Victim’s Brother Testifies of Trauma in Double Homicide

By Namita Nair , Lily Engel - June 14, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A homicide victim’s brother explained the impact of the loss before a jury in DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe’s courtroom on June 13. 

Beysean Jones, 29, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder while armed and assault with intent to kill while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shootings of Ronald Brown, 19, and Tijuan Wilson, 41. The incident occurred on July 27, 2022 on the 4300 block of 4th Street, SE. Wilson’s wife  sustained gunshot wounds during the incident, but survived. 

Wilson’s brother took the stand to recount the events of the shooting on July 27, as he was with Tijuan when the shooting occurred. “My whole life has changed,” he said.

According to Wilson’s brother, the shooting took place outside where Wilson, his wife, and Wilson’s brother were standing near his vehicle. Their car, a Dodge Hellcat, was parked in a lot that was occupied by multiple vehicles. 

The witness testified that a Kia parked in a spot near their vehicle. Wilson’s brother recounted seeing six men get out of the car including Brown, who he asserts was driving the car. 

While exiting the car, Wilson’s brother recalled Brown arguing with another passenger, overhearing that they were “into too much stuff” to be out. 

After overhearing the argument, Wilson’s brother testified, he noticed a dark-colored Honda parked in a nearby spot, which no one exited immediately. 

Wilson’s brother remembered looking back at the Honda a little later and seeing two men with firearms right before the shooting started. 

Upon hearing gunfire, Wilson’s brother testified, he dove to the ground and recalled that the shooting sounded faster than the “normal” rate of gunfire. When asked on cross examination by defense attorney Carrie Weletz, the brother claimed that he is “100 percent” sure that the men in the Honda shot first. 

An eyewitness testified to seeing a person sitting on the passenger side car door of the Honda, shooting towards the direction of where the Hellcat and Brown were. 

When the shooting stopped, Wilson’s brother testified, he could hear his sister-in-law screaming for help, but Wilson remained unresponsive. He then called 911 and went to help Wilson who was by the trunk of the Hellcat. 

According to the brother, when first responders arrived, Wilson was pronounced dead at the scene from his wounds and Brown died from his injuries later that night at the hospital. 

Wilson’s Brother stated that there was bullet hole damage to his car on the right side of the vehicle which was the side closer to the Kia Brown from which exited.