Victor Coley’s Release Pending Before Retrial of 2013 Homicide

By Sylvie Sussman [former] - July 19, 2023
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On July 19, DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan alerted parties he is set to release Victor Coley while he awaits retrial.

Coley, 60, was found guilty in 2015 for his involvement in a shooting that injured four on Nov. 6, 2013 on the 3900 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE. He was accused of assault with intent to kill, possession of a firearm, along with eleven other charges.

In 2021, one of Coley’s victims, 65-year-old Dennis Foster, allegedly died from gunshot wounds sustained in the 2013 shooting.  As a result, new murder charges were filed against Coley.

On June 23, the murder trial resulted in a hung jury.

On July 12, an outstanding warrant for Coley’s arrest in Maryland stopped Judge Ryan from releasing Coley. Judge Ryan granted the defense a week to get rid of the order.

Defense attorneys Jesse Winograd and Carrie Weletz were unable to remove the warrant. However, Winograd said that after talking to Maryland authorities, it was unlikely that they would pursue Coley. 

Coley will remain in the DC Jail until Monday, which would be the last day Maryland officials would be legally allowed to take him into custody. After that, Coley will be eligible for placement in a residential recovery facility in Southeast DC. 

The Maryland action is in regards to a second-degree assault charge in 2011. The active warrant was issued in November 2013, shortly after Coley was taken into custody for the DC shooting.

The next status hearing will take place July 25.