In their opening statement prosecutors say a homicide was an act fueled by retribution in a trial before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan on March 19.
Deonte Patterson, 28, is charged with premeditated first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and obstruction of justice for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 32-year-old, Ali Jamil Al-Mahdi, on Aug. 23, 2021 on the 1800 block of 9th Street, NW.
Prosecutors argue Patterson shot and killed Al-Mahdi as payback for a confrontation the two had two years prior during which Al-Mahdi shot Patterson in the leg. Patterson never got over it, and when the opportunity presented itself, he got his revenge, according to the prosecutor.
The prosecution alleged that on the night of the incident, Patterson left a club with his girlfriend and another friend. As they were walking to their car, Patterson allegedly spotted Al-Mahdi in the crosswalk and ambushed him. The prosecution told the jury that they would see “bullet holes all across [Al-Mahid’s] car as he tried to avoid the defendant’s shots.”
The prosecution emphasized that the jury can expect to hear five different kinds of evidence: eyewitness testimony, surveillance videos, firearm and ballistic evidence, crime scene reconstruction analysis, and DNA analysis.
When the ballistics analyst took the stand, he presented evidence consistent with the prosecution’s opening statement that there were defects across a car, possibly caused by bullets. He also specifically noted that there were several pieces of physical evidence that pointed to the shooting like shell casings and projectile fragments as well as a bullet recovered from underneath the car.
Parties are slated to reconvene March 20.
