Homicide Watch D.C.

In brief:

Dominique Holmes was held on a second-degree murder charge Saturday in connection with Ricky Kelly’s death. Holmes’ co-defendant, Gregory Smithwick, was held for armed carjacking, but not the murder charge for which he was arrested.

Prosecutors dismissed a charge of second-degree murder Wednesday in the case against Robert Osborne for the murder of Vincent Purvis on January 15.

In opening statements, prosecutors said Terry Jimenez recognized Deangelo Williams the night Lucki Pannell was killed, but Jimenez didn’t tell police for more than two years. Williams is on trial for Panell’s murder.

Jurors are now deliberating in the case against Daquan Tinker. Prosecutors say Tinker shot Terrence Robinson during a robbery attempt. But Tinker’s defense attorneys argue that this is a case of mistaken identity, that there are inconsistencies in eyewitness testimony, and that police involved in the case “failed to follow leads” that would exclude Tinker.

In brief:

Three homicides were reported this week in D.C.:

• Ronnie Scharrod Edon, 19, was killed in a shooting in the 2600 block of Birney Place Southwest early Tuesday morning, according to MPD.
• Ricky Kelly, 29, was killed in a shooting Friday morning in the 100 block of Ivanhoe Street Southwest, MPD announced. Gregory Smithwick and Dominique Holmes were arrested in connection with his death.
• On Friday morning, 38-year-old Breond Keys was found inside an establishment with multiple gunshot wounds in the 1400 block of Good Hope Road Southeast. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital, according to MPD.

Jurors heard opening arguments in the murder trial against Demonta Chappell in the October 2012 shooting death of Stevann Moorer. Prosecutors said that Chappell and Moorer were walking so close that others may have thought they were walking together that night.

Judge John Ramsey Johnson found probable cause to continue holding Mark Kenyatta Bowser Jr. in connection with the stabbing death of Tracy Womack. Detective Marvin Washington testified that Bowser made a sexual advance toward a witness before entering Womack’s bedroom and stabbing her over 40 times.

Don Demichie Page Jr. pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree murder while armed for the shooting death of Quentin Lavar White. In exchange for his plea, prosecutor agreed to seek a sentence of 12 to 15 years in prison.

In brief:

Two homicides were reported this week in D.C.:

• 18-year-old Johnie Lee Resper was found shot Wednesday in the 200 block of Adams Street Northeast.
• Kenneth Young Jr., 35, was killed in a stabbing in the 3400 block of 14th Street Northwest, according to police.

The trial of Daquan Tinker began on Monday with opening statements. Prosecutors argue that Tinker and four other individuals robbed Antoine Boddie and shot and killed Terrence Robinson while attempting to rob him. On Tuesday, Boddie testified testified that Tinker held a gun to his head and robbed him, during which time Boddie witnessed Tinker cross the street and shoot Robinson between three and four times.

Andre Hockaday, 26, was arrested and held in connection with the November 2011 shooting death of 27-year-old Ronald Smith. According to charging documents, police believe Smith was murdered because he was a witness to the murder of Ervin Lamont Griffin.

William Hunt was indicted Tuesday for premeditated first-degree murder while armed and obstruction of justice in connection with the May 2011 stabbing death of 48-year-old George White. White was stabbed 59 times during an argument over a lawnmower, the documents say.

A judge ordered Michael Gayle held Friday in connection with the June 29 stabbing death of Eboni Domally. According to prosecutors, Domally’s 9-year-old son witnessed Gayle choke and repeatedly stab his mother. Before ruling, Judge Lynn Leibovitz told the court she found Gayle “extremely dangerous and a risk of flight.”

Anthony Williams pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Friday for the November 2013 shooting death of 24-year-old James Edward Booker. Police found Booker suffering from gunshot wounds on the 500 block of Alabama Avenue Southeast. Booker was taken to a local hospital where he died less than one hour later.

