Homicide Watch D.C.

Five homicides were reported in DC this week, Ronald Plight, 31, Solomon James Okoroh, 57, Malik Spears, 16, and Rodney Ellis Gardner, 33. Their deaths bring the total number of homicides reported in DC this year to 33.

• Ronald Plight, 31, was fatally shot last Saturday night in the 4400 block of Benning Road Northeast. He was found injured shortly after 8 p.m. and was taken to a hospital where he died. Later in the week, police released surveillance video of a “person of interest” in the case.
• Solomon James Okoroh, a 57-year-old taxi driver from Lanham, Md., was shot while behind the wheel of his cab in Adams Morgan early Tuesday morning. Ercell Overton, 32, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with Okoroh’s death.
• Malik Spears, a 16-year-old from Southeast, was found Monday night shot in a hallway of a building in the 1200 block of Brentwood Road. He was transported to a hospital and died Tuesday. He is the second teenager killed in DC this year.
• Rodney Ellis Gardner, 33, was shot and killed in Southeast DC Wednesday. Police found him injured in the 1600 block of 21st Place SE at around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday. He was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
• Andre Wilson, 26, was killed in a double shooting in Northwest D.C. early Thursday morning. Police found Wilson in the 1100 block of 1st Place Northwest around 3:30 a.m. Thursday suffering from gunshot wounds; he later died at a local hospital. A second victim in that shooting was treated and released.

Rashid Caviness-Bey was found guilty Monday of second-degree murder in the 2011 shooting death of 19-year-old Osman Al-Akbar. Jurors deliberated for two days. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 2.

DeAndre Shaheed was arrested in connection with the March shooting death of 31-year-old Akinwole Olu Williams. Shaheed, 18, was ordered held pending a preliminary hearing in the case.

Kevin Brown was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder in connection with the February shooting death of 19-year-old James Edward Dean.

Ariston Jamal Dickson was sentenced to eight years in prison in connection with the shooting death of 23-year-old Robert Maurice Lesueur.

Alexander Buckley pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed in connection with the shooting death of 18-year-old Siohban Nicole Lee.

In brief:

Rhett Gelb, 22, died Wednesday of a gunshot wound he sustained Monday evening. Gelb was found shot in the unit block of Hamilton Street NW around 8 p.m. Monday.

Nathaniel Nugent, 20, was found unconscious behind a home in the 5300 block of 14th Street just before 6 p.m. Wednesday. He had been shot and was pronounced dead at the scene.

After eluding authorities for almost a year, Reynaud Cook appeared in custody at DC Superior Court Wednesday on murder and assault charges in connection with the 2012 shooting death of 30-year-old Yolanda Stone. His case has been delayed, however, while mental health profesionals conduct a full mental health evaluation, the results of which are due to the court in August.

Ellsworth Colbert was sentenced Wednesday to 17 years in prison for the March 2012 stabbing death of 38-year-old Robert Leroy Wright.

The case against Rashid Caviness-Bey went to jurors Thursday after closing arguments were made in the case. The jury has not yet reached a verdict. In closing arguments, prosecutors argued that Osman Al-Akbar’s death was the result of a robbery gone awry, which Caviness-Bey and two others planned together. Defense attorneys said, though, that Caviness-Bey had nothing to do with the attempted robbery, and that his presence near the crime scene on the morning of the murder was a mere coincidence.

In brief:

A shooting in Northeast D.C. killed 21-year-old Dontel Price dead.

A judge ordered new mental observations for Leon Allen Smith, saying he could not be found mentally competent to stand trial at this time and needed further treatment. Smith is suspected in the stabbing death of Stephan Manuel Pool.

Reynard Cook was arrested near State College, Penn., a year after the death of Yolando Stones. Police say cook shot stone in front of their children when she tried to pick them up from his home.

In his opening statement, the attorney for Rashid Caviness-Bey argued that a fifteen-year-old, not his client, shot and killed Osman Al-Akbar.

John Bolton was sentenced to 26 years in prison Friday for the May 2011 shooting, and murder, of Christopher Fletcher.

DaQuan Tinker pleaded innocent to a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the August 2012 shooting death of Terence Robinson.

In brief:

Charles Garris, a 28-year-old Southwest DC man, was found dead Thursday afternoon inside an apartment of an apparant gunshot wound. His death has been ruled a homicide, MPD announced Saturday afternoon.

