On Friday, Judge Lynn Leibovitz sentenced Johnnie Harris, Jekwan Smith and Anthony Hatton for the 2011 shooting deaths of Isaiah Sheffield and Tyrell Fogle, bringing to a close a series of interlocking cases that have lingered in the court for more than two years.
The three codefendants are linked by their allegiance to 21st and Vietnam, a neighborhood gang whose members were indicted on 21 criminal charges. On Sept. 8, they pleaded guilty to criminal charges in connection with the murders.
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Judge Karen Howze ordered Tyrik Lamont Brown held Friday on suspicion of first-degree felony murder in connection to the October beating death of Raj’saun Tyrik Brown.
Police found the infant in the 1700 block of Trenton Place Southeast unconscious and suffering from multiple injuries in the morning of Oct. 29. He died at a local hospital. Brown, 19, was arrested on November 13.
According to charging documents, the infant’s mother told police that day she woke up the child at 8 a.m. to change his diaper and feed him. Afterwards, he was “smiling, awake, and fine,” according to the mother. She told police that thirty minutes later she laid the baby on a pillow in bed next to his father, who was asleep, documents say. Read more
James Johnson, 32, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter Friday for the death of Talbert Bright on June 28.
Bright, 48, was found shot multiple times in the upper body near the intersection of 2nd Street and Massachusetts Avenue Northwest. He died later at Washington Hospital Center.
According to the proffer of facts, Johnson was in a small park drinking beer with friends for a social gathering. Johnson had a cooler filled with beers when Bright asked Johnson for a beer. Read more
A judge found probable cause Friday in the case against Frank Lee Blanding in connection to the death of Benjamin Jennings after he waived his right to a preliminary hearing.
On July 6, Jennings, 57, was found lying unconscious and unresponsive on Bladensburg Road Northeast after an altercation with Blanding. He died a day later at a local hospital. Blanding was arrested three days later on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter in Jennings’ death.
Documents say while at a stop light, Jennings approached Blanding’s van and asked for money. When Jennings was told no, he threatened Blanding with a butter knife, until Blanding got out of the car and punched him twice, knocking him out.
Blanding, 20, is scheduled for a status hearing on Dec. 3 at 9:30 before Judge Lynn Leibovitz.
A shooting in the 300 block of 37th Street Southeast killed Tyrone Lee Lewis, MPD reported Friday.
Lewis, 27, was found indoors, unconscious and suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He died at a nearby hospital.
MPD’s full press release is below: Read more
A teenage boy, identified as Ahmal McGainey, was held Thursday on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed in connection to the October death of Johnie Lee Resper. He has been charged as an adult.
On October 1, police found Resper, 18, lying on his back and on the sidewalk along the 200 block of Adams Street Northeast suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest and a head injury. He was taken to a local hospital where he died.
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Tyrik Lamont Brown has been arrested for the death of one-month-old Raj’saun Tyrik Brown, who died of multiple blunt force injuries two weeks ago, according to MPD.
Tyrik Lamont Brown, 19, is the child’s father, WUSA reports. He is suspected of first degree felony murder, police say.
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Jibril Abdul-Muwwakil, 24, pleaded innocent Thursday to second-degree murder while armed in connection with the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Jonathon Adams on February 27.
At a preliminary hearing in March, prosecutors argued that at the time of the murder, Abdul-Muwwakil was suppose to be seeking mental health treatment while on release for a simple assault charge.
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A teenage boy has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of Johnie Lee Resper on October 1, MPD announced Wednesday.
The juvenile was not identified by police. He is suspected of second-degree murder, police say.
Resper, 18, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds near the intersection of the 200 block of Adams Street Northeast. Read more
A judge ordered Edgar Blanco held Wednesday on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed in connection with the stabbing death of 41-year-old Inoe Javier Salvador on October 29.
Blanco, 18, is also being charged with assault with intent to kill for a second stabbing that took place earlier.
According to charging documents, video footage captured Salvador, Blanco, and other unidentified individuals entering a bus that headed towards the 3100 block of 14th street. While on the bus, video shows Salvador passing by Blanco and the other individuals, and words were exchanged between Salvador and the group, documents say.
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