Witness Testifies About Seeing Aftermath of Crime During Homicide Trial

By Grace Raines [former] - October 27, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

During an Oct. 26 proceeding, witnesses testified about their account of a murder and physical evidence involved in a co-defendant homicide trial.

Jonathan Winston, 33, and Rakeem Willis, 31, are both charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to the shooting of 26-year-old Javon Abney, 26-year-old Sean Shuler, and 24-year-old Tyrik Hagood on Jan. 26, 2019, on the 1500 block of Fort Davis Place, SE. 

One witness discussed hearing gunshots outside his home. He said he peered through his bedroom window to see what was happening. The witness said he saw two silhouettes shooting at a vehicle. He testified that before driving away, one of the individuals inspected the victim on the street and began “messing with it.” 

The witness could not see any descriptive facial features and did not recognize either vehicle. 

Winston’s defense attorney, Errin Scialpi, questioned the witness about his eyesight. The witness didn’t have glasses on at the time of the shooting. His wife later told detectives that he couldn’t see without glasses. 

A detective was asked about his involvement in investigating a burned vehicle that was found in a wooded area in Maryland. Physical evidence retrieved from the vehicle were the remains of a firearm and bullet fragments. 

The potential connection between the vehicle and shooting has yet to be announced. 

DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan scheduled the trial to continue on Oct. 27.