Homicide Watch D.C.

In brief:

Freddy Bernard Hawkins of Northeast DC was killed and another man was injured early Saturday morning in a shooting near the intersection of Florida Avenue and North Capitol Street, Northwest. Justine Wilson, of Southeast, DC is suspected of second-degree murder while armed and assault with intent to kill and 23-year-old Reese Williams of Southeast, DC suspected of acting as an accessory after the fact.

Judge Henry Greene declared a mistrial in the two remaining weapons charges against Stanley Moghalu. An alleged member of the “21st and Vietnam” crew Moghalu, 25, was found innocent last month of murder, conspiracy, and other weapons offenses in connection with the 2011 shooting death of 36-year-old Steven Moore. He could be retried on the two remaining weapons offenses.

Judge Robert Morin ruled that Sosefina Amoa, the woman accused of killing her newborn child, will remain held after attorney’s in the case waived Amoa’s preliminary hearing. Amoa, 26, is charged with felony first-degree murder in the case.

Grant Johnson was found guilty of first-degree premeditated murder while armed, second-degree murder while armed, armed robbery and related weapons offenses in connection with the May 2012 shooting death of 32-year-old Ricardo Mandrell Lancaster. He is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 21, 2014.

Judge Russell Canan sentenced Marlon Williams to 40 years in prison in connection with the 2010 shooting death of 37-year old Minn Soo Kang. Williams, 34, said he plans to file an appeal in the case.

Charges against Wesley Monroe were dropped after prosecutors in the case asked Judge Ronna Beck to dismiss the case. Monroe was a suspect in connection with the June shooting death of 28-year-old Quentin Lavar White. Don Page, also suspected in White’s murder, remains held.

Judge Herbert Dixon sentenced Lloyd Bright to seven and a half years in prison in connection with the 2012 death of 61-year-old Darrly Sweet. Bright pleaded guilty in August to involuntary manslaughter in Sweet’s death.

Demonta Chappell was indicted on charges of first-degree premeditated murder whil armed, obstruction of justice, and related weapons offenses in connection with the 2012 shooting death of 26-year-old Stevann Moorer. Chappell pleaded innocent to all charges and remains held pending a status hearing November 22.

Judge Russell Canan sentenced Shawn Lewis to 20 years in prison in connection with the death of 38-year-old Douglas Farley.

Marvin Moore pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and a related weapons offense in connection with the stabbing death of 58-year-old Timothy Benjamin. Moore is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Russell Canan on January 10, 2014.

Judge Russell Canan ruled that Kevin Walke will remain held after finding substantial probability that Walker participated in the July shooting deaths of siblings Jamie and Jamahl Jenkins. He is held pending a grand jury investigation.

In brief:

James Baxter, 46, was killed in a Wednesday night shooting on the 500 block of 48th Place Northeast. MPD has not arrested a suspect in this murder.

Sosefina Amoa, 26, was arrested and held in connection with the first-degree felony murder in connection with the asphyxiation death of her newborn son. The baby died Oct. 11. Amoa is held pending a preliminary hearing December 3.

Erik Postell, 23, was ordered held last Saturday in connection with the shooting death of 24-year-old Paul Aime Tanoh Danzo. Postell is one of two suspects charged in the murder, and is held pending a preliminary hearing October 22.

Rasdavid Lagarde, 26, of Northwest D.C. was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder while armed in connection with the shooting death of 22-year-old Howard University student, Omar Sykes. Lagarde was ordered held pending a preliminary hearing November 13.

Burnis Cole, 35, was indicted on charges of first-degree murder while armed and related weapons offenses in connection with the stabbing death of 40-year-old Raasheem Jamal Rich. Cole pleaded innocent to all charges and remains held pending a status hearing November 14.

Albrecht Muth, the man charged with the 2011 death of his 91-year-old wife, Viola Herms Drath, was denied the right to represent himself at trial. Muth has been unable to attend court hearings due to a nine month self-induced fast.

