Prosecutors Continue Painting A Triple Homicide Crime Scene

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Prosecutors presented additional video evidence and eyewitness accounts to paint the crime scene in a mass shooting that took the lives of three individuals. The case was argued before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on April 28.

William Johnson-Lee, 22, Erwin Dubose, 30, Kamar Queen, 27, and Damonta Thompson, 28, are charged with conspiracy, two counts of premeditated first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, and three counts of assault with significant bodily injury while armed, for their alleged involvement in the mass shooting that claimed the lives of 31-year-old Donnetta Dyson, 24-year-old Keenan Braxton, and 37-year-old Johnny Joyner.

Dubose, Queen, and Johnson-Lee each face an additional nine counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Thompson and Queen incurred an additional count of first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, and Johnson-Lee has an additional two counts of the same charge. Dubose, Queen, and Thompson each also face an additional charge of assault with intent to kill while armed.

Moreover, Dubose and Queen are also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction. Dubose was hit with another charge of premeditated first-degree murder while armed and tampering with evidence. Finally, Queen and Johnson-Lee are charged with carrying a pistol without a license outside the home of business.

One incident occurred on the 600 block of Longfellow Street, NW on Sept. 4, 2021, and left three others suffering from injuries. While another shooting occurred on the 800 block Oglethorpe Road, NE that left one injured.

Toyia Johnson, 52, and Mussay Rezene, 32, are charged with accessory after the fact while armed and tampering with physical evidence for their alleged involvement in assisting the other defendants in getting rid of the evidence and avoiding getting caught in connection with the case.

A specialist from the Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS), testified that police dogs found three more shell casings during a re-canvass on Sept. 5 on Longfellow Street, adding to the eight casings found the night of the incident. The jury also saw photos showing apparent blood stains and damaged cars and houses.

In cross-examination, Johnson-Lee’s attorney, Peter Fayne, challenged the witness about analysts use of metal detectors that were used to find additional evidence. The witness did not know of any previous work done by any forensics team other than the first canvas that was done the night of the incident.

The prosecution called an officer with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) who was on patrol during the shooting on Longfellow Street.

The prosecution concluded asking if the witness was aware that the victims and the individuals who lived on Longfellow Street made music videos. The witness testified that they were aware and had seen them creating music videos in the past.

Kamar Queen’s attorney, Brian McDaniel, asked the witness on cross-examination if they searched or viewed the music videos for work or on personal time. The witness testified that he was ordered by a superior officer to familiarize himself with the people of that area – which required him to monitor their posts on social media and YouTube.

On follow-up, the prosecution presented screenshots of the music videos and asked if the officer knew or recognized any of the participants. The officer testified that he recognized a lot of the individuals as people who were “high profile” people to look out for who are part of the Kennedy Street crew, known as KDY, that authorities say is linked numerous violent and drug-related crime. The officer said one of those in the video is murder victim Braxton.

The defense and the prosecution agreed to play a series of surveillance videos for the jury to demonstrate the shooting on Longfellow Street. Two videos showed multiple individuals exit a car and sneak up on a house and begin firing shots, while other videos showed people fleeing the scene.

The prosecution called its final witness, another officer with MPD who testified about the shooting that occurred on the 800 block Oglethorpe Road, during which prosecutors claim Queen and friends were targeted hours before the Longfellow shooting.

Parties are slated to reconvene on April 29.