Antonio Shaw | Homicide Watch DC

Antonio Shaw Pleads Innocent in Stabbing Death of Ernest Heart

Kristian Hernandez — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 16:57:45 -0400

Antonio Shaw pleaded innocent Friday to charges of second-degree murder while armed and carrying a dangerous weapon outside a home or place of business in connection to the 2013 stabbing death of Ernest Heart.

Hart was found by police on June 19, 2013 at approximately 9:30 p.m. in the 4600 block of Hillside Road Southeast suffering from a stab wound to the neck; he later died at the hospital.

According to police, 17-year-old Hart and 25-year-old Shaw were friends, and the stabbing stemmed from an argument over some chicken at a cookout.

Defense attorneys argue that Hart was the first aggressor and that Shaw tried to keep his distance from Hart during the argument as Hart advanced on Shaw.

During a preliminary hearing last year, Metropolitan Police Detective Norma Horne said, “Some words were exchanged and the argument escalated from there.”

Horne also said that according to witnesses, after Hart was stabbed, Shaw stood there for a few moments and watched Hart bleed out before fleeing the area.

Shaw was arrested a day later and has been held without bond awaiting trial.

A status hearing is scheduled for Aug. 29 at 10 a.m. in front of Judge Robert Morin.

Below, a copy of the indictment:

Antonio Shaw Indictment (PDF)Antonio Shaw Indictment (Text)

Judge Finds Substantial Probability Antonio Shaw Killed Ernest Hart

Penny Ray — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 17:37:07 -0400

Judge Robert Morin found substantial probability Friday that Antonio Shaw stabbed and killed 17-year-old Ernest Hart. Shaw, 25, remains held while a grand jury investigates the case.

Around 9:30 p.m. on June 19, Hart was found in the 4600 block of Hillside Road Southeast suffering from a stab wound to the neck; he later died at the hospital and Shaw was arrested the following day.

Metropolitan Police Detective Norma Horne testified Friday at the preliminary hearing that an argument over food led to Hart's death.

"[The argument] was in reference to some chicken at an impromptu cookout," Horne said. "Some words were exchanged and the argument escalated from there."

According to charging documents in the case, on the evening of June 19, Shaw and Hart argued and friends tried to keep them apart. A witness to the argument told police that the fight turned physical when Shaw said, “Nah shorty, s— about to get real,” and then hit Hart in the neck with a closed fist.

The witness told police that he did not see a weapon in Shaw’s hands at the time, but immediately saw blood gush from Hart’s neck.

"I had never seen so much blood," Horne said the witness told police.

Horne also said that according to witnesses, after Hart was stabbed, Shaw stood there for a few moments and watched Hart bleed out before fleeing the area.

Shaw's defense attorney, Jacqueline Cadman, argued that Hart was the initial aggressor.

According to court documents, a witness told police that at the start of the argument Shaw attempted to keep his distance from Hart, but Hart kept arguing and advancing on Shaw.

Horne told the court that police believe that at the time of the stabbing Hart had stopped advancing and had begun to turn around and leave when Shaw lunged and stabbed him in the neck.

Police are not aware of any "bad blood" between Hart and Shaw as the result of prior arguments, Horne said. In fact, Hart and Shaw were friends, and Shaw had visited Hart's home a few days prior to the stabbing, Horne told the court.

When police arrested Shaw they found a folding knife on his person. Horne testified that a witness not listed in the arrest affidavit told police that Shaw had a "folding knife" at the time of Hart's stabbing.

The case is scheduled for a felony status conference December 10.

Antonio Shaw Held in Connection with Ernest Hart Murder

Penny Ray — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 17:17:04 -0400

Judge Lori Parker found probable cause Friday that Antonio Shaw stabbed and killed 17-year-old Ernest Hart. Shaw, 25, has been held on a charge of second-degree murder pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for July 2.

According to charging documents in the case, on the evening of June 19, Shaw and Hart engaged in a verbal argument during which witnesses tried to keep them apart. One witness told police that sometime during the argument Shaw said, “Nah shorty, s— about to get real,” and then hit Hart in the neck with a closed fist.

The witness told police that he did not see a weapon in Shaw's hands at the time, but immediately saw blood gush from Hart's neck; the witness said Hart never displayed a weapon.

Members of the D.C. Fire Department were performing CPR on Hart when police arrived in the 4600 block of Hillside Road Southeast for a report of gunshots. Hart later died at Prince George's County Hospital; he is the third teenager to be slain in DC this year.

Charging documents are below.

Antonio Shaw Charging Docs (PDF)Antonio Shaw Charging Docs (Text)

Antonio Shaw Arrested in Stabbing Death of Teen Ernest Hart

Laura Amico — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 13:37:56 -0400

Antonio Shaw, a 25-year-old man with no permanent address, was arrested Thursday night in connection with the stabbing death of Southeast DC teen Ernest Hart.

Police say Shaw will be charged with second-degree murder.

A press release from MPD is below.

June 21, 2013

Arrest Made in Homicide: 4600 Block of Hillside Road, SE

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced that an arrest has been made in the fatal stabbing which occurred in the 4600 block of Hillside Road, SE.

On Wednesday, June 19, 2013 at approximately 9:21 pm, units from the Sixth District responded to the 4600 block of Hillside Road, SE for the report of an aggravated assault. Upon arrival, they located a juvenile male suffering from an apparent stab wound. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services transported the victim to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

The decedent is identified as 17-year-old Ernest Hart of Southeast, Washington, DC.

On Thursday, June 20, 2013, at approximately 10:15 pm, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Forced arrested 25-year-old Antonio Shaw of no fixed address, pursuant to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant charging him with Second Degree Murder in the stabbing death of Ernest Hart.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the charge against Shaw. It is second-degree murder.