Preliminary Hearing Begins With Footage of Fatal Shooting

By Payton Anderson , Rohan Naval , McKenna Bryant - February 22, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

 On Feb. 21, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun heard from the prosecution’s first witness and reviewed surveillance footage in a fatal shooting case. 

Yazmin Owens, 24, is charged with first-degree murder for her alleged involvement in the death of Nakysia Lemon-Williams, 26, on Nov. 14, 2023, on the 1900 block of Minnesota Avenue, SE.

According to MPD documents, officers were flagged down for a shooting. When they arrived, they found Lemon-Williams with gunshot wound injuries and transported her to a local hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries. 

The prosecution began the hearing by calling the lead Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) homicide detective to detail the case. 

The prosecution played video evidence from the crime scene on Minnesota Avenue.

The first clip shows three individuals, two of whom were identified as Owens and Lemon-Williams. In one video clip, the sound of a gun being fired is audible. 

An additional clip from a different angle showed an individual, identified as Owens, pointing a gun and firing, before walking back into the apartment complex.

Finally, footage showing the exterior of the building reveals Lemon-Williams being shot. The individual identified as Owens can be seen exiting the building shortly after shots were fired. A second set of video images came from Metro Transit Authority (WMATA) cameras, where the defendant can allegedly be seen at a bus stop, and inside a bus. 

The video clip contains audio of Owens speaking and moving her arms. 

According to the detective, Owens was “making reference to how the decedent fell on the sidewalk.” Based on the video, Owens said Lemon-Williams “deserved an Oscar.” 

During Owens’ interrogation, she was shown several still photographs from the apartment building’s surveillance cameras, identifying herself in each one. 

At one point, Owens asked the detective, “Where did you see me shooting somebody?”

When shown a still image of her allegedly holding a firearm, she said she “was just holding the door open.” When the detective indicated that it was a firearm she simply replied, “That’s just your opinion.” 

Upon review of the body worn camera footage Owens apparently did not resist arrest but allegedly made several mortal threats to MPD officers and US Marshals who took her into custody.

According to the prosecution, this proves Owens to be a “danger” to the community. They added that “threatening US Marshals indicates dangerousness.”

The video footage showed Owens removing her seatbelt when inside the police vehicle and allegedly telling an officer she’d “find your address” and “f**k you up.” An officer responded that they “need the wagon,” referring to a larger vehicle with arm-bars to restrain defendants when transporting them.

Owen’s defense attorney, Sylvia Smith, said the defendant was not properly informed of her Miranda Rights against self-incrimination before talking to the detective. 

“Owens never signed anything,” Smith said. “She never received the formal Miranda warnings.” 

Additionally, Smith said that the body camera footage from Owens’s arrest reveals she did not try to “run away” and was in fact “grabbed” by officers. 

“They never told her they had a warrant out for her arrest,” Smith said, adding that the arrest was more than a month after the victim was shot. 

Next, Smith questioned the detective about the main witness’ affidavit. “Subject Two”, according to the affidavit, was “uncooperative” during questioning and showed signs of substance use and a mental health disorder.  

“Subject Two’s demeanor fluctuated while on scene,” the detective recalled in the affidavit. “Officers surmise Subject Two was under the influence.” 

Smith said “Subject Two” was with Lemon-Williams when she was shot, leaving her body after 30 minutes. The detective confirmed that no officers searched Subject Two or considered her a suspect. 

“You don’t know for sure if Subject Two was armed or not,” Smith said. 

Though she gave a name, the detective confirmed it was false. 

Subject Two also claimed to be related to Lemon-Williams, which was not true. Smith emphasized that no contact information or address was provided by Subject Two. 

Due to a lack of time, the preliminary hearing was unable continued.

Parties are slated to return Feb. 23.