Shooting Case in Maryland Delays DC Homicide Trial

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A shooting case in Prince George’s County Maryland has delayed a homicide case in DC. The defense and prosecution were hesitant to predict their trial date will stay on track in a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan on Sep. 25.

Gerald Thomas, 21, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, second-degree murder while armed, four counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, attempted kidnapping while armed, carrying a pistol without a license, and seven counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, for his alleged involvement in a mass shooting that resulted in the death of Dasha Cleary, 20, on Jan. 27, 2022, on the 4400 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW. The incident left four others injured.

According to court documents, 11 individuals attended a party at a Days Inn hotel. When Thomas arrived, he allegedly fired multiple rounds into the room, striking his girlfriend, three other individuals, and killing Cleary.

At the hearing, Dominique Winters, Thomas’ defense attorney, waived his presence, citing his detention in Prince George’s County in connection to an unrelated matter. Thomas is the primary suspect in two separate shootings that took place in Bowie, MD, on Nov. 15. No one was injured.

According to Winters, she has had trouble getting into contact with Thomas’ attorney in the Maryland matter to go over a global plea offer provided by the prosecution which could resolve all cases. She has spoken to Thomas himself and predicts that he will likely not accept the deal.

The prosecution also shared that they have had similar struggles getting into contact with the prosecution in PG County, and they have not received much information.

Both parties are uncertain if the trial date in Maryland will affect the DC trial, which is scheduled to begin May 19, 2025. Maryland has already pushed back their date several months, from August to October.

Parties are slated to reconvene on Nov. 13.