A review of Homicide Watch DC’s databases revealed that at the current rate, D.C. could end 2013 with fewer homicides than the milestone-breaking 92 that occurred last year. To date, 24 homicides, have been reported, nine fewer than there were at this point in 2012. Ten of those 24 cases have been closed with an arrest.

Michael Davis was found competent to stand trial for a series of hammer attacks that took place over three days last year, one of which resulted in the death of 66-year-old Gary Dederichs. Davis has received mental health treatment since his arrest nearly one year ago.

Jermaine Livingston was arrested Tuesday morning in connection with the 2011 shooting death of 34-year-old Antwain Henderson of Capitol Heights, Md. Livingston is the fourth suspect arrested in the case.

Linda Lee Bury, one of two teens charged in connection with the shooting death of Quadaar Muhammad, a D.C. taxi driver, pled guilty in connection with the case Wednesday, although court documents do not make it clear as to what charge.

Felicia Jones was sentenced Friday to six years in prison in connection with the stabbing death of 30-year-old Jodie Lamont Ward.

Brandon Andrews was sentenced to 39 and a half years in prison for the August 2011 shooting death of 43-year-old Leonard Bigelow.

Ronald Page on Friday turned down a second plea offer. Page is charged with second-degree murder, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and three firearm possession charges in connection with the death of his step-son, 22-year-old Nicholas Ray Satcher.

Two of the six co-defendants in the murder of 18-year-old Latisha Frazier were sentenced by Judge William Jackson Friday: Laurence Hassan received an 18-year prison sentence; Cinthya Proctor received a 21-year sentence.

In brief:

Shootings in DC last weekend left two men dead: 21-year-old Alvin Allen Jr. was killed in the 3400 block of Stanton Road at about 2:50 a.m. Sunday and Frederick Booker was killed in the 4100 block of 20th Street Northeast at about 6:41 p.m.

Jurors found Karl Pugh innocent of murder Friday after two days of deliberations, freeing him of all charges in connection with the shooting death of 27-year-old Quentin Joavor Ragland. It was Pugh’s second trial; the first resulted in a hung jury.

Terry Johnson was sentenced Wednesday to 23 and a half years in prison in connection with the shooting death of 19-year-old Andre Jamal Wiggins. A jury convicted Johnson of second-degree murder and related weapons offenses in connection with the case in March.

Dianna Lalchan, suspected of voluntary manslaughter while armed in the shooting death of her husband, Christopher Lalchan, recieved approval from Judge Ronna Beck to be released from a halfway house while awaiting a grand jury investigation of her case.

Donte Graves rejected an informal plea offer from prosecutors Friday; he is suspected in the shooting death of 22-year-old Tyrone Joyner.

Judge Russell Canan ruled Friday that Herbert Hayes is mentally competent to stand trial for the murder of 41-year-old John Wesley Griffin. The trial is scheduled to begin June 24.

Albrecht Muth has returned to DC jail after doctors noted that his health had improved. Muth had been fasting for a period of time; Judge Russell Canan was concerned that the effects of the fasting made Muth’s health a danger to bring him to court to stand trial for the death of his wife, Viola Drath.

In brief:

Police investigated the fatal shooting of Thomas Terrell Jamison in Trinidad Wednesday, arresting 43-year-old Kenneth Brown but releasing them after an investigation found Brown acted in self defense.

A jury convicted Johnnie Sweet Tuesday of first-degree murder, kidnapping, first-degree premeditated murder and tampering with physical evidence. Both of the murder charges carry enhancements for “especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel” homicides.

A jury found Eugene Antoine Kelly guilty Monday of first-degree murder, assault with intent to kill and related weapons offenses in connection with the 2011 shooting death of 15-year-old Isaiah Daniel Harris.

Deangelo Williams, 21, appeared in court and was ordered held for a preliminary hearing. Police say witnesses implicated him in the 2011 shooting death of 18-year-old Lucki Pannell.

Dietrich Baker pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed in connection with the 2012 death of James Ray Sherrod.

Judge Russell Canan ordered a mental health evaluation for Herbert Hayes.

In brief:
Police identified a 32-year-old man who was killed Tuesday night in a fatal shooting, as Rahmaan Jamal Ward, of Southeast D.C.

Deangelo Williams, a 21-year-old Northwest DC man, was arrested Friday evening in connection with the February 2011 shooting death of Columbia Heights teen Lucki Pannell. He is suspected of first-degree murder while armed.

