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Probable cause found at preliminary hearing of Saeed Woodall


Details of the murder of Deonta Farrar were discussed in cour this week.

Saeed Woodall allegedly fatally shot 32-year-old Deonta Farrar on Aug. 9, 2016, in the 4500 block of Quarles Street, NE. Farrar was found by police suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

In court on Thursday, the prosecutor called the lead MPD homicide detective in Farrar’s case to testify about the homicide. He was questioned about the arrest warrant he had initially written for Woodall, along with changes in the testimony of some witnesses.

A witness referred to as witness three, changed her testimony from what was initially indicated in the arrest warrant. Another witness, referred to as witness six, allegedly ran into witness three and noticed that witness three had been assaulted.

The detective also answered questions about the crime scene, starting with describing the surveillance cameras in the area. He was shown, as evidence, multiple images from different cameras that showed a car that was allegedly driven by Woodall during the time of the murder.

Woodall’s attorney objected to the prosecutor referring to the surveillance footage from the cameras, because the videos had not yet been released to the defense. The judge dismissed the objection and allowed the prosecutor to refer to the footage in questioning the detective.

The detective also mentioned how he interviewed Woodall when he voluntarily came to his office, but it only lasted for a short time because Woodall requested an attorney.

The detective said six forty-caliber cases recovered, along with metal fragments. One of these fragments that was recovered, was found pancaked, which means that it hit an object while coming straight down.

In the cross-examination of the detective, the defense asked questions about the surveillance footage. He asked the detective if he had shown any witnesses the videos, in which the detective replied that he had not. The detective also answered questions about witness three, who he had conducted an interview with. He said that, on the day after the murder, witness three did not appear to have a knot on her head indicated she had not been assaulted.

The next set of questions were all about the alleged car used during the crime. The detective mentioned that nobody at the apartment complex, in which Woodall lived, was aware of him having a white car. The white car that is seen in the surveillance footage, was registered to the estranged girlfriend of Woodall.

When the estranged girlfriend interviewed with the detective, she had been upset because she wanted some of her stuff back from her car, which had been taken by the detective. The defense claimed that this impacted her story to the detective.

Woodall’s attorney mentioned how he was a poster child for Mayor Benson’s youth program.

 

Woodall’s attorney remarked that witness three had changed her story to include her being struck by a closed fist four times. He also said that the phone records, collected by the detective, didn’t place Woodall at the scene of the murder.

There was also an alleged exchange between Woodall and another man, in which an unknown item that could’ve been a gun, was transferred from the man outside the car to Woodall.

The defense concluded questioning by asking the detective why footage of the detective hadn’t collected video of this alleged exchange in Chinatown, which has many cameras. The detective said that he had not considered it necessary during his investigation. He also asked why no efforts were made to identify a person who was seen running from the scene.

Judge Hiram Puig-Lugo ruled that their was probable cause to find that Woodall had committed the crime.

After hearing the ruling, the defense asked for supervised release but this request was denied. He also asked for his client be transferred to the Correctional Treatment Facility, a lower security prison, due to Woodall having bad asthma. This request was denied and the judge said he could sign a medical alert.

Lastly, the defense again made a request for the surveillance footage, but the judge said that this could be taken care of later.

They are set to reappear on Nov. 3 for a status hearing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Judge rules probable cause to hold 16-year-old for murder


Lamont McDonald, 16, was brought into court in a wheelchair, for his first hearing regarding the murder of Malachi Yisrael.

McDonald allegedly shot Yisrael, 43, in the 300 block of 50th street, Northeast on July 5 when a drug deal went wrong.

The government called a homicide detective who discussed evidence collected and an eyewitness’s testimony. The line of questioning from the government focused on the events that lead up to the homicide, focusing on the actions of McDonald. The defense’s questions dealt with the actions the decedent took before he was murdered.

In the closing remarks made by the government, they claimed that there was enough probable cause to continue the investigation. The fact that McDonald continued to shoot after Yisrael when he fell on the ground points to the fact that he intended to do it, the prosecution argued.

The defense made the claim that the McDonald was acting in self-defense when he shot Yisrael. She stated that Yisrael was a lot larger than him and was using force by hitting him.

Judge Jose Lopez, in agreeing with the government, ruled that there is probable cause to continue investigating, but allowed McDonald to be released to the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services until his next court appearance.

McDonald is set to appear on Sept. 15 for a felony status conference.

Two adult males fatally shot


Police are investigating the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Juan Carlos Osorio-Herrera and 23-year-old David Santiago Amaya-Medrano.

Osorio-Herrera and Amaya-Medrano were discovered by police around 1:59 a.m., on Sunday July 30, in the 4800 block of Kansas Ave, NW. They were found suffering from gunshot wounds. DC fire and EMS transported Amaya-Medrano to the hospital were he later succumb to his injuries and died.

Osorio-Herrera was pronounced dead on the scene.

Police released a video, on Monday, which shows a person of interest.

Demond Marcel Rush fatally stabbed

Police are investigating the fatal stabbing of 32-year-old Demond Marcel Rush.

