Prosecutor Won’t Link Drive-by Shooting to Neighborhood Gang

By Laura Berol - August 6, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Domestic Violence | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

The prosecutor in a homicide case told DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe on Aug. 5 that he no longer plans to present evidence connecting the incident to a neighborhood crew in Anacostia and Barry Farm known as For Da Money Gang or 4DMG.

Ky’lee Palmer, 25, and Aaron Adgerson, 21, are charged with first-degree murder, assault with intent to kill, and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. In addition, Palmer is charged with destruction of property worth $1000 or more and tampering with physical evidence. All are alleged to be offenses committed during release. The charges stem from Palmer’s and Adgerson’s alleged involvement in a drive-by shooting that led to the death of 60-year-old Barron Goodwin on Feb. 12, 2020, on the 800 block of 51st Street, SE. 

The prosecutor said instead he will argue at trial that Palmer’s motive in the shooting was to threaten Palmer’s girlfriend and her brother, since the house that was targeted was their family home. 

The prosecutor said he no longer plans to argue that Adgerson’s motive was to curry favor with a gang. He will argue that Adgerson was acting out of loyalty to an older friend he admired, since Adgerson was 16 at the time of the incident and Palmer was 20.

The prosecutor asked Judge O’Keefe to allow into evidence still shots from Adgerson’s Instagram videos that are said to show him dancing to music with Palmer and displaying guns. 

Palmer’s defense attorney, David Akulian, pointed out that Palmer isn’t holding any of the guns in Adgerson’s videos. He objected to the prosecution’s claim that those guns are consistent with the murder weapon. 

Judge O’Keefe promised to hear more arguments on the issue at the next hearing.

The prosecutor asked to use evidence of Palmer’s prior acts of alleged domestic violence in the trial, arguing that the shooting was an extension of that pattern of behavior. 

Akulian said the shooting grew out of a dispute between Palmer and his girlfriend’s brother, not out of Palmer’s purportedly violent behavior towards his girlfriend. 

Judge O’Keefe agreed to allow the evidence of domestic violence because shooting at the shared home of the girlfriend and her brother could be interpreted as directed at either of them. 

The prosecutor asked to present evidence that Palmer stole a vehicle and his girlfriend’s phone prior to the incident. 

Judge O’Keefe gave permission for evidence of the phone theft because it was central to the prosecution’s account of the conflict that led to the shooting.

The judge said the prosecutor could offer evidence that Palmer was driving a stolen vehicle at the shooting. Regarding the car, the prosecution said cell phone location data suggested Palmer was in the vicinity of the vehicle when it was taken.

The next hearing in this case is scheduled for Aug. 8.