Victor Hernandez, 17, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed on Nov. 30, 2017, for the fatal shooting of 16-year-old Yoselis Regino Barrios.
Documents: Kevin Sorto arrest warrant
Kevin Sorto, 20, was arrested on Nov. 22, 2017, and charged with first-degree murder while armed for the fatal shooting of 16-year-old Yoselis Regino Barrios.
Prosecution to test DNA in 2016 homicide
The prosecution team in a 2016 murder trial revealed Feb. 1 that it would be conducting DNA testing.
Antoine Byrd and Devonta Johnson are accused of fatally stabbing 29-year-old Robinson Pal, 29, at a nightclub on the 1100 block of 17th Street, NW.
In addition, the prosecution informed Byrd’s attorney, Brandi Harden, and Johnson’s attorney, Brian McDaniel, that three final discovery file transcripts would be turned over in the near future.
Byrd, 37, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed on Feb. 17, 2016. Johnson, 29, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed on March 2, 2016.
Byrd and Johnson are scheduled to have a status hearing on March 16.
Judge denies release of 2016 murder suspect
At a felony status conference Feb. 1, Judge Craig Iscoe denied a motion for a man accused of fatally shooting 28-year-old Jamar Morris to be released from jail.
Stephon Marquis Williams, 24, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed on Oct. 27, 2017, for the fatal shooting that occurred on M Street, NW on Feb. 9, 2016.
Williams’ attorney, Daniel Quillin, argued that Williams should be removed from prison and called for reduced confinement constrictions. In his motion, Quillin cited that over the passage of time Williams has become less of a danger to society.
Iscoe said the passage of time is not an adequate enough reason for Williams to be released. Williams will continue to be held without bail.
After the decision was reached, family members of Williams and Morris engaged in a verbal altercation in the courtroom and were escorted out by the court marshal.
A status hearing to see where both parties are in the case is set for March 15.
Defendant’s friend testifies in 1991 triple homicide trial
An acquaintence of the defendant in a 1991 triple homicide testified on Jan. 31 about what he had been told of the killing.
Samuel Edmonds said he and the defendant Benito Valdez met in 2001 through an acquaintance. He told the jury he sold drugs with the defendant. Edmonds said he recalled a conversation about unpaid drug money. Edmonds said Valdez told him about an incident in Langdon Park, located on the 1800 block of Franklin St., NE, where Valdez allegedly shot three people — two men and one woman — when drugs went missing.
“When no one fessed up, [Valdez] shot them,” Edmonds told the jury.
Valdez is charged with first-degree murder while armed for the alleged shooting deaths of Curtis Pixley, 29; Keith Simmons, 24; and Samantha Gillard, 23.
In addition, Edmonds said that Michael Green, the second suspect arrested in the case, stood by and didn’t fire any shots.
Edmonds is testifying as part of a plea deal, for an unrelated 2007 drug conviction, Edmonds said he agreed to work with the government on the triple homicide case.
The trial is expected to continue on Feb. 1.
2017 murder suspect remains held without bail
At a motion hearing Jan. 31, Judge Danya Dayson ruled that a man accused of a fatal stabbing in 2017 will continue to be held without bail.
Police charged 30-year-old Leonard Martino Smith is allegedly responsible for the murder of 26-year-old Leonte Butler on March 11, 2017. The crime occurred on the 4000 block of South Capitol Street, SE.
Smith has been charged with second-degree murder while armed.
Assistant United States Attorney Charles Willoughby stated that the government plans on introducing DNA evidence during the jury trial, which is scheduled for Dec. 10. Smith’s attorney, Dinah Manning, requested the government let the defense know what physical evidence is to be tested.
Smith’s defense team has until Feb. 9 to let the government know if they plan on having an expert serve as a witness during the trial.
A status hearing is scheduled for March 27.
Counsel debates terms in homicide case
The prosecution and defense teams debated Jan. 31 using a theory that alleged shooter Derryck Decuir had the “intent” to rob 16-year-old Malek Mercer in 2015.
Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Nestler argued to use the theory of “intent,” but Decuir’s attorneys, Dana Page and Lee Goebes, argued the theory would confuse the jury about the difference between “intent” and “attempt” to rob.
Judge Craig Iscoe ruled the theory was “not constitutionally permissible” since Decuir, 24, was already acquitted on the count of attempted robbery. Iscoe also ruled that the prosecution could not bring up intention to rob during examination should Decuir testify.
The prosecution plans to file another motion to review a prior ruling, issued by Judge Hiram Puig-Lugo, that threw out a video that allegedly supports a theory that Decuir is homophobic. Nestler said he believes Decuir’s comments about homosexuals are relevant as a motive in the shooting.
Decuir is scheduled to appear in court for a motion hearing on Feb. 26, where Iscoe is expected to make a decision about the video.
