Marcus Stephens was fatally shot July 20, 2017.
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Marcus Stephens fatally shot
Police are investigating the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Marcus Stephens.
Stephens was discovered by police around 10:51 p.m. on July 20, in the 1000 block of 17th Street, NE. He was found unresponsive and unconscious, suffering from multiple gun shot wounds. D.C. fire and EMS transported Stephens to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police have not yet released any suspect information.
Witness describes fight that led to Malachi Yisrael’s death
The person who fatally shot 43-year-old Malachi Yisrael only stopped after another person began shooting at him, police allege in a warrant for Yisrael’s alleged killer.
Police say Lamont McDonald, 16, fatally shot Yisrael, and wounded a juvenile on July 5 in what appears to be a fight over drugs.
According to the affidavit for McDonald’s arrest, Yisrael was found unconscious and unresponsive by police in the 300 block of 50th St., NE. According to the medical examiner, Yisrael sustained eight gunshot wounds which led to his death.
The same night and in the same area McDonald, was discovered suffering from one gunshot wound to the back and one to the buttocks. He was wearing a white t-shirt when he was transported to Washington Hospital Center’s MedStar Unit to undergo surgery.
When a detective visited with McDonald the following day, McDonald said he was at some basketball courts when he heard a shooting. He ran to the area where he was found by police, he said. During the interview, McDonald became “emotional” when he learned someone had been killed, but also remarked that the case could not be solved after the detective relayed that no guns were recovered on the scene.
According to the warrant, police also interviewed a person parked in the vicinity of the shooting. The witness observed a man, later determined to be Yisrael, along with a younger man approached by McDonald and two other males. McDonald and the Yisrael began talking and a hand-to-hand interaction occurred, which appeared to be an illegal drug sale. The three other men remained nearby during the transaction.
The witness reported that the Yisrael appeared to start arguing with McDonald and Yisrael struck him in the face with his fist. This caused McDonald to fall to the ground and he laid there for about a minute. He attempted to get up, and Yisrael swung at him a second time.
McDonald then began shooting at Yisrael from the ground, which caused him to turn and flee. McDonald got up and pursued him and Yisrael fell over the younger male and McDonald continued to shoot at him on the ground.
At this point, the older male located near the brick wall, began shooting at McDonald and chasing after him. McDonald then ran towards the back of the building while shots were being fired at him. During this exchange, Yisrael remained on the ground where he was later found by the first officers on the scene.
The witness described McDonald as a black male who appeared to be fifteen or sixteen, wearing a white t-shirt. The witness last saw McDonald running to the rear of the building as he was being pursued by the second shooter.
During the first interview, McDonald kept the left side of his face concealed. During a follow-up interview the next day, the detective noticed an area below his eye that appeared to have discoloration, and that side of his face appeared swollen.
McDonald was arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed. He is being tried as an adult.
Detention hearing set for Seth Holmes
A detention hearing was set for Seth Holmes Thursday morning, who is currently being held without bail.
Holmes was charged with second-degree murder while armed when Damonta Thompson was found dead in the 100 block of Irvington St. SW, on May 9.
Judge Lynn Leibovitz encouraged both the defense and the prosecution to move around their schedules so as to avoid delaying the beginning of Holmes’ trial. After some deliberation, the prosecution agreed to “make it work” and appear in court on July 26.
Man who killed another after argument on dance floor found guilty
After three weeks of testimony, a guilty verdict was delivered in the trial of Mark Beasley, on all five of the charges.
A jury found Beasley, 44, guilty of first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, and related weapons offenses shooting Darryn Conte and Conte’s friend.
During the trial, prosecutors summarized a petty fight that led to Conte’s murder. Conte almost hit Beasley’s friend with his elbow while doing a dance in the Takoma Station club. After they had left, Beasley approached Conte and his friend in their vehicle and started arguing with them. They drove away to wait for Conte’s brother and their percussionist friend. As they were sitting in the alley near the night club waiting for their friends, Beasley fired multiple shots killing Conte and injuring his friend.
