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By
Brigette Bagley
- March 3, 2025
Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Shooting
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Two co-defendants pleaded not guilty in a fatal shooting arraignment before DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman on Feb. 28.
Emmanuel Lewis, 35, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a license outside his home or business, and tampering with physical evidence for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Kwame Keith, 25, on the 1800 block of Fairlawn Avenue, SE on Oct. 30, 2023.
George Pendleton, 43, is charged with accessory after the fact to murder and tampering with physical evidence for his alleged involvement in the same incident.
Before going through the arraignment, the defense attorney for Lewis, Russell Hairston, requested his client be released pending the trial through GPS monitoring or 24-hour home confinement. The prosecution objected due to the severity of the case, especially tampering with physical evidence.
Judge Edelman declined the request, adding that the defendant was on probation at the time of the incident and he has multiple priors, which “would make a release challenging.”
Once arraigned, Pendleton and his attorney, Bryan Bookhard, reviewed the current terms of his release with Judge Edelman with a representative from DC’s Pretrial Service Agency (PSA) after failing to report for multiple drug tests.
Judge Edelman agreed to continue Pendleton’s pre-trial release, so long as he attends an intensive outpatient drug treatment program. On behalf of his client, Bookhard said he will voluntarily commit to inpatient treatment, as Pendleton wants to “appropriately address his substance issues.”
Judge Edelman responded, “I don’t see you as someone not taking this seriously. I want you to go get help.”
Parties for Pendleton will reconvene on May 2.
All parties in the co-defendant matter will reconvene for trial on June 8, 2026.