Christopher Fields Held on Weapons Charge, Not Murder

Imari Williams — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 19:24:23 -0400

A judge ordered Christopher Fields held Friday for an unlawful possession of a firearm, but not the second-degree murder charge MPD arrested him for Wednesday.

Devar Battle was found with gunshot wounds on Sept. 28, 2013, in the 3000 block of 30th Street Southeast at around 12:40 a.m. He later died at a local hospital.

According to court documents, MPD suspects Fields in Battle's death. In a police interview, Fields denied both his involvement in the shooting and having a gun that night.

During Fields' presentment, Judge Karen Howze made it clear that Fields has not been charged with murder and told both defense and the government to exclude the events of the murder and focus on a witness' recounting of Fields' possession of a gun, which ultimately led to her decision.

Documents say, a witness told police Fields was "flashing a handgun" in front of people and that Battle had an altercation with Fields before his death.

Referring to charging documents, Judge Howze said, "There are some problems here," before ruling. She added: "This is extremely confusing."

Fields is scheduled for a preliminary hearing September 22 at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Frederick Sullivan.

A copy of charging documents are below:

Christopher Fields Arrested in 2013 Shooting Death of Devar Battle

Megan Arellano — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 08:02:02 -0400

MPD announced Thursday that a 33-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the September 2013 shooting death of Devar Battle.

The man, identified by police as Christopher Fields, is suspected of second-degree murder, police say.

Battle was found with gunshot wounds in the 3000 block of 30th Street Southeast at around 12:40 a.m. on September 28, 2013. He later died at a local hospital.

A press release from MPD is after the jump.

Arrest Made in 2013 Homicide: 3000 Block of 30th Street, Southeast

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced an arrest has been made in the shooting death of 34-year-old Devar Battle which occurred on Saturday, September 28, 2013 at approximately 12:40 am, in the 3000 block of 30th Street, Southeast.

On Thursday, September 18, 2014, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested 33-year-old Christopher Fields of no fixed address, and charged him with Murder Two in the death of Devar Battle.

Christopher Fields | Homicide Watch DC

Christopher Fields Held on Weapons Charge, Not Murder

Christopher Fields Arrested in 2013 Shooting Death of Devar Battle