Decuir is currently being held without bail for the alleged fatal shooting of Mercer on the 2800 block of 28th Street, SE. He is being retried for the homicide following a mistrial in 2017.
Defense team to review discovery files for fatal 2017 shooting
The defense team for one of the men charged in an alleged fatal shooting of a 37-year-old has received access to encrypted evidence.
Access was gained after Pamala McLean, the defense attorney for Nyekemia Everett, filed a motion Jan. 29 to compel discovery items obtained by the government in the murder case of Christopher Heard, who died from apparent gunshot wounds on the 2300 block of Ainger Place, SE on April 27, 2017.
McLean filed the motion because she was unable to view the government’s files because they were on disks that the defense team couldn’t open.
Judge Danya Dayson denied the motion and dismissed both attorneys to briefly discuss how to share the items in question.
When the court session resumed, Barker offered to share the files on a jump drive or hard drive and additionally invited McLean to his office for viewing.
Barker revealed that the government had collected approximately 50 disks of recorded interviews, social media posts, and surveillance videos pertaining to the alleged murder of Heard.
Everett, 31, was charged with first-degree murder while armed on May 13, 2017. Malik Hewitt, 37, was also arrested and charged with first-degree murder a week later.
A status hearing for Heard has been scheduled for March 8.
Police Investigating homicide of 1-year-old
The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a 2017 homicide involving a one-year-old child. The D.C. Office of the Medical Examiner ruled the child’s death a homicide on Jan. 29.
According to police, Rhythm Fields, was found unconscious and unresponsive on the 5400 block of C Street, SE, on March 21, 2017.
The medical examiner ruled the girl’s death resulted from multiple blunt force trauma injuries.
Police are currently offering a reward up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction for this homicide or any other homicide in D.C.
Judge finds probable cause against defendants in fatal 2017 shooting
Even though, the defense team for suspects of a 2017 murder case argued that testimony from several witnesses has been unreliable and inconsistent, a Superior Court Judge found probable cause.
Both Kevin Sorto, 20, and Victor Hernandez, 17, have been charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting death of 16-year-old Yoselis Regino Barrios. Barrios was pronounced dead at a local hospital after the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) found him and an adult male suffering from gunshot wounds on the 1300 block of Rittenhouse Street, NW.
Hernandez’s attorney, Brandi Harden, called an MPD homicide detective to the witness stand to testify about six witnesses that he interviewed following the alleged murder.
Through her line of questioning, Harden insinuated that two of the witnesses had the chance to talk to each other before speaking to the detective, potentially leading to a fabricated account.
According to the detective, a witness saw Sorto on an Instagram live video in the back seat of a moving car allegedly bragging about something he had just done.
The homicide scene involved two cars, a red four door sedan and a silver car. The detective noted that a witness in a silver vehicle intended to purchase marijuana and testified that he heard gunshots but couldn’t see exactly where they were coming from – only that the first shot was fired from a red car with four doors.
Upon further questioning of the detective, Harden revealed that one of the witnesses changed his story over the course of three interviews about which car the shooting came from.
Although the witness originally claimed that shots might have come from the sliver car, the witness later revealed that it was only an assumption and that the first shot most definitely came from the back seat of a red car. The red car was confirmed to be stolen and was later dropped off at an undisclosed location after the homicide, according to witness testimony and admission from Hernandez.
Assistant United States Attorney Tom Saunders argued the witnesses’ testimonies and text messages were consistent with the Instagram live video and a surveillance video from a nearby building.
He said witnesses confirmed that Hernandez was driving the red vehicle and Sorto had fired gunshots from the back seat, arguing the accounts from the witnesses and the stolen car were enough to find probable cause for both defendants in the crime.
Judge Ronna Beck ruled the testimonies were reliable and that probable cause was present for both defendants. Additionally, she found substantial probability that Sorto had fired the gun from the back seat of the red car.
Beck ordered Hernandez and Sorto continue to be held without bail to “ensure the safety of the community.”
A status hearing is scheduled for May 18, 2018.
1991 triple homicide trial continues
An eyewitness, a firearms expert and the chief medical examiner were called Jan. 30 to testify in a 1991 triple homicide murder trial that began more than a week ago.
Benito Valdez is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly fatally shooting Curtis Pixley, Keith Simmons and Samantha Gillard. Officers found the three bodies with apparent gunshot wounds in Langdon Park, located in Northeast D.C., on April 23, 1991. Valdez was charged on February 16, 2016, and has been held without bail ever since.
Michael A. Green, the only eyewitness to the homicides, who is currently being held for second-degree murder in another homicide from 1999 and three counts of voluntary manslaughter for the homicides of Pixley, 29, Simmons, 24, and Gillard, 23, continued his testimony on Jan. 30. He told the jury that Valdez, who he teamed up with to sell drugs, was the only one who fired any shots. Green said Valdez used two separate guns in the shooting.