Rush was discovered by police around 1:15 a.m., on July 29, in the 3600 block of 22nd Street, SE. He was found suffering from multiple stab wounds. DC fire and EMS responded to the victim and then transported him to the hospital for treatment of the life threatening injuries.

On Sunday July 30, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

Police are still looking for suspects.

Leonte Cox family requests his items from Kimberly Shaw’s house


The status of property allegedly belonging to a murder victim was the focus of a majority of a status hearing this week.

Kimberly Shaw allegedly fatally stabbed Leonte Cox in the 1600 block of R Street, SE, on June 26.

In court, Shaw’s attorney said that they were in the process of turning over some of Cox’s items to the government to give his family. Shaw told her attorney that she is willing to turn over all of his personal effects, including clothes, a high school diploma, a wallet and other things.

There are some items that are still in dispute, including a tv and Xbox among other electronic devices. The government said that Cox’s family claimed that the electronics belonged to him. Judge Zoe Bush said this is hard to prove. The government responded adn said they will work on proving that the electronics belonged to Cox.

Shaw claimed that she paid for the electronics and they belong to her.

There was also a dispute about Cox’s phone, that the government claimed he didn’t have when he died. He claimed that Cox’s belongings were left at Shaw’s house, not at the scene of the murder.

Judge Bush said that they can work on these disputes on their own, because she didn’t want there to be an ongoing issue when Shaw is out in the community.

Shaw is set to appear for a felony status conference on Oct. 27.

Saeve Evans still awaiting indictment


Saeve Evans appeared in court for a felony status conference.

Evans allegedly fatally shot Breyona McMillian, 16, in the 1200 Block I Street, SE on Nov. 25, 2016.

Judge Hiram Puig-Lugo asked the prosecutor if she was ready to indict Evans, but she said that they won’t be ready to indict until next month. Prosecutors have nine months from when charges are filed to indict suspects.

Evans’ attorney complained that the eight-month wait has been too long and that they shouldn’t have to wait any longer.

The prosecutor said that they would indict if they could but they aren’t ready.

They are set to reappear in court on Aug. 29 for the indictment.

 

Jermaine Richards Jr. fatally shot


Police are investigating the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Jermaine Richards Jr.

Richards was discovered by police around 2:55 p.m., on July 30, in the 4400 block of Quarles Street, NE. He was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC fire and EMS found no signs consistent with life and he was pronounced dead.

Police have not yet released any suspect information.

Judge denies request for preliminary hearing before trial


The alleged suspects in the murder of 50-year-old Lenard Wills appeared in court for a status hearing.

Joseph Barbour, Willie Glover and Charles McRae allegedly stabbed Wills on Dec. 21, 2015 on the 700 block of 24th Street, NE.

In court, Judge Hiram Puig-Lugo asked McRae and Barbour if they wanted evidence, collected from the government, to be tested by independent DNA experts. Both defendants said they did not want the DNA evidence to be independently tested.

The judge allowed the government to reject subpoenas the defense had issued, stating that the defense hadn’t shown a need for the subpoenas.

A debate also occurred over having a pretrial hearing to discuss evidence and a conspiracy charge. The defense wanted to hold a pretrial hearing in order to discuss the conspiracy charge but the judge said they would continue with the motions hearing.

The hearing is set to take place on Aug. 14.

Government requests Jose Rodriguez undergo fingerprinting


The defense for Jose Rodriguez-Cruz and the government discussed DNA evidence in a status hearing while Rodriguez-Cruz awaits a trial.

Rodriguez allegedly killed 47-year-old Pamela Butler and was charged with first-degree murder on April 10. According to detectives he has had a history of alleged violence.

The government said some DNA testing had been conducted but the results indicated that no DNA was discovered. They also stated that they would give the defense any additional results if they decide to do more DNA testing. In order to do more testing the government requested that Rodriguez have be fingerprinted.

They are set to appear in court on Sept. 29 for a status hearing.

Suspect charged with wife’s murder dies


The man charged with the murder of his wife has died.

Manuel Antonio Ramos, 70, allegedly fatally stabbed his common-law wife Santos Lydia Ventura on June 7, 2015 on the 1400 block of T Street, NW.

Ramos died on May 15, 2016, at Washington Adventist Hospital, according to the motion filed by the government.

The 70-year-old suffered from a stroke after the alleged murder and had been at St. Elizabeth Hospital since then.

Daniel Parker Fatally Shot

Editors Note: The defendant in this case has since been acquitted on all counts. 

Police are investigating the fatal shooting of 38-year-old Daniel Shelton Parker.

Parker was discovered by police around 11:19 p.m., on July 26, in the 2000 block of Fairlawn Ave. He was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC fire and EMS found no signs consistent with life and he was pronounced dead.

The police are still looking for suspects.

Victor Williams fatally shot


Police are investigating the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Victor Williams.

Williams was discovered by police around 8:30 a.m., on July 26, on the Anacostia River Trail, south of the 3300 block of East Capitol Street, SE. He was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Williams displayed no signs consistent with with life and was pronounced dead.

Police have yet to release any suspect information.