Beasley will be sentenced on Oct 13.
Defense granted more time to look at evidence in Deeniquia Dodds murder case
Two men charged with the murder of Deeniquia Dodds will appear in court again later this month to discuss DNA evidence against them.
Jalonta Little, 26, and Monte Johnson, 21, are charged with murder for allegedly fatally shooting Dodds. The 22-year-old, also know as Gregory Dodds, was transgender. The Metropolitian Police Department has said they classified the homicide as a robbery gone wrong, and were not investigating it as a hate crime. However, the two men have been indicted on 16 charges each, including felony murder in a hate crime and conspiring in a hate crime.
The duo along with two others, attempted to rob Dodds on July 13, 2016, around 11:30 am. There was a struggle, and Dodds was shot. She was discovered at 256 Division Ave., NE., suffering from a gunshot wound to the neck. She was then transferred to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead.
In court on Thursday, Judge Milton Lee asked if both defendants wanted to have DNA that the government collected tested by a lab of their choosing. Johnson’s attorney said that he did not want a DNA test conducted, while Little’s attorney asked for more time to review the evidence to determine whether or not to do DNA testing.
The prosecutor said that all the evidence has been disclosed to the defense. He also said that the murder weapon, a gun, has not been DNA tested but if they do conduct testing, they will notify the defense.
Judge Lee allowed for the defense to take time to look over evidence and make a decision, while setting another meeting in two weeks for an update.
While it took time to choose a date that works for all parties, they are set to meet on July 31.
Andre Becton offered a plea deal
Andre Becton pled not guilty in court Thursday morning, but the prosecution offered a new plea deal.
Becton is charged with first-degree murder while armed for the murder of Darnell Peoples, who died from a shooting in September of 2016 in the 600 block of Mellon St., SE.
The defense entered a plea of not guilty and requested a speedy trial from the court Thursday morning. However, when Judge Lynn Leibovitz asked if a jury trial date should be set, the prosecution asked that Becton consider a plea offer before moving on with a trial. The plea offer expires August 3, and the prosecution requested that the court reconvene August 4 to hear the defense’s decision and discuss new evidence in the case.
Judge Leibovitz and the defense agreed to reappear in court on August 4.
Murder suspect told detectives she and victim were fighting before murder
During the preliminary hearing for a woman charged with the murder of her boyfriend, the investigating detective revealed there was a restraining order issued against the victim.
Kimberly Shaw is charged with second-degree murder while armed after she allegedly stabbed Leonte Cox on June 17.
The detective testified that he met with Shaw on June 18 before she was under arrest, and again after she was arrested. The detective said Shaw and Cox were involved in an abusive relationship and several incidents between the two had been reported to police. Shaw told police that she one time stabbed Cox. At the time of his murder, the two were involved in a pending domestic violence case, and Cox was the subject of a restraining order, protecting Shaw.
Despite this, the two met on June 17. Shaw told detectives the two got into a fight, and Cox pushed her to the ground. Shaw returned later that night, when another argument began but the two began fighting again. As Shaw was pushed to the ground, she grabbed a pocket-knife from Cox’s pocket, she allegedly told the detective. While on the ground, she lunged Toward Cox and stabbed him. Shaw called 911 twice, and then left the scene. The detective testified Shaw never fully explained why she left the scene after calling 911.
Documents: Lamont Mcdonald charging documents
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Dewayne Chatman offered plea deal
Dewayne Chatman, who was arrested in November for the murder of 29-year-old Evan Williams, has been offered a plea deal.
On the evening of September 8, police discovered Williams after being flagged down by a pedestrian in the 4000 block of 3rd St., SE. Suffering from a fatal gunshot wound, Williams was transported to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Chatman currently sits in prison without bail and has had 22 charges filed against him. Among these charges are first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill, threat to kidnap or injure a person, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
After multiple requests for continuance by the defense, a hearing was held in February that allowed Judge Milton Lee to find probable cause Chatman committed the crimes he has been charged with. In early July, Chatman pleaded not guilty and has been offered a plea deal that expires in October. He is scheduled to reappear in court on October 6 to either accept or reject the deal.
