Probable Cause Ruling Delayed for Homicide Defendant

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DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan delayed a probable cause ruling for a homicide defendant on Sept. 12.

Jaylen Suggs, 18, is charged with first-degree murder while armed – felony murder, for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 38-year-old Ricky Canty. The incident occurred on April 25 on the 4500 block of Sheriff Road, NE.

Suggs, who was a juvenile at the time of the incident, is charged as an adult under Title 16.

According to court documents, Suggs is alleged to have participated in a shootout that took place outside of the Deanwood Deli. Witnesses claim that four armed suspects wearing gloves and masks exited a reportedly stolen vehicle, and approached multiple witnesses in what is assumed to be an attempted robbery. Shortly after, shots are fired, leading to Canty’s death.

The prosecution displayed surveillance footage from the incident and the lead detective on the case identified the suspect as Suggs, allegedly getting out of the suspect vehicle and running through an alley after the shooting had taken place. The other suspects have yet to be identified.

According to an investigator, a phone that was registered to Suggs was recovered from the suspect vehicle at the scene. Texts and images found on his phone place Suggs inside of the business from where the car was stole on March 19.

Suggs’ defense attorney, Kevann Gardner, argued that if this case were car theft then “maybe that information would be relevant,” but insisted the prosecution failed to provide evidence that proves Suggs was involved in a shooting, or in Canty’s death.

Gardner claimed that the only reason the prosecution believes Suggs was in the suspect vehicle at the scene of the crime is because of his phone and the small stature of the individual seen in the vehicle.

As for the lead detective identifying the defendant by his height, Gardner claims, “There’s nothing more nonsensical I’ve heard in my life.” Gardner insisted there are a million people who are the same height as the defendant, standing at five feet and five inches tall.

Gardner added that it is common for vehicles stolen by young people in the city to be passed around, and claimed dozens of kids could have been in and out of that car. The lead detective agreed it is possible.

The prosecutor referenced images found on the defendant’s phone that allegedly show Suggs with guns consistent with those described by witnesses, as well as specific ammunition found at the scene that likely matches that used in that particular gun.

Given all that and Sugg’s phone ostensibly found in the suspect vehicle, the prosecution argued that there is, “absolutely probable cause to believe felony murder occurred.”

Gardner responded that the prosecution referenced burglary and car theft but in this specific case the defendant is only charged with homicide, and the evidence they provided is not sufficient for a homicide case. The defense claims that the only reason Suggs is charged is because the investigation has been going on for almost four months and the detectives are going with the best person they could find.

“The [prosecution] is asking the court to make bold and wild assumptions,” says Gardner.

Parties will reconvene Sept. 12 for the judge’s rulings.