Shooting Victim’s Best Friend Testifies During Murder Trial

By Beatriz Canals [former] - November 7, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

Victim’s best friend testified to feeling pressured from the prosecution to provide certain responses during a Nov. 3 trial. 

Derek Turner, 31, and co-defendant Ronnika Jennings, 44, are charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and conspiracy in connection with the shooting of 28-year-old Andrew McPhatter on March 5, 2017, on the 3500 block of Wheeler Road, SE. 

Jennings is specifically accused of sharing criminal intelligence with Turner during her time working as a clerk for the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The third co-defendant Duan Hill, 33, is charged with conspiracy and obstruction of justice. 

Turner is also charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 23-year-old Devin Hall on Jan. 7, 2017, on the 3500 block of 6th Street, SE.

The evidence presented during Thursday’s trial pertained to the McPhatter shooting, as well as another Feb. 17, 2017, shooting in which he was involved. 

McPhatter’s best friend testified about being shot during the Feb. 17, 2017, shooting, saying he was with McPhatter in a parking lot when they saw a white car drive by. 

He testified that he was shot on his lower thigh and that he spent one day in the hospital in recovery. 

The prosecution particularly focused on the eyewitness’s Grand Jury testimony on Oct. 5, 2017. 

The witness described the shooter as a Black man wearing a white shirt, blue jeans, and a black mask. The witness told the Grand Jury that the shooter had dreadlocks but during the ongoing trial he said that he was unsure about his hairstyle. 

“Who fired first,” asked the prosecutor. The witness responded that “the man with the mask” fired first and McPhatter fired back. 

During the cross-examination, Turner’s defense attorney confirmed that the witness did not know the shooter’s identity.  

When asked about his drinking habits, the witness said he was “probably drinking about a fifth” of tequila, as well as smoking marijuana during the time of the incident. 

The defense attorney asked if this use of alcohol affected the witness’s memory of Feb. 17, 2017 and Oct. 5, 2017, as well as his ability to currently “remember or understand at all.”  

The witness responded “yes.” 

Finally, the defense attorney asked: “Do you feel that you’ve received any pressure from the U.S. attorney’s office to provide any answers?” 

“Yes,” the witness responded. 

“Do you remember what I said about there being two rules,” the prosecutor said during redirect. “Rule number one is to tell the truth and rule number two is don’t forget rule number one.” 

DC Superior Court Judge Marisa J. Demeo concluded that the witness was competent, clarifying that he did not slur, did not have bloodshot eyes, and did not appear intoxicated. 

The prosecution also introduced a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer that responded to the scene of the Feb. 17, 2017 shooting. 

The prosecutor displayed footage from the witness’s body-worn camera (BWC) that showed the victim of the shooting saying that the shooter was a “Black male with long dreads.”  

The trial is set to continue on Nov. 7.