Prosecutors dismissed a charge of carrying a pistol without a license against Demonta Chappell, who is on trial for the murder of Stevann Moorer. Chappell still faces charges of premeditated first-degree murder, obstruction of justice and two firearms offenses.

In brief:

Two homicides were reported this week in D.C.:

• Jeffrey Coleman, 46, died as a result of injuries from a May 24 assault by Melvin Kenneth George, police say. George was released to high-intensity supervision while he awaits a preliminary hearing in connection with Coleman’s death.
• A shooting in the 2300 Block of Ainger Place killed 39-year-old Anthony Cornell Jones just after midnight on Saturday morning, according to MPD.

Mark Kenyetta Bowser Jr., 35, was arrested and held in connection with the stabbing death of 39-year-old Tracy Womack. Charging documents say that Bowser entered Womack’s apartment uninvited, pushed into her bedroom and then stabbed Womack.

Lennard Sweeney was held on suspicion on first-degree murder while armed in connection with the stabbing death of Edward Eugene Hall Jr.

Dwayne Williams was arrested and held in connection with the November 2011 shooting death of Ronald Smith. Charging documents say that Williams and two other men identified Smith as a witness to the murder of Ervin Lamont Griffin, then Williams shot Smith.

Raheem Jones, 33, was arrested and held on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed in connection with the September shooting death of 27-year-old Deandria Conyers. Jones denied that he visited Conyers’ house on the day of her death, but charging documents say that Jones’ cell phone showed locations consistent with Conyers’ apartment.

Paul Jefferies was indicted on a charge of second-degree murder while armed in connection with the September 2013 death of Awele Olisemeka. Twenty-four-year-old Olisemeka died after being hit in the head with a brick near the Emery Recreation Center.

Manuel Garcia pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed Wednesday for the June 21 shooting of Luis E. Avila Melendez. According to the proffer of facts, Garcia flashed a gun at Melendez and another after an argument. Later, the men met up again on the 2500 block of Mozart Place Northwest, according to the documents. Melendez and the other man rushed towards Garcia, documents say, and Garcia moved toward them before shooting.

Jimmie Fleming pleaded guilty to two counts of voluntary manslaughter while armed in connection with the death of Derek Price and the death of Donchell Thomas. A press release says that prosecutors believe the shooting was unprovoked and without warning.

Lennard Sweeney was released from jail Friday while he awaits a preliminary hearing. Sweeney is suspected of first-degree murder while armed in connection with the stabbing death of Edward Eugene Hall Jr.

In brief:

Two homicides were reported in D.C. this week:

• Deandria Monique Conyers, 27, was found shot Sunday in a residence at the 2000 block of Ridgecrest Court Southeast. Police say she was later pronounced dead.
• Tracy Womack, 39, was found stabbed Saturday in the 4600 block of Benning Road Southeast.

A judge ruled Saturday there was not enough evidence to hold Yvonne Simms is suspected in connection with the stabbing 49-year-old Kenyatta Jordan, her husband. Simms remains charged with second-degree murder while armed, despite her release.

Frances Lyles, 25, was arrested and held in connection with the June death of 3-year-old Xavier Lyles. Charging documents say Lyles told police she left her apartment for approximately 20 to 30 minutes the night before her son died, but believed that her boyfriend must have hurt Xavier while she was gone.

Christopher Fields, 33, was arrested in connection with the 2013 shooting death of Devar Battle, but he was held on a lesser weapons charge, not murder.

A judge found probable cause Thursday in the case against Tyrone Height and James Young for the shooting death of Willard Carlos Shelton. MPD Detective Paris White testified that Young told police he was “going through hard times and needed money,” so he and three other individuals planned to rob Shelton by luring him with fake drugs.

Brandon Miller was sentenced to 7 years in prison for the shooting death of Jamal Coates. As a cooperating witness, Miller testified at the trial of his former co-defendants that he drove three of them to the area of a funeral on U Street Northwest, where two men shot Coates.

