Judge Finds Probable Cause in Teen Murder

By Beatriz Olivares [former] - June 10, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

A judge found probable cause in a homicide case where a teenager allegedly shot another teenager. 

Eugene Williams,17, is accused of shooting Deshawn Francis,16, on Feb. 8 on the Unit Block of Chesapeake Street, SE. Francis suffered a gunshot wound to the head and succumbed to his injuries three days later. Williams was charged with first-degree murder while armed on April 29 and has been held at the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) since. 

The preliminary hearing spanned over two days and concluded with DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan making a finding of probable cause on June 3. 

During the first day of the proceedings on June 2, the prosecutor played video footage from the Unit Block of Chesapeake Street, SE, that supported the lead detective’s testimony, showing Williams walking to the passenger side of a red dodge challenger, where Francis was seated. In the footage, he then ran away from the car while firing multiple gunshots toward Francis. 

Defense attorneys Kevann Gardner and Hannah Claudio attempted to cast doubt on the detective’s first witness who did not know who shot Francis when he initially made the emergency call. The witness did not identify Williams as the suspect until well after the shooting.

However, it was concluded that the witness’s arguments were corroborated by electronic and physical evidence. 

Even though Williams’s mother and stepfather, who were present in the courtroom, wished to address the court, time constraints prevented them from doing so.

In support of her son, Williams’s mother brought a picture board of Williams and placed it next to her during the hearing. Upon seeing the video footage, Williams’s mother became emotional and had to briefly leave the courtroom.

Judge Raffinan found probable cause that if the case were to go to trial, there would be enough evidence to convict Wiliams. A trial date has not been set yet, but Williams will remain in custody until his next scheduled hearing on July 27.