Donald Dubose | Homicide Watch DC

Donald Dubose Pleads Guilty in Michael Smith Murder Case

Amelia Rufer — Mon, 22 Dec 2014 12:46:17 -0500

Donald Dubose pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed Monday for his role in the 2012 drive-by shooting that killed 34-year-old Michael Oshea Smith.

Smith's body was found in the passenger seat of a gray Mercedes Benz in the Barry Farms housing project shortly before 6:00 a.m. on May 12. Smith, shot twice in the head, was already dead when police arrived.

Dubose, 24, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill and a weapons charge for his involvement with the murder. Prosecutors agreed to drop remaining charges in exchange for Dubose' plea.

According to the proffer of facts, Smith and another man, Larry Gilbert, left Northwest D.C. in a gray Mercedes headed to the Barry Farms neighborhood. Dubose followed them in a black Ford Fusion with the intention of causing harm.

When they stopped in the 1100 block of Stevens Road, Dubose pulled up next to the driver's side of their vehicle so his two associates could shoot them. So far, Dubose is the only person arrested in Smith's death.

Gilbert, who sustained a gunshot wound to the arm, crashed the vehicle into a house in the 1200 block of Stevens Road Southeast while trying to drive away.

Dubose told the judge Monday that he knew his associates intended to shoot Smith. Dubose is scheduled to be sentenced before Judge Jennifer Anderson on February 20 at 12:00 p.m. He faces a 15- to 17-year prison sentence.

Donald Dubose Pleads Innocent to First Degree Murder, Rejects Plea Offer

Kristian Hernandez — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 17:15:35 -0400

Donald Dubose pleaded innocent Friday to four criminal charges, including first-degree premeditated murder while armed, in connection with the May 2012 drive-by shooting that killed Michael Oshea Smith.

Dubose, 24, rejected a plea offer for a charge of second-degree murder while armed during his arraignment hearing before Judge Jennifer Anderson.

Two months after police found Smith dead in a car that crashed into a house on the 1100 block of Stevens Road Southeast on May 12, 2012, Dubose was arrested. Police say Smith died in the passenger seat of the vehicle from a gunshot wound to the head.

At a preliminary hearing, Metropolitan Police Detective Norma Horne testified that police believe Dubose is connected to a car seen in surveillance videos of the area near the shooting.

According to charging documents, Smith was receiving a ride to his house from another person when they noticed a car following them.

According to court documents, the driver said that he pulled over to let the car pass, but the other car pulled up alongside them and someone began shooting at them. When the driver attempted to speed off, he said he crashed into a home.

The driver told police there were four people in the other car, documents state.

Video footage from several street cameras captured the image of a black Ford Fusion following Smith and his friend moments before they were shot at. Documents state that around 5:33 a.m. that same vehicle was directly behind Smith and his friend as their car crashed.

The owner of the Ford Fusion told police that Dubose borrowed the car the evening before Smith was found dead, and that Dubose returned the car the following morning, documents state.

A felony status conference is scheduled for May 9, at 9:30 in front of Judge Anderson.

A copy of the indictment is below:

Donald Dubose Indictment (PDF)Donald Dubose Indictment (Text)

Judge Finds Substantial Probability in Case Against Donald Dubose

Ivan Natividad — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 16:16:18 -0400

Judge Robert Richter found substantial probability Monday in the case againt Donald Dubose. Dubose is suspected of participating in the May 2012 drive-by shooting death of 34-year-old Michael Oshea Smith.

Smith was shot in the head May 12, 2012. Police found him at about 5:40 a.m. in the passenger seat of a vehicle on the 1200 block of Stevens Road Southeast. Medical workers arrived and pronounced Smith dead on scene. The driver of the car had been shot in the arm, but survived.

Fifteen months later Dubose, 24, was arrested in suspicion of second degree murder in connection with Smith's death.

At a preliminary hearing Monday, Metropolitan Police Detective Norma Horne testified that the shooting was a drive-by and that police believe Dubose is connected to a car seen in surveillance video of the area near the shooting.

