Prosecution Calls 5 Witnesses to Show Defendant’s Guilt in Murder Trial

By Bersabel Ephrem [former] - December 12, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

A murder trial continued into its fourth day with the prosecution calling five people to the witness stand. 

Jermaine Harris, 21, is charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to the death of 38-year-old Lamar Walters on the 2400 block of Franklin Street NE, on Jan. 6, 2020.  

On Dec. 8, the fourth day of the trial, the prosecutor called an expert from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, who said that she discovered four bullet wounds on Walters during the autopsy. Two of the bullets were found inside his body, while the other two passed through his body.

The prosecutor’s second witness, a detective for the Metropolitan Police Department, told the court that he is very familiar with the numerous groups who gather in the Northeast quadrant of D.C.

He told the court that he has been watching and patrolling the area for a number of years.  

According to the detective, a group of young men who frequent the area around 18th and Otis Place, NE go by the name of Young World. He said the men in this group are allies with those who frequent Saratoga Avenue, NE.

According to him, the Young World crew and the crews from Edgewood and Lincoln Park have “beef.” 

The detective said he first encountered Harris in 2016, near the intersection of 18th and Otis, and that Harris immediately caught his attention due to his small stature. He said he encountered him on social media and on YouTube approximately six times as well as about two dozen times in person.

Additionally, he said he remembers speaking with Harris in 2017, when Harris was hospitalized after being shot. 

On Jan. 14, 2020, a week after the murder, the investigator was shown surveillance footage from the day of the shooting. Four men were getting into a white Toyota Camry and he told the court that he immediately was able to identify one of the four men as Harris because of his small stature, hair, and walk. 

During cross examination, Jonathan S. Zucker, Harris’ defense attorney, asked the detective if he saw Harris’ face in the surveillance video. 

He replied, “no.” 

Zucker asked the detective if he was able to see any obvious bulges that might have been used to conceal guns or firearms in the video. Again, the detective replied “no.”

The prosecutor’s last witness was another MPD detective.

The prosecutor asked the second detective if he was familiar with firearms at which time he responded, “yes.” 

She asked him about the clothing that the men were wearing in the surveillance video. 

He said the men wore winter apparel, such as sweaters, hoodies, and sweatpants. 

The prosecutor then asked him to stand up and show the jury the glock firearm that he had concealed under his sweatshirt and vest. 

She told the jury that a glock firearm could be easily concealed under winter clothing. 

According to court documents, a member of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) responded to the 2400 block of Franklin Street where an adult male was located. The victim was unconscious and not breathing, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds to the body.

Walters was transferred to the Washington Hospital Center where he was later pronounced dead. Two other victims that suffered non-fatal wounds to the body were later identified at the hospital by members of MPD.

The trial is set to resume on Dec. 12. 

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt said she anticipates closing arguments will begin on Dec. 13.