Malachi Hansan Hargrove | Homicide Watch DC

Charges Dismissed in Case Against Malachi Hargrove

Jonah Newman — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 14:28:40 -0500

All charges against Malachi Hargrove, who had been indicted by a grand jury in connection with the armed robbery and murder of Osman Al-Akbar, have been dropped.

Hargrove was released from custody on Nov. 16. He had turned himself into police in April.

Two other men who were arrested shortly after the killing, which took place near Meridian Hill Park in Columbia Heights in August 2011, are still suspected in the case.

Rashid Caviness-Bey has been indicted on armed robbery, murder and related weapons charges. A juvenile male has also been charged in connection with the murder, which police believe was the result of a failed robbery attempt.

In January, the government revealed that the juvenile suspect had told police that he, not Caviness-Bey, was responsible for the killing. According to police, the two had a "lengthy conversation" while they were waiting in adjacent interview rooms, during which each asked the other to "cop" to the crime.

Charging documents for Caviness-Bey mentioned a third suspect, but Hargrove's name was not mentioned.

Hargrove's attorney, Sharon Burka, could not be reached for comment. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office declined to comment on Hargrove's release because the case against Caviness-Bey is still ongoing. A jury trial for Caviness-Bey is scheduled to begin on Jan. 22.

Men Indicted in Columbia Heights Shooting Plead Innocent to Robbery, Murder Charges

Laura Amico — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:29:20 -0400

Two DC men accused of robbing and shooting down Osman Al-Akbar near Meridian Hill Park in Aug. 2011 have each pleaded innocent to the charges against them.

Rashid Caviness-Bey and Malachi Hargrove, were indicted by the Grand Jury earlier this month on charges of armed robbery, first-degree murder, and felony murder, in addition to weapons violations.

Caviness-Bey, who has been in custody since the shooting, entered his plea last week on April 5.

Hargrove, who turned himself in to police Monday, entered his plea Wednesday.

The Washington Times reported yesterday that Caviness-Bey, Hargrove, and Al-Akbar are all connected in some way to the District's Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services. A third suspect, who was a juvenile at the time of his arrest, is also connected to DYRS, the Times reported.

Caviness-Bey and Hargrove are due back in court May 11 for a status hearing. A trial has tentatively been scheduled for January 22, 2013.

Read the indictment below.

Malachi Hansan Hargrove Arrested in Columbia Heights Shooting Death of Osman Al-Akbar

Laura Amico — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:21:26 -0400

An 18-year-old Northeast DC man turned himself into MPD Monday on a charge of first-degree murder.

In a press release Tuesday, MPD said the man, Malachi Hansan Hargrove, is suspected in the shooting death of 19-year-old Osman Al-Akbar. Al-Akbar was killed near Meridian Hill Park in August 2011.

Two others, in addition to Hargrove, are suspected in the case: an unidentified juvenile who was 15-years-old when he was arrested shortly after the shooting, and 19-year-old Rashid Caviness-Bey.

The juvenile has told authorities that he, not Caviness-Bey, shot and killed Al-Akbar. He said he and Caviness-Bey separated while walking down University Place in Columbia Heights the night Al-Akbar was killed. The juvenile did not tell Caviness-Bey what he was going to do, did not tell Caviness-Bey that he intended to commit a robbery, and did not know where Caviness-Bey was when he attempted to rob Al-Akbar.

According to charging documents in the case, Caviness-Bey and the juvenile had a “lengthy” conversation about the charges they were facing while being held in separate interrogation rooms before their arrests. According to the charging documents, Caviness-Bey encouraged the juvenile to tell authorities that the shooting was in self-defense.

Hargrove is expected to be presented with the charge at DC Superior Court Tuesday afternoon. Caviness-Bey was arraigned last week on a charge of felony murder, a charge of first-degree murder, a charge of robbery, and weapons offenses. He pled innocent to the charges and a status hearing is set for May.

MPD's press release is below.

April 10, 2012

Additional Arrest Made in the Homicide in the 2600 Block of University Place, NW

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced that a third arrest has been made in the fatal shooting which occurred in the 2600 block of University Place, N.W.

On Wednesday, August 17, 2011, at approximately 1:39 am, units from the Third District responded to the 2600 block of University Place, N.W, to investigate the report of sounds of gunshots. Upon their arrival, they observed a male lying in the street suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded to the scene and determined that the victim had no signs consistent with life. Subsequently, the victim was pronounced dead by a member of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

The decedent has been identified as 19-year-old Osman Al-Akbar of Northwest, DC.

Shortly after the shooting, Third District officers stopped two suspects in connection with the homicide. After further investigation by detectives from the Homicide Branch, a 19-year-old male of Northwest, and a 15-year old male of Capitol Heights, MD, were charged with First Degree Felony Murder while Armed and Carrying a Pistol Without a License.

On Monday, April 9, 2012 at approximately 11:15 am, 18-year-old Malachi Hansan Hargrove of Northeast, Washington, DC, turned himself in to detectives of the Homicide Branch. He was arrested and charged with First Degree Murder in the homicide of Osman Al-Akbar.