Police are investigating after two men were shot in April.
According to police, Michael Derricote, 26, and another man were shot on April 14. Both men were found at around 8 p.m. in the 3500 block of Stanton Rd., SE. Derricote died from his injuries on April 30. The other man has survived.
Police have not yet released any suspect information.
Police are investigating the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Christopher Heard.
According to police, on April 27 around 4 a.m. officers found Heard lying unconscious in a parking lot on 2307 Ainger Pl., SE. Heard was pronounced dead on the scene with multiple apparent gunshot wounds.
Police have not released any suspect information.
Clifton Johnson’s Defense Attorney Harry Tun told the court his client carried a gun the night Dwayne Grandson was killed because he was afraid of getting robbed.
In court Wednesday, Tun argued that someone broke into his client’s home before and that’s why he carried a gun and suggested the same fear led him to kill Grandson.
The government and defense spent a prolonged amount of time speaking to the judge about what they would present to the jury. The information shared with the judge was not disclosed.
During trial, the government brought forth Stephanie Williams to testify. Williams, a forensic scientist at a crime unit, told the court that she examined a handgun as well as a magazine that were in Johnson’ possession at the time of the shooting. After her examination, she found no cartridges in the gun.
Johnson was arrested in connection with Grandson’s murder and charged with first-degree murder while armed. He is being held without bond and his trial resumes Thursday.
At a preliminary hearing Tuesday, Detective Michael Fulton gave a detailed narrative on Jose Rodriguez’s alleged violent history with women.
Rodriguez is facing charges of killing his girlfriend Pamela Butler several years ago. Police have never found Butler’s body.
According to Fulton, in January of 2004, a woman told police Rodriguez-Cruz was acting strange, held her at gunpoint and “forced” her to have sex with him. Rodriguez-Cruz told the woman he could “make a body disappear” and that he could “kill you” tomorrow morning and “no one [will] ever find out.”
In one incident detailed by Fulton, the woman told police Rodriguez-Cruz placed tape around her arms so she could not move. When she told him to let her go pick up her daughter from daycare, Rodriguez-Cruz put the woman in the back of her car with her hands taped together, in her hands while he drove.
Rodriguez-Cruz then took both the child and the woman to his home where he demanded the woman have sex with him. When she declined, Rodriguez-Cruz threatened to sleep with her daughter or “kill them both.”
When the woman tried to escape, Rodriguez-Cruz fought with her, until a landlord was awoken by sounds of her screaming. The woman stabbed Rodriguez-Cruz, and when the landlord found them, Rodriguez-Cruz was holding the woman at gunpoint.
Fulton said the woman was charged with “malicious wounding” but the case was eventually “dropped.”
Fulton told the court Rodriguez-Cruz told the police it was a “domestic dispute.” Police found tape and gun in Rodriguez-Cruz’s home.
During cross examination,Rodriguez-Cruz’s attorney said they did not understand why the government was talking about a different person when the case was about Rodriguez-Cruz’s connection with Butler’s murder. The government said the suspect’s record of violence with other women was important in this case because it “speaks volumes” about the type of individual he is.
Police arrested Rodriguez-Cruz on April 10th in connection with Butler’s death, and charged him with first-degree murder. Butler had been missing since February of 2009 and was officially declared dead last July. Rodriguez-Cruz is being held without bond, and expected back in court for a felony status hearing on July 28th.
After repeated attempts at reaching 53-year-old David Blakeney, family members entered his home and found him lying dead in his bathtub, according to documents.
Police made note that Blakeney had been dead for a while due to his state of decomposition.
Blakeney was found on April 17. His son has been charged with his murder.
The coroner ruled Blakeney’s cause of death multiple sharp force injuries to the head, neck and body. The coroner noted Blakeney was stabbed more than 30 times and had defensive wounds on his fingers.
On the scene, police reported there was blood throughout the house and signs of a clean up. Police reported a trash bag with blood and clothing inside. In addition, there was a mop and bucket found across the hall from the bathroom. Further testing also found there were traces of blood in the house that couldn’t be seen by the “naked eye.”
