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Carmelita Henderson is ordered held with no bond

Suspect Carmelita Henderson is being held with no bond for the alleged murder of Levi Kinte Davis.

Henderson, charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Davis is expected in court again on Feb. 16. In court on Tuesday, the judge requested the suspect’s verification of employment in case she decides to release her at a later date.

According to police, Davis was found shot in the 4200 block of East Capitol St. NE in September of 2015.

Davis was taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries.

Henderson was arrested in December of last year.

 

Judge orders DNA testing for hit-and-run suspect

David Jones, the alleged killer of 65-year-old Carolyn Ellis was ordered to undergo DNA testing during a status hearing on Tuesday.

Prior to Tuesday’s hearing, a motion made to hold Jones in contempt for refusing to providing blood and urine samples. However, a deal was struck between the defense and prosecution and together they decided for pre-trial services to take Jones’ urine sample and a jail phlebotomist to take Jones’ blood.

Judge Lynn Leibovitz stated the issue was a moot point, but still ordered the defendant to comply.

Jones currently faces second-degree-murder, driving under the influence and leaving after colliding charges for his alleged involvement in a hit-and-run on Feb. 6.

According to court documents, Jones allegedly drunk and behind the wheel hit Ellis at an intersection on 10th and U St., NW.

Jones is being held without bond as he awaits a preliminary hearing on Feb. 17.

30-year-old found killed behind school

New information has been released surrounding the shooting death of Kenny Bell Sunday night.

According to a police report, Bell was found lying unconscious in a puddle of blood. Police responded to 3855 Eighth St., SE for a report of 13 gunshots. In a field behind a nearby school, police found Bell unconscious and unresponsive. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

Police have not yet released any suspect information.

Documents: Kenny Bell homicide report

Kenny Bell was found fatally shot on Feb. 12, 2017.

[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3461101-Police-report-re-Kenny-Bell-homicide.html”]

David Simmons murder may have stemmed from argument over money, warrant says

According to the warrant for Rashad Allen’s arrest, 32-year-old David Simmons otherwise known as “Yayo” may have been killed over a monetary dispute.

Simmons was killed March 15, 2015 at around 5 a.m. in Woodland, SE. According to police, they found Simmons body with apparent gunshot wounds nearby an apartment building. A second victim, an adult male, suffering from gunshot wounds was found a block away from the building.

A witness told police they woke to the sound of people arguing in the apartment courtyard over money. When they looked through a window they saw Simmons, the second victim and “Hype,” otherwise known as Allen arguing in the courtyard.

Shortly after going back to sleep the witness said they heard six to eight gunshots. When they looked through their window the second victim was running out of the courtyard and out of view with Allen following behind. Meanwhile, Simmons collapsed in front of a gate in the courtyard.

The witness also added that in both times that they looked out the window Allen did not appear to be in possession of a gun.

According to the police affidavit, this witness account matches the shell casing location that were found on the scene.

The second victim also gave a witness interview, in which he said he and Simmons were just outside the apartment building when a black man wearing a black mask, black sweatshirt and blue jeans walked up to them fired.

However, in the warrant police wrote “[This] account of events is not consistent with the ballistic evidence recovered from the scene.”

Allen is currently being held without bond as he awaits his September 19 trial where he faces second-degree murder while armed charges.

Allen is set to appear in court March 10 for a status hearing.

Defense calls for additional evidence testing in David Simmons murder trial

New evidence may be introduced in the murder trial against 33-year-old Rashad Allen.

According to police, Allen is responsible for fatally shooting David Simmons, 32, in March 2015 on the 2300 block of Hartford St., SE.

In a status hearing today as the case gears up for trial, Judge Lynn Leibovitz ordered witness Christopher Williams, who is set to testify for the prosecution, to undergo a cheek swab test. The judge explained that Williams’ DNA would be available for testing against evidence in Simmons’ murder.

In addition to the cheek swab, defense attorney April Downs also called for a growing list of other test to be done. At the top of that list is a blood swab, which was initially requested for testing. Downs mentioned clothing as another item to be tested.

Two other witnesses,Tyrone Williams and Rene Gaskins, were present and notified that the trial date was pushed from February 13 to September 18. Leibovitz ordered both Williams and Gaskins to be present for the start of the trial.

But before Gaskins was permitted to leave, a court marshal escorted Gaskins to Judge Marisa Demeo. According to the judge, Gaskins’ had an outstanding warrant out for his arrest stemming from a 2014 domestic violence incident.

Allen is currently behind bars facing second-degree murder while armed charges as he awaits his September trial. He is set to appear in court March 10 for a status hearing.

Police investigating Sunday’s fatal shooting


Police are investigating a shooting that killed 30-year-old Kenny Bell on Sunday.

According to police, they found Bell suffering from gunshot wounds at around 10:30 p.m. Sunday. Bell was found in the 3800 block of Eighth St., SE. Police remained with Bell’s body on the scene until he was transported to the medical examiner’s office.

Police have not yet released any suspect information.

