Week in Review

In brief:
Two people died last week in homicides:

  • Hubert Hunter died last Thursday after being shot in Northeast D.C. near Marvin Gaye Park, according to MPD.
  • India Chapple, 26, died Saturday after being stabbed in the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road Southeast. Tracy Mathis, 30, also of Southeast DC, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed in connection with Chapple’s death.

Khari Williams pleaded guilty Friday to voluntary manslaughter while armed in the shooting death of Angelo Payne. Police found 23-year-old Payne on December 30, 2012 on the 3400 block of Croffut Place Southeast, suffering from a gunshot wound.

Donzell Butler was sentenced Friday to more than 13 years in prison for the July 2012 stabbing death of Charles Anthony Scott Jr. Butler pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and assault with significant bodily injury in January. Judge Johnson ruled that Butler will serve 160 months in prison.

Jurors found Calvin Shaw guilty of all 40 criminal counts he faced less than four hours after closing arguments. Shaw was charged in connection with the shooting death of Crevontai Key, who was killed nearly two years ago on the fourth of July while celebrating with five of his close friends.

Alphonso Cleveland, 51, pleaded guilty Thursday to voluntary manslaughter in connection to the stabbing death of his wife Claudia Hall. According to plea documents, an argument over the cable bill lead to a physical altercation where Cleveland strangled and stabbed Hall.

After four days of deliberations, Joshua Andrews was found guilty Thursday of first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill, and other five related charges in connection to the death of 17-year-old Darond Alonte Lucas.

Carlton Maurice Johnson was arrested and held in connection with the shooting death of 19-year-old Anthony Chase and 27-year-old Eric Leeper. Charging documents say that one witness saw a person it identified as Johnson exit a car in the 3900 block of C Street Southeast and put a t-shirt over his head. Shortly after, the witness saw the same person chase down and shoot Chase and Leeper.

Antonio Williams pleaded guilty Tuesday to involuntary manslaughter in connection with the March 1 death of Andre McIntyre. Judge Jennifer Anderson will wait to accept or decline William’s plea until McIntyre’s family can speak in court for William’s sentencing on June 13.

Michael Marshall pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree murder while armed in connection with the shooting of Antonio Headspeth. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to dismiss charges of first-degree premeditated murder while armed and five related gun charges.

After prosecutors decided not to take the case to trial for a third time, Judge Lynn Leibovitz dismissed all charges against James Sandidge. Sandidge has been held since October 2011 in connection with Keenan Jerel Lee’s death.

Daren Vaughn was released Thursday on a personal promise to return to court, pending his second trial in connection to the stabbing death of his best friend and neighbor Tyrell Swann. Vaughn will face a second trial for the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter while armed and for carrying a dangerous weapon, charges for which jurors couldn’t reach verdicts.

A man found dead inside a home on the 5600 block of Chillum Place Northeast may have shot himself in a suicide, according to MPD.

Joseph Chandler Ordered Held for Mental Observation

During a status hearing Friday, Joseph Chandler was ordered by Judge Jennifer Anderson to report to St. Elizabeths Hospital for a 30 day observation.

Defense attorney Katerina Semyonova was denied a motion to have the observations done at Chandler’s home, arguing complications with Chandler’s recent knee surgery have made it difficult for him to leave his bed.
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Tracy Mathis Arrested in Early Morning SE DC Stabbing Death of India Chapple

A 26-year-old Southeast DC woman was fatally stabbed early Saturday morning; police identified her as India Chapple.

Police said they responded to a call for an unconscious person in the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road Southeast shortly after 2 a.m. Chapple was transported to a hospital before she died of her injuries.

Later Saturday morning, 30-year-old Tracy Mathis, also of Southeast DC, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed in connection with Chapple’s death.

A press release from MPD is after the jump.
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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.
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Khari Williams Pleads Guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter While Armed

Khari Williams pleaded guilty Friday to voluntary manslaughter while armed in the December 2012 shooting death of Angelo Payne.

He faces up to 30 years in prison for his charge.

In February 2013, Williams rejected a plea offer that would have given him a maximum of 18 years in prison on second-degree murder charges.
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Donzell Butler Sentenced in Stabbing Death of Charles Scott Jr: “From now on, I will do whatever it is I can do to make up for my actions.”

Judge John Ramsey Johnson ruled Friday that Donzell Butler will serve more than 13 years in prison for the July 2012 stabbing death of Charles Anthony Scott Jr.

Butler pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and assault with significant bodily injury in January. Judge Johnson ruled Friday that the sentences for each will run consecutively, meaning that Butler will serve 160 months in prison.
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Calvin Shaw Found Guilty in Shooting Death of Crevontai Key

The jury delivered a verdict late Thursday afternoon after less than one day of deliberations in the case of Calvin Shaw.

Shaw was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder while armed and related assault and weapon charges in connection to two separate shootings and the death of 19-year-old Crevontai Key on July 4, 2012.

The trial lasted four days and all survivors and eye witnesses to the July 4, shooting where called up to the stand. Four of them identified 22-year-old Shaw as the man who pulled the trigger that day.

Judge Jennifer Anderson scheduled a sentencing hearing for June 20, 2014 at 11:30 A.M.

Alphonso Cleveland Pleads Guilty in Stabbing Death of Claudia Hall

Alphonso Cleveland, 51, pleaded guilty Thursday to voluntary manslaughter in connection with the stabbing of his 51-year-old wife, Claudia Hall. He was initially charged with second-degree murder in connection with the case.

Hall was found by police on January 3 in her apartment on the 300 block of 18th Place Northeast.
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Joshua Andrews Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder in Shooting of Darond Lucas

Joshua Andrews was found guilty Thursday of first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill, and other five related charges in connection to the shooting death of 17-year-old Darond Alonte Lucas.

Jurors delivered their verdict after four days of deliberations.
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Jurors Begin Deliberations in July 4 Shooting Death of Crevontai Key

UPDATE: Jurors found Calvin Shaw guilty on all counts Thursday afternoon after deliberating for approximately four hours.

Closing arguments in the case of Calvin Shaw were delivered Thursday after a four day trial full of emotional testimony by survivors of the shooting, something the defense calls “unreliable,” and “full of doubt.”

Crevontai Key, 19, was killed nearly two years ago on the Fourth of July while celebrating with five of his close friends. They were all shot at, twenty eight times, outside one of their homes in Northeast D.C.
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