Terry Jimenez pleaded guilty Friday a week before his trial was set to begin. Jimenez was one of three men accused of killing a bystander in a shootout at the 2011 Caribbean Festival.

Darryl Matthews was ordered held at a halfway house on suspicion of killing 60-year-old Hayes Osei Dennis outside the Gold Star Garage on Q Street Southwest last year.

Judge Lynn Leibovitz sentenced Irving Harris Johnson Thursday to 82 years in prison in connection with the shooting deaths of Domonique Barbour and Jimmie Lee Simmons III.

A jury began deliberating Thursday in the first-degree murder case against Eugene Kelly.

Johnnie Sweet rejected a plea offer from prosecutors in the midst of his trial on first-degree murder charges.

Judge William Jackson sentenced Tarkeyshia Brown to 19 years in prison Wednesday after she pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with the October 2011 stabbing death of Jawan Parker.

Eric Jerome Payne pleaded guilty Tuesday to voluntary manslaughter for his role in the the June 2011 stabbing death of Charles Hicks.

In brief:

Opening statements began Thursday in the homicide trial of Eugene Kelly.

Antonio Jones pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder in connection with the 2011 shooting death of 21-year-old Davon Paul Gray.

A grand jury named Calvin Shaw in a 40-count indictment, in connection with the July 4, 2012 shooting death of 19-year-old Crevontai Key.

In brief:

Mikal Alexandar Hudnall, 24, was fatally shot on Southern Avenue Southeast Friday night.

Police identified the victim of a fatal shooting in Southeast D.C. Sunday as 16-year-old Darius Cannon. Cannon is the second minor to be killed in a homicide this year.

Judge Robert Morin sentenced Sean Gerell Carter Friday to 24 years in prison in connection with the shooting death of 22-year-old Bidley Warren.

Joseph Peoples pleaded innocent Friday after a grand jury indicted him Tuesday on a charge of first-degree murder, assault with intent to kill, and three weapons charges in connection with the shooting death of 30-year-old Michael Edward Jones.

Steven Williams pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Hae Soon Lim.

Judge Herbert Dixon sentenced David Bolden to 13 years in prison after Bolden accepted a plea deal with prosecutors to admit to fatally stabbing 33-year-old Lamont Antonio Devore.

Judge Karen Howze ordered Decordre Franklin held Wednesday in connection with the March 30 shooting death of Irving Jones Jr. Officers arrested Franklin Tuesday.

Raymond Roseboro was sentenced to 40 years in prison Wednesday after a jury convicted him of first-degree murder in the 2010 death of 16-year-old Prince Okorie.

Earl Johnson pleaded guilty Tuesday to a charge of voluntary manslaughter while armed in connection with the stabbing death of 29-year-old Antoinette Mitchell.

Joshua Johnson pleaded innocent Tuesday to charges that he fatally shot 22-year-old Davon Brown in July 2012 after a grand jury indicted Johnson on a charge of first-degree murder and several assault and weapons offenses last week.

A jury deliberated for three hours Tuesday before finding James Fells not guilty of first-degree murder charges. Prosecutors had accused Fells of the 2011 fatal shooting of Christopher Freeman.

Judge William Jackson sentenced Brian Gaither to 32 years in prison Tuesday for his role in the brutal 2011 murder of 18-year-old Latisha Frazier.

In brief:

James Fells‘ homicide trial began before Judge Ronna Beck, where a witness testified Tuesday that Fells shot and killed Christopher Freeman without provocation.

Dianna Lalchan was ordered held at a halfway house on a voluntary manslaughter charge after she shot and killed her husband, Christopher Lalchan. Dianna Lalchan told police she was defending herself against her husband.

A grand jury indicted Anthony Campbell Friday on first-degree murder charges in connection with the death of Antwain Henderson. Campbell was also charged with evidence tampering and two firearms offenses.

Quindetta Cosby was sentenced to 16 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of 49-year-old Paul Lawrence Morris. “I’d like to apologize to the Morris family,” Cosby said. “I’d also like to ask for their forgiveness because I truly didn’t mean to do it. I was under the influence of drugs. I regret it every day; I think about it all the time.”

Doctors at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital told a judge that Gary Montgomery is mentally competent to stand trial in the stabbing death of 23-year-old JaParker Deoni Jones.

Samuel Nelson was sentenced to 13 years and 4 months in prison for the death of his friend, Darnell Howard, last year. “I myself wish things would’ve went a different way than they did,” Nelson told the court. The fact that he knew their family made it more difficult, Nelson said.