Homicide Watch D.C.

Jeremy Risper was sentenced to 35 years in prison Friday for the shooting death of Jamal Wilson. It was a crime that Judge Thomas Motley said was a case of “loyalty gone too far.” Risper, 22, was found guilty of first degree murder while armed, plus two weapons charges, in a March trial. Jurors found … Read more →

Biting his lip and appearing, for the first time over the course of his two murder trials, as young as his 21 years, Kwan Kearney was sentenced today to 45 years in prison for the shooting death of Jamal Wilson. The sentence, Judge Thomas Motley said, was to be served in addition to the 60 … Read more →

Kwan Kearney and Jeremy Risper were both found guilty on all counts, including premeditated first-degree murder this afternoon in the Nov. 14, 2010 shooting death of Jamal Demetrius Wilson. The jury of four men and eight women returned the verdict after less than three hours of deliberation. Sentencing is scheduled for June 15. Kearney and … Read more →

Jurors in the cases against Kwan Kearney and Jeremy Risper are expected to begin deliberating on the charges Thursday morning. Prosecutors Michael Ortwein and David Sayboldt asked the jury to find the men guilty of killing Jamal Wilson, saying that Kearney and Risper were equal participants in a chase and shootout that left the 19-year-old … Read more →

Closing statements are expected Wednesday morning in the murder case against Kwan Kearney and Jeremy Risper, on trial for first-degree murder while armed in the shooting death of Jamal Wilson. Prosecutors have argued that Kearney, Risper, and Wilson, were all friends, but that arguments about testifying in a trial had broken up their group. The … Read more →

A former neighborhood friend of Jamal Wilson, Kwan Kearney, and Jeremy Risper testified for nearly three hours this afternoon against Kearney and Risper who are on trial for first-degree murder while armed. The friend, 20-year-old Joshua Geter, agreed to testify under a plea bargain. Geter was arrested for first-degree burglary on Nov. 22, 2010, eight … Read more →

After three days of motions hearings and jury selection the first-degree murder trial of Kwan Kearney and Jeremy Risper got underway Thursday morning, Prosecutor David Sayboldt told jurors in opening statements that Kearney, Risper, and the victim, Jamal Wilson, were all friends, but that arguments about testifying in a trial had broken their group up. … Read more →

Twelve jurors and two alternates were selected today to hear the case against Kwan Kearney and Jermey Risper, charged with killing Jamal Wilson. Judge Thomas Motley is expected to hear opening arguments tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. Prosecutors say the three men were members of the “First and Oak O” crew. An overview of the case … Read more →

Judges Thomas Motley and Russell Canan ruled today on final motions in two murder cases set for trial this week, ultimately deciding that both cases are ready to move forward with jury selection. Judge Thomas Motley is hearing the case against Kwan Kearney and Jeremy Risper, accused of killing Jamal Wilson. An overview of the … Read more →

Just one month after being sentenced to a 60-year prison term for shooting and killing Joseph Alonzo Sharps Jr, Kwan Kearney is due to stand trial again. Kearney, who turned 21 on Wednesday, is suspected in the shooting death of Jamal Wilson. He and his co-defendant, Jeremy Risper, are expected to stand trial in that … Read more →

Speaking Friday for the first time about the murder charge against him, and that he was convicted of, Kwan Kearney told Judge Robert Richter that he was innocent. “My condolences to the family,” Kearney said at sentencing, turning slightly to look over his shoulder and glance at the packed courtroom. “But you all got the … Read more →

Kwan Kearney was found guilty today of first-degree murder while armed in the shooting death of Joseph Alonzo Sharps Jr. The verdict came at noon today; the jury deliberated for approximately four hours before finding Kearney guilty on each of the eight counts and the aggravating circumstance that the crime was random. Sentencing is scheduled … Read more →

A jury of six men and six women are now deliberating in the case accusing Kwan Kearney of shooting at two Spingarn High School students, killing one of them. Jurors were dismissed to deliberate at 3:35 Thursday afternoon. If they do not reach a verdict today, they will be back tomorrow to continue deliberations. Kearney, … Read more →

After just two days of testimony, the Kwan Kearney murder case could go to the jury as early as Thursday afternoon, the Judge hearing the case said today. Kearney, 20, is charged with shooting two Spingarn High School students in Nov. 2010. One of the students, De’Onte Bilbro, survived. The other, Joseph Alonzo Sharps Jr., … Read more →

“9-1-1 it’s an emergency, please send a SWAT team with urgency,” Larnell Allen rapped from the witness stand at Kwan Kearney’s trial Tuesday. The words, a rough approximation of Gucci Mane’s popular song “911 Emergency,” had been sung by Allen before. Together on Nov. 8, 2010, he, Kearney and others sang them out, laughing, as … Read more →

The eight men and six women who will decide whether or not Kwan Kearney is guilty of killing Joseph Alonzo Sharps Jr. heard their first overview of the case Monday afternoon. Joseph Alonzo Sharps, a 17-year-old Spingarn High junior, honor student, varsity athlete, was killed “for nothing,” Prosecutor David Saybolt told jurors in his opening … Read more →