Shortly after finding Blakeney Sr. a witness told police they received a call from David Blakeney Jr. During the call the witness asked what was going on between Blakeney Jr. and his father to which Blakeney Jr. responded, “He alright, he in a better place, he is good now.”
Blakeney Sr. was last seen a week prior to his finding. Family members told police Blakeney Sr. was at a family get together April 6 and had a bleeding mouth. When asked about it Blakeney told them he had a fight with his son, something the witness told police they had a history of doing.
A witness told police, Blakeney usually helped them sell barbeque on the weekends on Minnesota Avenue, but he never showed.
According to witness testimony, a witness told police Blakeney usually called them everyday. But in the week following the family get together Blakeney never called, and instead David Blakeney Jr. otherwise known as “Little Dave” began calling them using Blakeney Sr.’s phone
Upon investigating Blakeney Jr. police found that he had two pending warrants for his arrest. Police were then notified Blakeney Jr. was at the DC Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP). Police located and arrested him.
Before his interrogation could begin Blakeney Jr. told police he wanted to “plead the fifth,” though before leaving the room a detective asked Blakeney about the scratches on his neck, which Blakeney said were from his girlfriend.
While in the interrogation room, police reported that Blakeney “appeared to drink his own urine” and talk to himself as if he were having an “imaginary conversation with his mother” during which he said his mother killed his father.
Blakeney Jr. is being held without bond as he faces first-degree murder while armed charges.
He is expected in court May 1 for a forensic exam.
On Tuesday, police arrested and charged 26-year-old David Blakeney Jr. with his father’s murder.
According to police, last week officers responded to 1226 Stevens Rd., SE for reports of an unconscious person. On the scene, officers found David Blakeney lying unresponsive and unconscious with multiple stab wounds in a bathtub. Blakeney was pronounced dead on the scene.
Blakeney Jr. was charged with second-degree murder.
He is expected in court this afternoon for his arraignment.
Christian Romero, the man accused of fatally stabbing 38-year-old Dimas Fuentes-Lazo, was presented in court Wednesday for a status hearing.
The prosecution started off the proceeding by informing the judge he turned over all evidence in the case to the defense. He also formally offered Romero, 23, a plea bargain.
Under the parameters of the plea bargain, Romero would plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed. If the judge accepted the plea, Romero would receive a sentence ranging from nine and a half to 17 years in prison.
The plea offer expires May 12, which is when all parties are scheduled to next appear in court.
Romero is charged with second-degree murder while armed for Fuentes-Lazo’s April 2016 murder.
He is expected in court May 12.
Friday, more than a month after 33-year-old Steven Stewart was fatally shot, police announced Antoine Kingwood was arrested in connection with Stewarts’ murder.
According to police, on March 17 officers responded to 2200 block of Minnesota Ave., SE for reports of a shooting. On the scene, officers found Stewart suffering from a gunshot wound.
Kingwood, 24, faces second-degree murder while armed charges.
He is being held without bond and is expected in court May 2 for a preliminary hearing.
Two years after his murder, Richard Dudley’s killer was sentenced to 16 years in prison.
As a part of his plea agreement, Andrew Miller, 32, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed for Dudley’s death.
According to court documents, in March 2015 Miller sold Dudley, 61, two bags of crack cocaine at the 500 block of Mellon St., SE. A short while after, Miller returned and accused Dudley of using counterfeit money for the drugs. Miller then stabbed Dudley in the abdomen and fled.
The medical examiner ruled Dudley’s cause of death a single stab wound to the abdomen.
Miller is expected to serve five years probation after his 16 year sentence is complete.
Monday, a day before Dwayne Dillard’s murder trial was originally set to begin, co-defendants Shakim Lyon, Harry Herbert, Nathaniel Taylor and James Coffield were presented in court.
The trial vacated initially because of a previous claim of a conflict of interest.
Defense attorney Natalie Lawson, told the court that there was in fact no conflict of interest and she would continue to move forward as Lyon’s counsel.
In turn, Judge Jose Lopez set the new trial date as July 8, 2018, the agreed backup trial date in the wake of the previous vacated date.
In response, Coffield’s defense attorney John Carney notified the court that if the trial isn’t going to take place in this current year that he would move to withdraw himself as Coffield’s counsel.