Charging documents in the case state the driver of the vehicle which was shot at told police that he and Smith were headed to Smith’s home in the Barry Farm neighborhood when they noticed a car following them.

According to court documents, the driver said that he pulled over to let the car pass, but the car pulled up next to his and someone began shooting at them. When the driver attempted to speed off, he said he crashed into a home in the 1100 block of Stevens Road Southeast. He told police there were four people in the other car, documents state.

A witness, and the owner of the Ford Fusion, told police that Dubose borrowed the car the evening before Smith was found dead, and that Dubose returned the car the following morning, documents state.

Another witness later told police that Dubose talked to her about driving the Ford Fusion while some of his friends began shooting at another car.

A felony status conference is scheduled for December 13 with Judge Herbert Dixon.

Donald Dubose Held in Connection with Michael Smith Murder

Penny Ray — Fri, 16 Aug 2013 12:57:53 -0400

Donald Dubose was held Thursday on suspicion of second-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Michael Oshea Smith. Prosecutors believe Dubose, 24, participated in a drive-by shooting that ended Smith's life in May 2012. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 23.

Smith, 34, was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head in the passenger seat of vehicle that had crashed into the side of a home on Stevens Road Southeast. The driver of the vehicle suffered a gunshot wound to the arm and survived.

Charging documents in the case say investigators discovered two bullet holes in the vehicle, and recovered five 9mm cartridge casings from the crime scene. A review of the firearms evidence determined that two guns were used, suggesting there were two shooters.

The driver of the vehicle told police that he and Smith were driving to Smith's home in the Barry Farm neighborhood. They had just exited the 3rd Street tunnel when they noticed a car following them. The driver said that when they reached Stevens Road SE he pulled over to allow the vehicle to pass, but the car pulled up next to them and someone in the vehicle began shooting at them. The driver said he attempted to speed off but crashed into a home in the 1100 block of Stevens Road SE. He told police there were four people in the other car.

During the course of the investigation, detectives reviewed video footage from several street cameras and noticed a black Ford Fusion following Smith and his friend along their route. The video shows that around 5:33 a.m. the Fusion was directly behind Smith and his friend as their car crashed.

Detectives then interviewed the owner of the Ford Fusion and learned that Dubose had borrowed the car on the evening of May 11, 2012, and had returned it the following morning- the day Smith was found dead.

Another witness later told police that Dubose told her he was driving the Fusion when two of his friends began shooting at another vehicle.

Charging documents are below.

Donald Dubose Charging Documents (PDF)Donald Dubose Charging Documents (Text)

Donald Dubose Arrested in 2012 Shooting Death of Michael Oshea Smith

Laura Amico — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 15:59:50 -0400

A 24-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a 2012 shooting that killed Michael Oshea Smith in Southeast DC.

According to a press release from MPD, the suspect, Donald Dubose, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of second-degree murder.

Smith was killed in a May 2012 double shooting in the 1200 block of Stevens Road Southeast. The other person shot survived.

MPD's press release is after the jump.

August 15, 2013

Arrest Made in Homicide: 1200 Block of Stevens Road, SE

(Washington, DC) – Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced that an arrest has been made in the homicide which occurred in the 1200 block of Stevens Road, SE.

On Saturday, May 12, 2012, at approximately 5:40 am, members of the Seventh District responded to the 1200 block of Stevens Road, SE for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they located two adult males suffering from gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel arrived on the scene and determined that one of the victims did not have any signs consistent with life and was pronounced dead by a member of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The second victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

The decedent is identified as 34 year-old Michael Oshea Smith of Southeast, Washington, DC.

On Wednesday, August 15, 2013, at approximately 6:10 am, members of the Major Violators Section, Fugitive Unit, arrested 24-year-old Donald Dubose, of no fixed address, pursuant to an arrest warrant and charged him with Second Degree Murder in connection to the death of Michael Oshea Smith.