Judge Finds Probable Cause in Case of East Capitol Street Stabbing

By Jakob Rios [former] - January 31, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Data | Homicides | Sex Abuse | Sexual Assault | stabbing | Suspects | Victims |

The lead detective in a homicide investigation testified during a hearing to determine if the case against the defendant has enough evidence to go to trial. Towards the conclusion of the proceedings, a DC Superior Court judge made a finding of probable cause.

The defendant, 51-year-old Warren Tyson, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 21-year-old Michael Johnson to death on the 4900 block of East Capitol Street, SE, on Oct. 22, 2021.

The prosecution presented 13 different exhibits of evidence during the Jan. 25 hearing. This included security footage from a McDonald’s in Upper Central NE of a car identified as Tyson’s. He could be heard giving his name in the video. Next were two separate angles of a bus camera that passed the scene of the crime. In these videos, Tyson’s car can be seen as well as an individual fleeing from the crime scene. 

In the car with Tyson were two of the witnesses. Each left a statement alleging they saw the defendant stab Johnson. The first witness also described trying to hold the defendant down as the “tussle” escalated.  

The prosecutor then showed two separate 911 calls made at the scene of the crime. The first one involved two people yelling and what can be heard as threats. The prosecutor claimed this was Johnson was calling Tyson a pedophile and asking, “why you looking at little kids.”

The second call was from two witnesses. They described the aggressor and explained that they saw a man fleeing the scene. They went into detail about the man’s vehicle and the victim lying on the ground. One of the witnesses said the stab “must have been to the liver because there is so much blood.”

The prosecutor also showed pictures of two separate knives found in the defendant’s car. Various court documents were admitted into evidence as well. Finally, the defendant’s iCloud data was admitted. This includes over 130 GB of text messages, phone calls and pictures.

Tyson is being represented by defense attorneys David Akulian and Julie Swaney. Swaney took the lead during cross-examination, beginning her line of questioning by attempting to clarify issues with previous witness statements.

Two of those witnesses were in the car with Tyson before the stabbing. The reason for this was unclear. One said it was for a doctor’s appointment while the other said it was for a McDonald’s trip. The next two witnesses, the ones who had described the assailant, had discrepancies including the color of the car that they saw. They also said they saw a black-handled knife, when the photos submitted were of a green knife and a silver knife.

Swaney also brought up allegations that Tyson was texting a 15-year-old witness, asking for inappropriate pictures. They attempted to show that this may have been a self-defense situation or a heat of passion situation due to words exchanged between the victim and the defendant.   

Still, Judge Marisa Demeo ultimately ruled that the case has enough evidence to go to trial.

The defense team then argued that their client should be released as he has shown consistent employment and has not had any police encounters in the last year. They also mentioned the defendant’s health conditions.

Tyson has previously been convicted of two sex offenses. His first conviction happened in North Carolina and led him to spend 14 years in prison. He then served six months in 2014.

Judge Demeo decided to keep Tyson held at DC Jail. He is scheduled to return to court on March 28 for a felony status conference.