Document: Rashad Allen arrest warrant

Rashad Allen was arrested and charged with the murder of David Simmons.

[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3460905-Rashad-Allen-warrant-affidavit.html”]

Trial set for the shooting of Donald Bush

A trial date has been set for April for the case against Rodney Baggott.

Baggott, charged with second-degree murder while armed, was arrested for his role in the alleged murder of Donald Franklin Bush in June of 2015.

Bush, 44, was pronounced dead on the night of June 13, 2015. 

Baggott is charged in two different cases and will have his next hearing for both on March 31, 2017.

Murder victim had warrant for arrest before death, police say

The man found fatally shot early Tuesday morning was wanted in connection with a January robbery and shooting, according to a police spokesperson. 

Fox5DC broke news of Cheval Reid’s connection to a January robbery where a restaurant owner on North Capitol Street was closing up shop when a masked man attempted to steal her purse. There was a struggle and 60-year-old “Pinkie,” the store owner, was shot four times in her arms and legs.

Police issued a warrant for Reid’s arrest for his alleged role in the robbery. However, before he could be arrested, Reid was found dead on the side of the street in Brookland earlier this week.

According to a police spokesperson, there is no clear indication that the two offenses are connected. Police have not yet released any suspect information. 

Two suspects in the murder of Robinson Pal reject plea deal

Two men arrested and charged for the murder of 29-year-old Robinson Pal rejected a plea deal in court Thursday, and their case will now head to trial.

Devonte Johnson, 27 faces six charges for his alleged role in the Pal’s murder: first-degree murder while armed, two counts of aggravated assault knowingly while armed, two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, and one count of carrying a dangerous weapon outside of the home.

Antoine Byrd, 35, faces first-degree murder charges, two counts of Aggravated assault knowingly while armed, and two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed.

The rejected plea agreement would have reduced both Byrd and Johnson’s charges to one count of voluntary manslaughter while armed and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon.

Both charges stem from an altercation in a downtown club in February 2016. According to eyewitness interviews including in charging documents, Byrd and Pal were fighting and Byrd was heard saying he was, “ going to kill [Pal].”

Shortly after the fight began, an off-duty cop and club employee, responded to the fight and found Pal unconscious with a stab wound on the left side of his chest. A second victim was found just outside of the club suffering from a stab wound in his back.

Byrd and Johnson are both being held without bond as they await the start of their trial on September 19.

Byrd and Johnson are expected in court for a status hearing March 23.

Second suspect held without bail in James Dorsey murder case

The second man charged with the murder of James Dorsey Jr. last December was ordered held without bail as his murder case proceeds.

William Charlie Bowman was also arraigned on burglary charges Wednesday stemming from a separate case,

During his presentment Wednesday, Bowman’s attorney argued there was not enough probable for either charge. The attorney said when employees at the store where the robbery took place were shown a picture of Bowman, they said he was not the thief. Regarding the homicide, Bowman’s attorney argued her client only fired when he was being lunged at, so there was enough probable cause to warrant a murder charge.

According to police, Dorsey and two other men were arguing outside a 7-Eleven in the 200 block of Cedar St. NW, when one of the men pulled out a handgun and shot Dorsey. The incident happened at around 7:45 p.m. on Dec. 26.

A judge ordered Bowman held without bail. He is scheduled to appear Feb. 15 for the burglary charge and Feb. 24 for the murder charge.

The other suspect in this case, Shawn James Brown, is also being held without bail. He is due to appear in court on April 24.

Suspect says double shooting was in self-defense

The suspect charged with the murder of 22-year-old Ronnell Reaves told police he did it, but argued he was “in fear of his life.”

Matthew Moore, 32, was arrested and charged Tuesday for a double shooting that left Reaves dead and another male in critical condition.

In the early morning of Jan. 17, Police discovered Reaves’ body inside a car in front of 640 14th Place, NE.

According to charging documents, Moore told police that Reaves threatened to “dog” or kill him if he didn’t help Reaves rob a local carry out. Moore explained that there was a struggle and he fired the gun as a result.

However, “upon reviewing the surveillance video, no struggle occurred just before or during the entirety of the decedent’s murder,” police wrote in the warrant.

According to surveillance footage at the time of the murder, Moore, Reaves and the unidentified man drove to the block around 6:30 a.m. Moore and Reaves exited the car and proceeded to an alleyway before exiting the video altogether.

Minutes later Reaves returned to the car and shortly after Moore returned and fired into the open passenger side of the car, killing Reaves. In the vide the rear passenger side door open and Moore firing at the unidentified man.

Upon Moore’s arrest, Police located the gun and shell casings identical to those used in the murder.

Eyewitnesses were also able to identify Moore as the shooter.

Moore is currently being held without bond as he faces second-degree-murder charges. Moore is expected in court for a preliminary hearing February 17.

Documents: Matthew Moore warrant affidavit

Matthew Moore was arrested and charged with the murder of Ronnell Reaves.

[documentcloud url=”http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3456985-Matthew-Moore-warrant-affidavit.html”]