Arvel Wills appeared in court today for a preliminary hearing in the May 26 murder of his cousin Dewayne Wills, in what court documents indicate was apparently a drunken argument between relatives that escalated out of control.
The case was continued until Nov. 9 at 9:30 a.m., when he is expected to appear again for a preliminary hearing.
According to police, witnesses said Arvel Wills, 23, and Dewayne Wills, 25, began arguing about 4 a.m. on May 26, near the intersection of L Street and Abbey Place Northeast.
At some point, the argument turned physical and Dewayne threw a punch, witnesses told police. Arvel Wills then allegedly picked up his cousin over his head and slammed him head-first into the pavement.
According to court documents, Dewayne Wills was brought by car to Washington Hospital Medical Center on May 26 with an open laceration on his head. A doctor’s note indicates that he was intoxicated at the time and claimed that he had fallen and hit his head on the sidewalk. On May 29, Dewayne Wills went into a coma and he died as a result of his injuries on June 4.
Arvel Wills was arrested on Sept. 27 by officers with the Capitol Area Regional Fugitive Task Force. He was found with a 9mm Ruger P89 handgun, for which he did not have a license.
The affidavit for arrest for Arvel Wills appears below:
