Homicide Watch D.C.

In brief:

The death of a man at a Kenilworth Avenue Northeast towing company has been ruled a homicide, bringing the total number of homicides in DC in 2013 to 106. According to charging documents in the case, Kevin Lewis Crouch was struck by a tow truck at the yard after he tried to rob people there. The driver of the tow truck, Corey Stoddard, is suspected of second-degree murder.

In the first homicide of 2014, Claudia Hall, 51, was found dead inside a building in the 300 block of 18th Place Northeast. She had suffered “apparent trauma to her body,” police said in a statement. Alphonso Cleveland, 52, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed in connection with Hall’s death.

Andre Burks, a 26-year-old Southeast DC man, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed in connection with the August 2012 shooting death of Antwan Boseman.

Howard Bruce Randolph, 25, was arrested in connection with the June death of 21-year-old Rayshawn Hailstock. He is suspected of involuntary manslaughter. According to court records, a warrant was issued for him on the charge based on an original indictment from the Grand Jury. He is expected to be arraigned January 7.

The 2009 shooting death of Southeast DC man Michael George Colbert was closed Tuesday with the arrest of 30-year-old Quinn Johnson, also of Southeast DC. Johnson is suspected of first-degree murder while armed, police said.

Dion Redwood, 39, of District Heights, Maryland was arrested in connection with the April shooting death of DC teen Darius Cannon. Redwood is expected to be charged with first-degree murder while armed.

One year into an on-again-off-again hunger strike, murder defendant Albrecht Muth is preparing for a trial that he insisted would never happen by chewing food that meets his “dietary regimen.” Muth is charged with the death of his wife Viola Drath, who was killed in August 2011. The trial has been delayed in part because of Muth’s prolonged fast, but on Thursday Judge Russell reaffirmed his intention to try Muth on January 6.

The first Comment of the Day of 2014 came from PoPO, who wrote: “I was a police officer in your city. A big white boy from the country. I drove a pickup truck and voted republican every election since I was 18. And Guess what? My heart hurt like hell EVER TIME I saw so many of these people laying face down in the street or had to hear their last words.I worked South East in the seventh district.

We looked back at 2013 with Homicide Watch DC’s Year in Review. Features include an interview with MPD Chief Cathy Lanier, a look at the ten cases that captured our attention this year, guest columns from Councilmember Jim Graham and Kia Dupree Joppy, sister of community activist Timothy Dawkins, the year in numbers, an interview with US Attorney Ronald Machen, a look at the year’s dismissed cases and more. Read the 2013 Year in Review here.

In brief:

Michael Davis, 24, was killed in a shooting Sunday, December 22. Davis was one of two men found shot shortly after 4 a.m. in the 1300 block of Saratoga Avenue, Northeast. The other man had non-life threatening injuries, police said.

Roger St John was arrested on suspicion of first-degree felony murder in connection with the shooting death of Maryland man Rhett Gelb. Police say the shooting in Northwest DC was a robbery attempt which occurred when Gelb attempted to purchase $500 worth of marijuana. St John appeared in DC Superior Court Wednesday. He was ordered held pending a preliminary hearing set for January 14.

Paul Jefferies, a 20-year-old DC man was arrested in connection with the September beating death of Awele Olisemeka, 24, near the Emory Recreation Center. Police say the beating happened after two groups of young men tussled with each other, one group trying to rob the other one. Olisemeka was found unconscious, holding a broken piece of baseball bat, at 4:40 in the afternoon on Monday, September 16.

We looked back at 2013 with the launch of Homicide Watch DC’s Year in Review this week. Features include an interview with MPD Chief Cathy Lanier, a look at the ten cases that captured our attention this year, guest columns from Councilmember Jim Graham and Kia Dupree Joppy, sister of community activist Timothy Dawkins, the year in numbers, and more. Interviews with US Attorney Ronald Machen, and a look at the year’s dismissed cases are among the stories to look for in this special report next week. Read the 2013 Year in Review here.

James Cornelius Robinson was ordered held in connection with the death of death of Jason Alexander Murphy. In a police interview, he denied involvement with the shooting.

Jurors found Cydrisse Alvin guilty of felony murder, saying that she fatally stabbed 28-year-old Amber Kent in Kent’s home in June 2012.

Albrecht Muth‘s trial on charges that he killed his wife, Viola Herms Drath, is still expected to take place January 6, despite Muth’s continued and prolonged fast.

Darryl Matthews is free after prosecutors dropped all charges against him in the death of cab driver Hayes Osei Dennis.

