Antonio Jones | Homicide Watch DC

Antonio Jones Sentenced to 19 Years in Davon Gray Murder

Ivan Natividad — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 14:03:58 -0400

Judge Herbert Dixon sentenced Antonio Jones to 19 years in prison Friday for the 2011 shooting death of Davon Paul Gray.

"It's very hard for us to understand why this event occurred," Judge Dixon said in sentencing Jones.

Police found Gray on October 15, 2011 around 11:00 pm suffering from gunshot wounds on the 2500 block of High Street Southeast. He was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead. One week later Jones, 19, was arrested and held on suspicion of first-degree murder in Gray's death.

Jones was initially found incompetent to stand trial by the D.C. Department of Mental Health, but mental health workers eventually found him fit to continue with court proceedings.

In April, Jones pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with Gray's death telling Judge Dixon, "I feared for my life. I've always had paranoid issues."

Jones did not speak at his sentencing Friday.

Prosecutors claimed Friday that Jones has not taken any steps to avoid criminal behavior, and that a week before his sentencing, while in prison, Jones was involved in the assault of a prison inmate. But Amanda David, Jones' defense attorney, argued in court that Jones has experienced a lot of "grief and tragedy," in his life, and that his mental illness causes him to behave irrationally.

According to plea documents, the night of the murder Jones and Gray attended a birthday party where witnesses heard Jones say that “he had a problem” with Gray.

During a confrontation the two men stood outside a few feet away from each other. Jones pulled a gun from his waistband and fired a shot at Gray, Gray turned and ran toward Howard Road, documents state. Jones continued to shoot toward Gray until he dropped to the ground on his back. Jones fled the scene on foot.

Gray would later die at a local hospital from eight gunshot wounds to his body.

A press release from the US Attorney's Office is below.

District Man Sentenced to 19 Years in Prison For 2011 Murder in Southeast Washington -Defendant Repeatedly Shot Victim Outside Birthday Party-

WASHINGTON – Antonio Jones, 21, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 19 years in prison for killing a man who he encountered at a birthday party in Southeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

Jones pled guilty in April 2013 in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to a charge of second-degree murder while armed. The plea, which called for a sentence of 16 to 19 years of incarceration, was contingent upon the approval of the Honorable Herbert B. Dixon Jr., who accepted it and sentenced the defendant today. Upon completion of his prison term, Jones will be placed on five years of supervised release.

According to the government’s evidence, on the night of Oct. 15, 2011, Jones encountered the victim, Davon Gray, 21, at a birthday party in the 2500 block of High Street SE. During the party, Jones socialized with Mr. Gray. However, outside of Mr. Gray’s presence, Jones stated that he had a problem with him. The two men, and others, remained outside even after people went indoors to sing happy birthday. Then, when Mr. Gray was about to leave, Jones stood a few feet across from him in a small group of people in the sidewalk area.

Jones then fired a semi-automatic pistol at Mr. Gray. Mr. Gray held his hands and forearms up in front of his face, turned and ran. Jones continued shooting at Mr. Gray’s back until he slowed and dropped to the ground. Jones than fled the scene on foot. An autopsy determined that Mr. Gray suffered a total of eight gunshot wounds to the body.

Mr. Gray did not have a weapon and had not threatened, assaulted, or otherwise provided Jones in any manner before the shooting. The government’s investigation showed no animosity on the part of Mr. Gray toward Jones. Jones was arrested on Oct. 21, 2011.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of detectives, officers and crime scene technicians who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). He also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Marian Russell and Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker. Finally, he expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily A. Miller, who investigated and prosecuted the matter.

Antonio Jones Pleads Guilty to Murder of Davon Paul Gray

Penny Ray — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:49:56 -0400

Antonio Jones pled guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder in connection with the 2011 shooting death of 21-year-old Davon Paul Gray.

Jones, 19, was indicted on a charge of first-degree murder in the case last June. Judge Herbert Dixon accepted the plea to the lesser charge of second-degree murder Wednesday, but before doing so questioned Jones extensively about the events that occurred on October 15, 2011, the day Gray was shot and killed.

