Prosecution claims 2015 homicide was an act of revenge

By D.C. Witness Staff - February 17, 2018
Court | Homicides | Suspects |

As part of the prosecution’s opening statements in a murder trial Feb. 15, the death of Marcellus Green. resulted from an act of revenge.

The prosecution said Dominique Xavier Williams allegedly wanted to make a statement to the person who threatened him, and Steven Pugh wanted seek revenge for his girlfriend, whose tires were slashed on the 3200 block of 28th Street, SE, when they allegedly shot and killed Green during a drive-by shooting. Green was not the intended target.

The prosecution said Green, 39, was sitting outside of an apartment complex on the 3200 block of 28th Street, SE, on Sept. 19, 2015, when he was killed.

According to the prosecution, Pugh was the driver, Maricco Knight was in the front passenger seat, and Williams was the alleged shooter.

Pugh’s girlfriend owned the 2008 Honda Accord that he drove. She told the jury that she gave Pugh the keys so he could go to a party. The girlfriend said Pugh didn’t return until the next morning.

In addition to testifying that she lent Pugh her car, the girlfriend also said she received what seemed like an accidental phone call from Williams. She said she heard snippets of a conversation where Williams talked about a high speed chase, police and gunshots.

Williams is charged with first-degree murder while armed, Pugh signed a plea agreement that will drop his charges to second-degree murder and Knight is charged with accessory after the fact while armed. Knight is currently released under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP), a release program for higher risk defendants who have been charged with violent misdemeanors and felonies.

The trial is expected to continue on Feb. 20.