Second Suspect Indicted in1992 Chet Matthews Murder

George Booth was arraigned Thursday on a charge of first-degree felony murder while armed in connection with the May 1992 shooting death of 27-year-old Chet Matthews.

Booth, one of two suspects in the case, pleaded innocent and remains held pending a detention hearing on December 12.

Police found Matthews shot shortly before midnight on May 25, 1992 near the 14th Street bridge and the I-395 northbound express lane.

The case remained open for 21 years until Lamont Terry was arrested and charged with first-degree felony murder while armed in connection with Mathews’ death.
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Christopher Martin Sentenced to 29 Years for 2010 Killing of Mother Patricia Martin

Christopher Martin, 27, was sentenced Friday to 29 years in prison for the 2010 murder of his mother and subsequent assault on his brother, the US Attorney’s Office said Friday.

Martin’s mother, Patricia Ann Martin, was found dead on May 20, 2010 in the family’s apartment covered in blankets. Martin’s younger brother, Demetrius, told police that Christopher had beaten him and stabbed his mother.
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Woman Dead in Georgia Ave NW Double Stabbing Early Friday

A woman died after being stabbed early Friday morning in NW DC; a second stabbing victim has survived.

The stabbing was just outside a strip club on Georgia Avenue, but police did not say whether the stabbing was connected to the club in any way, NBC Washington reports.
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Woodrow Johnson Held in Connection With Crosswalk Death of Shamika Smith

Woodrow Johnson, 52, was presented Monday with a charge of second-degree murder in connection with the death of 24-year-old Shamika Smith, who was fatally struck by a vehicle while crossing Benning Road in Southeast DC Friday evening.

Charging documents state that shortly after 6 p.m., when Smith was about halfway across the street using a crosswalk, she was struck by a vehicle and thrown into the air. Read more

DNA Evidence Leads to Arrest of Joe Barber in 1984 Murder Case

DNA evidence nearly 30 years old helped MPD detectives close a cold case homicide with the arrest Tuesday of a suspect.

At a press conference Tuesday evening, Assistant D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham said that it was new technology to analyze DNA that led police to fifty-five-year-old Joe Anthony Barber, charging him with the January 1, 1984 stabbing death of Rachel Cox.
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Arrest in 30-Year-Old SE DC Homicide

MPD has closed a homicide case nearly 30 years old with the arrest of a Woodbridge, Va. man Tuesday.

The victim in the case is Rachel Cox, a Southeast DC woman who was 43 years old on January 1, 1984, the day she was found dead inside a building in the 3300 block of 6th Street, Southeast.

Cox had been sexually assaulted and stabbed, MPD said Tuesday. She was one 175 people killed in DC that year and until now her death remained unsolved.
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Man Killed in SE DC Shooting Overnight, WUSA Reports

A man died after being shot in the chest in Southeast DC early Friday morning, WUSA reports.

Reports WUSA:

The victim was unconscious when he was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Right now police have no information to release on possible motive or suspects in the fatal shooting.

Week Ahead

Each week, Homicide Watch brings you a list of upcoming hearings in the cases we follow. All hearings are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. unless otherwise noted. To add an item to the listing, email homicidewatch [at] gmail.com. To see scheduled court hearings beyond next week, see our calendar.
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What We’re Listening To: How An MPD Officer Accidentally Entered A False Confession

In this week’s episode of This American Life, reporter Saul Elbein tells the story of a former Metropolitan Police detective who mistakenly coerced an innocent woman into confessing to a 1994 murder she didn’t commit. Read more

Links Roundup: Capitol Hill Shooting

Shots were fired at the U.S. Capitol today at about 2:19 p.m. Breaking news reports indicate that one woman, being called a “suspect,” is dead.

Reports WJLA:

The incident reportedly started when an unidentified woman tried to drive through a barricade at the White House. She had a baby in the back seat of her vehicle. The woman fled the area and ended up at the Capitol, where she tried to drive through another barricade.
Authorities opened fire on the vehicle, killing the woman, authorities say.

Reports WUSA:

The Senate’s Sergeant at Arms, Terrance Gainer, says, “There are reports of injuries.” FBI agents headed to the scene.

CNN quotes Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid as saying there has been “one injury.”

Bob Orr of CBS said a number of sources say U.S. Capitol shooting began with a short car chase. The incident began with traffic pursuit-then driver fled;shots then fired in vicinity of Capitol, according to CBS.

Reports MyFoxDC:

As a warning was sounded, the House abruptly went into recess and lawmakers left the chamber floor. The House had just finished approving legislation aimed at partly lifting the government shutdown by paying National Guard and Reserve members.

People standing outside the Supreme Court across the street from Congress were hurried into the court building by authorities.

The Washington Post live blog is here.

Watch live video from WJLA here.