Second Trial Begins for Murder Defendant

By D.C. Witness Staff - July 8, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

The second trial for a man who allegedly murdered two men began July 8. 

Terik McLeod, 33, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Devaun Drayton and with first-degree murder while armed with aggrivating circumstances for allegedly shooting Cartlton Fisher. The shooting of Drayton, 17, occurred on the 700 block of 26th Street, NE on March 10, 2004. The shooting of Fisher, 23, occurred on October 1, 2006, on the 1100 block of 21st Street, NE. McLeod’s first trial resulted in a hung jury.

Carlton Fisher

During the prosecution’s opening argument, counsel said the murder of Drayton is what led to the murder of Fisher. Apparently, Fisher told police that McLeod was responsible for Drayton’s death, breaking the “no snitching” rule. As a consequence, the prosecution said McLeod killed Fisher. 

Even though the prosecutor told the jury that there was no scientific evidence in the case, but he said it wouldn’t be necessary because there was ample witness testimony.

According to the prosecution, Drayton was murdered because he stole a gun, lied about it, and didn’t give it back.

Devaun Drayton

Apparently, Drayton asked David Warren, a good friend of his, if he could have a gun. Warren wanted to sell the firearm to McLeod, so he allowed Drayton to borrow the gun under the condition that he’d give it back. However, the prosecution said, Drayton did not give the gun back and lied about it, saying he no longer had it. 

The prosecution called a former police officer for the Metropolitan Police Department, who had been one of the first responders to the scene. 

The officer said none of the witnesses provided her with any information about who shot Drayton. 

The prosecution also called a woman who lived near the scene of the crime. She said she was home when she heard a “pow,” which she said sounded like “the backfire of a truck.” She said she saw a body lying at the bottom of the steps behind the playground. She said she did not see anyone else near the body at that time. 

The witness said she had seen Drayton earlier that morning, hanging out by the top of the steps with three other men. She said she saw him every day. She also mentioned that the men who were at the scene when she arrived were not the same men she saw Drayton hanging out with earlier. 

A former forensics officer, who had been the lead technician processing the crime scene, said DNA testing was not conducted on any items of evidence, including a red car that was on the scene and two sandwiches. 

The witness also said he did not test anyone who was present at the scene of the crime for gunpowder residue or DNA since he did not have a search warrant and because no suspect had been identified on the scene who would need to be tested. 

The trial is scheduled to resume on July 9.