Donte Graves | Homicide Watch DC

Donte Graves Sentenced to 10 years for Killing Tyrone Joyner

Imari Williams — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 12:56:12 -0400

Donte Graves is an "absolute menace" who terrorized the streets, prosecutor Michael Liebman argued Wednesday, as Graves faced sentencing for the 2013 shooting death of Tyrone Joyner.

Judge Russell F. Canan agreed, sentencing him to 10 years in prison. "You terrified those people," Canan said.

Graves, 20, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter after a mistrial in May.

Police found Joyner on the 1400 block of Canal Street Southwest suffering from a gunshot wound to the torso. During the trial, an eye-witness testified that Joyner was trying to rob Graves before he shot him outside of his home near Nationals Park.

Defense Attorney Janet Mitchell argued that Graves has changed, is remorseful for his actions, and is hopeful for the future.

"I've known Donte since he was 18, and he has grown up in the last two years and feels sorry for his actions," Mitchell said. "He understands there is a life outside of Northwest that he can aspire too."

Mitchell asked the judge to grant the Youth Act Study Observation, so Graves would be able to find employment once time is served. The act requires young offenders convicted for felony offenses, including murder, be transferred to the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Prisons for treatment and rehabilitation.

Liebman, the prosecutor, argued that this is Graves' second involvement in a murder case and was "concerned that if this had gone to retrial, Graves would have been acquitted."

Before his ruling, Judge Canan denied the Youth Act because of Graves' criminal history and behavior.

Addressing the court, Graves said, "I"m sorry to the family, and I want to thank my family."

Donte Graves Pleads Guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter After a Mistrial Last Month

Kristian Hernandez — Sat, 10 May 2014 04:07:31 -0400

Little more than a month after a jury hung on whether or not Donte Graves was guilty of murder, Graves on Friday pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, saying he shot 22-year-old Tyrone Joyner in February 2013.

According to the proffer of facts read in court Friday by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Liebman, Graves, 19, shot Joyner one time in the torso, after Joyner confronted him and tried to punch him.

Joyner was found by police suffering from a gunshot wound on the 1400 block of Canal Street, SW, and transported to a local hospital where he later died of his injuries.

An eye-witness testified last month that Joyner was trying to rob Graves before he shot him outside his home near Nationals Park. This past April, the trial ended with a deadlocked jury and was declared a mistrial.

Graves was arrested in March 5, 2013, and charged with second-degree murder.

As part of his plea agreement Graves faces up to ten years in prison for the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. Both parties also agreed Joyner undergo a Youth Act Study Observation. The act requires youth offenders convicted for felony offenses, including murder, be transferred to the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Prisons for treatment and rehabilitation.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 18, at 10:00 a.m., in front of Judge Russell Canan.

Plea documents have been added to this post.

Donte Graves Plea Docs (PDF)Donte Graves Plea Docs (Text)

Jury Deadlocks in Donte Graves Murder Trial

Dana Jennings — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 19:02:20 -0400

Judge Russell Canan declared a mistrial in the case against Donte Graves after jurors announced they were unable to reach a verdict.

Ten jurors reported that they were prepared to acquit Graves of second-degree murder while armed, assault with a deadly weapon and armed robbery. Of the remaining two jurors, one disagreed and another was dismissed from the case.

"I know it is frustrating to be in this position, but your service is helpful to the judicial process," Canan told jurors.

Graves is accused of fatally shooting Tyrone Joyner.

Police found Joyner near Nationals Park in Southwest D.C. on Feb. 24, 2013, with a single gunshot wound to his stomach.

Prosecutors argued that a witness, Marcus McLean, identified Graves as the shooter, proving his guilt.

Graves' defense attorney, Janet Mitchell, said in trial that police and prosecutors overlooked the possibility of another shooter.

Mitchell contended that McLean, who had described the scene of the shooting, could have accidentally shot Joyner.

"Maybe he drops it," Mitchell said earlier in the trial, noting broken gun pieces recovered from the scene. "Marcus McLean is playing around with it and he shoots his friend."

During the trial, McLean admitted to lying to investigators and to a grand jury.

Jurors deliberated for four days before announcing the deadlock. In that time, they sent three notes expressing their inability to reach a unanimous verdict.

A status hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on April 25.

Jury Begins Deliberations in Donte Graves Murder Trial

Kristian Hernandez — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 22:03:38 -0400

In closing arguments Wednesday, defense attorneys for Donte Graves argued that police ignored the possibility that Tyrone Joyner was shot and killed by another man, his friend. Prosecutors argued that eyewitness testimony and forensic evidence prove Graves was the shooter.

Now jurors will decide which version to believe, and whether Graves is guilty of murder.