Jones said that he and Gray were standing outside in the 2500 block of High Street Southeast smoking a cigarette when he started “hallucinating and hearing voices.”

His story was then cut short.

Before Jones could continue with his recount of events, his defense attorney, Eugene Ohm, whispered something in his ear. After a brief conversation between Jones and his attorney, Judge Dixon asked Jones why he shot Gray.

“I feared for my life,” Jones said. “I've always had paranoid issues.”

Jones was initially found incompetent to stand trial for the alleged offenses against him by the District of Columbia Department of Mental Health. But in October, mental health workers at Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital determined that Jones was exaggerating his symptoms, and that he was fit to continue with court proceedings.

Dixon said Wednesday that he was satisfied that Jones was aware and knowledgeable of the plea agreement.

According to the government's proffer of facts, Jones and Gray had attended a birthday party in the 2500 block of High Street SE, and minutes before the shooting witnesses heard Jones say that “he had a problem” with Gray.

As the two men stood outside a few feet away from each other, Jones pulled a gun from his waistband and fired a shot at Gray.

Gray turned and ran toward Howard Road, the documents say, and Jones continued shooting until Gray dropped to the ground on his back. Jones then fled the scene on foot.

Gray later died at the hospital from eight gunshot wounds to his body.

Jones is scheduled to be sentenced June 19. The plea agreement states that attorneys have agreed to request a sentence between 16-19 years in prison.

Plea documents have been added to this post.

Antonio Jones Plea Agreement (PDF)Antonio Jones Plea Agreement (Text)

Hospital Says Antonio Jones Competent to Stand Trial for Murder of Davon Gray

Sam Pearson — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 17:30:12 -0400

Mental health workers at Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital say murder suspect Antonio Jones is fit to stand trial.

Jones is suspected in the Oct. 2011 shooting death of Davon Gray.

An earlier assessment from the District of Columbia Department of Mental Health had found Jones was not competent to continue with the court proceedings.

The Saint Elizabeth’s assessment presented to the court today said Jones “was not suffering from a mental disease or defect that would have significantly impaired his ability to recognize the wrongfulness of his actions or render him unable to conform his behavior to the requirement of the law.”

Jones’ attorney, Daniel Harn, told Judge Thomas Motley at a hearing Friday that the hospital’s report was incomplete and that more sources should have been interviewed.

Prosecutor Emily Miller said health workers tried to contact additional witnesses like Jones’ mother and girlfriend, but both failed to keep interview appointments. The hospital wrote that the information they found was “accurate and sufficient.”

Jones told hospital workers he left his cousin’s baby shower Oct. 15, 2011, and went to his girlfriend’s mother’s birthday party. Jones had about four ounces of Hennessy over several hours, he said, and was not under the influence of alcohol that night.

The report said that Jones said he saw Gray, who he had known since childhood, outside the house following the party and the two men talked after Jones asked for a cigarette.

Jones said he felt threatened by the tone of the conversation.

“I started feeling funny,” he said, according to the report. “Everything started looking different… like hieroglyphics, 3D maybe.”

He said Grey “looked like a vampire or demon or something. He grew horns and his teeth grew long. He was just smiling.”

Jones said he heard whispering voices in his head referring to Grey and decided to shoot him. “He told me to kill him,” Jones told interviewers.

But evaluators at Saint Elizabeth’s wrote that Jones’ responses to various psychological assessments indicated he was exaggerating his symptoms.

“If Mr. Jones were in fact experiencing the level of distress he reported on testing measures and in interviews, it would be unlikely that he would be able to function and carry out his daily activities without significant difficulty,” the report said.

Court records indicated that Jones had received treatment for bipolar disorder and post traumatic stress disorder, but may have stopped taking his medication during the summer.

Judge Thomas Motley ordered a psychiatric evaluation for Jones, which will take about 45 days to complete. His next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 14 at 10:30 a.m.

