Prosecutors told a jury Feb. 24 that they suspected a homicide victim was targeted because he grew marijuana inside his apartment.
Christopher Tyler, 48, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, first-degree burglary while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, attempt to commit robbery while armed, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction greater than a year. These charges stem from his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 34-year-old Nolan Edwards on the 4100 block of Ames Street, NE, on July 7, 2023. Edwards sustained four gunshot wounds.
The prosecutor argued that Tyler left Edwards, who was “bleeding” and “dying,” on the wood floor of his apartment and fled the scene. He alleged Tyler’s girlfriend owned a Ford Explorer that was seen on surveillance footage in the general location of the shooting around the time of the incident. The car has identifiable damage, says the prosecutor.
He said Tyler smoked marijuana and “boot,” a combination of marijuana and Molly–another mood altering drug–with his girlfriend on the day of the murder. The drug’s can impair clear thinking.
The two were “hanging out” at an apartment that belonged to Tyler’s girlfriend’s cousin in Southeast DC, the prosecutor said. They allegedly left that apartment and headed to Tyler’s cousin’s apartment on Ames Street, NE.
The prosecution alleged that Tyler wanted to get “money, marijuana, or anything else” from Edwards, who lived on the same floor.
The prosecution said that Edwards was an “entrepreneur” who cultivated marijuana and sold it to his friends.
Tyler knew about the marijuana because Edwards’ brother had “conversations” with him about it, the prosecution said.
However, the defense had a different story. Elizabeth Paige White, one of Tyler’s defense attorneys, said that before heading to Edward’s apartment complex, Tyler and his girlfriend were cleaning houses. White said Tyler’s girlfriend owned a residential cleaning business.
The two regularly spent time “hanging out” together at her cousin’s apartment.
White said anyone could have shot Edwards because he led a dangerous lifestyle and was a target. He had “a firearm in almost every room of his apartment, ” she said.
According to the defense, it was common knowledge that the door to the building and Edwards’ apartment were unlocked. Edwards had large amounts of drugs and his clients knew they could come and go as they pleased, White said. She said the police did not investigate a “single person” among Edwards drug customers.
However, a witness, who knew Edwards for seven years, confirmed that he owned a few registered guns, and considered himself a collector.
The witness also mentioned that Edwards was always discreet with his clients. There was never any money exchanged and Nolan would give weed as gifts. “If he was a pit bull and you pulled his tail, he would lick you, not be violent,” the witness said.
The police investigation was not conducted properly, and there is no forensic evidence tying him to the murder, White claimed.
White said the description of the shooter, given by two witnesses, did not match Tyler. According to a witness, the shooter sported a haircut. White emphasized that Tyler was bald at the time of the incident. Additionally, the suspect was identified as wearing a black shirt, but Tyler was not seen wearing a black shirt in the surveillance footage.
Parties are slated to reconvene on Feb. 25 before DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park.
