Prosecutors Use Experts and Eyewitnesses to Build Murder Case

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Using a combination of expert testimony and eyewitness accounts, the prosecution continued to build its murder case against Shaka Haltiwanger on the third day, March 13, of his trial in District of Columbia Superior Court.

Haltiwanger, 23, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence while armed, possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device while armed, and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business.

In all, the prosecution brought nine witnesses to the stand in an effort to prove that Haltiwanger shot and killed Anthony Kelly after the pair argued Sept. 10, 2021. The crime took place on the 1400 block of 29th Street, SE.

Responding to reports of a shooting, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers found Kelly, 39, in the foyer of a Greenway neighborhood home suffering from a gunshot wound. He died later.

Questioned by prosecutors, an expert in DNA identification testified that samples matching the suspect were found on the magazine of the murder weapon as well as the victim’s jacket and inside the getaway car.

An Investigating officer noted in his testimony that a set of keys was found in a jacket at the crime scene. The keys allegedly opened the vehicle that was used to hide the murder weapon.

Another officer testified that he saw a white car drive by that appeared suspicious, but he was unable to stop it. That investigator also found a firearm lodged in the wheel well of a nearby car after reports that Haltiwanger had been “fiddling with it.”

However, a fingerprint specialist for the MPD was unable to match Haltiwanger’s prints with the gun or the wheel well where the weapon was found. An MPD toxicologist stated that both the victim and Haltiwanger had been drinking at the time of the shooting. Kelly’s blood alcohol content was almost four times the legal limit.

In cross examination, Haltiwanger’s attorney, Wole Falodun, suggested that Kelly might have provoked a fight as an “angry drunk.”

Another witness told the jury that Haltiwanger was required to check in with her every week as part of his release conditions for a pending felony charge from 2020. However, he failed to show up for an appointment three days before the shooting.

Prosecutors also brought a woman to the stand who lives in the building where the original confrontation between Haltiwanger and Kelly took place. She testified that over a stairwell, she overheard someone state “I’m gonna drag your ass.” Moments later, she said she heard a gunshot, and immediately called the police.

Falodun countered by getting the woman to admit she couldn’t identify the source of the voices.

Another witness said she saw someone hide near the car used to hide the murder weapon. The individual drove off in another car.

The trial is set to resume on March 14.