The prosecution called a firearms expert to the stand to corroborate Green’s statement. The expert told the jury that the bullets recovered from the crime scene were from two separate guns.
In addition, the prosecution called Chief Medical Examiner Roger Mitchell to testify about the photographs taken during the autopsies of the bodies. Mitchell showed the jury where the bullet wounds were found on the bodies of the decedents.
The trial is expected to continue on Jan. 31.
Police arrest alleged shooter in homicide of 16-year-old girl
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrested Jan. 29 Dekale Bowman in connection with the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old girl in Northeast D.C. The arrest was in pursuance of a felony arrest warrant by D.C. Superior Court.
Bowman, 18, was charged with second-degree murder, according to the police. The suspect is a resident of Northeast D.C.
On the 1000 block of Mount Olivet Road, NE, on Jan. 25, the MPD found Taiyania Thompson, a resident of Northeast D.C. suffering from a gunshot wound inside of a residence. Thompson died on Jan. 28 at a local hospital.
Eyewitness testifies in triple homicide trial
A Northeast D.C. resident and an eyewitness to a triple homicide that occurred in 1991 were called to the stand Jan. 29 to testify in a murder trial that began on Jan. 22.
Benito Valdez is currently standing trial for allegedly fatally shooting Curtis Pixley, Keith Simmons and Samantha Gillard on April 23, 1991, in Langdon Park. According to the Metropolitan Police Department, officers found the three bodies, lying facedown, with apparent gunshot wounds. Valdez was charged with first-degree murder on Feb. 16, 2016.
On the sixth day of trial, prosecutors called Ronnie Coppins, a resident of the neighborhood, to the witness stand. He was apparently the first person to discover the victims’ bodies. Coppins testified that he saw three bodies lying facedown in the grass.
Coppins’ testimony was corroborated by Michael A. Green, an eyewitness to the homicides, who the prosecution also called to testify. According to the prosecution, Green, 47, teamed up with Valdez to sell drugs on the morning of the homicides. He is the only eyewitness and is currently being held without bond for the alleged second-degree murder while armed of a separate homicide in 1999.
Green entered into a plea agreement with the government in 2016, pleading guilty to one count of second-degree murder for the homicide in 1999 and three counts of voluntary manslaughter for the homicides of Pixley,29; Simmons,24; and Gillard, 23.
Green told the jury about how he started selling drugs with a gang that controlled drug sales in Langdon Park. The gang he sold drugs with was able to control sales in the park due to Valdez’s aggressive reputation, the witness said.
Green told the jury he and Valdez were selling drugs in the early hours of April 23, 1991, in Langdon Park. Green said he and Pixley were neighbors on South Dakota Avenue in the Northeast quadrant of the city, which is about a five minute drive from the park.
According to Green’s testimony, Pixley and Simmons went to the park looking to buy drugs from him and Valdez. Pixley asked Valdez to buy three rocks of crack cocaine for $50, Green said. However, after Pixley handed the crack cocaine back to Valdez, some drugs were missing. Green said that neither Pixley or Simmons had the money to pay for the drugs, so Valdez pulled out a gun.
Later, according to Green’s testimony, Gillard sought out Pixley and Simmons and was forced to perform oral sex on Valdez as payment for the lost drugs. Green said Valdez ordered the three to lay down on their stomachs before he shot them with two different types of guns.
According to Green, he and Valdez then drove to Valdez’s mothers house to clean and disassemble the guns. Valdez’s mother drove the two to the Francis Scott Key Bridge where Valdez then threw both guns over the edge.
Green said Valdez paid someone named “Tricky Rick” with drugs to tell officers they were elsewhere during the homicide.
The trial is expected to continue on Jan. 30.
16-year-old girl killed in Northeast D.C.
Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on the 1000 block of Mount Olivet Road, NE, on Jan. 25.
At around 3:10 p.m., police responded to a shooting, where they found 16-year-old Taiyania Thompson, a resident of Northeast D.C. suffering from a gunshot wound inside of a residence. She was transported to a local hospital where she succumbed from her injuries three days later on Jan. 28.
The MPD has not identified any suspects, but a vehicle of interest has been identified in the case. The vehicle is described as a 2017 white Kia Sorento SUV.
The vehicle has a Maryland tag of 1DD2833 and may have front end damage.
Police are offering a $25,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction of this homicide or any other homicide in D.C.
Man fatally shot in Southeast D.C.
Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on the 800 block of Chesapeake Street, SE on Jan. 28.
At approximately 10:08 p.m., police responded to the location for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers discovered 26-year-old Todd Green, a resident of Southeast D.C., suffering from gunshot wounds.
Green was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The MPD has not named any suspects at this time.
Police are offering up to a $25,000 reward for any information that leads to an arrest and a conviction on this or any other homicide in D.C.