Prosecution Seeks Indictment in Codefendant Case

By D.C. Witness Staff - May 31, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

During a hearing May 31, the prosecution in a murder case said she expects a grand jury to return an indictment for codefendants charged with the death of a 38-year-old man.

Dale Thomas and Donnell Mills are charged with first-degree murder while armed for their alleged role in the death of Jelani Mohammed on the 1500 block of Benning Road, NE on Nov. 8, 2018.

The prosecutor said she expects to obtain the indictment by Aug. 10. She also said that Thomas and Mills have said they are not interested in a pre-indictment plea agreement.

According to court documents, Metrobus surveillance footage, near a Benning Road bus stop, shows two individuals approach Mohammed from behind and assault him. However, a knife was not visible during the fight.

Apparently, the two individuals grabbed at the victim’s backpack in an attempt to steal it, documents state. During the investigation, police were able to identify Thomas, 28, based on his clothing in the footage. Meanwhile, an eyewitness identified Mills, 29, by name.

Thomas and Mills are scheduled for a felony arraignment on Aug. 9.