A total of thirty new charges were added today to the cases against five young people accused in last year’s violent South Capitol Street shooting.
The charges, consisting mostly of conspiracy and counts of assault with intent to kill, mean that Sanquan Carter, 20, his brother, Orlando Carter, 21, Jeffrey D. Best, 22, Robert Bost, 22, and Lamar J. Williams, 22, all could be sentenced to life without parole if convicted.
The men are charged with murdering Jordan Howe, 20, Brishell Jones, 16, Davaughn Boyd, 18 and William Jones, 19, and Tavon Nelson, 17, and shooting nine others.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office,
The superseding indictment links together a series of violent incidents that occurred within just eight days: the March 22, 2010 murder of Jordan Howe, and the shooting of two other individuals in the 1300 block of Alabama Avenue SE; the March 23, 2010 shooting of Orlando Carter in the area of 6th and Chesapeake Streets SE, and the multiple homicides and shootings that occurred on March 30, 2010, including the attack on South Capitol Street.
The indictment alleges that the killing of Howe led Howe’s associates to carry out the retaliatory shooting of Orlando Carter, and that, in turn, led Orlando Carter and others to launch the March 30 attacks, which took place soon after Howe’s funeral.
The full text of the U.S. Attorney’s Office press release, and the indictment, is below.
Five Men Face New Charges For Roles In Crimes That Led to Five Murders, Nine Other Shootings Superseding Indictment Includes New Charges From Violence on South Capitol Street
WASHINGTON – A 54-count superseding indictment was returned today in the South Capitol Street murder case, adding new charges against those accused of murder and other crimes in those shootings, as well as new charges stemming from related violence.
The superseding indictment, returned by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, was announced by U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
It adds a total of 30 new charges against five individuals who previously were indicted in December 2010. The indictment provides new details about the attacks, as well as new charges including counts of conspiracy, assault with intent to kill while armed, and other offenses.
The defendants, all from Washington, D.C., include: Sanquan Carter, 20, also known as “Bootsie;” his brother, Orlando Carter, 21, also known as “Lando” or “Dough;” Jeffrey D. Best, 22, also known as “Dro,” “Little Dro,” or “J.B.;” Robert Bost, 22, also known as “Little Rob” or “Chuck,” and Lamar J. Williams, 22, also known as “Neph” or Nephew.” All have been in custody since their arrests last year.
The superseding indictment links together a series of violent incidents that occurred within just eight days: the March 22, 2010 murder of Jordan Howe, and the shooting of two other individuals in the 1300 block of Alabama Avenue SE; the March 23, 2010 shooting of Orlando Carter in the area of 6th and Chesapeake Streets SE, and the multiple homicides and shootings that occurred on March 30, 2010, including the attack on South Capitol Street.
The indictment alleges that the killing of Howe led Howe’s associates to carry out the retaliatory shooting of Orlando Carter, and that, in turn, led Orlando Carter and others to launch the March 30 attacks, which took place soon after Howe’s funeral.
All told, the indictment contains charges pertaining to or stemming from five murders and nine shootings that did not result in death.
Sanquan Carter, Orlando Carter, Best and Williams earlier were charged with the murder of Jordan Howe, 20. The superseding indictment adds charges against the men of conspiracy, assault with intent to kill while armed and other offenses in connection with this crime.
Sanquan Carter was arrested and detained on the morning of March 23, 2010. The other defendants are charged with shootings that took place while he was in custody.
The violence on the night of March 30, 2010, at two locations, left four people dead and six wounded; another victim nearly was hit, with bullets missing her by inches. The superseding indictment adds new charges against Orlando Carter, Best, Bost and Williams of conspiracy, assault with intent to kill while armed, mayhem while armed, and other offense to the various crimes that previously were charged as a result of this night of violence.
Orlando Carter, Best and Bost previously were charged with murder and other offenses in the killing of Tavon Nelson, 17, in the unit block of Galveston Street SW.
Orlando Carter, Best, Bost and Williams previously were charged with the violence that erupted soon after that, in the 4000 block of South Capitol Street. That gunfire led to the deaths of Brishell Jones, 16, Davaughn Boyd, 18 and William Jones, 19 and the wounding of six others.
Each of those charged with the South Capitol Street shootings faces, upon conviction of appropriate counts, a sentence of life without the possibility of release.
An indictment is merely a formal allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.
U.S. Attorney Machen indicated that the work of the grand jury is ongoing, and that additional charges against additional individuals still could be returned through another superseding indictment.
In announcing today’s developments, U.S. Attorney Machen and Chief Lanier commended the excellent work of the MPD. They also acknowledged the valuable contributions to the investigation made by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, as well as the State’s Attorney’s Office for Montgomery County, Maryland. Finally, they commended the work of those who have worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Brittin and Bruce R. Hegyi, who are prosecuting the case.