Davon Holmes, the man convicted of the 2011 stabbing death of 24-year-old Marcellus Terrell Bailey, was sentenced Friday to 24 years in prison.

Anthony Thomas, one of three suspects arrested in connection with the 2011 shooting death of 71-year-old Solomon Reese, pleaded guilty Friday to voluntary manslaughter while armed and related robbery offenses.

In brief:

Ahmad Robertson-Bey, 22, of Northwest, DC was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed in connection with the shooting death of Andre Wilson. Roberston-Bey was ordered held pending a preliminary hearing.

Arvel Wills pleaded guilty Thursday to involuntary manslaughter in connection with the 2012 death of his 25-year-old cousin, Dewayne Wills. “I admit 100-percent that I did it,” Arvel Wills said in tearfully entering his plea.

Warrants were issued for two men believed to be connected to the fatal stabbing of Matias Molina, whose body was found in Rock Creek Park early last month. The suspects were identified by police as Angel Dilmar Monge and Jose Santos Cantarero.

Kevin Walker, 38, was ordered held in connection with the shooting deaths of siblings Jamie Jenkins and Jamahl Jenkins. He’s suspected of two counts of first-degree murder while armed. He was initially arrested Sept. 26 in Winston-Salem, N.C., was transported to the MPD Homicide Branch Thursday.

Marvin Palencia was sentenced to 30 years in prison Friday for the 2010 shooting death of Jacobo Vazquez, a man who was in a relationship with Palencia’s wife. Palencia will also serve an additional 16 months for one count of tampering with evidence. “It was out of character for Mr. Palencia,” Judge John Ramsey Johnson said. “In many ways he’s a good man who did a terrible act.”

Erik Postell, a 24-year-old Southeast DC man, was arrested in connection with a March shooting outside a DC nightclub that killed Paul Aime Tanoh Danzo. Postell was arrested Friday on suspicion of first-degree murder while armed. He is the second person arrested in connection with this case.

In brief:

Miriam Carey, 34, died following a car chase and police shooting near the U.S. Capitol Thursday afternoon.

Dietrich Baker was sentenced to 23 years in prison for the April 2012 death of 22-year-old James Ray Sherrod.

Judge Ronna Beck found probable cause Friday in the case against Stefon Kirkpatrick. Prosecutors have charged Kirkpatrick with stabbing and killing his 22-year-old girlfriend, Julisa Brittney Washington on July 29, 2013. Kirkpatrick remains held pending a grand jury investigation.

Judge Karen Howze ruled there was enough evidence to hold William Hogan accountable for the September shooting death of 21-year-old Robert Spencer.

Stanley Moghalu was found innocent of one count of conspiracy in connection with the December 2011 death of 36-year-old Steven Moore. Jurors have been deliberating in the “21st and Vietnam” murder trial since Aug. 20, reaching several partial verdicts.

Judge Howze ordered Robert Crowder and Rico Carr held in connection with the stabbing death of 19-year-old Kelvin Willis. Crowder and Carr are suspected, along with Ladonte Hawkins, of first-degree murder in Willis’ death.

Grant Johnson stood trial for the May 2012 death of Ricardo Lancaster whose brother, Jeremiah, was known to be Johnson’s best friend. Lancaster’s mother testified about their close family-like relationship. Johnson is charged with first-degree murder while armed, among many other charges. The trial is expected to continue this week.

In brief:

Devar Battle, 34, was killed shortly after midnight Saturday in Southeast DC.

Mark Anthony Coates was sentenced to 23 years in prison for the December 2011 death of 56-year-old Leroy Studevant.

Judge Russell Canan found substantial probability in the case against Allen Culver. Prosecutors have charged Culver with the shooting death of 31-year-old Robert Plight. Culver remains held pending a grand jury investigation.

