Victim’s Family Cried Out As Prosecutors Displayed Autopsy Images For Jury

By Zakiyia Ortiz [former] - October 26, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On Oct. 26, prosecutors resumed an ongoing homicide trial by bringing the assistant chief medical examiner from Maryland to explain each puncture wound on a victim displayed in court.

Derek Turner, 31, and Ronnika Jennings, 44, are charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and conspiracy in connection to the shooting of 28-year-old Andrew McPhatter on March 5, 2017, on the 3500 block of Wheeler Road, SE. 

The third co-defendant, 33-year-old, Duan Hill, is charged with conspiracy and obstruction of justice in this matter.

Turner is also charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 23-year-old Devin Hall on Jan. 7, 2017, on the 3500 block of 6th Street, SE.

The medical examiner identified McPhatter’s punctures through the right side of his cheek that moved up to the right frontal side of the brain, the right side of his butt, right hip, back right thigh that fractured his femur, inner aspect left thigh, and his right forearm.

As the photos displayed for the jury, the victim’s family cried out.

Turner’s defense attorney, Michael Madden, cross-examined the witness, inquiring if she had identified any evidence of McPatter’s puncture wounds being inflicted at a close-range firing disposition.

The witness identified there weren’t any signs of gunpowder or abrasions found on his body because the shots had to be fired outside of a two feet proximity or through objects. 

A Metropolitan Patrol Officer testified as the first officer that was called to the 3500 block of Wheeler Road, SE.

According to the officer, he was in a scout car working on a police report in front of Holiday Liquor. He was there to alleviate and dissuade members of the community from selling drugs and surrounding that location. 

The officer heard multiple gunshots and went on the radio to report what he had heard and that he was going to respond to the area. The officer turned left out of the Holiday Liquor parking lot and proceeded toward the direction of the noise. 

A young male ran in front of his patrol car towards a parking lot that was located behind an elementary school that approached the intersection of Wheeler Road. The officer then heard screaming and saw a dog running in the same direction as the unidentified male. 

Prosecutors displayed the body-worn camera of the officer driving twenty feet toward the intersection to find a motionless vehicle sitting at an angle nearly in the middle of the intersection with the engine running and bullet holes in the driver’s door.

The officer carefully opened the door of the vehicle because the window was very tinted. The officer found a black male victim slumped over with his head laying in the passenger seat, his torso sitting on the passenger seat of the vehicle, with his legs still on the driver-side floor panel. 

This victim was later identified as McPhatter.  He was shot five times through the driver’s side of his door.

A 40-caliber gun and ten millimeters of cartridges were recovered. One live casing was loaded into the firearm. This gun was found on Andrew McPhatter in his waistline.

Another MPD Officer took the stand to testify that he was the first responding officer to the Feb. 22, 2017 shooting that occurred on Alabama Avenue. 

Prosecutors also displayed the body-worn camera footage of the officer responding to two black males behind a burgundy Cadillac surrounded by members of the DC community in chaos. One male was shot multiple times in the lower abdomen and another male suffered a lower extremity injury from avoiding the shot. 

The next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 27.