D.C. Witness aggregated the number of homicides in the District of Columbia from 2016-2017. The numbers have been categorized by ward.
Check out D.C. Witness’ infographic on the increase and decrease of homicides throughout the city.
Prosecution plans to retry Decuir for 15-year-old’s homicide
Prosecutors recently told Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe that they plan to retry Derryck Decuir for first-degree murder while armed against a minor and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence after a second jury declared a mistrial in March.
The third trial against Decuir for the shooting of 15-year-old Malek Mercer is expected to be held on April 29, 2019. To monitor the status of both the prosecution and the defense’s cases before the trial, the court scheduled a status hearing on Oct. 12.
The court also convicted and plans to sentence Decuir on unlawful possession of a firearm — prior conviction, carrying a pistol without a license, obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence.
Decuir allegedly shot Mercer in the neck on the 2800 block of 28th Street, SE on June 16, 2015. Mercer died at an area hospital on June 19, 2015 — days before his 16th birthday.
Even though Decuir told the jury that he shot Mercer in self defense after the teen wielded a shotgun at him, the validity of his statement was questioned by the prosecution. According to the prosecution, and corroborated by the defendant, Decuir did not help Mercer after the shooting or call for help.
Both the prosecution and the defense say that Mercer had a shotgun, however, the weapon has not been found.
Who was Malek Mercer?
Mercer, a sophomore at Ballou High School, located in Southeast D.C., was a bright student who worked hard in school, according to his mother, Sharon Becks. He was slated to begin the city’s youth employment program in the summer of 2015.
Becks said her son dreamed of becoming a social worker or psychiatrist to help children.
She said the memory of her son stays with her. “He’s on my mind a lot. I dream about him a lot,” she told D.C. Witness.
Becks said Mercer was always fashionable. According to the prosecution, a red Versace belt Mercer was wearing could have been a motive for his death.
Becks said she wants to help reduce gun violence amongst teens and young adults. She said she created a fundraiser — Change for Malek — to raise money and awareness to gun violence. Becks said she wants to use the money to start a foundation that looks at the cause of gun violence and works to make a difference in preventing it.
Defense questions detective’s homicide investigation procedures
A detective in a 2014 homicide case was questioned April 9 by the defense about his investigation procedures.
The detective interviewed a friend of Vernon Hedrick, after Hedrick, who was 25 at the time, was arrested for the fatal Sept. 11, 2014 shooting of 26-year-old Titus Jackson that occurred on the 5200 block of Clay Street, NE.
According to the detective, three formal interviews were conducted and recorded, but the final interview was lost, which the defense indicated is a sign of malpractice.
Hedrick’s attorney, Mary Kennedy, noted the detective never mentioned any malfunction of technology during the last interview in his reports, which he previously said was standard practice.
Additionally, the prosecution presented videos captured on multiple cameras to the jury, allegedly showing Hedrick making a U-turn and fleeing the crime scene in a truck. The defense said because the turn wasn’t captured on camera, it is only an assumption.
Hedrick has been charged with first-degree murder while armed.
The trial is expected to resume on April 10.
Minor’s cellmate admits he only testified to reduce sentence
A former cellmate of Joseph Minor admitted during cross-examination April 9 that his only motivation in testifying was to reduce his potential prison sentence.
The cellmate previously said Minor, 27, admitted in jail that he planned to shoot and kill Gregory Lee with his friend, Maurice Blakey, on Christmas Eve. The cellmate said he was told that if he told the truth, the prosecution would recommend a shorter sentence for his second-degree murder while armed conviction from an unrelated homicide. Minor and his former cellmate shared the same cell for approximately three months.
Minor’s attorney, Archie Nichols, presented letters the cellmate wrote to a friend while in jail where he said he was hoping to enter the witness protection program and receive a new identification if he testified truthfully. The cellmate also worked with prosecutors in five other cases in attempts to reduce his sentence.
