Prosecutors Call Co-Defendants ‘Two Armed Cowards’ in Homicide Trial

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During opening statements in a homicide trial before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on March 24, the prosecution referred to two co-defendants as cowards for their alleged involvement in the homicide of a 34-year-old man.

Demonte Gibson, 27, and Asani Forte, 26, are charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, conspiracy, assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and destruction of property for their alleged involvement in the murder of Delonte King on Nov. 3, 2021, on the 2800 block of 14th Street, NW. Gibson is additionally charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction.

During their opening statements, the prosecution claimed that King was “outmanned and outgunned” when he was shot by “two armed cowards” in the abdomen and head.

The trial was set to include 27-year-old Tre’quan Nelson, but he is no longer being tried in this case. However, the prosecution will continue to include him in the evidence they bring forth due to his alleged involvement in the conspiracy charges regarding Gibson and Forte.

The prosecutors told the jury that at least 21 shots were fired with tree trunks and gutters “chewed up” by the gunfire.A stray bullet struck another individual in the arm only “inches from his heart,” the prosecutor said. “It was a miracle that King was the only one killed that day.”

Prosecutors also claimed that another bullet went through a third-story metal window, nearly hitting a “profoundly autistic man.” The bullet shot through the window and landed inside a TV, according to the prosecution.

Prosecutors stated there is “lots” of video evidence and told the jury that they will “see these men clear as day.” The prosecution said the video evidence shown throughout the course of the trial will prove Gibson’s guilt and Forte’s involvement as “the lookout.”

Prosecutors also told the jury that when police searched Gibson’s apartment in 2023, they found the same brands of ammunition used in the November incident and multiple clothing items seen on the suspects from the videos. The prosecutor said DNA evidence taken from the scene is “off the charts” for Gibson, and “no matter how you cut it, they are guilty.”

Gibson’s defense attorney, Elizabeth Paige-White, told the jury there was no plan to kill King, nor was there a conspiracy. She said Gibson acted in self-defense as he came “face to face with a man high on PCP and widely known as violent in the neighborhood.”

The defense attorney also said King had a history of random stabbings and drug use and was armed with a large hunting knife at the time of the incident, which he allegedly attempted to use toward Gibson, forcing him to “make a split-second decision” to protect himself.

Forte’s defense attorney, Russell Hairston, elaborated on White’s statements of there being no conspiracy because there was no communication between the defendants before or after the homicide.

Hairston said the prosecution cannot prove to the jury that his client was acting as a “lookout” because of unreliable video and audio clips.

Following opening statements, an eyewitness called by the prosecution testified that she observed the shooting while walking up 14th Street. She stated that two young men wearing pullover masks crossed the street and split up, with one walking ahead of her and one walking behind her. She recalled them wearing hoodies and dark-colored jeans.

The witness stated that eventually, the two men came together and walked “a few feet” in front of her. She claimed that one individual held up a firearm and moved his arm in a semi-circle, seemingly “announcing what was about to happen to the people around.”

She testified that shortly after showing his gun, the individual started firing at the man standing in front of them, stating she heard no arguments or dialogue and that the victim’s back was to her and the shooters.

The witness told the jury that she crouched behind a car and observed both individuals flee the scene down Gerard Street. “I honestly lost time at this moment,” she said. However, the witness was still able to make a 911 call to inform officers that she saw the direction in which the suspects ran.

During the cross-examination, Kevann Gardner, Gibson’s defense attorney, told the jury that it was “not true” that one of the individuals waved his gun in the air prior to the shooting. A surveillance video taken from the intersection of 14th Street and Gerard Street, NW showed the two individuals crossing the street without anything in their hands. The witness was 20-to-30 feet behind them.

The witness claimed that she “misspoke” when she estimated the distance between her and the shooters. She clarified that the gun was raised when the two men were “approaching the intersection.”

When asked by Gardner why she kept following the two individuals after they flashed a gun in the air, the witness responded by stating the stunt “seemed theatrical.”

Gardner also asked the witness about her alleged “memory issues” that stem from surviving a three-story fall. The witness stated that the injury happened in 2013 and that it “has not posed any ongoing memory issues from my doctor’s perspective.”

Following the eyewitness’ testimony, the prosecution called the victim’s mother to testify about her son’s drug use. The mother said she knew of one incident during which King allegedly stabbed an individual.

The prosecution also called a Secret Service lieutenant, who was the first to respond to sounds of gunfire, in the area while on patrol. He testified that once crime scene technicians were at the scene and offering the victim medical attention, he recovered a hunting knife tied to the victim’s waist by a string.

When answering the question as to why he didn’t mention the string until now, the witness confirmed he only informed his Secret Service staff, and not the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives, who took over the scene that afternoon.

Parties are slated to continue the trial on March 25.