Police make second arrest for Nuru Frenche murder

Almost a year after 23-year-old Nuru Frenche’s death, police arrested a second person they say played a role in Frenche’s murder.

Nathaniel Taylor, 23, was arrested and charged Thursday with first-degree murder while armed, though the court has indicted him on eight additional charges.

Frenche was fatally shot in late April 2016 on 4900 block of Just St., NE. At around 10:30 p.m. the night of the shooting, police found Frenche suffering from a gunshot wound. Frenche was brought to a nearby hospital where succumbed to his injuries.

The following month, police arrested and charged Anthony Blackmone, 21, with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in Frenche’s death.

According to charging documents, Frenche was caught and ultimately killed in the crosshairs of a robbery in which Blackmone and Taylor, among others who remain unnamed, intended to rob another man.

Blackmone is being held without bail and is expected in court March 28.

Taylor is expected to be arraigned Friday.

Dujuan Garris’ attorney raises concerns over fair trial

Suspect Dujuan Garris’ attorneys are concerned that he won’t receive a fair trial for the murder of James Anderson.

Garris’ trial scheduled to begin March 6.

In court on Thursday, the defense team argued they don’t have any living witnesses to testify in court.

The defense also argued that the metro police department did not thoroughly investigate the case. When asked by a reporter to elaborate, the public defender declined to disclose any additional information.

According to the government, two people may have been encouraged or hired to rob the victim in the past. The government also said a witness who gave the police this information later denied to the government that they ever said anything about the case.

The judge agreed to give the government more time so they can respond to what the defense argued on Thursday.

Garris allegedly killed Anderson in January of 2015 in the 1300 block of First St. SW.

In February of 2015, police arrested Garris and charged him with first-degree murder while armed.

Garris is scheduled for a status hearing on March 1.

Documents: Lakisha Young sentencing

Lakisha Young was sentenced for the fatal stabbing of Alan Smith.

[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3474083-Lakisha-Young-sentencing-documents.html”]

Documents: Perez Green arrest warrant

Perez Green was charged with the murder of James Harling.

[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3473852-Perez-green-warrant-affidavit.html”]

Perez Green admitted to beating victim with metal chair, documents say

Perez Green admitted to fatally beating a 49-year-old man over the head with a metal chair because the victim teased him about a haircut, charging documents say.

According to charging documents, Green, 37, said, “he couldn’t continue to be picked on,” and told police “he knew his actions were wrong and would accept the consequences in court.”

On October 26, 2016 police found James Harling unconscious and unresponsive suffering from head trauma in a cafeteria/meeting room at the Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church, 300 Pennsylvania Ave., SW. Harling was brought to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.

According to witness interviews, Green and Harling were joking around, Harling was picking on Green’s haircut and said it was a “little boy’s haircut.” Witnesses heard Perez yell, “Stop playing! Not today!” and then what sounded like a chair strike the floor.

Police found Green at the Anacostia Metro Station, where Green went willingly with police. According to the warrant, Green freely told police “he had hit the guy once because he was tired of being picked on by him.”

According to charging documents, later in the station during an interview, Green admitted to picking up a metal chair, folding it closed and striking Harling on the head.

At the end of his interview, Green was brought to a local hospital because of mental health issues, he later returned to the station where was formally arrested and processed.

The defendant is currently released under the rules of the high intensity supervision program.

Green faces second-degree murder while armed charges and is expected in court March 3.

Perez Green hearing date rescheduled

The man allegedly responsible for the death of 49-year-old James Harling appeared briefly in court Thursday to set a future court date.

Perez Green, 37, currently faces second-degree murder while armed charged for his alleged role in Harling’s death.

Around 8 a.m. on October 26, 2016 police found Harling unconscious and suffering from head trauma on 300 block of Pennsylvania Ave., SE.

Later that day, police arrested and charged Green. Green had been held without bail, but in November he was released into the high intensity supervision program.

Green is expected again in court on March 3.

Some photos and videos out, and others in for Derryck Decuir trial

During a motions hearing Wednesday, a lead detective who investigated the shooting death of a 16-year-old in 2015 spoke of how he identified the suspect as the alleged shooter.

Derryck Decuir is set to go to trial late next week, for allegedly shooting and killing Malik Mercer. Among other charges, Decuir was indicted on 10 charges related to the murder, including first-degree murder while armed. He has pleaded guilty to all charges.

Manuelle Davell, the lead detective in the Decuir case was called to the witness stand during the hearing and asked how he interrogated the witnesses and the identification of the defendant and his accomplices with four still photos from the Metrobus video. According to police, Decuir was on the bus with his two cousins snickering about a red belt Mercer was wearing. Decuir followed him off the bus, and when the two got off Decuir shot Mercer.

Throughout the day Wednesday, the prosecution and government went back and forth over what should be permitted in trial.

Jail calls between the defendant and the witness speaking in code have become critical to the case, and will be permitted at the trial.

A friend of the defendant present at the time of the murder had a picture on Facebook with a gun in his pocket that looked identical to the murder weapon. A judge ruled that cannot be used in trial, along with any cell phone videos, social media posts, or crime evidence that will force bias against the defendant. However, one video will be permitted showing the two witnesses and the suspect the night before the shooting

According to police, Decuir followed Mercer off the bus near Fort Tauton on June 16, 2015 and then shot and killed him.

Documents: Herman Cook charging documents

Herman Cook was charged with the murder of Donald Johnson.

[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3472986-Herman-Lee-Cook-warrant-affidavit.html”]

Alleged murder suspect caught on tape shooting Donald Johnson

The man charged with the murder of 45-year-old Donald Stephen Johnson Jr. was allegedly caught on tape committing the act, according to charging documents.