On February 24, 2013, Joyner was found near Nationals Park in Southwest D.C. suffering from a gunshot wound to the stomach; he later died at Howard University Hospital. Graves is charged with second-degree murder in connection with his death.

Charging documents in the case say a witness told police that Graves ran out of a building on Canal Street SW carrying a jacket and a handgun. The witness said Joyner chased after Graves and grabbed the coat. The coat fell on the ground, the witness said, and then Graves pushed Joyner away from him.

Marcus McLean, 19, testified that Graves was the shooter that night, though he admitted that he failed to report it to police initially. Prosecutors say that's because McLean was setting up Joyner to get robbed by Graves earlier that day.

“I don’t want to go to jail,” McLean told the court, “I don’t want to do 100 years.”

But defense attorney Janet Mitchell argued that forensic evidence supports the idea that McLean might have accidentally shot Joyner, based on broken gun pieces recovered from the scene.

“Maybe he drops it,” said Mitchell, “Marcus McLean is playing around with it and he shoots his friend.”

Prosecutors say that that's simply not true.

During trial, McLean testified to lying in his grand jury testimony and again to police during the initial investigation about his involvement in the case.

“You should cut him a little slack when he is up on the stand recollecting something that happened months ago,” said Assistant United States Attorney Michael Liebman.

Liebman continued by telling jurors that McLean has a learning disability and is scared of speaking to large crowds.

"Focus on the evidence," Liebman told jurors. He argued that minor inconsistencies in witness testimonies do not equal reasonable doubt and asked the jury to ignore the defense’s speculations about who could have been the shooter.

The case is scheduled to continue deliberations tomorrow.

A Year After SW DC Homicide, Donte Graves Stands Trial on Second-Degree Murder Charge

Kristian Hernandez — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 09:20:14 -0400

On Wednesday, a little more than a year after 22-year-old Tyrone Joyner was shot and killed near Nationals Park, his accused assailant stood for the first time before a jury.

The suspect, Donte Graves is accused of second-degree murder. Prosecutors say they will present jurors with eyewitness testimony of the shooting. But Grave's defense attorney warns those accounts are biased and can't be trusted.

Joyner was found around 6:30 p.m. Feb. 24 in the 1400 block of Canal Street Southwest suffering from a gunshot wound to the stomach; he later died at Howard University Hospital.

Graves was arraigned in August of last year on a charge of second-degree murder. He pleaded innocent.

On Wednesday, the first witnesses to testify were called to the stand.

The first was Kareem Young, who said he heard gunshots at around 6 p.m. that Sunday evening and immediately looked out from his 3rd floor apartment window in the 1400 block of Canal Street Southwest.

“He was running through the courtyard then he just collapsed,” Young said of Joyner.

Young went outside and found Joyner breathing hard and suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Young immediately dialed 911 and police arrived at the scene minutes later.

First responders also took the stand who described finding Joyner breathing but unresponsive before he was transported to Howard University Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 12:38 a.m. the following morning.

Joyner’s god-sister Dionna Howard, 26, took the stand and broke down in tears after seeing a blown up picture of Joyner on the projector screen.

Howard, who referred to Joyner by his nickname, Nunu, recalled seeing her brother walk out her god-mothers apartment a few minutes before he was shot.

Howard said she answered the door when one of Joyner’s friends came looking for him accompanied by Graves.

She said she had met Graves for the first time earlier that day in an alley behind the apartment building when she was walking back from a nearby grocery store. Howard said Graves was trying to get her number and talk to her but she ignored him.

The trial is expected to continue Thursday.

Donte Graves Indicted in Connection with Tyrone Joyner Murder

Penny Ray — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 12:01:44 -0400

Donte Graves was arraigned Monday on charges of second-degree murder, armed robbery and five related weapons offenses in connection with the shooting death of 22-year-old Tyrone Joyner. Graves, 19, pleaded innocent to all charges and a trial date has been scheduled for March 2014.

Joyner was found around 6:30 p.m. Feb. 24 in the 1400 block of Canal Street Southwest suffering from a gunshot wound to the stomach; he later died at Howard University Hospital. About a week later Graves was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder in connection with Joyner's death.

At a preliminary hearing in March, Metropolitan Police Detective Michael Fulton testified that a witness observed Graves at the scene of the shooting trying to rob Joyner.

Charging documents in the case say a witness told police that Graves ran out of a building on Canal Street SW carrying a jacket and a handgun. The witness said Joyner chased after Graves and grabbed the coat. The coat fell on the ground, the witness said, and then Graves pushed Joyner away from him.