Homicide Watch DC is hiring interns starting in January. See this post for details on how to apply.

In brief:

Two people were killed in DC this week.

• Demetrius Eccles, 31, was shot and killed in the 900 block of Sheridan Street Northwest. No suspects have been arrested.
• John Thomas Tillman, 63, died from a stabbing in the intersection of North Capitol St. and Florida Ave. Northwest. Deon Anthony Thomas, 37, has been arrested and held on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed in Tillman’s death.

The July 31 death of Kisha Lashawn was ruled a domestic homicide. Lashawn, 31, was found unconscious in the 2200 block of Retta Gilliam Ct. Southeast. Police said a suspect in the case was identified but has died.

Cedric Spicer pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed in connection with the February shooting death of 24-year-old Joseph Hardin. Spicer, 25, remains held and will be sentenced on January 17, 2014 by Judge Herbert Dixon Jr.

Judge Henry Greene declared a mistrial on the remaining charges against Jekwan Smith and Johnnie Harris in connection with the 2011 shooting death of 24-year-old Isaiah Sheffield. Greene’s decision ends all deliberations in a trial that charged Smith, Harris, Stanley Moghalu and Anthony Hatton with 21 counts related to the deaths of Sheffield, Steven Moore and Tyrell Fogle.

The murder trial against Cydrisse Alvin began with Judge Ronna Beck. Alvin, 31, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed in connection with the June 2012 stabbing death of her best friend, 28-year-old Amber Kent.

Deonte Bryant and Terrance Bush were found guilty of first-degree murder while armed, assault and related weapons offenses in connection with the 2011 Caribbean Festival shooting death of 43-year-old Robert Foster Jr. The co-defendants remain held and will be sentenced by Judge John Johnson on March 17, 2014.

Chavez Myers, Immanuel Swann, Muquan Cawthorne, Deon Jefferson and Greg Whitaker were sentenced Friday to a combined total of more than 100 years in prison in connection with the death of 18-year-old Olijawon Griffin, who was robbed and stabbed inside a Northwest DC metro station on November 17, 2012.

James Cornelius Robinson of Suitland, Md. was arrested in connection with the August shooting death of 30-year-old Jason Alexander Murphy. Robinson, 19, remains held and charged with second-degree murder while armed in Murphy’s death.

In brief:

Anthony Robinson, 26, of Southeast D.C. died Monday from multiple gunshot wounds in the 1900 block of 17th Street Southeast.

Darius Jamal Murphy, 19, of Northeast D.C. was fatally hit by police Tuesday in the 1300 block of Queen Street Northeast.

Lamont William Hall, 32, was found unconscious in the 200 block of Bates Street Northwest with an apparent gunshot wound just after midnight Saturday morning. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A man was found dead in the Brightwood neighborhood of Northwest DC Saturday night by police responding to a report of gunshots. The man’s identity has not been released.

Jurors found Michael Poth, the former Marine, guilty Monday of voluntary manslaughter while armed in connection with the April 2012 stabbing death of 23-year-old Philip Bushong, a fellow Marine.

Claire Rice, 65, pleaded innocent Monday to charges of first-degree premeditated murder while armed and related weapons offenses in connection with the Dec. 2012 shooting death of her 58-year-old cousin Anthony Garland Rice.

Judge Henry Greene declared a mistrial Monday on the remaining counts against 20-year-old Anthony Hatton, after the jury notified the court that they were deadlocked on the charges.

On Monday, mental health experts found 56-year-old Gary Montgomery incompetent to stand trial for the February 2012 stabbing death of 23-year-old Deoni Jones.

Charles Young, 22, was ordered held Friday in connection with the shooting death of 21-year-old Rokeida Spriggs.

In brief:

Donald Isiah Jones, 32, was killed in a double shooting in in the 2500 block of 14th Street Northeast last Saturday evening

Derrick Marvin Baugham, 25, was found shot near the unit block of Galveston Place Southwest early last Sunday morning.

Robert Brown, 26, died after being shot by police in Southeast DC Monday afternoon. Brown is believed to have run from police who were in the 4900 block of G Street, Southeast investigating the shooting death of Rokeida Spriggs.

Charles Wennen Young, 22, was arrested in connection with Spriggs’ death.

Lamonte Perry, 22, was arrested in connection with the November 2012 shooting death of Andre Jackson.