Jury selection is underway this afternoon in the first-degree murder case against Kwan Kearney, charged with the shooting death of Joseph Alonzo Sharps Jr. Sharps was 17 years old when he was shot and killed on Nov. 8, 2010 in Northeast D.C. In court Monday, Kearney’s defense attorney, Gene Johnson, said the defense was simple: … Read more →

Kwan Kearney is awaiting trial in two separate murders in November 2010: Joseph Alonzo Sharps Jr. on Nov. 8 and Jamal Demetrius Wilson on Nov. 14. His brother, Eric Kearney, also known as Tay, was supposed to be a witness for the defense in one of those cases, but he was shot and killed on … Read more →

A new trial date has been set for Kwan Kearney after his brother, a witness in his case, was killed. Kearney was expected to stand trial on Oct. 31. He is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Joseph Alonzo Sharps Jr. But just this week Kearney’s brother, Eric Kearney, was killed in … Read more →

One of the two men charged in the shooting death of teen Joseph Alonzo Sharps Jr is not standing trial in the case as scheduled in October. AUSA David Saybolt today said that Kwan Kearney’s trial date of Oct. 31 remains, but that Larnell Allen will not go to trial on that date. “Can’t comment … Read more →

Appearing lighthearted and occasionally smiling, Kwan Kearney and Jeremy Risper each entered a plea of “not guilty” today to charges related to the November slaying of Jamal Wilson in Northwest D.C. Kearney and Risper are both charged with premeditated first-degree murder while armed as well as various firearms offenses. Wilson, a 19-year-old known as “Mally,” … Read more →

A jury trial date has been set for the two men accused of killing 17-year-old Springarn High School student Joseph Alonzo Sharps Jr. in November 2010. Kwan Kearney and Larnell Allen appeared in court Tuesday for a status conference in the case. Kearney is also suspected in the death of Jamal Wilson, six days after … Read more →

By the prosecutor’s telling of it, an early morning pursuit through Truxton Circle and the ensuing shoot-out that left 19-year-old Jamal Wilson dead started over a beef about a man nicknamed “Psycho.” Wilson, Assistant US Attorney David Saybolt said Tuesday, was part of the “First and Oak O” crew. A crew that also included Kwan … Read more →

Two open murder cases against Kwan Kearney will likely be indicted separately, despite overlapping evidence in the cases, a government prosecutor told Judge Thomas Motley Friday morning. Kearney, along with codefendant Larnell Allen, is suspected in the killing of Joseph Alonzo Sharps Jr on November 8, 2010. He is also suspected in the killing of … Read more →

Six murder cases were before Judge Thomas Motley Friday morning for felony status conferences and each of them resulted in new status conference dates. Kwan Kearney and Jeremy Risper are scheduled to reappear on April 1 in the case accusing them of killing Jamal Wilson on Nov. 14, 2010. The two men have not yet … Read more →

A preliminary hearing in the murder of Joseph Alonzo Sharps Jr. was continued today to next year, when one the attorney of one of the defendants told Judge Herbert Dixon that she had not had enough time to adequately prepare for the hearing. Kwan Kearney and Larnell Allen are each charged with first-degree murder in … Read more →

A post at The District Curmudgeon came our way this morning thanks to @bogrosemary. According to The District Curmudgeon, neighbors of Kwan Kearney’s family have received notes in the mail this week alerting them to their proximity to the defendant. (A photo of a note is here.) Kearney is currently charged with first-degree murder in … Read more →

Judge Herbert Dixon ruled Monday that probable cause in the cases against Kwan Kearney and Jeremy Risper exists and that the two men will stand trial for a shooting that left 19-year-old Jamal Wilson dead. Dixon declined to release either Kearney or Risper from jail before their next court date in March, saying each of … Read more →

Following are scheduled court appearances for murder cases. This information is current as of Friday, 2 p.m. and will be re-verified throughout the week. Please remember that court dates can change, even at the last minute. To view the docket of a case please go to the D.C. Courts website and search by the defendant’s … Read more →

Larnell C. Allen and Kwan Kearney were charged last week with first degree murder in the shooting death of 17-year-old Springarn High School student Joseph Alonzo Sharps Jr. They were identified by Sharps’ friend who was shot along with Sharps but survived. The friend told police that he and Sharps were crossing Neal Street in … Read more →

This just in from Metro PD: Additional Arrest Made in Homicide of Joseph Alonzo Sharps, Jr. (Washington, DC) - Detectives assigned to the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced that a second arrest has been made in the homicide of 17-year-old Joseph Alonzo Sharps, Jr. On Monday, November 8, 2010, at approximately 8:45 pm, … Read more →

HWDC reported yesterday that a second man had been charged in the shooting death of 19-year-old Jamal Wilson in Northwest D.C. on Sunday Nov. 14. Charging documents for the second suspect to be arrested in the case, Jeremy Risper follow: Read more →

A second suspect has been charged in D.C. Superior Court with shooting and killing 19-year-old Jamal Wilson in Northwest D.C. on Sunday Nov. 14. Jeremy Risper, a 20 year old resident of Southeast D.C., was charged with first degree murder on Saturday. His co-defendant in the case, 19 year-old Kwan Kearney, was charged Nov. 17. … Read more →