The trial of Demonta Chappell was delayed Monday after his defense team failed to submit their DNA evidence before the start of trial. His trial for the death of 26-year-old Stevann Moorer is now expected to begin Monday.

MPD announced Saturday that police arrested 23-year-old Lennard Sweeney on suspicions of first-degree felony murder while armed in connection with the stabbing death of Edward Eugene Hall Jr.

This post has been updated to include the death of Edward Eugene Hall Jr.

In brief:

Four homicides were reported this week in D.C.:

• Anthony Miller Jr, 22, was killed Sunday in an overnight shooting in the 3100 block of Newton Street Northeast, MPD reported Sunday.
• A Thursday shooting killed 26-year-old Titus Jackson in the 5200 block of Clay Street Northeast, according to MPD.
• Kenyetta Jordan, 49, died in a stabbing just after midnight Saturday. Yvonne Simms, 50, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed.
• Edward Eugene Hall, 38, died Wednesday after police found him stabbed Tuesday at the intersection of 1st and Brandywine Streets Southeast.

Darious Scales, 20, was arrested and held Thursday on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed in connection to the August 2013 shooting death of Timothy Delonte Dawkins. Charging documents say Scales engaged in a shootout with Todd Green, who was arrested just after Dawkins’ death.

Michael Anthony Coleman was indicted Thursday with second-degree murder while armed, plus two assault and weapon charges in connection with the stabbing death of Candance Reed. On Thurday, he pleaded innocent to the charges before a judge.

A judge declared a mistrial Tuesday in the case against Raymond Faunteroy after jurors couldn’t agree on a verdict for any of his charges. He is charged with premeditated first-degree murder while armed and two weapons charge in connection with the 2011 murder of 19-year-old Derrick Ragland.

Anthony Hatton, Johnnie Harris and Jekwan Smith pleaded guilty Monday to criminal charges in connection with the 2011 shooting deaths of Tyrell Fogle and Isaiah Sheffield. In exchange for their pleas, prosecutors agreed to drop the men’s remaining charges.

Shortly before his scheduled trial, Marquette Tibbs pleaded guilty Thursday to voluntary manslaughter while armed for the November 2012 shooting death of Andre Jackson. His guilty plea comes after jurors acquitted his former co-defendant, Lamonte Perry, of first-degree premeditated murder, but deadlocked over the lesser-included charge of second-degree murder.

A judge sentenced DeAndre Shaheed to 20 years in prison for his second-degree murder charge in connection with the death of 31-year-old Akinwole Olu Williams. In July, he pleaded guilty to the charge and prosecutors dismissed his charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy, attempted armed robbery and five others.

Bernard Fleming was sentenced to 35 years in prison Friday after jurors convicted him of second-degree murder in the shooting death of Michael Edward Jones. His co-defendant Joseph Peoples was sentenced Friday to 1 year for his convictions of carrying a pistol outside the home and tampering with evidence.

In brief:

One homicide was reported this week in D.C.:

• Willard Carlos Shelton was found Sunday with gunshot wounds in the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road Southeast. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Charles Young was indicted Tuesday for second-degree murder while armed and four related weapons charges in connection to the shooting death of 21-year-old Rokeida Spriggs. Spriggs was found suffering from a gunshot in the 4900 Block of G Street Southeast in November 2013.

James Cornelius Robinson pleaded innocent Wednesday to premeditated first-degree murder while armed and three related weapons in connection with August 2013 shooting death of 30-year-old Jason Alexander Murphy.

A judge delayed the sentencing of Kevin Charles after the judge expressed doubt that Charles believed he was guilty. In June 2013, Charles pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed and conspiracy to commit a crime of violence in connection with the death of Steven Curtis Moore.

James Young, 21, and Tyrone Height, 22, were arrested and held in connection with the August 31 shooting death of Willard Carlos Shelton. Charging documents say that on the night of the shooting, a witness saw Height and Young standing with handguns, “shooting multiple times” at Shelton in a parking lot at the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road Southeast.

