James Yates Held in Connection with Shooting Death of Andre Joyner

Judge Karen Howze ordered James Walter Yates III held without bond Tuesday in connection with the afternoon shooting death of 29-year-old Andre Pierce Joyner. Yates, 29, was arrested Monday on suspicion on second-degree murder while armed.

On April 25, Joyner was found unconscious and unresponsive, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, across the street from Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School at about 3:30 p.m., according to charging documents.

Documents say that about a week earlier, on Easter Sunday, Yates and Joyner got into an argument after Yates parked directly behind Joyner’s car, according to a witness. That witness told police that Joyner pulled out a black handgun, pointed it at Yates and stated something to the effect of “I will bust you.”
Read more

Probable Cause Found Against Carlton Johnson in Connection with Two Shooting Deaths

Judge Jennifer Anderson ruled Tuesday that there was probable cause to hold Carlton Maurice Johnson without bond in connection with the shooting deaths of Anthony Chase and Eric Leeper.

Chase and Leeper were found by police with multiple gunshot wounds shortly before midnight on July 17, 2013. Nearly nine months later, Johnson was arrested on suspicion of two counts of first-degree murder while armed.

Defense attorney Brandi Harden argued that Johnson should be released because charging documents rely on one witness who identified Johnson. In addition, Johnson has no history of fleeing prosecution, she said.

“This was a very violent offense and was premeditated,” Judge Anderson responded, “I believe he would present a significant danger to the community.”
Read more

Antonio Hester Arrested in 2013 Shooting Death of Tracy McFadden

A 30-year-old Northwest D.C. man has been arrested in connection with the January 2013 shooting death of Tracy McFadden.

The suspect, identified by police as Antonio Hester, is expected to be charged with first-degree while armed, police said.

On January 19, 2013, McFadden was found shot on the 2700 block of Georgia Avenue Northwest, according to MPD. He later died at a local hospital.

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

Comment of the Day: “I’m glad that justice was served but it still doesn’t bring back my lil cousin..”

Disappointed writes about Charles Anthony Scott Jr., 20, who died of multiple stab wounds in Northeast D.C., on July 7, 2012.

I’m glad that justice was served but it still doesn’t bring back my lil cousin. Rest in paradise CAS. We still love and miss you.

James Walter Yates III Arrested in Shooting Death of Andre Pierce Joyner

A 29-year-old Maryland man was arrested Monday in connection with the shooting death of Andre Pierce Joyner last Friday.

The man, identified by police as James Walter Yates III, is suspected of second-degree murder while armed.

On April 25, Joyner was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the 600 Block of Morris Place, Northeast, near Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School. He died at a local hospital.

In a listserve message, MPD First District Commander Jeff Brown wrote that “additional resources” will continue to be allocated to the area.

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

Week in Review

In brief:
Two people died last week in D.C.:

  • According to MPD, 44-year-old Ernest Harkum died Thursday evening from multiple stab wounds in the 900 block of Barnaby Street, Southeast.
  • Andre Pierce Joyner of Fort Washington, Maryland, killed in a shooting near H Street in Northeast DC, according to MPD.

Judge John Ramsey Johnson sentenced Jamar George Friday to 15 years in prison for second-degree murder while armed for the shooting death of 20-year-old Ronnie Speight Jr. George, 27, pleaded guilty in February to shooting Speight on May 26, 2011, saying, ““Yeah, that’s what happened.”

Ercell Overton, 33, was sentenced to 28 years in prison for the shooting of taxicab driver Solomon J. Okoroh and a subsequent shoot-out with police. Overton pleaded guilty in February 2014 to second-degree murder while armed two counts of felony assault on a police officer while armed.

Judge John Ramsey Johnson found probable cause Tuesday that 25-year-old Gregory Allen Green participated in the shooting death of Derrick Eugene Williams. Metropolitan Police Detective Ray Shields testified that a witness told police that they heard two or three gunshots, a pause, one more gunshot, and then moments later saw Green and another man standing over Williams.

Tracy Mathis was held without bond Monday on a charge of second-degree murder in connection with the death of 26-year-old India Chapple. According to charging documents, Mathis told police that he and Chapple were romantically involved in the past, share two children, but have been apart for about eight years.

Donald Dubose rejected a plea deal to accept guilt for a charge of second-degree murder charge and pleaded innocent to four criminal charges in connection with the May 2012 drive-by shooting that killed Michael Oshea Smith. Dubose is charged with two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill while armed and first-degree murder.

Jermaine Brown was released from jail after prosecutors asked Judge Ronna Beck to dismiss the case against him. Brown was held for nine months on suspicion that he killed 31-year-old Randolph Scott Harris Jr.

Ladonte Hawkins and Rico Carr were released from jail on April 11 after Judge Rhonda Winston granted prosecutors’ request to dismiss their case in connection with the death of Kelvin Jamal Willis. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is continuing with its prosecution of co-defendant Robert Crowder.

Tisheena Brown, 31, waived her right to a preliminary hearing Friday where prosecutors would have argued there was probable cause that Brown’s actions killed her infant son. One-month-old Hakeem Brown was found unconscious and not breathing on September 18, 2013. The cause of death was later determined to be Promethazine poisoning.

Week Ahead

Each week, Homicide Watch brings you a list of upcoming hearings in the cases we follow. All hearings are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. unless otherwise noted. To add an item to the listing, email homicidewatchdc [at] gmail.com. To see scheduled court hearings beyond next week, see our calendar.
Read more

Shooting Victim IDed as Andre Pierce Joyner

A man fatally shot in Northeast DC on Friday afternoon has been identified as Andre Pierce Joyner of Fort Washington, Maryland.

Joyner, 29, was found with multiple gunshot wounds in the 600 block of Morris Place Northeast, near Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School. He died at a local hospital.

A press release from MPD is below:
Read more

Man Shot in NE DC Friday Afternoon Dies of Injuries

A man shot near H Street in Northeast DC has died of his injuries.

A message on the First District listserv states: Read more

Jamar George Sentenced to 15 Years for Death of Ronnie Speight

Jamar George was sentenced Friday to 15 years in prison for second-degree murder while armed for the shooting death of 20-year-old Ronnie Speight Jr.

George, 27, pleaded guilty in February to shooting Speight eleven times in an alley off the 5100 block of Jay Street in Northeast D.C. on May 26, 2011.
Read more