Judge Robert Richter found substantial probability Monday in the case against Donald Dubose. Dubose is suspected of participating in the May 2012 drive-by shooting death of 34-year-old Michael Oshea Smith.

A warrant was issued for a suspect wanted in connection with the shooting deaths of siblings Jamie and Jamahl Jenkins, who were killed in the 5300 block of Eat Capitol Street Northeast in July. MPD said that the warrant was issued for 38-year-old Kevin Antione Walker. Police described Walker as a “black male, 5’8 in height, 195 pounds, brown eyes, black hair, and medium complexion.”

The family of Richard “Mike” Ridgell, 52, one of the victims of last week’s mass shooting at the Washington Navy Yard, has established a fund to help the man’s children with college and other expenses.

The FBI released new details about the mass shooting, including video of the gunman, Aaron Alexis, who was fatally shot by police.

Michael Smith, 33, was arraigned last Friday on charges of first-degree murder while armed, and other related offenses in connection with the shooting death of 24-year-old Paul Aime Tanoh Danzo. The charges were part of a case that initially charged Smith as being an accessory to Danzo’s murder. This week, Judge Frederick Sullivan found that there was substantial evidence in the case.

Judge Russell Canan sentenced Earl Johnson Tuesday to 14 years and three months in prison for the August 2012 stabbing death of 29-year-old Antoinette Mitchell.

Peter Hendy pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with the death of 4-year-old Kamari Zavon Taylor. Prosecutors dropped an initial charge of first-degree murder in exchange for the plea.

Marvin Moore was arrested on a charge of second-degree murder while armed in connection with the stabbing death of Timothy Benjamin on Saturday, Sep. 21 in the rear of the 5300 block of Georgia Avenue, NW.

Greg Whittaker and Chavez Myers pleaded guilty Tuesday in connection with the stabbing death of 18-year-old Olijawon Emmanuel Griffin. The men were scheduled to stand trial this week.

Davon Thomas pleaded guilty in connection with the January death of 53-year-old Emanuel Campbell, who died after being pushed to the ground and striking his head.

Marvin Moore, 36, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed in connection with the stabbing death of 58-year-old Timothy Benjamin. He was released on a $500,000 bond due to being hospitalized and unavailable to attend a court hearing Friday.

In brief:

Seventeen people died in five incidents in DC this week, including Aaron Alexis, who killed 12 people at Washington’s Navy Yard on Monday before being killed by police.

Those killed at the Navy Yard are:

• Mary Francis Knight, 51
• Gerald L. Read, 58
• Martin Bodrog, 54
• Richard Michael Ridgell, 52
• Arthur Daniels, 51
• Michael Arnold, 59
• Sylvia Frasier, 53
• Kathy Gaarde, 62
• John Roger Johnson, 73
• Frank Kohler, 50
• Kenneth Bernard Proctor, 46
• Vishnu Pandit, 61

For more details, see “The Day After the Navy Yard Shooting: Essential Reads” and “The Navy Yard Shooting: What We Know Now.”

Four separate homicides also claimed the lives of four DC men.

• Awele Olisemeka, 24, died Monday after being assaulted the previous Saturday. Olisemeka was found unconscious in 900 block of Madison Street NW. He was transported to a local hospital where he was listed in critical condition and diagnosed with multiple skull fractures. He was pronounced dead at approximately 4:40 p.m. Monday.
• On Tuesday, Robert Spencer, 21, was killed in a shooting in Southwest DC. Spencer was found unconscious with a gunshot wound in the 100 Block of Irvington Street at about 10:22 p.m. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
• Timothy Benjamin, 58, was fatally stabbed just after midnight Saturday morning. Benjamin, a Northwest DC resident, was found “lying on his back in the rear of the 5300 block of Georgia Avenue NW suffering from apparent multiple stab wounds,” police said in a statement.
• Rockwell John Flint, 45, of Northwest DC, died Friday. He had been injured in a fight in an Adams Morgan bar about three weeks ago. WJLA reports that Flint was the “Good Samaritan” was injured while trying to subdue an unruly and violent bar patron.

Gary Maye and Immanuel Swann pleaded guilty this week in connection with the stabbing death of 18-year-old Olijawon Griffin at the Woodley Park Metro Station in Nov. 2012. Maye and Swann are the fifth and sixth people to plead guilty in the case. The three remaining co-defendants are expected to stand trial Monday.

After four weeks of deliberations, jurors in the “21st and Vietnam” murder trial found Jekwan Smith, Stanley Moghalu and Johnnie Harris innocent of some of the most serious charges faced by the men: Moghalu and Harris were found innocent of murder and firearms charges in connection with the December 2011 shooting death of Steven Moore, Smith and Harris, charged with the death of Isaiah Sheffield, were found innocent of first-degree premeditated murder while armed. Smith and Harris could still be convicted of second-degree murder or voluntary manslaughter while armed in connection with Sheffield’s death. Jurors continue to deliberate on remaining charges in the case.

Deangelo Williams pleaded innocent Friday to charges of first-degree murder while armed, assault and related weapons offenses in connection with the 2011 shooting death of 18-year-old Lucki Pannell.

Herbert Hayes was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the May 2012 stabbing death of John Wesley Griffin. The sentencing was a significant and substantial departure from guidelines which recommended 15 to 26 years in prison. “You’ve just been committing violent crimes for 25 years. I have no confidence at all that you will ever change your ways,” Canan told Hayes at sentencing.

Darryl Matthews was ordered released Friday from a halfway house where he was held while a grand jury investigates a charge that he fatally stabbed 60-year-old Hayes Osei Dennis in July 2012. He was placed into the High Intensity Supervision Program.

Michael A. Smith, a 33-year-old Suitland, Md. resident, was charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy and other charges in connection with the March shooting death of Paul Aime Tanoh Danzo outside the Balletto nightclub in Northwest DC. The US Attorney’s Office said Saturday that Smith was arraigned Friday and that the charges were part of a case that initially charged him as being an accessory after the fact.

In brief:

Delonta Hendrix, 32, of Northwest DC, was killed in a shooting that also injured three others. MPD said in a press release Thursday afternoon that officers responding to the sound of gunshots found Hendrix shot in the 1100 block of 1st Street, NW. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Vernon Davis, 24, or Northeast DC was found shot to death in Northeast DC Friday morning.

After three weeks of deliberating, jurors in the “21st and Vietnam” murder trial announced partial verdicts Wednesday morning on two of the four defendants, but the judge assigned to the case refused to accept their ruling when jurors on one of the verdicts did not appear to be unanimous and the other verdict was read in a confusing manner.

Keir Johnson and Lester Williams turned down a government plea offer Thursday to second-degree murder while armed in connection with the shooting death of 21-year-old Jamal Coates.

Antonio Jones was sentenced to 19 years in prison Friday for the 2011 shooting death of Davon Paul Gray.

Ronald Page was sentenced to 20 years in prison Friday for the shooting death of his stepson, 22-year-old Nicholas Ray Satcher. Page addressed the court Friday for over half an hour often breaking down into tears while talking about his life, his dreams, and his family. But when it came to his stepson’s shooting, Page seemed to place blame on his family, and claimed he was being attacked by Satcher and that he shot him in self-defense. “I did not kill Nicholas,” Page said. “The situation was brought on by Nicholas, and his actions killed him.”

Carlos Parks and Troy Robinson were ordered held Friday while a grand jury investigates the case charging the men with killing 25-year-old Tywayne Thompson over a scooter.

Melvin Linkins was ordered released from D.C. jail Friday after Judge Herbert Dixon ruled there was not enough evidence to proceed in the case charging Linkins with the death of 37-year-old D.C. firefighter Marc Emilio Dancy. A spokesman for the US Attorney’s Office said the case remains under investigation.

