Judge Reschedules Murder Trial to Begin Sooner

By Jay McDonald [former] - January 20, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Parties in a murder case agreed to reschedule the defendants’ trial to begin approximately one month earlier.

Co-defendants Tony Morgan and Martinez Raynor are accused of traveling to a holiday market on the 3500 block of Wheeler Road, SE, in a stolen SUV and opening fire on Oct. 20, 2018. Malik McCloud, 19, was killed in the shooting.

Morgan, 28, was arrested on Dec. 5, 2019. Raynor, 22, was arrested five days later. Morgan is charged with first-degree murder while armed. Raynor is charged with felony murder while armed.

The two were previously set to go to trial on Aug. 8. But during a Jan. 20 hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan said she is scheduled to go on leave and won’t be available to preside over the trial at that time. Because of this, parties agreed to reschedule the trial to begin on July 6. 

Parties are slated to reconvene on March 16 for a status hearing.

Attorneys for both defendants have filed emergency release motions citing the conditions of confinement at DC Jail. Judge Neal Kravitz, who was previously assigned to the case, will address these. 

Morgan is also charged with conspiracy, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill while armed and unlawful possession of a firearm in this case.

Raynor is charged with conspiracy, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol without license outside a home or business and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance while armed.