Defense for of Anthony Blackmone and Nathaniel Taylor requests evidence from Government
The attorneys for Anthony Blackmone and Nathaniel Taylor requested the government to give them evidence from the crime scene.
On April 23, 2016, Blackmone and Taylor allegedly planned to rob Nuru Frenche, but things escalated and they allegedly shot him. They are charged with first-degree murder of Frenche.
In court on Tuesday, the defense requested that the government give them data collected from hard drives found in a car at the crime scene. The government claimed that they are still trying to determine the scope of the materials they would use in trial, specifically how far back they would go with the hard drive data. Judge Lynn Leibovitz, ruled that they would go over the matter in two weeks.
Both defendants were also asked if they wanted DNA, collected by the government, to be tested by a lab of their choosing. Blackmone’s attorney stated he wanted to proceed with testing, while Taylor’s attorney expressed that he needed more time to make a decision.
Their next status hearing, to discuss evidence and DNA, is set for Aug. 1.
Maricco Knight again charged with involvement in murder
A third suspect has been charged in connection with the murder of Marcellus Green.
Dominique Williams and Steven Pugh were charged with the murder of Green. Green, 39, was found on Sept. 19, 2015.
Maricco Knight, 22, was initially arrested and charged with his murder, but the prosecution declined to move ahead with the charges at the time. Knight has now been charged with charges relating to the murder, including soliciting murder and obstruction of justice.
Knight’s jury trial is set to begin on Feb. 5, 2018.
He is currently in the high intensity supervision program, and set to appear in court on Sept. 29 for a status hearing.
Teen ordered held without bail on murder charge
The teenager charged with the alleged murder of Malachi Yisrael was ordered held without bail.
Lamont McDonald, 16, was charged with Yisrael’s murder last week. Yisrael and a juvenile male were found suffering from gunshot wounds in the 300 block of 50th St., NE. Yisrael died from his injuries.
McDonald is being held as his case continues, and is being tried as an adult.
Timothy Johnson offered plea deal
A man who allegedly caused a car accident that killed a 50-year-old woman while high on PCP was offered a plea deal.
Timothy Johnson, charged with second-degree murder, would plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter and felony assault if he accepted the plea deal for the accident, which killed Kim Moore and injured four others. In exchange for his guilty plea, Johnson would serve 86 months in prison.
A deadline for indicting Johnson on the murder charge tolls on July 31, but was extended as the two sides discuss the deal.
Johnson would plead guilty with what is known as an Alford plea. This is done in situations where a defendant acknowledges the government may have enough evidence to convict them, but the defendant will not agree to the facts involved. The reason Johnson would be unable to plead guilty based on the facts the government has against him was because he was under the influence of PCP at the time of the crash.
According to police, on the afternoon of Oct. 29, 2016 Johnson was driving at a high rate of speed when he crossed over the yellow lane and struck a Honda Civic, being driven by Moore. Johnson’s car struck another car, flipped onto it’s roof, and struck a pole. Johnson fled the scene. Moore’s car struck two parked cars and came to rest in the middle of the lane. Moore died at the hospital, and four other injured people recovered from their injuries.
Maurice Bellamy’s murder trial delayed
The trial for a man charged with the murder of an off-duty Secret Service Officer and a teenager, was pushed back on Friday.
Maurice Bellamy is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly fatally shooting Arthur Baldwin. In a separate incident, he also stands accused of the murder of Davonte Washington.
The defense asked for the date to be moved back so they could conduct some DNA testing of their own.
The initial trial date of August 28 was vacated and rescheduled for February 26 of next year.
Bellamy is set to appear in court next on Oct. 20 for a felony status hearing.