Decordre Franklin was sentenced to 15 years in prison Friday for the shooting death of 33-year-old Irving Jones Jr.

Prosecutors dropped their case against Deangelo Garner on Friday in the 2010 shooting death of Antonio Vela.

In brief:

Five people were killed in DC this week:

• Antonio Jerome Williams, 23, a Northwest DC man, was fatally shot last Saturday in Columbia Heights. A juvenile male was also injured in the shooting. Earlier in the day, Jason Alexander Murphy, 30, of New Carrollton, Md, was fatally shot in Southeast DC. Police say Murphy was found unconscious behind the 1300 block of Savannah Street by police who were responding to a call for a shooting.
• Matias Molina, 49, was found dead of an apparent stabbing in Rock Creek Park Monday evening. His body was found by a resident near the intersection of Beach Drive and Joyce Road.
• Donald Ray Brown, 28, was fatally shot in Southwest DC Wednesday. A juvenile female was also injured in that shooting.
• Kenneth Guytrell Sweet, 30, was fatally shot early Saturday morning in Southeast DC.

David Jamal Wilson pleaded innocent to charges of second-degree murder while armed and second-degree theft in connection with stabbing death of his roommate, 68-year-old Howard Venable Jr.

Cedric Spicer pleaded innocent to first-degree murder and related weapons charges in connection with the February 2013 death of Joseph Hardin.

A 21-year-old DC man who pleaded guilty in May to participating in a 2009 shooting that killed a 15-year-old bystander was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Judge Karen Howze ruled that there was enough evidence to hold Carlos Parks in connection with the the June shooting death of 25-year-old Tywayne Thompson.

A shootout at a Southeast DC apartment complex that killed community activist Timothy Delonte Dawkins may have had another target. At a preliminary hearing, MPD Detective Michael Murphy testified that video captured by a surveillance camera at the apartment complex showed two men exchanging gunfire and Dawkins falling to the ground. “They seemed to be shooting at each other,” Murphy said. “I don’t know if the decedent was the intended target.”

A jury that has been deliberating for more than two weeks in a DC murder case was excused Thursday morning after the judge in the case decided to remove one juror from the group. It is the third time a juror has been dismissed from service in the case, which began June 25.

Joshua Mebane, one of two teens suspected in the shooting death of a D.C. taxi driver, was arraigned Friday on two counts of murder in connection with the shooting death of 44-year-old Quadar Muhammad. Mebane pleaded innocent to all charges and remains held pending a status hearing October 31.

Muquan Cawthorne pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed, armed robbery and a related weapons offense Friday in connection with the stabbing death of 18-year-old Olijawon Emmanuel Griffin. Prosecutors dropped initial charges of felony murder, conspiracy and assault.

In brief:

Jason Alexander Murphy, 30, of New Carrollton, Md, was shot and killed early Saturday morning in Southeast DC. Police say Murphy was found unconscious behind the 1300 block of Savannah Street by police who were responding to a call for a shooting. Murphy was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Todd Green, 22, was arrested last Friday on suspicion of second-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of 24-year-old Timothy Delonte Dawkins. He was ordered held pending a preliminary hearing.

Lloyd Bright pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of 61-year-old Darryl Eugene Sweet Sr. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to drop the initial charge of second-degree murder and will recommend Bright serve a sentence of 6 to 8 years in prison.

Jurors in the “21st and Vietnam” murder trial announced Monday that they had reached a verdict on three of the seven charges against Anthony Hatton. Meanwhile, one of the jurors had to be released because of medical issues. An alternate juror was appointed to the jury and deliberations have continued.

Lanee Bell was sentenced to three years in prison in connection with the brutal beating death of 18-year-old Latisha Frazier. Bell’s jail time was suspended and she must complete two years of probation.