The judge accepted and asked that Carney find his replacement.
In order to rule on new counsel Judge Lopez set a court date for two weeks out, but before he could dismiss all parties Taylor’s attorney said he would be filing a motion for the release of his client based on the fact that the trial is set to begin more than a year from now.
Following his declaration, Coffield’s lawyer said he already filed a motion for release and Herbert’s lawyer said he would have his motion for release to the judge by morning.
Judge Lopez said he would address all motions in the next hearing.
Herbert, Lyon, Coffield and Taylor face second-degree murder while armed charges for their involvement in Dillard’s murder. According to police, Herbert, Lyon, Coffield and Taylor shot and killed Dillard, 23, in early July 2015.
All four defendants are being held without bond and are expected in court May 8 for a status hearing.
Brandon Byrd, the 20-year-old man charged with his father’s murder, was presented in court Monday for a status hearing.
The prosecution filed a motion relating to evidence in his case. As part of his motion, the prosecution mentioned previous records.
Defense attorney Emily Barth, rebutted the motion and said that the prosecution did not meet a specific standard of requirements. Before Barth could go into detail about her stance on the matter, Judge Jose Lopez interjected and said that the court disagrees.
The court refused to hear the defense’s argument and instead advised her to file her argument for the record.
Judge Lopez set a date for the evidentiary hearing for July 27.
Byrd currently faces second-degree murder charges for allegedly fatally stabbing his 48-year-old father, Otis Byrd, near a hospital parking garage last August.
Byrd is being held without bond.
The government and defense lawyers gave opening statements on Tuesday, for the trial of Clifton Johnson charged with the alleged murder of Dwayne Grandson.
In his opening address to the jury, United States Attorney Richard Barker, said the case is about a man who “fired eight shots” at Dwayne Grandson. Barker described to the jury an emotional narrative of what allegedly happened the night Grandson was murdered.
Barker said it was at about 9 p.m. on Nov. 23, 2015, when Dwayne Grandson decided to walk his girlfriend Dominique home. On their way to Dominique’s house, the couple decided to pick some food at a local restaurant on the 2500 block of Pennsylvania Avenue SE.
When they sat in the restaurant, Johnson and his friend walked in to order food. When Johnson walked up to the counter Grandson got up from his chair and shook Johnson’s hand, in what Barker described as a “cordial interaction.”
According to Barker, Johnson immediately followed Grandson out the door. When Grandson realized he was being followed by Johnson, he immediately began to run away from him. Grandson fell on the ground when Johnson began to fire shots at him.
After Johnson “fired bullets,” he ran across the street. When police arrived, they tried to perform CPR on Grandson but he was unconscious. They also received a report that there was another individual who had been shot at the same location. The individual would later be identified as Johnson.
Lorraine Grandson, told the court her son Dwayne Grandson was a “good guy.” Who was “laid back” and a “homebody.” Grandson told the jury when she arrived at the scene, she saw Dwayne “gargling” on the floor “instead of breathing.”
In court Tuesday, Defense Attorney Harry Tun told the jury if they look at the evidence they will see Johnson “was not the initial aggressor.”
He also told the jury his client is “guilty of carrying a pistol without a license,” but not “guilty of “first-degree murder.”
Tun told the jury the government will show a surveillance video, but reminded them the video “does not tell the whole story.”
During her testimony, Tjuana Price described Johnson as the “gentleman in the athletic wear” who she said fired shots at Grandson first.
According to Price, Grandson “said something” to Johnson, and Johnson smiled and nodded to Grandson. Price said the “interactions” were “quick.”
When Johnson and Grandson went outside, Price said she heard “5-6 gunshots.” As she turned around, she saw Johnson run across Pennsylvania Avenue. She told the jury she saw the “motion” of him shooting a gun.
When the government asked her to describe what else she saw, Price said she could not remember because she was “distraught for 6-7 months.”
According to Price, inside the restaurant “everybody froze.” When asked by the government why she described Johnson as the “initial aggressor,” Price said because she did not see Grandson “firing back.” She saw Johnson take a step toward Grandson, and “shoot him again.”
