In the mix of murder cases that parade through DC Superior Court, the death of Kevin Blackwell Jr. goes “beyond the pale,” Stephen Gripkey said today.
Calling the crime “cruel” and “heinous,” Gripkey, the AUSA prosecuting the case, said Blackwell was “hunted down” in a revenge driven killing.
Blackwell, 20, was fatally stabbed Dec. 17 in Southeast DC. Detectives believe he was the victim of a robbery.
A suspect in the case, Harold Proctor, appeared in court for a preliminary hearing Friday. While Judge Ronna Beck found substantial probability in the case against Proctor and ordered him held, Proctor’s attorney argued that Proctor’s role in the fatal stabbing is unclear.
Detective Detective Wayne Marable said Proctor was one of four people in a beige Cadelliac on Dec. 17. Proctor, and another male, had recently been victims of a robbery perpetrated by Blackwell. A woman in the car had set Blackwell up to rob them. When the woman suggested that she “get money” from Blackwell, the three men in the car agreed and Proctor drove, at the woman’s direction, to Blackwell’s house in Southeast DC. One of the men in the car with Proctor, angry with Blackwell about the robbery, said Blackwell “had to die,” Marable testified.
When the foursome arrived in Southeast DC, the woman pointed them towards Blackwell’s house, then lured the man outside, Marable said. The following moments were captured in a 911 call, which was played Friday at Proctor’s hearing.
“Stab this n**** up.”
“Work his pockets.”
“Give me your phone.”
“Come up off that North Face cuz.”
“Get in the f***ing car… C’mon before the police show up.”
“Nah son, I’m bout to stab this n*** up.”
Marable said Blackwell’s North Face jacket and phone were found at Proctor’s home in Upper Marlboro, Md. Proctor told detectives that he threw two punches at Blackwell. He also said that he had believed that Blackwell was going to be attacked in a one-on-one fight.
Proctor’s attorney, William Roberts, argued to Judge Beck that there was no evidence that Proctor was a willing participant in the murder, and that Proctor, who is heard on the 911 call urging the others to get in the car, may have been trying to stop the attack.
Proctor is the only suspect whose arrest in connection with this case has been announced.
A status hearing is set for April 6.
