Lawrence Wilkerson | Homicide Watch DC

Gary Johnson Charged in Rhett Gelb's death

Imari Williams — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 21:35:22 -0500

A judge ordered Gary Johnson held Friday on suspicion of felony murder and distribution of a controlled substance in connection with the robbery and murder of Rhett Gelb in May 2013.

Gelb was found next to a Cadillac Escalade at the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and Hamilton Street Northwest. He died later from his injuries.

Johnson, 51, is the third person arrested in the case. Roger St. John and Lawrence Wilkerson were arrested on suspicion of felony murder while armed in Gelb's death. Police believe Johnson to be a participant in Gelb's murder.

According to a witness, it and another individual accompanied Gelb to Washington, D.C., from Colonial Beach to purchase drugs, documents say. The witness told police that Gelb was a drug dealer and at times used middlemen to purchase drugs. It said Gelb used a man named "Gary," court documents state.

The witness said it overheard Gelb speaking to Johnson on the phone planning to meet to complete the transaction. According to the witness, when they arrived at the agreed location, Gelb told the person, in a phone conversation, "I'm here," charging documents say. While they waited, it saw Johnson come from behind the truck and enter the vehicle through the passenger side rear behind Gelb.

Johnson and Gelb discussed money and drugs and Johnson told Gelb that an individual driving a silver car would be delivering the drugs, according to the witness. Documents say Gelb then counted out five-hundred dollars to Johnson and handed him the money.

Shortly after, a silver Lincoln arrived and parked on Hamilton Street Northwest in front of Gelb's Cadillac. Though the Lincoln's windows were tinted, a witness saw the driver, who later was identified as Roger St. John, according to court documents. It said Wilkerson exited the front passenger side of the vehicle and entered Gelb's truck on Johnson's side behind Gelb, documents state. St. John was arrested in December 2013.

After Wilkerson got into the backseat of the truck, he aimed a gun at Gelb and demanded money. When Gelb didn't respond, Wilkerson pulled Gelb by the hair asking: "Where is the money?"

"You think this is a game?" Wilkerson asked, according to documents.

Another witness said Johnson immediately handed the money he had received from Gelb to Wilkerson and put his hands in the air.

Gelb then said, "F-- this," and got out of the truck. Once Gelb opened the door, Wilkerson fired the gun once, shooting Gelb in the head. Witnesses saw Wilkerson run towards Gelb and check his pockets before fleeing in the Silver Lincoln, documents say. Johnson left the area on foot.

Police were able to identify Johnson through his Facebook page provided by a witness, documents state. On Nov. 11, 2013, Johnson was arrested on unrelated charges and agreed to speak with police. Johnson admitted to setting up a drug deal with Gelb and Wilkerson, but he denied any involvement in setting Gelb up to be robbed and killed, charging documents say.

Johnson told police he knew the driver of the Lincoln, but denied speaking with him on the day of the shooting. According to call records, there were calls between Johnson and St. John before and after Gelb's death, court documents state. Johnson failed to identify anyone in a photo array containing Wilkerson, claiming they all looked older than the shooter.

Johnson is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on December 19 at 10:30 a.m. before Judge John Ramsey Johnson.

Charging documents are embedded below:

Third Suspect Arrested in Rhett Ghelb's Fatal Shooting

Imari Williams — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 08:25:15 -0500

Gary Johnson of Lanham, Maryland, has been arrested in connection to the murder of 22-year-old Rhett Gelb on May 27, 2013, MPD announced Thursday.

Johnson, 51, is suspected of first-degree murder while armed, police say. He is the third person linked to Gelb's death. Roger St. John and Lawrence Wilkerson have both been charged with the same offense.

Gelb was found at the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and Hamilton Street Northwest next to a Cadillac Escalade. He died later at a local hospital.

A press release from MPD is after the jump.

Third Arrest Made in Homicide: Unit Block of Hamilton Street, NW

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced a third arrest has been made in the fatal shooting which occurred in the unit block of Hamilton Street, Northwest.

On Monday, May 27, 2013, at approximately 7:50 pm, units from the Fourth District responded to the unit block of Hamilton Street, NW for the report of shooting. Upon arrival, they located an adult male suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded and transported the victim to an area hospital where he was admitted in critical condition. On Wednesday, May 29, 2013, the adult male succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

The decedent is identified as 22-year-old Rhett Gelb of Takoma Park, Maryland.

On Tuesday, December 24, 2013, an adult male was arrested pursuant to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant charging him with Murder One while Armed.

On Monday, July 14, 2014, an adult male was arrested pursuant to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant charging him with Murder One while Armed.

On Thursday, December 4, 2014, at approximately 7:00 am, 51-year old Gary Johnson of Lanham, Maryland was arrested by members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, pursuant to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant charging him with Murder One while Armed in the shooting death of Rhett Gelb.

Probable Cause found in "Bad Drug Deal" Scheme at Lawrence Wilkerson's Preliminary Hearing

Imari Williams — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 18:25:02 -0400

A judge found probable cause Friday in the case against Lawrence Wilkerson in connection with the shooting death of Rhett Gelb.