According to the witness, Joyner then threw a punch at Graves, and Graves shot Joyner once in the stomach. Graves then grabbed the coat and ran through an alley, the witness said.

The case is scheduled for a status hearing November 22.

The indictment is below.

Donte Graves Indictment (PDF)Donte Graves Indictment (Text)

Probable Cause Found at Donte Graves's Preliminary Hearing

Vanya Mehta — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:56:18 -0400

Probable cause was found Wednesday in the case against Donte Graves, an 18-year-old suspected in the murder of Tyrone Joyner near the Nationals Park on February 24.

Judge Jennifer Alexander made the ruling at a preliminary hearing Wednesday.

During the hearing, MPD Detective Michael Fulton testified that a man observed Graves at the scene of the shooting. That man, Fulton said, told police that Graves was trying to rob Joyner an hour before the shooting.

When Joyner began running away, Graves caught up to him and grabbed his coat. Fulton said that Graves shot at the same time as Joyner swung at him.

After Joyner fell to the ground, Graves stole his coat and ran, Fulton testified.

Joyner was shot once in the stomach.

Defense attorney Liyah Brown argued that the witness was involved in the crime and had an "obvious bias...in his alleged plan to rob the decedent."

Fulton did not testify to whether or not the witness was involved in the robbery.

A status hearing will be held at 9:30 a.m. on May 10, 2013. The case will also be transferred back to Judge Russel Canan.

Donte Graves Reportedly One of Group of Juveniles that Killed Attorney in 2008

Sam Pearson — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 18:24:55 -0500

Donte Graves, held on suspicion of fatally shooting 21-year-old Tyrone Joyner near Nationals Park last month, was one of three teens who killed a D.C. attorney in 2008, WJLA reports.

The station, citing multiple anonymous sources, says Graves was arrested for killing attorney Mark Blank, 56, in Southwest D.C. in 2008.

The station reports:

In October of 2008, D.C. police say Blank was walking home on 6th Street near the Southwest Waterfront carrying groceries when three teenagers, ages 13, 14, and 15 robbed him and beat him. Blank's injuries were so severe he died 10 days later.

Because Graves reportedly was 14 at the time of the earlier murder, any proceedings involving him are sealed juvenile records. It's also difficult to verify what sentence Graves would have received for the earlier crime.

The Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services declined to comment to the station.

Graves "started popping up during ABC7's search of court records in 2012," the station reported.

Those searches are of adult court records, and contain only nonviolent offenses.

Graves pled guilty to one count of unlawful entry and contempt in June 2012; as a condition of his plea, prosecutors dropped unlawful entry charges against him in a different case. Graves was sentenced to 1 year of probation. A third unlawful entry case against Graves was also dropped.

Graves also appeared in Traffic Court, where he pled guilty to fleeing the scene of an accident.

Donte Graves Ordered Held in Southwest D.C. Homicide

Sam Pearson — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 19:14:54 -0500

Judge Karen Howze ordered Donte Graves held Thursday in connection with a fatal shooting near Nationals Park Feb. 24 which killed 22-year-old Tyrone Joyner.

Graves, 18, faces second-degree murder charges. Prosecutors say a witness identified Graves and said Graves had been talking to Joyner that night. The witness claimed to have seen Graves shoot Joyner outside a building on Canal Street Southwest.

Police did not recover a weapon from the scene. Graves was arrested nine days after Joyner's death.

Graves is scheduled to appear before Judge Russell Canan March 21 at 9:30 a.m. for a preliminary hearing.

Charging documents are below:

Donte Graves charging documents (PDF)Donte Graves charging documents (Text)

Donte Graves Arrested on Suspicion of Fatal Shooting Near Nationals Park

Sam Pearson — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 22:26:08 -0500

Officers arrested an 18-year-old man Tuesday in connection with a fatal shooting last month near Nationals Park.

Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force officers arrested Donte Graves, 18, of Temple Hills, Md. Tuesday, a press release from MPD states.

Police found 22-year-old Tyrone Joyner at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at the 1400 block of Canal St. S.W. Joyner was taken to a local hospital, where he died of his injuries.

The press release from MPD is after the jump.

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced that an arrest has been made in the fatal shooting which occurred in the 1400 block of Canal Street, SW.

On Sunday, February 24, 2013, at approximately 6:26 pm, units from the First District responded to the 1400 block of Canal Street, SW for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they located an adult male suffering from a gunshot 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 22-year-old Tyrone Joyner of Southwest, Washington, DC.

On Tuesday, March 5, 2013, at approximately 11:32 am, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested 18-year-old Donte Graves of Temple Hills, MD, pursuant to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant, charging him with Murder Two while Armed in the fatal shooting of Tyrone Joyner.