Case Acquitted: Witness Testimony Continues in Murder Trial

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This case was acquitted on Nov. 15, 2023.

On Oct. 26, more prosecution testimony was presented in a 2020 Homicide trial before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein.

Michael Austin, 28, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict, for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Kayvon Kinney on the 1800 block of Gainesville Street, SE, on May 24, 2020.

During the prosecution’s opening statements they said Austin was seen by multiple eyewitnesses, “running away because he killed Kayvon Kinney”

To build their case, the prosecution called a witness to describe the early morning hours of the shooting. She explained she had been driving for Uber that night and early morning, and while sitting in the car on the phone, she heard about five gunshots. Then she saw a man run to a vehicle that was parked directly in front of her car, get inside, and drive away.

The witness described the individual as a “young Black man in his 20’s,” wearing black jeans and a shirt, with something unidentifiable in his hand. She described this man as sprinting frantically to a car, and driving extremely fast, not even stopping for a traffic signal.

According to the witness, she felt the man was suspicious; therefore she wrote down the information about his car in her phone and reached out to the detective on this case.

The prosecution continued by calling a witness from the apartment complex where the incident occurred, who claimed to have seen the shooting from his bedroom window. The witness stated he was playing video games next to a window when he heard two gunshots. Then he looked out the window and saw a man standing over another man, with a gun apparently in his left hand, firing at the individual on the ground.

The witness stated that he could see light coming out of the gun so he knew the individual was shooting. According to the witness, there were only two individuals in the parking lot at the time of the shooting and described the shooter as a black individual, wearing blue jean shorts, and a white T-shirt. The witness stated he saw the individual shoot the man on the floor, and then flee on foot to the left of the parking lot, sprinting past a green Chevy truck.

Parties are set to return on Oct. 30 to resume testimony.

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