James Young | Homicide Watch DC

Tyrone Height and James Young Held in Willard Carlos Shelton's Murder

Imari Williams — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 22:36:13 -0400

Judge John Ramsey Johnson found probable cause Thursday in the case against Tyrone Height and James Young for the shooting death of Willard Carlos Shelton on August 31.

Police found Shelton with gunshot wounds and a bruise on his face in a parking lot on the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road Southeast. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later died.

MPD Detective Paris White testified Thursday that Young told police he was "going through hard times and needed money," so he and three other individuals planned to rob Shelton by luring him with fake drugs, but his idea didn't go as planned.

According to Young, during the purchase, he saw that Shelton had a gun in his waist band. Then Young "grabbed it from him, and saw it was an unloaded BB gun, then he took off running," White testified.

In court Thursday, White acknowledged that details from Young's version of that night were unclear. White added that Young didn't say who shot Shelton.

Later, police did find a BB gun in Young's house, according to White.

At the time of the incident, Height was on GPS monitoring and a satellite placed him at the scene of Shelton's murder, White testified.

However, in a photo array, including Height's picture, Young didn't identify any of the men as being present with him that night. Height denied being involved in the shooting, but he admitted to being in the area, White said.

According to White, an eyewitness told police it saw Young, who it has known for 13 years, on the sidewalk with a black gun and Height, who it has known for three years, standing near a playground with a silver gun firing multiple shots towards Shelton. The witness said while being shot at, Shelton spun around.

Detective White said police found 12 shell casings at the scene.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kendra Briggs argued that Height and Young were together and the witness identified them both.

"They were acting in concert during the robbery," Briggs said. "It's clear the witness has known them both and it saw them shooting at Shelton."

Young's attorney, Ferris Bond, argued that the prosecution has not proved his client did not act in self-defense, adding that Shelton was a known drug dealer.

"He was a drug dealer with a gun, who was approaching Young," Bond said.

Briggs said that there wasn't any evidence that showed Shelton was a drug dealer. Instead, evidence showed Shelton was going to purchase drugs, according to Briggs.

Height's attorney, Dana Page, argued that the only information that involves her client is from one witness, since Young never identified Height as one of the men with him on the night of Shelton's death.

"The witness' recounting of events was confirmed by physical evidence," Judge Johnson said before ruling that both men will remain held in the case.

A felony status conference is scheduled for November 14 at 10:30 a.m. before Judge Johnson.

Tyrone Height and James Young Held in Connection with Willard Carlos Shelton Murder

Megan Arellano — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 18:31:05 -0400

Judge William Nooter ordered Tyrone Height and James Young held Thursday on suspicion of first-degree felony murder while armed for the shooting death of Willard Carlos Shelton.

Police found Shelton with gunshot wounds after responding to a report of a shooting in the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road Southeast early on August 31. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Three days later, Height and Young were arrested on suspicion of felony murder while armed.

Charging documents say that on the night of the shooting, a witness saw Height and Young standing with handguns, "shooting multiple times" at Shelton in a parking lot at the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road Southeast.

According to the documents, the witness said it called the police and provided information about the shooting but did not say who shot the decedent. Later the witness told police that, at the time, it "did not want to get further involved in the situation."

In subsequent interviews, the witness told police that Young was standing on the sidewalk, firing a black semi-automatic handgun with his right hand at Shelton, who "attempted to run away and hide between several parked cars in the parking lot." Height was standing by a nearby playground, firing a silver handgun with his right hand at Shelton, according to the witness.

Documents say the witness saw Shelton get shot and fall to the ground. Then, according to the witness, Young walked over to Shelton, went through Shelton's pants pocket, and took his wallet and car keys. The witness added that it saw some of Shelton's personal items fall out of the wallet and "scatter across the parking lot."

The witness then watched Young move away from the scene before the police arrived.

Defense attorney Dana Page argued that the charging documents did not explain what the witness was doing on the scene or provide any explanation of possible biases that the witness may have towards her client, Height.

Page further argued that the witness version of events was not corroborated by any other evidence written in the charging documents.

Young's attorney Ferris Bond added that there was no proof that his client did not act in self-defense.

A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for September 18 at 10:30 a.m. before Judge John Ramsey Johnson.

Charging documents have been added to this post.

Two Men Arrested in Shooting Death of Willard Carlos Shelton

Megan Arellano — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 09:10:12 -0400

UPDATE 8:30 p.m.
Court documents identify one of the suspects as Tyrone Height. MPD originally reported his name as Michael Hight, an alias.

***

James Young, 21, and Tyrone Height, 22, have been arrested in connection with the August 31 shooting death of Willard Carlos Shelton, MPD announced Thursday.

The men are both expected to be charged with felony murder while armed, police said.

Shelton was found shot in the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road Southeast at approximately 7:04 a.m. Sunday, according to MPD. He was pronounced dead a local hospital.

A press release from MPD is after the jump.

Arrests Made in Homicide: 2500 Block of Pomeroy Road, Southeast

(Washington, DC) - The Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch announced two arrests have been made in the homicide which occurred in the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road, Southeast.

On Sunday, August 31, 2014, at approximately 7:04 am, members from the Seventh District responded to a call for a shooting in the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road, Southeast. Upon arrival, they located an adult male suffering from gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Medical Emergency Services personnel transported the victim to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

The decedent has been identified as 38 year-old Willard Carlos Shelton of Alexandria, Virginia.

On Wednesday, September 3, 2014, members of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch arrested 22 year-old Michael Hight of Southeast, Washington, DC and 21 year-old James Young of Southeast, Washington, DC, charging them both with Felony Murder While Armed in connection with the shooting in the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road, Southeast.