Two men named in court documents in August have been arrested in connection with the stabbing death of Kelvin Willis.
Willis was killed in November 2010 in the unit block of N Street Northwest. In August of this year, Ladonte Hawkins was arrested and ordered held while a grand jury investigates his connection— if any— to Willis’ death.
In charging documents, detectives named Robert Crowder and Rico Carr and said they were participants in the death. Crowder and Carr were arrested Wednesday and are expected to be presented each with a charge of first-degree murder.
According to charging documents in Hawkins’ case, a witness told police that Hawkins, Crowder and Carr were involved in the attack on Willis. The witness said that Hawkins and Carr were talking about robbing Willis of his coat. Hawkins punched Willis in his chin, and Carr pointed a gun at Willis and demanded his coat. Hawkins then reached into Willis’ pocket and took his wallet, the witness said.
As Willis was removing his coat, the witness heard Crowder yell, “You’re taking too long.”
The witness said Crowder then puled out a knife and stabbed Willis several times, charging documents state.
Another witness told police that he saw Crowder leaving an alley near Hanover Street Northwest carrying a black coat. Shortly after, the witness saw Crowder washing blood off his hands, documents say. The witness asked Crowder where he got the coat, and according to the witness, Crowder said he had joined in on a beating that occurred in the alley and that he had stabbed someone.
Detectives later interviewed Crowder, documents in Hawkins’ case state, and he said he had not been at the scene of the crime.
A press release from MPD is below.
October 2, 2013
Additional Arrests Made in 2010 Homicide: Unit Block of Hanover Place, NW
(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced additional arrests have been made in a fatal stabbing which occurred in the Unit block of Hanover Place, NW.
On Saturday, November 6, 2010, at approximately 3:30 am, units from the Fifth District responded to the Unit block of N Street, NW for the report of a stabbing. Upon their arrival they located a victim suffering from stab wounds. The investigation revealed that the stabbing occurred in the Unit block of Hanover Place, NW. The victim was transported to a local area hospital where he was admitted. On November 22, 2010, the victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The decedent is identified as 19 year-old Kelvin Willis of Northeast, Washington, DC.
An adult male was arrested on August 21, 2013 and charged with First Degree Murder in connection with this case.
On Wednesday, October 2, 2013, Metropolitan Police Department’s Fugitive Squad arrested 22 year-old Robert Crowder and 23 year-old Rico Carr, pursuant to DC Superior Court arrest warrants charging them with First Degree Murder in the death of Kelvin Willis.
