DC Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel heard testimony from a scientist with the Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) who assisted in a shooting investigation on Sept. 25.
Daquan Toland, 25, is charged with aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, and unlawful possession of ammunition.
The charges are in connection to his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting on June 2 on the 1100 block of 4th Street, SW. One individual sustained injuries.
During the trial, the scientist testified to responding to a call for a shooting on the day of the incident. The scientist noted damage to the nearby Safeway building and a wheelchair as well as clothes, casings, projectile fragments, and a firearm.
Toland’s attorney, Henry Druschel, said the area of the shooting had foot traffic and things like casings and fragments can roll or bounce. The scientist stated that she canvassed the area to the best of her ability.
The prosecution also called a litigation technology specialist for the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO). The specialist testified that his job is to help trial teams create exhibits and make video and audio easier to understand. For this trial the specialist created a compilation of surveillance footage.
The video, which was played for the jury, included footage from multiple surveillance cameras in the area. The footage focused on an individual on a bike, who prosecutor’s believe is Toland, riding around the Waterfront area. The video showed a shooting taking place between Toland and two other individuals and Toland running into the nearby Waterfront metro station.
After the jury was dismissed, parties argued about another piece of evidence the prosecution wanted to admit. The evidence included a satellite map with green markers representing the cameras and their angles with surveillance footage overlaying the map. It appears to show the path the individual on the bike took.
Druschel argued that the green markers are inaccurate and the satellite map does not appear to depict the same day or time as the surveillance footage.
Judge Israel ruled that everything is admissible except for the green markers.
Parties are slated to reconvene on Sept. 29.
