Homicide Watch D.C.

All Maurice and Michael Jones wanted to do on the night of June 7, 2012 was talk to Bernard Fleming and Joseph Peoples about a fight earlier that day. But Fleming and Peoples didn’t want to talk, said Assistant United States Attorney Kathryn Rakoczy.

Instead, Rakoczy said, Fleming and Peoples ambushed and shot at the Jones brothers, leaving Michael dead with a bullet in his head and Maurice injured with bullet fragments in his chest.

The men are each charged with ten criminal counts in connection with Jones’ death. Opening arguments were held in the case Tuesday.

Read more

Judge Karen Howze ordered Jimmie Fleming held Monday on suspicion of two counts of second-degree murder for the shooting deaths of Derek Price and Donchell Thomas.

Police found Price, Thomas and another victim in a car at the intersection of North Capitol and T Street early on July 13. Thomas and Price had been shot in the head, and both died at area hospitals.

Charging documents allege that Fleming shot three of his fellow passengers in a blue Honda Accord, causing the car to crash. Fleming then fled the scene, documents say.
Read more

A 41-year-old Southwest D.C. man has been arrested in connection with the May 2013 shooting death of 22-year-old Rhett Gelb.

The man, identified by police as Lawrence Wilkerson, is suspected of first-degree murder felony murder while armed.

The arrest occurred more than two weeks after a closed hearing for Roger St John, suspected of first-degree felony murder in the case.

A press release from MPD is after the jump.
Read more

This Comment of the Day comes from Tina, who wrote about DaShawn Hammonds, who died after being shot in an alley on the 1200 block of Simms Place in Northeast D.C. on July 6.

This hurts my heart so bad. I grew up with Dashawn. I remember when I went to college and would talk to my sister and DaShawn would say you sound so educated. I miss your smile and you were a good father , son, lover, friend to all who knew him. It hurts because I haven’t seen you in years . R.I.P. Dashawn I promise I will watch over sis and nephew.

A shooting in the 3500 block of 6th Street Southeast killed 22-year-old Delonte Hemphill late Sunday evening, according to MPD.

Police officers found Hemphill at approximately 10:31 p.m. while investigating the sound of gunshots. Emergency medical services transported Hemphill to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A press release from MPD is after the jump.
Read more

A second adult man died Sunday evening after a Sunday morning shooting at the intersection of North Capitol and T streets Northwest, according to MPD.

The man has been identified as 20-year-old Derek Price of District Heights, Maryland. Earlier that day, Donchell Thomas, 21, died at a local hospital.

Police have arrested Jimmie Fleming, 36, on suspicion of two counts of first-degree murder while armed and one count of assault with intent to kill in connection with the men’s death.

A press release from MPD is after the jump.
Read more

UPDATE July 14, 7:46 a.m.:
MPD announced that a second man, 20-year-old Derek Price, has died in the shooting.

***
Three people were shot early Sunday morning at a Northwest DC intersection and one of those injured has died of his injuries.

Police said Sunday that at about 1:18 a.m. three people, including a juvenile, were found shot in a car at the intersection of North Capitol and T streets Northwest. All were taken to local hospitals. One of the victims, 21-year-old Donchell Thomas, of Montgomery Village, Maryland died at the hospital.

Later Sunday, police arrested Jimmie Fleming, 36, of Northwest D.C. on suspicion of first-degree murder and assault with intent to kill in connection with the case.

A press release from MPD is after the jump.
Read more

The Washington Post looked at the 16th Street Heights neighborhood mourning the death of 76-year-old James Oh, who was killed in a robbery in his store on July 4. Though the store is now closed, many tributes have been left outside the front door.

“This store has been the center of many people’s lives,” [Marvin A. Jones] said. “People came in here every day to play the lottery and wait for numbers. Elderly men sat around and debated Cowboys and Redskins, endlessly. I pray the family keeps this open.”
[…]
Shebba Blakney, 50, said she has been shopping at Gold Corner for 20 years and recalled taking her young child to meet the Ohs. James Oh was nice, she said, and his wife was nicer. “If you were low on money,” she said, “they sold you things on a promise.”

In brief:

Five homicides were reported in D.C. this week:

• Alonzo Gregory Beasley, 52, was killed in a stabbing at 22nd and I Street Northeast on Sunday afternoon, according to MPD.
• DaShawn Hammonds, 23, was killed early Sunday morning in a shooting in the 1200 Block of Simms Place Northeast. Police officers found Hammonds unconscious and unresponsive at approximately 5:23 a.m.
• Michael Hrizuk, 57, died from injuries sustained in a beating that occurred in Northwest D.C. nearly two weeks earlier. Police have ruled his death was a homicide.
• MPD announced they are seeking the public’s help in identifying two persons of interest in the investigation into the murder of 76-year-old James Oh. Officers found Oh suffering from head trauma at approximately 5:19 p.m. on July 4 in the 5500 block of Colorado Avenue Northwest.
• The death of a man found beaten Sunday was ruled a homicide. Benjamin Jennings was found unconscious in the 1200 block of Bladensburg Road, Northeast shortly on July 6 and died the following evening.

Jurors found David Shepherd guilty of six criminal counts, including first-degree murder, in connection with the shooting death of Henry Charles Miller. During the five-day trial, prosecutors argued that evidence showed Shepherd intended to shoot Miller after an argument, but Shepherd took the stand to tell jurors it was self-defense.

Judge Jennifer Anderson sentenced David Jamal Wilson Friday to nine years in prison for the 2013 stabbing death of Howard Venable Jr. Wilson pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed in May.

Frank Lee Branding, suspected of involuntary manslaughter, was released into high-intensity supervision Friday. Police believe Blanding killed an unidentified man when he punched the man twice and drove away after the man asked him for money and threatened him.

Attorneys for Joseph Chandler announced he will not move forward with an insanity defense. Chandler, 76, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection with the shooting death of Shirley Tucker.

Rasdavid Lagarde pleaded innocent to eight criminal charges Friday, including first-degree murder while armed, in the shooting death of Omar Sykes. Sykes, a Howard University student, was killed around 11:30 p.m. on July 4, 2013.

Judge Rhonda Winston sentenced Andre Burks Thursday to 15 years in prison for the fatal shooting of Antwan Boseman, which also wounded another man. Burks pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed and assault with a deadly weapon on June 2.

Malik Bilal was arrested and held on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed in connection with the death of Alonzo Gregory Beasley. Charging documents say a witness told police that Beasley and Bilal had been arguing for the past two days.

Judge Rhonda Reid Winston denied David Warren a new trial Monday with an order signed in her chambers. Judge Winston also amended Warren’s sentence on an armed carjacking charge by adding three years to the total in order to meet minimum sentencing standards.

WJLA reports on a vigil held Tuesday for murder victim 31-year-old Eboni Domally, who was a mother to two boys ages nine and three. Domally’s mother says that her daughter endured years of domestic violence.

Police have named Domally’s estranged husband, Michael Gayle, as the murder suspect. He remains on the run, and Domally tells us her daughter’s life ended after enduring years of domestic violence.

“We want him captured and brought to justice,” she said.

“I can’t believe somebody would kill such a pleasant, beautiful person. I can’t believe it. And it’s got us all in shock,” said a friend of the victim, Alfred Johnson.