Demonta Chappell was arraigned Friday on charges of first-degree premeditated murder while armed, obstruction of justice, and related weapons offenses in connection with the 2012 shooting death of 26-year-old Stevann Moorer. Chappell pleaded innocent to all charges and is held pending a status hearing November 22.
Police found Moorer October 27, 2012 at approximately 9:08 p.m. on the 500 Block of Parkland Place Southeast suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. More than three months later Chappell, 21, was arrested and held on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed in Moorer’s death.
Charging documents state that one witness told detectives that he had stood within ten feet of the shooting when it happened, and knew without a doubt who the shooter was.
At a preliminary hearing in March Metropolitan Police Detective Ray Shields testified that the witness saw a picture of the shooter on a social media site. The witness saved the photograph in a cell phone and took it to police who identified the person as Chappell, Shields said.
The witness told detectives that around 9 p.m. the night of the shooting, Moorer and Chappell were walking westbound on Parkland Place Southeast, court documents state. The witness said they suddenly heard a gunshot and turned to see Chappell firing a gun at Moorer’s head. The witness said that after Moorer fell, Chappell stood over him and fired several more shots.
Chappell fled on foot south through an alley towards Raleigh Street Southeast. According to the witness said the shooter wore a hoodie, grey jacket, a cap with white on the head cover, documents state.
