Prosecution Introduces Potential Motive in Preliminary Hearing

By Grace Raines [former] - October 21, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

During an Oct. 19 preliminary hearing, the prosecution presented jail call conversations that established an alleged motive for the defendant in a homicide trial. 

River Barfield, 19, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection to the shooting of 20-year-old Jacky Brooks on the 4100 block of South Capitol Terrace, SW on March 17 around 8:30 pm. Brooks was shot in the back of the head in his vehicle. Barfield was arrested on Sept. 20 and is currently released under the high intensity supervision program (HISP). 

“I bagged your man River” and “I took his iron,” a witness told Barfield during the phone conversation that occurred hours before the murder.

The lead detective clarified that “bagged” means assaulted and “iron” means firearm.

The prosecution emphasized this as Barfield’s motive to allegedly commit the crime.

Defense attorney, Sylvia Smith, objected, saying the conversations were hearsay with no evidence of the assault claim. 

During cross-examination, Smith directed attention toward the activities of the victim. 

The detective said before the shooting, the victim exchanged a firearm with a small magazine for a firearm with a large magazine and laser. The victim sent a voice recording to his group of friends to inform them of his location in case something happened. 

At the time of the transaction, no one was accompanying the victim, and there was no surveillance cameras in the area. 

Parties will continue to deliberate to determine if there is enough evidence to go to trial. 

DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun found probable cause in the case on Oct. 20. 

The next hearing to determine next steps for the case was scheduled for Dec. 19.