Brandon Miller was sentenced Friday to seven years in prison for second-degree murder and conspiracy in connection with the shooting death of 21-year-old Jamal Coates. He is the fourth and final man to be sentenced for Coates’ death.
On Friday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Gee said that Miller’s decision to plead made him “one of the most important cooperating witnesses” of the past four years and requested a departure from the sentencing guidelines for him. Without Miller’s cooperation, “it would have been exceedingly difficult to bring the members of G-Rod to justice,” Gee said.
After pleading guilty in August 2011, Miller testified at trial that he drove his former co-defendants Keir Johnson, Lester Williams and Marcellus Jackson to the area of Ashley McRae’s funeral, where Johnson and Williams shot at members of a rival crew, killing Coates. Read more
MPD announced Thursday that a 33-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the September 2013 shooting death of Devar Battle.
The man, identified by police as Christopher Fields, is suspected of second-degree murder, police say.
Battle was found with gunshot wounds in the 3000 block of 30th Street Southeast at around 12:40 a.m. on September 28, 2013. He later died at a local hospital.
A press release from MPD is after the jump.
Read more
Judge John Ramsey Johnson found probable cause Thursday in the case against Tyrone Height and James Young for the shooting death of Willard Carlos Shelton on August 31.
Police found Shelton with gunshot wounds and a bruise on his face in a parking lot on the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road Southeast. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later died.
MPD Detective Paris White testified Thursday 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, but his idea didn’t go as planned. Read more
UPDATE 6:11 p.m.
MPD announced Thurday that a second man has been arrested in connection with the case, 39 year-old Alexander Passee. A second press release has been added to the post.
***
MPD announced Thursday that police have closed a 1996 homicide case with the arrest of a Northwest D.C. man.
Michael Davy, 19, was found suffering from visible gunshot wounds in a residence on Feb. 19, 1996, at approximately 10:42 pm in the unit block of Rhode Island Avenue Northwest. He later died from his injuries.
On Wednesday, Curtis Farmer, 44, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree felony murder while armed in connection with the case.
A press release from MPD is below: Read more
Francis Lyles was ordered held Wednesday on suspicion of first-degree felony murder and first-degree cruelty to children in connection to the death of Xavier Lyles.
Police found the 3-year-old toddler unconscious and unresponsive in the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road Southeast, with multiple injuries to his body on June 24.
Lyles told police that while Xavier was sleeping the night of June 23, she left the apartment for approximately 20 to 30 minutes to get some food from a nearby cousin’s apartment, according to charging documents. Read more
A 25-year-old Southeast D.C. woman was arrested Tuesday in connection with the June death of 3-year-old Xavier Lyles.
The woman, identified by police as Frances Lyles, is suspected of first-degree felony murder.
The toddler was found unconscious and unresponsive, with no signs consistent with life at approximately 11:07 a.m. on June 24, according to police. The Washington Post reports that Frances Lyles told police that she put her son Xavier to bed the previous night, but the next morning, the boy’s sister found that he had vomited and was unresponsive.
A press release from MPD is after the jump.
Read more
A 27-year-old woman was found shot Sunday when police responded to a residence in the 2000 block of Ridgecrest Court Southeast.
The woman, identified by police as Deandria Monique Conyers, was found at 8:48 p.m. suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. She was later pronounced dead.
A press release from MPD is after the jump.
Read more
The trial of Demonta Chappell was delayed Monday after his defense team failed to submit their DNA evidence before the start of trial. Judge Jennifer Anderson ruled that the case be carried for trial so the U.S. Attorney’s office would have enough time to consult with the government’s expert.
Nearly one year ago, a grand jury indicted Chappell on five criminal charges, including premeditated first-degree murder, in relation to the shooting death of 26-year-old Stevann Moorer.
Read more
Yvonne Simms was released Saturday after a judge ruled there was not enough evidence to hold the her.
Simms, 50, is suspected of stabbing 49-year-old Kenyatta Jordan, her husband.
On Monday, U.S. Attorney’s Office Spokesman William Miller said Simms remains charged with second-degree murder while armed, despite her release. “The issue regarding detention is a separate matter,” Miller said in an email. “The case remains pending and is moving forward.”
Read more
A man fatally stabbed in D.C. Tuesday evening has been identified as 38-year-old Edward Eugene Hall Jr. of Southwest.
Police found Hall on September 9 at the intersection of 1st and Brandywine Streets Southeast; emergency medical services transported him to a local hospital.
On Wednesday, Hall succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
A press release from MPD is after the jump.
Read more
