‘I’m Not Getting Nothing Out of It,’ Says Incarcerated Witness in Homicide Trial

By Adriana Marroquin - August 30, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

The only individual who could identify the defendants in a homicide testified before a jury in DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt’s courtroom on Aug. 29. 

Ky’lee Palmer, 25, also known as “XD,” and Aaron Adgerson, 21, also known as ”Baby Gas”, are charged with first-degree murder, assault with intent to kill, and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. In addition, Palmer is charged with destruction of property worth $1,000 or more and tampering with physical evidence. All are alleged to be offenses committed during release. 

The charges stem from Palmer and Adgerson’s alleged involvement in a drive-by shooting that led to the death of 60-year-old Barron Goodwin on Feb. 12, 2020, inside a residence on the 800 block of 51st Street, SE. 

According to the prosecution, the shooting stemmed from a disagreement between Palmer and his ex-girlfriend’s brother about a phone, which she testified he forcefully took from her the day before Goodwin’s murder. 

Prosecutors called an incarcerated witness, who they say is the only individual able to identify the suspects in the murder vehicle. 

The witness, who has a year left to serve for sentences in a non-fatal shooting and a second-degree burglary, made it clear in his testimony that he’s “not getting nothing out of” his participation. 

According to the witness, on Feb. 12, 2020, he saw XD and Baby Gas – whom he had grown up with around the 1300 block of Morris Road, SE, and was “close” with – in a black vehicle driving in the area of 51st and H Streets, SE. He testified that they acknowledged one another with a head nod, before the car turned onto 51st Street, SE. 

The witness claimed that moments later he heard multiple gunshots. According to the witness, he ran to the corner and saw one of Goodwin’s family members run out of his house after he was fatally shot. 

However, he testified, he didn’t call 911 or tell Goodwin’s nephew – who he claimed he’s “very close” with – or officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) who arrived at the scene about the events he witnessed because “I know the occupants… I don’t want to be involved.” 

According to the witness, at some point before the shooting occurred, he overheard Goodwin’s nephew in an “aggressive” phone call about Goodwin’s niece, but he couldn’t tell who was on the other line. 

The witness told the jury he was arrested on March 9, 2020, for his involvement in an unrelated shooting.  Subsequently, the lead detective in Goodwin’s homicide told the witness during an interview that if he was able to provide MPD with information about Goodwin’s murder he would get help with his own cases. 

In footage presented to the court of the interview with the homicide’s lead detective, the detective can be heard telling the witness he was “Fu***d real good,” due to his arrest. 

The witness told the detective he heard shots but was in a barber shop getting a haircut. He also told another detective he was hearing voices but admitted during testimony that was a lie. 

It wasn’t until October 2022 that the witness told the detective and a prosecutor everything he knew about the murder. According to the witness, he was transferred back to the DC Jail from a federal prison, where he is housed, in order to testify twice before the grand Jury in  the case – on Oct. 25 and Nov. 15, 2022. Yet, he said, he didn’t find out why until he got to the US Attorney’s Office (USAO). 

The witness told Michael Madden, one of Adgerson’s attorneys, he was “trying to do the right thing,” by testifying. “I’m a changed man,” he added.  

“You did what they [the prosecution] told you to do. You gave information and got nothing,” Madden quickly responded. 

“You would say whatever is necessary to get out of custody, correct?” David Akulian, Palmer’s attorney, questioned the witness. “I wouldn’t say that,” he responded. 

Regarding the photo identification of the suspects on Nov. 8, 2022, the witness said he “didn’t have a choice” about his attorney being present. However, he told Akulian during trial that he didn’t feel forced to identify people and did not make the identifications to help himself. 

Madden and Akulian questioned whether he accepted a plea deal to get lighter sentences in exchange for his testimony. 

However, the witness told the prosecution during redirect that agreeing to testify “had nothing to do with no promises or anything.” 

As to why he decided to accept the plea deal, the witness stated he was “caught red-handed.” 

“Have we ever told you what to say?” the prosecutor asked. “No,” the witness responded. 

The witness told the jury he wasn’t given a choice to testify in trial, and his involvement has been unpleasant. 

Parties are slated to reconvene Sept. 3.