Three homicide co-defendants accepted a prosecution offer, pleading guilty to second degree-murder before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz during a June 27 hearing.  Tyler Stringfield, 23, Raymond Avent, 24, and Keith Baham, 26, were originally charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of destruction of property $1000 or more, fleeing a law enforcement officer, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle, conspiracy, two counts of possession of an unregistered firearm, two counts of unlawful possession of ammunition, two counts of possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, leaving after colliding property damage/injury to animal, destruction of property less than $1000, and two counts of carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business.  The charges stem from their involvement in the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Rafiq Hawkins on March 23, 2019, on the 1200 block of Brentwood Road, NE.  The prosecution offer required them to plead guilty to second-degree murder while armed and carrying a pistol without a license, in exchange for the prosecution's dismissing all other charges.   Also through the deal, prosecutors agreed to dismiss Avent’s case in which he is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for allegedly stabbing another inmate on June 3, 2021 in the DC Jail, and Baham’s other case, in which he is charged with assault with intent to kill for his alleged involvement in another jail stabbing on Feb. Read more »

A homicide defendant will not seek an insanity defense as he was found to be mentally competent to stand trial, defense attorney, Steven Kiersh told DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz at a hearing on June 20.  Gerald Brevard, 33, is charged with first-degree murder premeditated while armed, five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, three counts of carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict, two counts of assault with intent to kill, aggravated assault, mayhem, unlawful possession of a firearm with prior conviction for a crime of violence, and destruction of property worth less than $1,000 due to his alleged involvement in three incidents.  The charges stem from his alleged involvement in a shooting and stabbing of 54-year-old Morgan Holmes on March 9, 2022 on the 400 block of New York Avenue, NE, committing a drive-by shooting on March 3, 2022 on the 900 block of Mount Olivet Street, NE which left one person injured, and a shooting on March 8, 2022, at the intersection of 17th and H Streets, NE which left another person wounded. Read more »

A murder defendant accepted a plea deal from prosecutors before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz during a June 27 hearing.  Eliexander Lopez-Burgos, 24, was originally charged with premeditated first-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his involvement in the fatal shooting of Carlos Blanco Fernandez, 38, on the 2200 block of New York Ave, NE, on Nov 16. Read more »

A homicide defendant was sentenced to 11 years with five years of supervised release by DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on July 2, with the the shooting victim's mother present for the hearing.  On April 4, Antwain Ulmer, 20, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon for his involvement in the fatal shooting of Charles Sullivan, 30, on July 9, 2023, on the 700 block of Kenilworth Avenue, NE.  Through the deal, parties agreed to a sentencing range of ten-to-16 years of imprisonment.  The prosecution believed that there was a motive and aggravating circumstances behind the attack and requested Ulmer receive 16 years in prison for the incident, while his defense attorney, Frances D'Antuono argued that Ulmer acted in fear and suggested 10 years as appropriate punishment.  Sullivan’s mother gave a victim impact statement demanding justice for her son, and to see Ulmer get the maximum time in prison. Read more »

The prosecution delivered closing arguments before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz in a three-month-long mass shooting trial on June 25. Read more »

A defendant in a six-defendant trial demanded a mistrial based on fears the jury would be unfair in a trial before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on June 24. Read more »

A stabbing defendant rejected a plea offer before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on June 17. Read more »

A fleet manager for the stolen car the prosecution says was used in a mass shooting testified before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on June 16.  Erwin Dubose, 31, Kamar Queen, 28, Damonta Thompson, 28, and William Johnson-Lee, 22, are charged with conspiracy, premeditated first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, among other charges, for their alleged involvement in the mass shooting that killed 31-year-old Donnetta Dyson, 24-year-old Keenan Braxton, and 37-year-old Johnny Joyner. Read more »

DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz heard from witnesses, including a detective and investigative analyst, in a mass shooting case with six co-defendants during a hearing on June 18. Read more »

Prosecutors continued to question an investigative analyst from the US Attorney’s Office who compiled a dataset of six co-defendants' Instagram accounts and messages before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on June 17.  Erwin Dubose, 31, Kamar Queen, 28, Damonta Thompson, 28, and William Johnson-Lee, 22, are charged with conspiracy, premeditated first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, among other charges, for their alleged involvement in the mass shooting that killed 31-year-old Donnetta Dyson, 24-year-old Keenan Braxton, and 37-year-old Johnny Joyner. Read more »

The prosecution in a murder case argued before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on June 12 for the detention of a defendant who was initially released by DC Superior Court Judge Anita Josey-Herring last month. Read more »

An ex-girlfriend of a triple homicide defendant is said to be involved in an ongoing murder trial before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on June 9th. Read more »

A shooting defendant waived his right to independently test DNA evidence on June 6 before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz.  Demarco Bates, 28, is charged with four counts of assault with intent to kill, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, two counts of destruction of property less than $1000, and possession of a controlled substance. Read more »

Two co-defendants pleaded not guilty to a formal reading of their charges stemming from a nonfatal shooting before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on June 6.  Demarco Hayes, 22, and Donte Bennett, 27, are charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and aggravated assault knowingly while armed. Read more »

Attorneys for mass shooting suspects raised concerns over so-called bad-faith investigative practices by the prosecution in analyzing cell-site data before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on June 4. Read more »