Week in Review

In brief:

Five homicides were reported this week:

  • A shooting in the 900 block of Delafield Place Northwest killed Daniel Joseph Hinton Tuesday night.
  • On Wednesday, a woman was found in the 3900 block of 14th Street Northwest at approximately 5:26 p.m. suffering from a gunshot wound. She was taken to a hospital where she died. The woman’s identity is being withheld until police can notify the family.
  • At 9:05 p.m., Gregory Lee, 28, was found in the 1200 block of Stevens Road Southeast with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on the scene.
  • Almost an hour later, police responded to the sound of gunshots. An adult male suffering from a gunshot wound was located in the 2600 block of Sherman Avenue Northwest and was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity is being withheld until police can notify his family.
  • Twenty minutes later, police found 25-year-old Marquiz Anthony Robinson of Centreville, Virginia, in the 800 block of Bladensburg Road Northeast unconscious and suffering from a gunshot wound. He died at a local hospital.

Police fatally shot 29-year-old Raymond Robinson of Southeast D.C. in a confrontation near the 2800 block of Naylor Road Southeast.

Donald Dubose pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed Monday for his role in the 2012 drive-by shooting that killed 34-year-old Michael Oshea Smith.

Veteran journalist William Shultz recounted his time on the jury that convicted Demonta Chappell. “My voice did not waiver as I announced that we found Mr. Chappell guilty on all six counts, including the first-degree murder charge,” he wrote.

Photographer Lloyd Wolf looked back at 2014 through the street shrines he saw as part of his ongoing documentary work, Washington’s Other Monuments. He writes: “Although the number of street memorials I encountered were fewer in number than in many previous years — arguably a positive trend — there were still many lives lost and hearts broken by the continued violence in our community.”

Shaun Reid, who at 28 has been in the funeral business for a decade, talked to Homicide Watch about spending his life with the dead: “It’s not something the average person wakes up in the morning saying, ‘Oh, I want to be in the funeral world.’” Reid said. “No, it doesn’t operate like that. You got to have a love for it and have a craft for it.”

In an interview with Homicide Watch, Police Chief Cathy Lanier said homicide prevention needs to be a city-wide mission: “I would like the city to have every single agency in D.C. government have one of their performance measures be homicide prevention. Every single one. Everybody can do something.”

Week in Review

In brief:

No homicides were reported this week.

Attorneys gave their final arguments in the trial of Claire Rice, accused of killing her cousin, Anthony Garland Rice. Prosecutors portrayed the murder as a calculated and well-planned execution, carried out in order to cash in on two life insurance policies. Rice’s defense said she didn’t need the money and argued that Anthony Rice may have simply been killed in a robbery.

Jurors began deliberating in the trial of Andre Miles for the death of Sandy Green III. A key witness testified that she saw Miles shoot Green in broad daylight. Under cross-examination, she told a defense attorney: “I saw your client walk up and shoot Sandy.”

Prosecutors dropped all charges against Lennard Sweeney. He had been accused of first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of 38-year-old Edward Eugene Hall, Jr. on September 9.

A judge found probable cause against John Dyson and Alisha King for second-degree murder charges in connection with Arthur Lee Gaither’s death. Dyson will be held at the D.C. jail until his arraignment. King, who has no prior criminal record, was released into high intensity supervision.

A judge found substantial probability that Dominique Holmes committed second-degree murder in the shooting death of Ricky Kelly in October.

A judge found probable cause that Jarod Yorkshire committed first-degree murder and obstruction of justice for his alleged role in the death of Derrick Ragland.

Demitrich Jones and William Smallwood pleaded innocent to five criminal charges including felony murder while armed for the shooting death of 33-year-old Rashard Raigns in June.

A judge sentenced Don Demichie Page, Jr. to 14 years in prison for the June 2013 shooting death of Quentin Lavar White. White’s widow told the court: “This wasn’t a stranger who shot him. He knew him and I feel like when he killed one person, he took three lives.”

Antonio Hester pleaded innocent to first-degree murder and two weapons charges in the shooting that killed Tracy McFadden on June 19, 2013.

William Jackson, 27, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed for the shooting death of 22-year-old Delonte Hemphill. Jackson was released to a halfway house after being presented with a charge of second-degree murder for Hemphill’s death.

Week in Review

In brief:

One homicide was reported this week.

A judge found probable cause in the case against Raheem Jones, who is accused of fatally shooting Deandria Conyers on September 14.

