Witnesses Testify Murder Victim Had A Violent History

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The defense in a murder trial called witnesses on April 7 who say they were stabbed by Delonte King, 34, the ultimate victim. DC Court records indicate King had a lengthy record and a violent past.

The case is being argued before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt.

Demonte Gibson, 27 and Asani Forte, 27, are charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, conspiracy, assault with a dangerous weapon, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and destruction of property for their alleged involvement in the fatal shooting and murder of King, which occurred on Nov. 3, 2021, on the 2800 block of 14th Street, NW. Gibson also has an additional charge of unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction.

Gibson’s defense attorneys, Kevann Gardner and Elizabeth White, called the witnesses to characterize what they say was King’s violent behavior.

One testified about being stabbed multiple times on June 7, 2020, the victim’s birthday. According to the witness, the attack was completely unprovoked and “happened out of nowhere.” The witness did not know the attacker. Later testimony from a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer revealed King as the suspect.

Shortly after, an MPD sergeant testified about two stabbings on June 6 and 7, 2020, deeming King the suspect in both. According to the sergeant, the cases were closed with King’s arrest. During cross-examination, the sergeant confirmed that the victims did not know the suspect and that the MPD sergeant was unable to interview King.

Another officer from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) testified about responding to a stabbing incident in a park in October 2021.

The victim testified that they about being attacked with a knife and stabbed multiple times in the face and upper body, and that the attack was unprovoked and that the victim’s memory of the event was not clouded by drugs or alcohol.

The detective who was in charge of the investigation identified King as their suspect. However, they were unable to interview King before his death.

A review of DC Court records shows that an individual named Delonte Terrell King was the subject of twenty prosecutions between 2004 and 2020. In a 2020 case, King was arrested in connection to stabbing incidents near Howard University. In Feb. 2021 King was sentenced to 24 months for attempted assault with a dangerous weapon some eight months before his murder. A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) confirms that King was the murder victim in the current case.

Parties are slated to reconvene on April 8.