Prosecutor Asks Jury to Hold Murder Defendant Accountable

By D.C. Witness Staff - February 14, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

During the first day of a jury trial., a prosecutor asked the jury to “hold this man responsible for taking a human life.”

Herman Lee Cook, 46, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Donald Stephan Johnson Jr., 45, on Aug. 8, 2016, on the 5700 block of Georgia Ave., NW. He is also charged with possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and unlawful possession of a firearm. 

While delivering opening statements on Feb. 12, the prosecutor pointed to Cook and explained to the jury that, “this man murdered Donald Stephen Johnson in cold blood.” The prosecutor then asked the jury to “hold this man responsible for taking a human life.”

The prosecutor showed surveillance video from a recreation center parking lot that depicted what appeared to be Cook shooting Johnson. He then played the video for the jury and explained, in detail, what happened at each moment.

“You can see it right here on video,” he said, “Herman Lee Cook shot Donald Johnson and killed him.” 

Cook’s defense attorney, William Buie, then proceeded with his opening statements. He asked the jury to proceed through the trial with “a clean sheet of paper and an open mind.” 

D.C Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna is presiding over the trial.

This article was written by Naysha Carrasquillo and MiriYam Judd