The trial of Claire Rice opened. Prosecutors said Rice spent an entire month planning her cousin Anthony Garland Rice’s murder in order to cash in on two life insurance policies. The money would have kept Rice from from losing her house.

A judge found probable cause in the case against Heritage Jones, 21, who is accused of shooting Kirk Deangelo Perry more than 13 times in an argument over a dog on November 30.

A judge sentenced Delrico Shuford to five years in prison for his participation in the shooting death of Tyrell Fogle, 17, on August 29, 2011. Shuford is the last man to be sentenced in connection to the 21st and Vietnam killings.

Anthony Williams was sentenced to 15 years in prison for second-degree murder while armed in connection with the shooting death of 24-year-old James Edward Booker.

Jurors found Kevin Walker, 39, guilty in the 2013 double homicide of siblings Jamie and Jamal Jenkins.

Week in Review

In brief:

Four homicides were reported this week:

A judge found probable cause to hold Carlton Hammond for the stabbing death of Kenneth Young Jr.

Vernon Hendrick will remain held after a judge found probable cause that he committed first-degree murder in the shooting death of 26-year-old Titus Jackson on November 21.

Frank Lee Blanding pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault for the fight that left Benjamin Jennings dead on July 6, 2014.

Gary Johnson was arrested and ordered held in connection to the murder of 22-year-old Rhett Gelb in May 2013.

Week in Review

In brief:

No homicides were reported this week.

A judge ordered Gregory Smithwick released to high intensity supervision while he awaits an indictment. Smithwick and co-defendant Dominique Holmes were arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder and armed carjacking for the murder of 29-year-old Ricky Kelly.

A judge found probable cause to hold 17-year-old Ahmal McGainey on second-degree murder while armed for the October 1 murder of Johnie Lee Resper.

The trial of Andre Miles for the shooting death of Sandy Green III began. A prosecutor told jurors that an argument over girlfriends and shared living space led Miles to shoot Greene in April 2012.

Joshua Mebane was ruled competent to stand trial after a mental observation hearing. Mebane, who announced plans pursue an insanity defense in February, will continue with that defense. He is accused of killing cab driver Quadar Muhammad.

The trial of Kevin Walker opened, with prosecutors arguing he shot siblings Jamie and Jamal Jenkins after a fight between his girlfriend and Jamie Jenkins.

Week in Review

In brief:

One homicide was reported this week:

A judge ordered Burnis Cole released on high intensity supervision Tuesday after a bond review hearing. Cole is charged with first-degree murder while armed and related weapons offenses for the January 2013 death of Raasheem Jamal Rich. Cole’s trial is expected to begin January 2015.

Jarod Yorkshire, 21, was arrested for the 2011 murder of Derrick Ragland.

Kevin Charles was sentenced to five years in prison Wednesday for the death of Steven Curtis Moore on December 3, 2011.

Kevin McDarin Johnson pleaded innocent Thursday to first-degree premeditated murder while armed in the choking death of Detra Martin on February 20.

Vernon Hendrick, 25, was arrested Friday for the September 11 shooting that killed Titus Jackson.

A judge found enough circumstantial evidence to hold Tyrron Sweeney for the murders of Ervin Ingraham and Ronnetta Hurley-Brown. “This web of circumstantial evidence more than supports probable cause that Mr. Sweeney committed the murder of two victims,” Judge Johnson said in court. “Nothing standing alone would compel that finding: it’s all of it together.”

Francis Lyles is competent to stand trial following a 24-hour forensic examination, but Judge Jennifer Anderson ordered Lyles to undergo additional treatment at a D.C. jail. “I can’t send you to St. Elizabeths Hospital because the jail found you competent, but you should seek follow up treatment,” Judge Anderson said in court Friday.

Week in Review

In brief:

One homicide was reported this week:

  • Tyrone Lee Lewis, 27, died Thursday after a shooting in the 300 block of 37th Street Southeast.

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Week in Review

In brief:

Two homicides were reported this week:

  • Police found one-month-old Raj’saun Tyrik Brown in the 1700 block of Trenton Place Southeast. He was taken to a local hospital, where he died.
  • Latroia Renee Smith, 26, was found dead at the scene of a fire. A medical examiner found that Smith “sustained gunshot wounds and burns,” ruling her death a homicide.