Antonio Jones Found Incompetent to Stand Trial

Laura Amico — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 14:50:47 -0400

Antonio Jones was sent to Saint Elizabeths yesterday for further mental examination, after the Department of Mental Health found him incompetent to continue with his court proceedings at this time.

Jones is suspected in the Oct. 2011 death of Davon Paul Gray.

Judge Thomas Motley ordered additional mental health exams; Jones is due back in court Aug. 28.

Insanity Defense Possible in Shooting Death of Davon Gray

Laura Amico — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:33:23 -0400

Antonio Jones may claim insanity in his defense against a charge of first-degree murder while armed, Jones' attorney said Friday.

Jones, 20, is charged in the October shooting death of Davon Gray. He pled innocent to the charges against him at his arraignment today.

Jones was arrested less than a week after Gray was shot outside a Southeast DC home. Charging documents say that Jones was one of three people with Gray when the shooting took place and that while the other two stayed with Gray immediately following the shooting, Jones left.

Jones is charged with first-degree murder while armed and three weapons offenses.

In previous court proceedings, prosecutors have said that Jones has received treatment for bipolar disorder and post traumatic stress disorder, but may not have been taking his prescribed medication when the shooting occurred.

Judge Thomas Motley ordered a mental health screening, the results of which are due back Monday.

The indictment in the case is below.

Antonio Jones Held on Suspicion of Murder 2, While Prosecutors Offer Mental Health Evidence

Laura Amico — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:55:47 -0400

Antonio Jones was ordered held today on suspicion of second degree murder while armed after Judge Thomas Motley found substantial probability that Jones killed Davon Gray in a shooting on Oct. 15.

At a preliminary hearing Tuesday, MPD Homicide Detective Brian Wise told the court that Jones and Gray may have known each other from a Northeast DC neighborhood. The only eye witness listed in the charging documents is an acquaintance of both men, Wise said.

Jones' defense attorney, Daniel Harn, argued against that witness' reliability. Witness 3, according to Wise, gave two different versions of what happened the night Gray was shot. In one version, the witness said a stranger shot Gray. In another version, after being told that Gray had died, the witness said that Jones shot Gray.

Prosecutor Emily Miller said there were reasons for the witness to change its story that are "perfectly plausible and reasonable," including that the witness is close with both the victim and the suspect.

Jones, 19, has two previous gun convictions and a history of mental illness, Miller said in arguing for his detention. Records indicate that he has received treatment for bipolar disorder and post traumatic stress disorder, but may ~~not~~ have stopped taking his prescribed medication this summer.

When arrested on suspicion of carrying a pistol without a license, Jones told authorities: "I'm paranoid. I have a mental health issue," Miller recounted.

A status hearing has been set for Jan. 13.

Preliminary Hearing Expected Next Week in Shooting Death of Davon Gray

Laura Amico — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:08:41 -0400

A preliminary hearing has been set for Nov. 1 in the shooting death of Davon Gray.

Antonio Jones was arrested last week on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed in connection with the case.

Charging documents describe Gray outside a home on High Street SE before he was shot. A witness said it went into the home and minutes later was told that a shooting had taken place just outside. When the witness went outside to see what had happened, two of the people who were with Gray remained with him, but Jones had left.

Read charging documents below.

Antonio Jones Arrested in Shooting Death of Davon Gray

Laura Amico — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:56:15 -0400

Antonio Jones, a 19-year-old Maryland man has been arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed in the shooting death of Davon Gray.

October 21, 2011

Arrest Made in the Homicide in the 2500 block of High Street, SE

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced that an arrest has been made in the fatal shooting of Davon Gray.

On Saturday, October 15, 2011 at approximately 10:56 pm, units from the Seventh District responded to the 2500 block of High Street, SE for the report of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they located an unconscious and unresponsive male suffering from gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel transported the victim to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

The decedent has been identified as 21 year-old Davon Paul Gray of Northeast, Washington, DC.

On Friday, October 21, 2011, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested 19-year-old Antonio Jones of Boyds, MD, for the homicide of Davon Gray. Mr. Jones was charged with Murder Two while Armed pursuant to an arrest warrant.