Probable Cause Found, Murder Defendant Remains Detained

By Joseph Wolf - November 28, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan found probable cause that a murder defendant remained detained on Nov. 26.

Keondre Carroll, 21, is charged with premeditated murder while armed, five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, kidnapping while armed, robbery while armed, possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, assault with a dangerous weapon, and carrying a pistol without a license outside his home or business. These charges stem from his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 59-year-old Raymond Ballard on Jan. 23 on the 3000 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE. 

Two codefendants, Steven Metts, 19, and Jovontae Wallace, 19, are also charged for their alleged involvement in the same matter.

According to a press statement from the United States Attorney’s Office, Carroll, along with the two codefendants a got in a vehicle on Jan. 23, and drove by the crime scene firing 29 shots, killing Ballard.

According to the release, on Jan 24, Carroll and the two codefendants allegedly attempted to rob an individual of his jacket. After the victim fled onto a Metro bus, Carroll and the two codefendants followed the bus and blocked it at an intersection. Two of the three boarded the bus with their firearms ostensibly to track the victim down to take his jacket. After stealing the jacket, they fired at the bus while driving away.

During the hearing, Carroll’s defense counsel, Gemma Stevens, filed a motion for release from pretrial confinement.

Stevens argued that the prosecution had not established probable cause because she is not legally permitted in the grand jury proceedings where he was indicted, thus could not gauge the accuracy of the evidence.

Stevens also stated in her motion that, if the court finds probable cause Carroll is neither a danger to the community nor a flight risk. According to Stevens, his mother lives in DC, he has three kids, and he hopes to be employed, mentioning his past stint at a Target warehouse.

Further, she stated that he has only ever been convicted of carrying a pistol without a license and unlawful possession of ammunition, both of which, according to her, are nonviolent crimes.

The prosecution disagreed with the defense’s motion, requesting Judge Raffinan to keep him detained.

She argued that the grand jury found probable cause, and the fact that the defense counsel was not there does not undermine the process. Additionally, the defendant admitted his involvement in another criminal matter — the facts of the case were not disclosed.

Judge Raffinan agreed with the prosecution, stating that she found probable cause for the case to go forward. She ordered Carroll remain detained, citing the nature of the crime, the gravity of the circumstances, and his multiple other criminal proceedings. Parties will reconvene on April 25, 2025.