Francis Lyles pleaded innocent Wednesday to two counts of first-degree felony murder, along with three counts of cruelty to children and obstruction of justice for the June 24 beating death of her 3-year-old son Xavier Lyles.

Marquette Tibbs was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the shooting death of Andre Jackson.

Carlton Maurice Johnson, 22, pleaded innocent to two counts of first-degree murder while armed, along with assault with intent to kill and three gun related charges in the July 2013 double homicide of Anthony Chase and Eric Leeper.

Prosecutors dropped a charge of second-degree murder and other related charges Friday in the case against Daquan Tinker for the shooting death of Terrence Robinson, 48, on Aug. 12, 2012. A jury cleared Tinker of more serious murder charges in a trial in October but couldn’t agree on a verdict on the lesser count. The jury did convict Tinker of armed robbery.

Melvin George pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter Friday for the beating death of 46-year-old Jeffrey Coleman in May.

Tyrron Lamont Sweeney, 22, was arrested for the shooting deaths of Ervin Phillip Ingraham and Ronnetta Hurley-Brown in January.

Week in Review

In brief:

One homicide was reported this week:

  • Inoe Javier Salvador died in a stabbing near the intersection of 14th Street and Perry Place Northwest.

Mauda’Rico Proctor pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter last week Friday for the fatal shooting of Dominic Davis on January 14, 2013.

Carlton Hammond was arrested and held last week Friday in connection with the stabbing death of Kenneth Young Jr.

Darious Scales and Todd Green were indicted Wednesday for the fatal shooting of Timothy Delonte Dawkins in August 2013.

Because Dawkins was killed as a result of a gun fight between Scales and Green, the two rivals are charged under the urban warfare theory and will be tried as co-defendants. Scales is charged with second-degree murder while armed, in addition to assault and weapons charges. For the second time, Green is charged with first-degree murder while armed.

A jury acquitted Deangelo Williams of all charges in connection with the February 2011 shooting death of Lucki Pannell. Jurors delivered the verdict Thursday afternoon after two days of deliberations.

Williams was cleared of first-degree premeditated murder and three counts of possession of a firearm. He was also cleared of two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, for allegedly shooting Terry and Bernardo Jimenez in the same incident that killed Pannell.

Week in Review

In brief:

Two homicides were reported this week:

  • Jabari Fields died in a double shooting at the intersection of 8th and Jefferson Street Northwest.
  • Ellis Alphonso Anderson died in a shooting in the 1200 block of Brentwood Road Northeast.

Terry Jimenez took the stand to tell jurors what happened the night Lucki Pannell was killed, and how he recognized Deangelo Williams as the shooter. Williams trial is expected to finish this week.

A jury found Demonta Chappell guilty of first-degree premeditated murder while armed in the 2012 shooting death of Stevann Moorer.

That jury also found Chappell guilty of two firearm charges and obstruction of justice. But immediately after the verdict was read, Judge Rhonda Winston said there might not be enough evidence for the obstruction charge, and she ordered lawyers from both sides to submit briefs. The jury’s foreman said he was “shocked” by the decision.

In a partial verdict delivered Thursday, jurors cleared Daquan Tinker of first-degree premeditated murder and felony murder, but found him guilty of robbery while armed. But that jury could not find agreement on Tinker’s lesser charges, including second-degree murder, and Judge Robert E. Morin declared a mistrial.

Prosecutors dismissed a charge of second-degree murder while armed Friday in the case against Yvonne Simms for the the fatal stabbing of her husband, Kenyatta Jordan, on September 13. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office moved to dismiss the case because of insufficient evidence at this time,” USAO spokesperson William Miller said.

A judge sentenced Tisheena Brown for four years in prison. Brown, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter in May for the overdose death of her seven-week-old son Hakeem Brown in September 2013.

A judge found probable cause Friday in the case against Dwayne Williams in connection to the 2011 shooting death of Ronald Deacon Smith.

Francis Lyles, accused of killing her three-year-old son Xavier, broke down in court as she was expected to plead guilty. She called out to Judge Jennifer Anderson: “Your Honor, I didn’t hurt my baby! I want a chance to get a lawyer and a new case! I didn’t hurt my baby and I need a new lawyer!”

Mauda’Rico Proctor, suspected in the Jan. 14, 2013, death of Dominic Anthony Davis, pleaded guilty late Friday.

This post has been updated to include Ellis Alphonso Anderson, who died Saturday night. His death was first reported Sunday afternoon.