Johnson was fatally shot August 8, 2016 around 7 p.m. in the rear parking lot of Emery Recreation Center, 5701 Georgia Ave., NW. Police responded to reports of gunfire and found Johnson on the ground of the parking lot suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

Johnson was transported to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy revealed Johnson’s cause of death was four gunshot wounds.

According to charging documents, surveillance cameras in the area show 46-year-old Herman Lee Cook Jr., the man police say is responsible for Johnson’s death, firing at Johnson.

According to surveillance footage, at 6:15 p.m. Johnson can be seen driving into the parking lot, exiting his car and speaking with a group of people congregated in the lot.

Around 7 p.m. Cook drives into the lot lot and exits his car. While Johnson’s back is turned, Cook approaches, pulls a pistol out of his pants pocket and without saying a word releases fire. Cook continues to shoot even after Johnson falls to the ground.

Cook stops firing and, “casually walks out of the Emery Recreation Center parking lot,” according to charging documents.

Upon further investigation, police found that the car Cook arrived in was registered to him. In addition, a K9 was called to the scene and tracked Cook’s scent to his house on 13th Street.

After securing a warrant, police searched the house and found the keys to the car Cook arrived in.

On Aug.10 police issued a warrant for Cook’s arrest.

Tuesday, almost six months later after the murder, members of the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking area arrested and charged Cook.

Cook is currently being held without bond as he faces second-degree murder charges.

The defendant is expected in court March 3 for a preliminary hearing.

Judge orders Herman Lee Cook held without bail

A prosecutor on Wednesday argued for a judge to order Herman Lee Cook Jr. held without bail for the alleged murder of Donald Stephen Johnson Jr.

Cook Jr. was arrested Tuesday and was charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly killing Johnson last August.

On Wednesday a judge agreed to the government’s request to hold Cook pending his preliminary hearing.

Cook is scheduled for another hearing on March 3.

Attorney argues for another delay in Dujuan Garris trial

The trial for Dujuan Garris originally set for July, and then March, may be delayed again.

Garris’ attorney wants to have the trial delayed further, seeking more information from the government and police department.

Garris allegedly killed James Anderson in January 2015.

Garris’ attorney will meet with a witness, the mother of the Anderson’s child tomorrow to discuss what exactly happened when she fled to the scene. The defense attorney told the judge they believe this testimony is crucial for the trial, because the woman claimed to have heard threats toward Anderson a few days before shooting, but is now unsure if she wants to testify.

The judge however told the defense attorney that he should try to find another resolution to the issue because he is trying not to move trial date again. Garris’ trial is still scheduled to begin March 6. His next court date is Feb. 23.

Clifton Johnson trial set for April

The case against the man charged with the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Dwayne Grandson will head to trial this April.

Clifton Johnson has a trial set for April 17 for allegedly killing Grandson.

Grandson was found with gunshot wounds in the 2500 block of Pennsylvania Ave., SE on the night of November 23. Clifton Johnson, 25, was found in the 2500 block of Minnesota Ave, SE also suffering from gunshot wounds. Both were taken to the hospital where Grandson died. Johnson was later charged with first-degree murder while armed for Grandson’s death.

Grandson will be in court on March 17.

Case against Peter Spencer to head to trial

Trial preparations will now resume for Peter Spencer, the man charged with killing his father inside their Georgetown residence last August.

Peter Spencer is awaiting his trial, now scheduled to begin in May. Previously, proceedings were delayed while medical issues were resolved.

Police have charged Spencer with first-degree murder while armed for the death of his father, 71-year-old Harrison Spencer. Police responded to the residence in the 1600 block of 33rd Street, NW, where they found Harrison Spencer’s lifeless body inside, marked with what appeared to be stab wounds.

A status hearing to set the trial date is scheduled for April 28.

Leon Stewart pleads not guilty to murder of Darnell Richardson last March

Leon Stewart pleaded not guilty to the three charges against him for his alleged role in the murder of Darnell Lee Richardson.

Stewart was indicted and charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm due to a prior conviction.

Richardson was found dead in the driver’s seat of a car in the 3400 block of Benning Rd., NE a little before 9 p.m. last March.

The government and Stewart’s attorneys will be doing a second round of DNA testing.

His next court date is scheduled for May 12.

Lakisha Young sentenced to six years

The woman charged with fatally stabbing her long-time partner in front of their three minor children was sentenced to six years in jail earlier this month.

Lakisha Young was sentenced as part of a plea deal. Young stabbed Alan Smith after a verbal altercation in front of her three children. According to witnesses, Young was chasing Smith around the house with a knife. One of the children tried to step in multiple times and got pushed aside. Another one said to “stop!” and Young did not listen. Young stabbed Smith in the heart. Smith ultimately collapsed in the hallway and one of the children put a sheet over Smith’s stab wound, to keep pressure and keep from excess bleeding until the police arrived. Smith, 50 years old, died on July 9, 2016.

Young’s children told Joshua Brand, a homicide detective with MPD that Young and Smith had been arguing earlier about an alleged affair Young was having. Young and Smith were drunk during the argument. Young’s children told Brand arguments like these were fairly commonplace but no physical altercations or threats ever arose from them, so no one had felt it necessary to call 911.

Upon police arrival, they found a bloody kitchen knife in the sink. Young said “I’m sorry,” police said. Young said Smith had been abusive toward her in the past but all witnesses testified against her and said it was only for his self-defense or to diffuse the situation.

Following her prison sentence, Young was sentenced to five years of supervised release.

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