The prosecution said the cellmate’s account of the homicide was accurate despite not being shown any evidence, which shows his truthfulness. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Bruckmann said that although the cellmate cooperated in other investigations, Minor’s trial has been the only one he has testified in.
According to Bruckmann, the cellmate’s letters showed his remorse and desire to change his life. Additionally, Bruckmann said the cellmate has no reason to lie because the prosecution told him they would recommend imposing the maximum sentence of 40 years if he did.
Minor has been charged with second-degree murder while armed for shooting Lee, 28, on the 1200 block of Stevens Road, SE on Dec. 24, 2014.
The trial is expected to continue on April 10.
Document: homicide on 21st Street, NE
The Metropolitan Police found Adrian Terrance Gay suffering April 7 from gunshot wounds on the 800 block of 21st Street, NE. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Document: Man dies after being assaulted on Georgia Ave.
On April 5, Yusef Turner was assaulted on the 3500 block of Georgia Avenue, NW. He died on April 6 at an area hospital.
Document: Homicide on T Street, SE
The Metropolitan Police Department found April 6 Clayton Matthew Morris, 49, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound on the 1500 block of T Street, SE. He was pronounced dead on the scene.
Document: Suspect arrested in connection with Tamiya White’s homicide
Members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force (CARFTF) arrested April 5 Robert Wilson Dean, Jr., 60, for allegedly fatally stabbing 38-year-old Tamiya White on the 1900 block of 9th Street, NE.
Murder suspect’s defense team argues bad faith
The defense team in a murder case said the prosecution was acting in bad faith during a trial readiness hearing on April 5.
Donald Hairston‘s defense attorneys, Mani Golzari and Lauren Johnson, said the prosecution acted in bad faith when they withheld information of one of the witnesses in the case making a large financial gain from the murder of Stephanie Goodloe, 40, on June 18, 2016.
The gain was made through the use of a GoFundMe page for the victim. The page was ultimately shut down because of a fraudulent credit card transaction of $9,000.
According to Golzari, the prosecution has no system for sharing information. However, the prosecution refuted the statement, saying that there is a system in place for sharing information.
Judge Danya Dayson requested that both parties send her written information. For the prosecution, she requested to know about what systems are in place to share information and how those systems were followed. For the defense, the judge requested to know where counsel was regarding the investigation into the GoFundMe fraud.
Hairston is charged with first-degree murder.
The defense’s motion to dismiss the case was held pending further argument. Another trial readiness hearing is scheduled for April 10. The trial is scheduled for April 17.
Cellmate says Minor admitted to planning murder
A cellmate of Joseph Minor testified April 5 that Minor told him that he allegedly planned to murder Gregory Lee on Christmas Eve.
According to a cellmate, Minor, 27, said he planned to kill Lee with his friend, Maurice Blakey, 26, and asked for advice on his defense. The cellmate said Minor told him that he wanted to provide the jury with information that would show innocence rather than guilt.
Lee was pronounced dead on the 1200 block of Stevens Road, SE on Dec. 24, 2014.
Additionally, the cellmate said Minor told him that he attempted to rob Lee about a week before to the shooting, but was unsuccessful. The cellmate said Minor heard rumors Lee was planning to retaliate and wanted to act, first.
The cellmate also told the jury that Minor said he dismantled the handgun he used to kill Lee and hid pieces of the gun in a friend’s residence.
Minor’s lawyer, Archie Nichols, said the cellmate was testifying under an agreement that if he told the truth, the prosecution would recommend he receive a shorter sentence for a second-degree murder while armed conviction in an unrelated homicide that occurred in June of 2013. Additionally, the cellmate testified in five other court cases in cooperation with prosecutors, which shows his only concern is getting out of jail, Nichols said.
According to the medical examiner who conducted Lee’s autopsy, there were three gunshot wounds, including a fatal wound that hit Lee’s right rib cage, heart and both lungs.
Blakey is currently serving an unrelated 22-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree murder for the homicide of Timothy Spicer in 2007. Blakey’s charges for Lee’s homicide were dismissed as part of a plea deal.