Prosecutors opened their case charging Deonte Bryant and Terrance Bush with the June 25, 2011 Caribbean Festival shooting death of 43-year-old Robert Foster Jr. Monday with eyewitness testimony from those near the festival when the deadly shots were fired.

Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying a woman whose body was pulled from the Potomac River on November 1. The case hasn’t been ruled a homicide, and MPD has not released a cause of death.

In brief:

Three people were killed in DC this week.

• Sephar Jean-Simon, 22, of Silver Spring, Md. was fatally stabbed on the 1200 block of Connecticut Ave. Northwest. No suspects have been arrested.
• Kevin Lucas, 28, was shot and killed in the 100 block of 34th Street Southeast. No suspects in the case have been arrested.
• Rokeida Spriggs, 21, was shot and killed on the 4900 block of G Street Southeast. No suspects have been arrested in the case.

Michael Anthony Coleman, 36, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed in connection with the stabbing death of Candance Reed. He remains held pending a preliminary hearing December 9.

Jury deliberations began in the Michael Poth murder trial. Poth, 21, a former Marine, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection with the April 2012 stabbing death of 23-year-old Philip Bushong, a fellow Marine.

Albrecht Muth, the man charged with killing his 91-year-old wife Viola Herms Drath, was denied a motion to subpoena former U.S. Gen. David Petraeus, or anyone beyond 25 miles from D.C. at his upcoming trial.

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.

Prosecutors reopened the case against Melvin Linkins charging him with second-degree murder in connection with the 2011 death of 37-year-old fireman, Marc Emilio Dancy. Linkins is released on the high intensity supervision program, pending a status hearing on Jan. 15, 2014.

Kevin Benbow pleaded guilty to a charge of second-degree murder while armed, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the 2010 shooting death of 42-year-old Jinnell McQueen.

Marquette Tibbs was arraigned on charges of first-degree premeditated murder while armed, and related weapons offenses in connection with the 2012 shooting death of 22-year-old Andre Jackson. Tibbs, 22, is one of two suspects charged in the murder and is scheduled to stand trial in March 2014.

Dianna Lalchan was arraigned on charges of first-degree premeditated murder while armed and a related weapons offense in connection with the March shooting death of 36-year-old Christopher Lalchan. Dianna Lalchan remains released pending a status hearing on December 17.

In brief:

Candance Reed, 40, was killed early Friday morning on George Avenue NW. A second stabbing victim has survived.

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

Dwayne Hilton, 21, pleaded innocent Friday to charges of first-degree premeditated murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, and several related weapons offenses in connection with the November 2011 shooting death of 18-year-old Mico Briscoe.

Chavez Myers moved forward to sentencing Friday after affirming his guilty plea to first-degree murder while armed in connection with the November 2012 stabbing death of 18-year-old Olijawon Griffin.

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

Michael Poth’s trial began Thursday with eyewitness testimony and video footage. Poth, 21, a former Marine, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection with the 2012 fatal stabbing death of Philip Bushong, a fellow Marine. The trial is expected to continue this week.

A mistrial was declared in the murder case against Joshua Andrews after the jury notified the court three times they were deadlocked. Andrews is charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with the 2010 shooting death of 17-year-old Daron Alonte Lucas.

Justin Wilson was ordered held Thursday while a grand jury investigates after Judge Dixon found probable cause that Wilson was involved in the shooting death of 28-year-old Freddy Hawkins. Wilson is suspected of second-degree murder while armed and assault with intent to kill.

Stephen Page and James Brewer pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder while armed and related robbery offenses in connection with the 2011 shooting death of 71-year-old Solomon Reese.

A trial of four co-defendants charged with three murders began last week. Keir Johnson and Lester Williams are two of the co-defendants. The four men are charged with 80 criminal counts including conspiracy, first-degree murder, obstruction of justice, assault, and weapons charges related to the deaths of Jamal Coates, Paul Jones, and Sean Robinson.

Anthony Williams, 16, was ordered held Wednesday on suspicion of second-degree murder in the Nov. 5 shooting death of 24-year-old James Edward Booker.

Michael Smith pleaded guilty on Nov. 6 to fleeing law enforcement, acting as an accessory after the fact to an assault with intent to kill, and one other weapons charge in connection with the shooting death of 24-year-old Paul Aime Tanoh Danzo.