Judge Russell Canan sentenced Michael Poth, a former Marine, to 11 years and three months in prison for the fatal stabbing of Philip Bushong, a fellow Marine. Poth was convicted of voluntary manslaughter while armed in December 2013.

A judge sentenced Leon Smith to 24 years in prison for the stabbing death of Stephen Manuel Pool. In May, Smith pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and obstruction of justice in connection with the stabbing death of 45-year-old Pool.

James Walter Yates III was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the shooting death of Andre Pierce Joyner. Yates pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed in connection with his death.

A judge found probable cause Friday to continue holding Jeffrey Neal in connection with the beating death of Leon Young. At the hearing, a detective testified that a medical examiner in the case said Young was struck 28 times, including several times after a plastic bag was tied over Young’s head.

In brief:

No homicides were reported this week in D.C.

Keir Johnson was sentenced Friday to 54 years in prison, including 32 years for the shooting death of Jamal Coates.

Corey Saxton was sentenced to 15 years Friday for the March 5 death of Roshaine Henry. Saxton pleaded guilty in May to voluntary manslaughter for fatally shooting Henry after trying to rob him at gun point.

A judge found probable cause that Nilson Maldonado did not fire accidentally in the fatal shooting of Anthony Sanchez. Prosecutors argued that Maldonado and his friends tried to turn the fatal shooting of Anthony Sanchez into an accident though the evidence shows otherwise.

Donte Graves was sentenced to 10 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter in connection with the shooting death of Tyrone Joyner. He pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter after a mistrial in May.

A judge declared a mistrial Monday in the murder trial against Lamonte Perry after jurors were unable to reach a verdict for his charge of second-degree murder. Earlier in the day, jurors acquitted Perry of first-degree premeditated murder, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol outside of the home, and unlawful possession of a firearm in connection with the shooting death of Andre Jackson.

In brief:

No homicides were reported in D.C. this week.

Jurors began deliberating the murder case against Lamonte Perry. Prosecutors alleged that Perry brought his friend Andre Jackson into an ambush because of his loyalty to the 37th street neighborhood. Defense attorneys say Perry was simply walking with his friends before the shooting occurred.

Michael Davis was found incompetent to stand trial for a third time in connection with a series of hammer attacks in Petworth, one of which killed Gary Dederichs. Davis has been receiving mental health treatment since May 2012.

Joe Anthony Barber, 55, was charged first-degree murder while armed in connection with the fatal stabbing of Rachel Cox in January 1984. Twenty-nine years later, police arrested Barber after DNA found on Cox’s body was entered into the Combined DNA Index System, documents say.

A judge dismissed a charge of first-degree murder against Dion Redwood was released from jail Thursday after a prosecutor’s request. U.S. Assistant Attorney Michael Liebman said the investigation into the shooting death of 16-year-old Darius Cannon is ongoing.

In brief:

One homicide was reported this week in D.C.

• Dexter Motley, 25, was killed in a Wednesday shooting in the unit block of 46th Place Northeast, MPD announced Thursday.

A judge found probable cause to hold Michael Gayle on suspicion of second-degree murder in connection with the stabbing death of Eboni Domally. Charging documents say that a witness told police that Gayle choked and stabbed his mother.

Anthony Williams was charged with first-degree murder while armed and two weapon charges on Friday in connection to the fatal shooting of James Edward Booker. Charging documents say that video footage shows Williams talk to Booker while holding a handgun.

The trial of Lamonte Perry began Monday with opening statements. Prosecutors argue that Perry led Andre Jackson into an ambush set up by Marquette Tibbs, Perry’s former codefendant. Tibbs and Perry are each charged with first-degree murder, among other charges.

A judge found probable cause to hold Kieva Hooks on suspicion of second-degree murder in connection with the stabbing death of her mother Tajuana Hooks. According MPD Detective Hosam Nasr, Kieva Hooks admitted to police that she cut her mother 37 times, inflicting 21 stab wounds during an early-morning argument.