Case Acquitted: ‘This Is Not a Murder Mystery,’ Says Defense Attorney of Prosecution's Case

Thank you for reading D.C. Witness. Help us continue our mission into 2024.

Editor’s note: On Aug. 1, a jury acquitted Jarvis Jackson of all charges connected to the homicide of Deont’e Minor.

Through closing arguments, parties quarreled about a motive in a murder case before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein on July 31.

Jarvis Jackson, 42, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm from a prior conviction for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Deont’e Minor, 23, on March 20, 2021, on the 1200 block of Southern Avenue, SE.

According to court documents, Minor was in an Uber ride when he was shot in the backseat as the Uber was waiting to make a turn. The driver previously testified he took the victim to a nearby hospital immediately after the shooting. Minor later succumbed to his injuries.

David Knight, one of Jackson’s defense attorneys, told the jury “He did not have a motive to do this, he is not guilty.”

“I wanna be clear about something, this is not a murder mystery,” Knight said, adding “It is not your job to figure out who did it, it was supposed to be their job,” pointing to the prosecution.

Knight continued to cite what he saw as holes in the case stating that a knit hat and mask were found at the scene but the DNA was not Jackson’s.

Furthermore, Knight believes that Minor’s “brothers” should be considered as possible suspects. According to Knight, Minor had said that if anything happened to him to investigate someone in his circle of friends.

In response, the prosecution said “Why are they [Minor’s Brothers] rushing to the hospital if they had this grand conspiracy against him.”

However, prosecutors argued that Jackson did have a motive, a robbery allegedly committed by Minor weeks before his death.

Prosecutors said that a small amount of weed was taken from Jackson by Minor and his cousin. The prosecution continued to argue that the defendant lied to the police about not knowing the victim.

Knight expressed doubt that the robbery had even happened but said that if it had “enough marijuana for one or two people to smoke is not enough for anyone, including [Jackson], to kill someone.”

Knight responded that in Jackson’s and Minor’s phone records there was “not a single call between them, not a single text between the two.”

“No call means no robbery and no robbery means no motive, no motive means you should find Jackson is not guilty,” Knight insisted.

“It was a cold, calculated murder… the person who did this murder is Jarvis Jackson, I ask you to hold him accountable,” the prosecution told the jury.

Parties will reconvene once the jury has reached a verdict.

Case Acquitted: ‘This Is Not a Murder Mystery,’ Says Defense Attorney of Prosecution’s Case