Note: This column normally appears on Saturdays. It is back today after a two-week absence due to some family emergencies.
In brief:
- Ronald Page was released from jail, following a preliminary hearing on first-degree murder charges in the shooting death of his step-son Nicholas Satcher.
- Shawn Davis was arrested Jan. 13 on first-degree murder charges in the stabbing death of Georgetown University Hospital employee Tawanna Barnes Copeland in her Southwest D.C. apartment Dec. 7.
- The United States Attorney’s Office has promised a renewed effort to investigate unsolved murders in D.C.
- Bill Mitchell, 33, was shot to death late Wednesday night near Truxton Circle.
- Ramona Gray pleaded guilty Friday Jan. 21 in the stabbing death of Shemese Grant on Aug. 31 in a parking lot on Good Hope Road SE.
Ronald Page was released from jail Jan. 14, following a preliminary hearing on a first-degree murder charge in the shooting death of his step-son Nicholas Satcher. Page may face a second-degree murder charge instead of first-degree in the case. In the hearing Jan. 14, Page’s attorney argued that Page planned to only scare Satcher and his son and intended to fire the gun at the ceiling, but when the two boys “lunged at him” Satcher was fatally shot.
Shawn Davis was arrested Jan. 13 on first-degree murder charges in the stabbing death of Georgetown University Hospital employee Tawanna Barnes Copeland in her Southwest D.C. apartment Dec. 7. According to charging documents in the case, Davis was an ex-boyfriend of Copeland’s and the two had remained in touch after their Septmeber 2010 break-up.
The United States Attorney’s Office has promised a renewed effort to investigate unsolved murders in D.C. This week, U.S. Attorney Ron Machen said a new unit with three investigators will work with Metro Police to try to solve the cold cases.
Bill Mitchell, 33, was shot to death late Wednesday night near Truxton Circle. Mitchell may have been killed when he came to the aid of a woman who was being “hassled” by another man. According to the Washington Post, Mitchell volunteered at the U.S. Botanic Gardens and was a tutor with the nonprofit mentoring program Horton’s Kids in Northeast.
Ramona Gray pleaded guilty Friday Jan. 21 in the stabbing death of Shemese Grant on Aug. 31 in a parking lot on Good Hope Road SE. Gray could be sentenced to 22 to 26 years in prison. In court she apologized to Grant’s family. “I think about what I did every day,” she said.
On a personal note, thanks to everyone for all the well-wishes after this week’s profile of Homicide Watch in the Washington Post. Your support and encouragement is appreciated and we look forward to building Homicide Watch into an even better resource in the near future. If you would like to be involved in any way, e-mail Laura or Chris at HomicideWatchDC [at] gmail.com.