In brief:

Three people were killed in DC this week:

• Jeffrey Jarrell Garnett, 25, was killed in a shooting in the 3500 Block of Stanton Road Southeast early last Sunday morning. No arrests have been announced in connection with the case.
• James Edward Booker, 24, died after being shot in the 3200 block of 6th Street Southeast Tuesday night. Police say he ran wounded to the 500 block of Alabama Avenue where he collapsed. No arrests have been announced in connection with the case.
• Tyree Beysean Miller, 27, was killed in a shooting in the 5000 block of Bass Place Southeast, near Nalle Elementary School. Police say was the shooting may have been an exchange of gunfire between several men. The case in under investigation.

Jeffrey Mills was found guilty of voluntary maslaughter while armed and carrying a dangerous weapon during crime of violence in connection with the 2012 death of 45-year-old Juan Antonio Paredes. Jurors in the case delivered their verdict after less than five hours of deliberations.

MPD has closed a 30-year-old homicide case with the arrest Joe Anthony Barber, 55, of Woodbridge, Va. 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 and sexually assaulted inside her home in the 3300 block of 6th Street, Southeast. Detectives said DNA evidence lead to Barber’s arrest.

Jury deliberations in the murder case against Joshua Andrews began. Andrews is on trial for first-degree murder while armed, assault with intention to kill and three related weapon charges in the shooting death of Darond Lucas.

James Brown was arraigned on charges of first-degree premeditated murder while armed, obstruction of justice, tampering with evidence, accessory to murder after the fact, and related weapons offenses in connection with the 2012 shooting death of 22-year-old Darnell Rivers. Brown pleaded innocent to all charges and remains held pending a status hearing November 22.

Jerome Lewis was arraigned Friday on charges of first-degree felony murder, arson, assault, first-degree child cruelty and threatening to kidnap in connection with the February fire death of 4-year-old Samauri Jenkins. Lewis pleaded innocent to all charges and remains held pending a status hearing January 14, 2014.

Judge Lynn Liebovitz found substantial probability that Erik Postell shot and killed 24-year-old Paul Aim Tanoh Danzo. Postell, 24, is one of two suspects in the case and is charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with the march shooting death of Danzo. Codefendant Michael Smith pleaded guilty to fleeing law enforcement, acting as an accessory after the fact to an assault with intent to kill, and one weapons charge. Postell’s case will now be investigated by a grand jury.

In brief:

A double shooting on the 3000 block of Stanton Road Southeast injured one woman and killed 23-year-old William Deon Howard. MPD has not arrested a suspect in connection with Howard’s death.

Diallobe McDougal, 38, was stabbed and killed on the 1800 block of Central Place Northeast. No suspects have been arrested in connection with McDougal’s death.

Joseph David Fowlkes, 27, was shot and killed on the 400 block of Sheperd Street Northwest. No suspects have been arrested in connection with Fowlkes’ murder.

Justin Wilson and Reese William were ordered held in connection with a double shooting on Florida Avenue that killed 28-year-old Freddy Hawkins. Wilson and William remain held pending a preliminary hearing November 14.

Witness testimony began in the murder trial charging Jeffrey Mills with the 2012 death of 45-year-old Juan Antonio Paredes. Mills, 50, is alleged to have beaten Paredes with a six-foot barbell on a Saturday afternoon in January 2012, just one block from the Columbia Heights metro station.

Judge Robert Morin found probable cause in the case against Ahmad Robertson-Bey. Robertson-Bey is suspected of fatally shooting 26-year-old Andre Wilson. Robertson-Bey, 22, remains held pending a felony status conference December 20.

Opening arguments and witness testimony began in the murder trial charging Joshua Andrews with the 2010 shooting death of 17-year-old Darond Alonte Lucas.

Judge Russell Canan ordered that the murder trial charging Albrecht Muth with the 2011 death of his 91-year-old wife, Viola Herms Drath, will proceed without Muth being present. Muth, 49, has been unable to attend court hearings due to medical conditions he endures from a nine-month self-induced fast. The case is scheduled for a trial readiness hearing November 21.

Judge Ronna Beck sentenced William Faison to 25 years in prison in connection with the 2011 shooting death of 19-year-old Jeffrey Covington. Faison, 23, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed in June.

Alex cater was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the 2011 death of 56-year-old Leroy Studevant. Cater, 31, is one of two codefendants in the case. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in June.

Chave Myers is seeking to withdraw his guilty plea in connection with the 2012 shooting death of 17-year-old Olijawon Griffin. Myers, 17, remains held pending a status hearing November 15.

William Hogan pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed in connection with the September shooting death of 21-year-old Robert Spencer. Hogan is scheduled to be sentenced January 10, 2014 with Judge Beck.