in blood after having an argument with Rush. Archie’s attorney said there is nothing to indicate Archie’s connection to the offense, and there were no witnesses.

A plea deal has been extended to Archie over the charges, but the details were not discussed in court Thursday.

14-year-old juvenile arrested for murder of Balmore Mauricio Fuentes

An arrest has been made in the fatal shooting of Balmore Mauricio Fuentes.

Fuentes, 34, of Dundalk, MD was found killed in August. Police on Wednesday announced they had arrested a juvenile, and charged him with first-degree murder while armed.

The murder took place in the 1100 block of Oates Street, NE, on Wednesday, Aug. 23. Fuentes was found suffering from a gunshot wound by police. DC Fire and EMS responded to the report and transported Fuentes to a local hospital for treatment, where he later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

Suspect information for juveniles is sealed.

Police investigating fatal shooting of Antwaun Smith

Police are investigating the fatal shooting of Antwaun Smith.

Smith, 41, was found suffering from an apparent gunshot wound in the 600 block of Newtown Place, NW on Sept. 10.

Emergency personnel declared Smith dead at the scene. Police have not yet released any suspect information

31-year-old fatally stabbed Monday

The DC police are investigating the fatal stabbing of 31-year-old David Thomas Neal on Monday.

Neal was found suffering from apparent stab wounds a little before 9:30 p.m. in the 3900 block of Martin Luther King. Jr. Ave., SW. Neal was transported to a local hospital where he died.

Police have not yet released any suspect information.

Charges against mom accused of killing infant dismissed

Charges against the woman extradited to DC after the death of her child was ruled a homicide were dropped this month.

Deana Debrow-Conley, was charged with first-degree murder, but had not been indicted. A grand jury investigation into the allegations was pending while she was released to a halfway house.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, “The investigation is continuing and no one else has been charged.”

According to police, Conley’s infant son was admitted to the hospital on July 19 of last year, after he was found unconscious and unresponsive. The baby died from his injuries on July 23, and his cause of death was ruled blunt neck trauma in December. Debrow-Conley was arrested in Philadelphia and arraigned on the murder charge in D.C. Superior Court.

Man taken into custody for second-degree murder of Javier Amaya-Olivares

The man wanted for the murder of Kennedy Javier Amaya-Olivares was taken into custody in West Virginia, according to a report from WAJR.

Demarius Anton Jackson had been wanted in DC for Amaya-Olivares’ death for the last month. Amaya-Olivares was found killed July 8, in the 3500 block of Water ST., NW.

Police have a warrant for Jackson’s arrest, charging him with second-degree murder while armed. According to the article, Jackson will be extradited to DC.

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