Parties Give Opening Statements in a Shooting and Robbery Trial

By Nick Pallotto [former] - November 1, 2023
Daily Stories | Robbery | Shooting | Suspects |

On Oct. 31, parties gave opening statements regarding an April 2020 shooting and robbery incident before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan.

Anthony Owens and George Belk, both 44, are charged with assault with intent to commit robbery while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for their alleged involvement in a shooting and robbery incident that occurred on April 15, 2020, on the 1300 block of Good Hope Road, SE. The incident left Owens and Belk with minor injuries. 

According to court documents, on the morning of April 15, Owens and Belk allegedly ran toward the victim as they were walking back to their vehicle on T Street, SE. The two men then allegedly tried to rob him as he was attempting get in his car.

As the struggle continued, an unidentified person who knew the victim fired shots at Belk and Owens, striking both of them. 

After he was hit, Owens briefly shot back at the unknown man but he fled into an alley.

In opening statements, prosecutors told the jury that the unknown individual who allegedly shot at Owens and Belk should not be a part of their decision-making process at the end of the trial, they should only consider Owens and Belk. 

“This case is not about what that man did, it is about what the two men sitting here did,” prosecutors said as they pointed to Owens and Belk. 

Prosecutors urged the jury to deliver a guilty verdict based on closed circuit video footage and the credibility of the witnesses.

Bruce Cooper, Belk’s defense attorney, told the jury the defendants are not guilty because they did not shoot or rob anybody. According to Cooper, the video tells a different story.

He said they should also take into account the fact that the victim allegedly had narcotics such as cocaine and marijuana in his car at the time of the incident.

Everald Thompson, Owen’s defense attorney, told the jury that they will also see surveillance footage of an unknown male believed to be “Mr. B”, who allegedly shot Owens and Belk and knows the complainant.

Thompson went on to blame a “shoddy” police investigation that showed nothing except statements made by the complainant saying that he was almost kidnapped and that he was robbed. 

According to Thompson, no gun was ever found on Owens or Belk at the time of their arrests and the police didn’t take the time to execute a search warrant for Owen’s or Belk’s house.

Thompson claimed the victim had a handgun in his vehicle in spite of a prior felony conviction. He noted that marijuana and cocaine were allegedly found in the complainant’s vehicle following the incident.

“The [prosecutor’s] case constitutes a miscarriage of justice in the worst way,” Thompson said.

The trial is set to resume Nov. 1.