Jermaine Richards was killed on July 30, 2017.
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Murder suspect claims self defense
Details of the crime scene where 29-year-old Dominic Brooks was killed were relayed to a judge in court Friday.
William Edward Smith appeared in court for a preliminary hearing, for charges he allegedly fatally stabbed Brooks, on June 9, in the 800 block of Chesapeake Street, SE. He was charged with second-degree murder while armed on June 15.
The government questioned a detective investigating the murder about a pocket knife and box cutter that were recovered from the scene. According to the detective, a witness said they had not seen Brooks with a knife or box cutter. The detective, who was there when Smith was arrested, said the suspect was found with pocket knife and he had used a fake name when first interviewed.
Smith’s attorney went on to cross examine the detective, beginning with questioning the injuries reported by the Chief Medical Examiner. The detective mentioned how the victim was found with a singular stab to the chest, deep enough to pierce the heart and lung. It was also reported that he had minor abrasions on the tops of his hands, indicating that he was involved in an altercation where he had used his fists.
One of the witness’ interviewed had been dating Brooks for about a month. On the night of June 8 leading to June 9, the two were attending a birthday party together. The witness had been drinking that night, according to what someone told the detective.
The witness and Brooks left the party and proceeded down the street, where they ended up crossing paths with Smith and someone named Lou. Smith and Brooks engaged in a conversation, after crossing paths, which led to a verbal altercation. The witness said they were unable to hear what the verbal altercation was about. The confrontation turned physical.
The witness told the detective that Brooks had been involved in a prior altercation, in which he had suffered injuries. In the early morning of June 9, he seemed to want to fight again. Prior to the fight, Brooks never reached in his pocket for any object, the witness told the detective.
The detective also summarized testimonies from other witnesses. An anonymous caller said they learned Smith said Brooks reached for a gun, so he stabbed him. Smith had also said that Brooks apparently had a hammer, so he decided to stab him. Another person interviewed said Smith was afraid because he believed Brooks carried a gun and a knife.
According to the defense, Smith felt threatened by Brooks who had a prior arrest for a weapons charge. They argued the court should not find probably cause, because Smith was acting in self-defense.
Smith felt threatened by Brooks, who had a prior arrest for a weapons charge, along with being scared by him. This led Smith to act first so he wouldn’t be shot or attacked by Brooks.He said at the very least, the charge should be mitigated to voluntary manslaughter and that Smith should be released.
Judge Lynn Lebovitz there is probable cause that Smith stabbed Brooks. She said she made the ruling because Smith had already admitted to the stabbing and there was no evidence that Brooks was armed.
Smith has already gone through a murder trial in Judge Leibovitz’s courtroom, in which he was acquitted by a jury. She said that this, along with him being a drug user and a potential danger to the community are reasons for him to be held. The defense requested that he be released to the High Intensity Supervision Program and monitored with GPS.
The judge denied the request and he was ordered to be held with no bond.
They are set to reappear on Nov. 9 for a felony status conference.
Daryl Thompson ordered held on murder charges
Daryl Thompson pleaded not guilty to the murder charges against him.
Thompson allegedly fatally shot 29-year-old Edward Roberts Jr., on July 30, 2016. Roberts was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the 3500 block of 14th Street, NW.
Nearly a month later, on Aug. 29, 2016, 23-year-old Tyler McEachern, was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the 3100 block of Buena Vista Terrace, SE.
Thompson was arrested on Oct. 18, 2016 and charged with two counts of first-degree murder while armed for the alleged fatal shooting of McEachern and Roberts.
Thompson pleaded not guilty to these charges and his attorney requested evidence from the government.
They are set to reappear for a felony status conference on Sept. 8.
Jarvis Belle fatally shot
Police are investigating the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Jarvis Belle.
Belle, along with three others, were discovered by police around 7:40 p.m., on Aug 3, in the 3400 block of 18th Street, NE. Belle was found suffering from life-threatening gunshot wounds and was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The other three sought treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.
Police have yet to release any suspect information.
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.
Police searching for person of interest in murder of Jason Dale
Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a person of interest in the murder of 39-year-old Jason Antonio Dale.
Dale was discovered by police, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, around 9:30 p.m. June 12, on the 500 block of Parkland Place, SE. He was then transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Police have released a video where the person of interest can be seen running down the street.
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.