The trial is currently in progress, and will resume Wednesday.
The events that led to the death of Dwayne Johnson were described to the jury Wednesday by key witnesses presented by the government.
Dominique Massenburg, the man who gave Clifton a ride to the restaurant the night he allegedly murdered Dwayne Grandson, testified in court Monday.
When asked to describe to the jury what he saw that night, Massenburg said he saw someone “walk up to him (Johnson)…and tap him.”
According to Massenburg, after Johnson grabbed his food he looked “nervous.”
Massenburg explained to the jury that he heard “first gun shot” then multiple shots. He also told the jury he did not see Johnson with a gun “at all.”
When the government reminded Massenburg he testified to the grand jury, that he did not mention Johnson being “scared, ” Massenburg said at the time he had not “seen the video.”
The government played the 9-1-1 tape of Johnson calling the police and telling them he had been shot. When the dispatcher asked Johnson who had shot him, his response was “I don’t fuckin’ know.”
Walter Collier, a representative from Shotspotter also testified in court Wednesday. Shotspotter is a gunshot detection company that works with D.C. Police to give them location of where the gunshots happened.
Collier detected “seven gunshots…but could not tell who fired the shots.”
The government also called Tanya Harris as a witness. Harris was at the restaurant when Johnson allegedly shot Grandson. She describes the night as “traumatic.” When the government asked her how she felt, Harris said she was “distraught that night.” She describes the interaction between Johnson and Grandson “friendly” and they were “talking back and forth” with each other
Johnson was charged with first-degree murder while armed and is still being held without bond. His trial resumes Thursday.
The medical examiner who performed the autopsy of Dwayne Grandson, confirmed to the jury Wednesday that Grandson died of gunshot wounds.
During his testimony, Assistant Medical Examiner Dr. Zabuli Ali told the jury he was able to determine Grandson was shot in the torso.
Ali found three entrance and exit wounds of gunshots in Grandson’s body. He appeared to be shot in his neck, thighs, chest and right side.
In a diagram presented by the government, Ali showed the jury where Grandson’s gunshot wounds were discovered. He also told them there were “scratches” on Grandson’s body the images on the left side of the diagram, indicate where bullets “occurred.” The ones on the right side of the diagram, are where bullets entered the “back of the chest.”’
Clifton Johnson was arrested in connection with Grandson’s murder and charged with second-degree murder while armed. He is being held without bond and his trial resumes next Wednesday.
Malcolm Cunningham picked up a knife and threatened to kill 79-year-old David Norwood weeks before he alleged stabbed Norwood to death over the weekend, according to charging documents.
According to police, Sunday afternoon officers responded to 619 block of C St., NE and found Norwood lying on the dining room floor with apparent stab wounds to the torso and extremities.
However, officers previously received a tip that a “suspicious” person placed a knife in a recycling bin in the rear alley of the same block Norwood was killed. Police were able to locate the knife and according to the responding officer the tip of the knife was bent and blood was on the blade of the knife.
The witness who saw the act told police, the “suspicious person” was a black male with a fit build, dreads or plats tied into a bun on top of his head wearing a yellow or olive colored camouflage long sleeve shirt.
Another witness from the area told police they saw a man matching the description mentioned previously arguing with an older man with white hair, who was late identified as Norwood. The witness told police they heard the old man yell, “I saw you trying to break in the back door. I’m going to call the police.” To which the black male responded, “I want my clothes.”
A short while later Norwood was found stabbed to death.
According to witness testimony, Cunningham, 21, has pulled a knife on more than one blood relative in weeks prior to the incident. One relative told police, Cunningham pulled a knife on him during a fight. The relative also told police, Cunningham told him he had a dream that he killed Norwood.
In a more recent incident, Cunningham produced a knife during an argument with another family member and it was then that Cunningham’s great-grandmother told him he had to stop threatening people, to which Cunningham retorted he would kill everyone in the house. The witness gave him three weeks to move out of the house.
The family identified the suspect as Cunningham.
Police arrested and charged Cunningham with second-degree murder while armed.
Cunningham is being held without bond and is expected in court May 2 for a preliminary hearing.