On May 27, 2013, Gelb was found at the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and Hamilton Street Northwest next to a Cadillac Escalade. He died later at a local hospital.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley Nielsen argued that Wilkerson's actions were premeditated and he intentionally sold fake drugs to Gelb before killing him.

"Wilkerson concocted this ruse of a drug deal, brought a gun, and created a way to get into Gelb's vehicle to pull the trigger," Nielsen said.

Charging documents in the case say Wilkerson shot Gelb during a drug deal after Gelb tried to pull one of his friends out of the car and away from Wilkerson.

Wilkerson, 41, is the second person arrested in the case. On December 24, Roger St. John was arrested on suspicion of felony murder while armed in Gelb’s death.

MPD Detective Joseph Della-Camera testified Friday that an unidentified witness, who has pleaded guilty in connection with Gelb's death, identified Wilkerson as the "shooter" and told police the drug deal was a "ruse".

According to the witness, the drugs were disguised as Oxycodone in a black bag and were going to be delivered by Wilkerson, Della-Camera testified.

Wilkerson's defense attorney, Dorsey Jones, argued that the prosecution's witness was not credible and was in possession of the money taken from Gelb, and that the unidentified witness didn't mention Wilkerson until after being arrested by police.

"The witness is not credible and was found with over $400 taken from Rhett Gelb and failed to implicate Wilkerson until charged with felony murder," Dorsey said.

Dorsey also argued that other witnesses in the case hadn't identified Wilkerson as the "shooter" in an array of photos and said "They all look too old; it was a younger guy".

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nielsen argued that the witness has been truthful in everything else and that it has no reason to lie.

Wilkerson will remain held in the case. A felony status conference is scheduled for September 19 before Judge John Ramsey Johnson at 11:00 a.m.

Lawrence Wilkerson Held in Shooting Death of Rhett Gelb

Timothy Ryan — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 18:55:28 -0400

Judge Lori Parker ordered Lawrence Wilkerson held on suspicion of first-degree murder while armed Tuesday in connection with the shooting death of Rhett Gelb.

Gelb was found shot on May 27, 2013 at the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and Hamilton Street Northwest next to a Cadillac Escalade, according to charging documents. He died two days later at Washington Hospital Center.

Charging documents in the case say Wilkerson shot Gelb during a drug deal after Gelb tried to pull one of his friends out of the car and away from Wilkerson.

Wilkerson is the second person arrested in connection with the case. Roger St. John has been held on suspicion of Felony Murder While Armed in Gelb's death since December 25. His case is officially pending an indictment from the Grand Jury.

Prosecutors believe Gelb drove his car with two friends to the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and Hamilton Street, Northwest, according to the documents. Shortly after he parked, documents say a fourth person arrived at the car and got in the back seat, where Gelb handed him $500 in cash.

The witness, a friend of Gelb, told police Gelb intended to buy a half pound of marijuana.

Shortly after the fourth person got in the car, a silver Lincoln parked a short distance from the Cadillac and Wilkerson got out and walked towards Gelb and the three others, according to the charging documents.

According to charging documents, Wilkerson walked up to the car, opened the door, grabbed the hair of one of Gelb's friends while holding a gun, and said, "Where's the money?"

The person who arrived after Gelb parked the car handed Wilkerson the money, and Gelb got out of the car and tried to pull his other friend out of the car, according to the charging documents. Wilkerson then shot Gelb and ran east towards the Lincoln, which then drove away, according to multiple witnesses.

A fourth witness, who claimed to have driven Wilkerson to participate in the sale of Oxycodone, said Wilkerson got out of the Lincoln and entered the Cadillac, before the witness saw Gelb fall to the ground next to the car. The witness said Wilkerson later confessed to the crime.

Police recovered closed-circuit television footage from a private security system nearby, which helped them identify the car in which Wilkerson allegedly fled the scene.

Wilkerson is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on July 25 before Judge John Ramsey Johnson.

Charging documents are below.

Lawrence Wilkerson Arrested in May 2013 Death of Rhett Gelb

Megan Arellano — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 17:24:10 -0400

A 41-year-old Southwest D.C. man has been arrested in connection with the May 2013 shooting death of 22-year-old Rhett Gelb.

The man, identified by police as Lawrence Wilkerson, is suspected of first-degree murder felony murder while armed.

The arrest occurred more than two weeks after a closed hearing for Roger St John, suspected of first-degree felony murder in the case.

A press release from MPD is after the jump.

Additional Arrest Made in Homicide: Unit Block of Hamilton Street, NW

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

On Monday, May 27, 2013, at approximately 7:50 pm, units from the Fourth District responded to the unit block of Hamilton Street, NW for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they located an adult male suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded and transported the victim to an area hospital where he was admitted in critical condition. On Wednesday, May 29, 2013, the adult male succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

The decedent is identified as 22-year-old Rhett Gelb of Takoma Park, Maryland.

On Tuesday, December 24, 2013, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested an adult male of Northeast, Washington, DC pursuant to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant charging him with First Degree Felony Murder while Armed in connection to the shooting death of Rhett Gelb.

On Monday, July 14, 2014, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested 41 year-old Lawrence Wilkerson of Southwest, Washington, DC pursuant to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant charging him with First Degree Felony Murder while Armed in connection to the shooting death of Rhett Gelb.