Kevin Darrell Boykins | Homicide Watch DC

Police: Kevin Larnard James Killed Over Debt Dispute

Megan Arellano — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 22:13:03 -0400

A judge ordered Kevin Boykins to remain in jail Friday in connection with the January shooting death of Kevin Larnard James.

Police found 48-year-old James seated on the driver's side of a BMW with a gunshot wound to the head on January 16 in the 1500 block of Gallatin Place Northeast. Police believe James was killed after a heated exchange with Boykins via text messages about a debt, documents say.

According to charging documents, James demanded Boykins pay him for money owed and threatened to collect the debt from Boykins' family if he wasn't repaid. Boykins promised to pay James that evening, but was offended by the threats to his family, documents say.

On Friday, Metropolitan Police Detective Anthony Greene testified that James was found with $1,200 in cash that night. However, initial forensic investigation of the BMW including DNA swabs and fingerprints could not "yet" place Boykins in the car, Greene said.

Greene testified that a witness in the case called 911 at 7:39 p.m. after hearing a gunshot, then seeing James in the crashed car. Six minutes earlier, James placed his last phone call to Boykins, according to Greene.

Boykins told police he took the Metro to Fort Totten to pay James and that James was upset because it took him awhile to pay, according to charging documents. Documents state Boykins said James counted the money and left.

Defense attorney Andrew Stanner argued that there was no forensic evidence or eyewitness testimony to show probable cause. Additionally, the cell phone data "proved too much" because the six minute difference between James' last phone call and when he was found is "not enough time to do anything."

Stanner said that Boykins told police "things you would never volunteer if you were trying to hide," a sign of an innocent man.

Judge Robert Morin found probable cause in the case, saying the men were clearly in a dispute, Boykins admitted to being in James' car, and the men had contact minutes before the homicide.

He also ruled that Boykins will remain held in the case. But if attorneys are able to offer "more clarity on the cell site information," Morin said that he "reserved the right to reconsider" Boykins' detention status.

A status hearing is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on September 12.

Kevin Boykins Held in Connection with Shooting Death of Kevin James

Imari Williams — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 21:49:55 -0400

Kevin Darrell Boykins was ordered held Friday on charges of first-degree felony murder while armed in connection with the shooting death of Kevin Lanard James. Boykins, 43, was arrested Thursday.

On January 16, police found James with a gunshot wound to the head seated on the driver's side of a BMW in the 1500 block of Gallatin Place Northeast. Charging documents say a witness called 911 after the vehicle crashed into a light pole.

Police believe James was killed in his car after a heated exchange via text messages about a debt, court documents state.

According to documents, police later found James' phone in the BMW. "Kev" was the last person dialed on the phone, documents say, and that call was placed six minutes before a witness called 911 to report a traffic accident. Documents say police determined Boykins was the person listed as "Kev."

In a series of text, James accused Boykins of owing him money and demanded repayment, documents say. Court documents say James threatened to collect the debt from Boykins family, if he wasn't repaid.

Boykins said he would pay James that evening, but was offended by the threats to his family, documents say. According to documents, Boykins told him "U gone too far" and that "this is the last time with my family," via text.

Police interviewed a witness who spoke with Boykins the day after the murder, court documents say. During the conversation, Boykins stated that he was with James earlier in the evening, but they got into an argument before James put him out of the car, documents say.

Boykins told police he took the subway to Fort Totten Metro Station to pay James and that James was upset because it took him awhile to pay, according to documents. Documents say, Boykins stated that James counted the money and left; he didn't say where he was going.

Boykins is scheduled for a preliminary hearing scheduled for July 18 before Judge Robert Morin.

Charging documents are below.

Boykins, Kevin Charging Docs (PDF)Boykins, Kevin Charging Docs (Text)

Kevin Darrell Boykins Arrested in Shooting Death of Kevin Lanard James

Laura Amico — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 20:56:16 -0400

A 43-year-old Maryland man has been arrested in connection with the January shooting death of Kevin Lanard James.

The man, identified by police as Kevin Darrell Boykins of Mount Rainer, is suspected of first-degree felony murder while armed, police say.

A press release from MPD is after the jump.

June 26, 2014

Arrest Made in the Homicide: 1500 Block of Gallatin Place, Northeast

(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 1500 block of Gallatin Place, Northeast.

On Thursday, January 16, 2014, at approximately 7:39 pm, police officers from the Fourth District responded to a call for an accident with injuries in the 1500 block of Gallatin Place, Northeast. Upon arrival, they located an adult male suffering from apparent gunshot wound. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel transported the victim to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The decedent was subsequently transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner where an autopsy will be performed to determine cause and manner of death.

The decedent has been identified as 48-year-old Kevin Lanard James of Northwest, Washington, DC.

On Thursday, June 26, 2014, at approximately 1:30 pm, 43 year-old Kevin Darrell Boykins of Mount Rainer, Maryland, was arrested by members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, pursuant to a District of Columbia Superior Court arrest warrant charging him with First Degree Felony Murder While Armed in connection to the homicide of Kevin Lanard James.