Minor has been charged with second-degree murder while armed.
The trial is expected to continue on April 9.
Decedent’s friend says he lied to police about homicide
Gregory Lee‘s friend testified April 4 that he lied to the Metropolitan Police Department when he said he only heard gunshots on the night of the homicide.
Instead, the friend told the jury he was hanging out with Lee, 28, while he was conducting a drug run, but the two men were confronted in a neighborhood alley by Joseph Minor, who was 24 at the time, and Maurice Blakey, who was 23 at the time. He said Blakey shot at him but missed. The friend allegedly fled the scene.
The friend said he didn’t call 911 despite seeing Minor shoot Lee. He said he was nervous and didn’t want to be a “snitch.” The friend also said he was smoking marijuana and drinking tequila before the altercation.
Blakey is currently serving an unrelated 22-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree murder for the homicide of Timothy Spicer in 2007. Blakey’s charges for Lee’s homicide were dismissed as part of a plea deal.
Lee was pronounced dead on the 1200 block of Stevens Road, SE on Dec. 24, 2014.
The trial is expected to continue on April 5.
Judge orders another eval of murder suspect’s competency
Judge Judith Bartnoff ruled April 4 that murder suspect Deangelo Thorne must undergo further competency evaluation and treatment.
Doctors who evaluated Thorne said he was not competent to stand trial at this time, but has the capacity to regain competency. Psychiatrists recommended Thorne return to the hospital for another month.
Thorne, 28, allegedly stabbed and killed 23-year-old Waliyatou Amadou on Jan. 8, 2017, on the 1400 block of W Street, NW. Prosecutors say video footage and a GPS tracking device placed Thorne at the scene of Amadou’s stabbing. Amadou was taken to a local hospital where she died from her injuries.
Thorne is charged with first-degree murder while armed. He is scheduled for a mental observation hearing on May 11.
Document: mother indicted on death of 16-month-old child
The U.S. Attorney indicted April 4 Faneshia Scott, 28, on murder and other charges in the death of her 16-month-old daughter Rhythm Fields. Scott also faces charges of first-degree cruelty to children.
D.C. Homicide Breakdown
D.C. Witness data shows the 14 percent decline in D.C. homicides from 2016-2017, previously reported by D.C. officials, did not accurately account for the total homicides in the city during those years.
According to D.C. Witness data, there have been 135 homicides in D.C. in 2016 and 123 homicides for 2017.
D.C. Witness data shows an 8 percent decrease in homicides city-wide. In addition, D.C. Witness data shows that Ward 8 homicides increased by 8 percent during the same timespan.
Click here to see the number of homicides by ward.
Prosecution delivers opening for 2014 Christmas Eve shooting
Assistant United States Attorney Lindsey Merikas said Minor, who was 24 at the time, shot Lee, 28, because he was “agitated” and had a “bruised ego.” Lee died on the 1200 block of Stevens Road, SE on Dec. 24, 2014.
The men previously got into an argument at a neighborhood event honoring Minor’s brother, who had died.
Merikas said that Minor and Maurice Blakey, 26, were the aggressors in a neighborhood alley on the night of the altercation. Minor allegedly shot Lee with a handgun, while Blakey allegedly shot at Lee’s friend with a shotgun. The friend fled the scene without any injuries.
Blakey is currently serving an unrelated 22-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree murder for the homicide of Timothy Spicer in 2007. As part of a plea deal, Blakey’s charges for Lee’s homicide were dismissed.
The prosecution said DNA evidence and witness testimony will leave the jury with no choice but to find Minor guilty.
Merikas also said the prosecution plans to call one of Minor’s cellmates who would testify that Minor admitted to the murder. “This is a case where you’re going to have to rely on people,” she said.
Additionally, both Minor’s grandmother and girlfriend, who both lived in the neighborhood, said they heard five gunshots on the night Minor died, but did not actually witness the shooting.
Minor’s defense attorney, Archie Nichols, said he will not present his opening statement until the defense begins their case.
The trial is expected to resume on April 4.