Zerrick Brown, 42, was held without bond in connection to the death of Carlton Coltrane, who was killed after sustaining injuries in a robbery at a 7-Eleven near the Eastern Market Metro Station.
Judge Karen Howze found probable cause to hold Brown based on identifications made from a surveillance video released by Metropolitan Police.
Another witness who was at the store during the incident did not identify any suspects, according to court documents.
Coltrane, 60, was buying groceries after midnight on May 6 from the 7-Eleven in 400 block of 8th Street Southeast when he was dragged out of the store by a man wearing a white kufi, or brimless cap, according to court documents.
One witness inside the 7-Eleven at the time later told police that the man with the kufi grabbed Coltrane’s wallet and “wrestled” Coltrane out of the store while a second man was “standing and watching as if being a lookout or protector,” according to court documents.
Documents say surveillance footage from that night shows the man with the kufi and a second man standing on either side of Coltrane, watching him pay the cashier. Video shows the second man motioning the man with the kufi to go outside, documents say. Moments after the second man leaves the store, video shows the man with the kufi “forcefully pushing” Coltrane out of the store, according to the documents.
The surveillance video then shows Coltrane reentering the 7-Eleven bleeding from his head. Coltrane was transported to United Medical Center, but he left without being treated, according to court documents.
Later that morning, Coltrane’s family called 911 and he was transported to George Washington University Hospital, where he was released after treatment, according to court documents. That evening, documents say Coltrane called 911 and was transported back to the hospital in grave condition; he died of his injuries three days later.
Three people identified Brown as the man who was wearing the white kufi after viewing the video, including two who have known Brown for more than 10 years, according to court documents.
One of the witnesses called police after viewing the surveillance video on the news and “instantly” believing that Brown was the man in the white kufi. That witness told police that it had a sexual relationship with the defendant and has known him for approximately 13 years.
A status hearing in the case is scheduled for June 10.
Charging documents in the case are available below.
