Shooting Suspect Removed From Court After Interrupting Judge

By Laura Berol - July 16, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt ordered Christopher Wise transferred to St. Elizabeths Hospital for further evaluation on July 12, after receiving a report from the DC Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) he is legally incompetent to stand trial. The hearing was punctuated by repeated outbursts from the defendant who was ultimately ejected from the courtroom.

Wise, 34, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, unlawful entry, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting on June 12 on the 4100 block of Hayes Street, NE. The incident left one person injured.

However, he claims that another victim, this one of a fatal shooting whose remains were found in an attic, was demonically possessed. Wise said he wasn’t involved in either incident.

At the July 12 hearing, Wise repeatedly interrupted Judge Brandt.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, is she saying that I’m incompetent to understand what’s going on in trial?” Wise said aloud when he heard the results of the DBH report. 

“I think you forget whose courtroom this is,” Judge Brandt told Wise, warning him to remain quiet or be expelled.

Judge Brandt accepted a motion by Richard Holliday, Wise’s defense attorney, to withdraw from the case. Although Wise had asked at a previous hearing to represent himself, Judge Brandt said that she had arranged forJanai Reed to represent him.

US Marshals finally removed Wise from the courtroom after he shouted at someone, “I didn’t shoot your son. He’s into devil worship.”

According to court documents, the victim reported to Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers that Wise shot him inside a vacant building. When officers arrived, Wise came outside and said his friend was in the attic, dead. Police subsequently found the body of James Edward King III, who had apparently been shot in the head. 

Arrest documents report that Wise denied shooting either the victim or King. Wise told MPD detectives that King had summoned a demon. Wise said he had spent the previous two days in the attic with King’s body.

Judge Brandt apologized for Wise’s behavior, saying it was important to her that everyone in the courtroom be treated with respect.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on Aug. 26.