Victim Killed Outside of DC, Defense Says

By D.C. Witness Staff - March 28, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

During a preliminary hearing March 28, the defense said a victim may have been killed outside of the District of Columbia and therefore the court doesn’t have jurisdiction.

Co-defendants Marcel Vines, 22, and Malique Lewis, 20, are charged with first-degree murder while armed for their alleged involement in the shooting of 23-year-old Kerrice Lewis on the 800 block of Adrian Street, SE in 2017.

Kerrice’s murder coincides with the death of 27-year-old Armani Coles. The case is being handled in Maryland. It is unclear whether Vines and Malique are being charged in connection to Coles’ death.

According to court documents, there are witnesses and cell data evidence that corroborate Vines and Lewis are connected to the shooting of Coles, whose body was pushed out of a vehicle in Maryland. The defense said the witness’s account is reason enough to believe that Kerrice may have been shot outside of DC, too.

Court documents state that Kerrice was found in the trunk of a burning vehicle in a DC alley. The defense said that ballistic evidence, which includes shell casings found at the scene, suggests there is a possibility she was shot elsewhere and moved.

D.C. Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson disagreed with the defense and said that there is reasonable probability that Kerrice was killed within DC’s jurisdiction.

A detective told the court that a witness saw two men in DC shooting into the trunk of the vehicle and fleeing the area in a black sedan. Judge Dayson said that witnesses and cell phone data place both defendants in the vicinity of the crime scene at the time of the murder.

Judge Dayson also said there is a possibility that the co-defendants kidnapped Kerrice within the District. She said that while there is not sufficient evidence to assume that Coles was kidnapped, there is reason to believe that Kerrice was forcibly carried away and detained since she was found in the trunk of a vehicle.

D.C. Witness previously reported that witnesses told police Kerrice and Coles’ murders were in retaliation for the death of 23-year-old Ronzay Green, who was killed on the same day. The witnesses said Kerrice set Green up to get robbed and is responsible for his death. Following Green’s death, witnesses reported overhearing Vines say “this isn’t fair,” and “someone needs to pay.”

Ashton Briscoe is also charged with Kerrice’s murder. Judge Dayson said there is evidence that Briscoe, 24, acted as a lookout and getaway driver. Briscoe is scheduled for a felony status conference on May 29.

Vines and Malique are scheduled for a felony status conference on May 23.