At a preliminary hearing, Judge Ronna Beck found enough evidence to believe that Ladonte Hawkins participated in the 2010 stabbing death of 19-year-old Kelvin Jamal Willis. Hawkins, 20, remains held while a grand jury investigates the case.

Dennis Washington, a DC man suspected of beating a man to death in his Northeast DC home, was released from jail and the charge against him dropped. Washington had faced a charge of second-degree murder in connection with the beating death of Thomas Lipscomb in April 2011. Lipscomb was found dead on April 26, lying on the floor of his apartment, partially decomposed.

Khari Williams was arraigned on charges of first-degree murder while armed and two related weapons offenses in connection with the shooting death of 23-year-old Angelo Payne. Williams pleaded innocent to all charges, and a status hearing has been scheduled for September 4.

Davon Thomas was arraigned Friday on a charge of second-degree murder in connection with the death of his 53-year-old grandfather, Emanuel Campbell. Thomas pleaded innocent to the charge; a trial is scheduled for April 2014.

Jurors found Alexander Gomez-Enamorado guilty Friday of two separate counts of murder in connection with the 2010 stabbing death of 54-year-old Miguel Ventura. Jurors in the case deliberated for approximately one day before delivering their verdict around 3:15 p.m. Friday. Gomez-Enamorado was found guilty of first-degree murder while armed, felony murder, conspiracy, robbery, burglary, tampering with evidence and obstruction of justice.

In brief:

Timothy Delonte Dawkins was shot and killed Wednesday in the 4200 block of 4th Street Southeast.

Tracy Lamont Day, a 38-year-old A Bowie, Md. man was fatally shot shortly before midnight Friday in Northeast DC.

Alexander Buckley was sentenced Thursday to 22 years in prison for the shooting death of 18-year-old Siohban Nicole Lee.

Prosecutors and defense counsel in the “21st and Vietnam” murder trial have concluded closing arguments and the case now rests in the hands of the jury, who began deliberations around noon Tuesday.

Donte Graves was arraigned on charges of second-degree murder, armed robbery and related weapons offenses in connection with the shooting death of Tyrone Joyner. Graves pleaded innocent to all charges and a trial date has been scheduled for March 2014.

Although mental health evaluators recommend that Reynaud Cook continue to receive psychiatric treatments, they have concluded that he is competent to stand trial for the murder of 30-year-old Yolanda Stone. Cook was arraigned Wednesday on charges of first-degree murder, first and second-degree cruelty to children, contempt and weapons charges in connection with Stone’s death; he pleaded innocent to all charges.

During opening statements in the Alexander Gomez-Enamorado murder trial, prosecutors told jurors that Jose Reyes and Gomez-Enamorado planned together to rob Miguel Ventura with a knife, but when things went wrong, Reyes stabbed Ventura, at least ten times. Defense attorneys say, though, that Gomez-Enamorado had no idea Reyes was going to kill Ventura.

Judge Robert Morin found substantial probability that Jermaine Brown is responsible for the death of 31-year-old Randolph Scott Harris Jr. Brown remains held while a grand jury investigates the case.

Ladonte Hawkins was held in connection with the 2010 stabbing death of Kelvin Jamal Willis, pending a preliminary hearing scheduled August 28.

Wesley Monroe, one of two men charged in connection with the shooting death of Quentin Lavar White, was released from D.C. jail on a personal promise to appear at all scheduled court hearings in the case.

Dietrich Baker’s sentencing hearing was postponed Friday after he told Judge Herbert Dixon that he no longer wanted to plead guilty.

Derrell Bennett was sentenced to to 17 years in prison in connection with the 2010 shooting death of 29-year-old Keith Banks.

Judge Robert Morin found substantial probability that Antonio Shaw stabbed and killed 17-year-old Ernest Hart. Shaw remains held while a grand jury investigates the case.

Troy Quentin Robinson, 18, was held Friday pending a preliminary hearing in connection with the June shooting death of 25-year-old Tywayne Thompson.