Ladonte Hawkins, 20, and Rico Carr, 23, were released from jail on April 11 when Judge Rhonda Winston granted prosecutors’ request to dismiss their case without prejudice.
Hawkins had been held for nearly 9 months, since August 2013, on suspicion of felony murder in connection with the stabbing death of 19-year-old Kelvin Jamal Willis. Carr was arrested nearly six weeks later on suspicion of first-degree murder in connection with Willis’s November 2010 death.
Spokesperson Bill Miller explained via email that the U.S. Attorney’s Office is continuing with its prosecution of co-defendant Robert Crowder and investigation in the case is ongoing.
According to charging documents for Hawkins, Willis told detectives that he was punched and attacked by three people, who then took his wallet before stabbing him with a knife on November 6, 2010.
One witness told police that Hawkins, Carr, and Crowder were walking with Willis in the unit block of Hanover Street Northwest when Hawkins and Carr started talking about robbing Willis of his coat, according to Carr’s arrest documents. Hawkins punched Willis in his chin, while Carr pointed a gun at Willis demanding his coat, according to the witness. Hawkins reached into Willis’ pocket and took his wallet, the witness said.
While Willis removed his coat, the witness heard Crowder yell, “You’re taking too long.” Then the witness told police that Crowder pulled out a knife and stabbed Willis several times.
A felony status conference for Crowder is scheduled for June 5.
