In brief:
Nine days into the new year, DC recorded the year’s first homicide; the victim: Raasheem Jamal Rich. Police said Rich was fatally stabbed Thursday afternoon in the 2800 block of Alabama Avenue Southeast, near the Good Hope Marketplace.
Ellsworth Colbert‘s trial began at DC Superior Court. Opening arguments were heard Tuesday and the prosecution presented its case through the end of the week. Colbert is charged with killing his neighbor, Robert Wright. Prosecutors told jurors the crime was a neighborhood dispute over a dog which turned deadly violent. But Colbert’s defense attorney disagreed, arguing to jurors that the man on trial was not the agressor, that he was fighting for his life when he stabbed neighbor Wright.
Khari Williams was arrested in connection with the shooting death of Angelo Payne. Payne was killed Dec. 30.
A 21-count indictment charging a DC street gang with murder, conspiracy, and other crimes, was been amended to include a sixth suspect: 20-year-old Delrico Shuford. Shuford was arrested Wednesday. He pleaded innocent at his arraignment Thursday on charges including the 2011 shooting death of Tyrell Fogle.
Reco Pernell Coates III was sentenced to eight years in prison today for the 2007 murder of 39-year-old Anthony Collins. Coates pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter in connection with the case in November.
Ariston Jamal Dickson pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter Friday morning in the shooting death of Robert Maurice Lesuer.
