Montez Warren | Homicide Watch DC

Montez Warren Found Innocent in Ervin Lamont Griffin Shooting

Kristian Hernandez — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 17:49:45 -0400

Montez Warren was acquitted Thursday of all 14 counts he faced, including first-degree murder, in connection with the shooting death of Ervin Lamont Griffin. He has been held more than two years while he awaited trial.

Warren’s younger brother, David Warren, was found guilty of first-degree murder on Wednesday by the same jury.

During trial prosecutors argued that on May 13, 2011, Griffin was dragged from his car during a robbery attempt, and when he didn’t have anything they could take, the brothers shot him in the neck. Defense attorneys say that the evidence connecting their clients is full of holes and that there are other possible suspects in Griffin’s death.

A partial verdict for Montez was read Wednesday afternoon but the complete verdict including one count of first-degree murder and for possession of a firearm during a crime of violence was sealed until Thursday morning.

Moments before the verdict was read, Montez's defense attorney, Madalyn Harvey, asked the court for a mistrial saying that one juror had contact with Warren’s father and sister outside the courthouse this week and on one occasion, Warren’s sister smelled alcohol on the juror's breath.

Judge Winston individually asked the remaining eleven jurors if they had any knowledge of any jurors having contact with any member of Warren’s family and if they had smelled alcohol on any juror’s breath during trial or deliberations.

One of the jurors recalled the juror talking about a compliment it received from someone the juror thought could be a relative about a hat it was wearing outside the courthouse. No jurors reported smelling alcohol on any fellow jurors.

After the jury read the verdict to a packed courtroom, Judge Rhonda Winston scheduled 30-year-old Montez's release.

“My baby is coming home,” Warren’s girlfriend told Homicide Watch as she left the courtroom.

In Partial Verdict, David Warren Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder

Kristian Hernandez — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 21:34:06 -0400

David Warren was found guilty on 12 charges Wednesday, including charges of first- and second-degree murder.

The verdict was a partial one; jurors are expected to announce their decision on the charges faced by Warren's brother, Montez Warren Thursday.

The jury found David Warren guilty of 12 of the 14 charges he faced. Warren was acquitted of the most serious charge, first-degree premeditated murder, and one other related weapons charges.

Jurors have reached a verdict in Montez Warren's case. On Wednesday he was acquitted on 12 of the 14 charges against him. The verdict for the two remaining charges, one count of first-degree murder while armed and another related charge, will be read Thursday morning because Montez's attorney, Madalyn Harvey, had to be excused on a personal matter. Harvey also indicated she will be arguing for a mistrial.

During trial prosecutors argued that on May 13, 2011, Ervin Lamont Griffin was dragged from his car during a robbery attempt, and when he didn’t have anything they could take, the brothers shot him in the neck. Defense attorneys say that the evidence connecting their clients is full of holes and that there are other possible suspects in Griffin's death.

The jury has been deliberating since last Tuesday. During their deliberation they sent out two letters including one yesterday at 4:15 p.m. Judge Rhonda Winston responded to their letters and also provided them with anti-deadlock instructions Wednesday morning.

Harvey said she was concerned that because of a juror who had travel plans tomorrow, the jury’s deliberations could be affected. Judge Winston dismissed the juror before ordering the verdict be sealed Wednesday afternoon.

The rest of the jury is scheduled to appear in court Thursday at 9:45 a.m., along with Montez Warren. David Warren is scheduled for sentencing at 11:30 a.m. on June 6.

***Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the number of charges that David and Montez Warren faced; David faced 14 charges and Montez faced 14 charges. Jurors acquitted David of 2 charges. We regret the error.

A press release from the US Attorney's office has been added below.

District Man Found Guilty of First-Degree Felony Murder
In 2011 Shooting in Northeast Washington
-Shooting Followed Carjacking and Robbery-

WASHINGTON -David E. Warren, 27, of Washington, D.C., has been found guilty by a jury of first-degree felony murder while armed and other charges for the 2011 killing of a man in Northeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced today.

The verdicts, which were returned March 19, 2014, followed a three-week trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The jury convicted Warren of two counts of first-degree murder while armed during the commission of two separate felonies, second-degree murder while armed, kidnapping while armed, armed carjacking, armed robbery, and related weapons offenses. The Honorable Rhonda Reid Winston scheduled sentencing for June 6, 2014.

According to the government’s evidence, shortly before 11 p.m. on May 13, 2011, the victim, Ervin L. Griffin, 32, pulled his SUV into the 1200 block of 18th Street NE, shortly after meeting several young women at a nearby bus stop. While Mr. Griffin was sitting in his SUV, which was parked in the middle of the street, Warren approached and told Mr. Griffin to leave.

Eventually, Mr. Griffin pulled into an alley off of the 1200 block of 18th Street NE, where Warren entered the passenger side of Mr. Griffin’s SUV and took his keys. Warren, armed with a semi-automatic firearm, then went to the driver’s side of the SUV, pulled Mr. Griffin out, and demanded money. Warren, along with others, then walked Mr. Griffin up an alley and into a yard behind 1218 18th Place NE, where Mr. Griffin was shot and killed.

Surveillance video from the Metropolitan Police Department’s closed circuit television cameras showed the events leading up to Mr. Griffin’s murder, and showed Warren and others exiting the alley where the murder took place within a minute after the murder.

A co-defendant, Montez Warren, 32, the brother of David Warren, was acquitted by the jury of all charges. The final verdicts in his case were returned on March 20, 2014.

In announcing the conviction of David Warren, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of the detectives, officers, and crime scene technicians who investigated the case for the Metropolitan Police Department. He also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Litigation Technology Specialists Thomas Royal, William Henderson, and Paul Howell; Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker; and Paralegal Specialists Kelly Blakeney and Mia Beamon. Finally, he thanked former Assistant U.S. Attorney B. Michael Ortwein, who investigated and indicted the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle D. Jackson and Holly R. Shick, who prosecuted the case.

Jury Begins Deliberations in the Murder Trial of David and Montez Warren

Dana Jennings — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 16:15:04 -0400

Jurors began deliberating Tuesday in a murder case charging brothers David Warren and Montez Warren with the May 2011 shooting death of Ervin Lamont Griffin.

For nearly three weeks, prosecutors argued that Montez Warren dragged Griffin from his car to rob him, and when he didn’t have anything they could take, the brothers shot him in the neck. Defense attorneys say that the evidence connecting their clients is full of holes.

On Tuesday morning, David Warren’s defense attorney, Kevin Mosley, echoed arguments from Montez Warren's attorneys that prosecutors have no credible witnesses.

Not only that, said Mosley, but there are other possible suspects in Griffin's death.

The Warren brothers face 14 criminal counts in connection with Griffin’s death in an alley behind the 1200 block of 18th Place Northeast.

Griffin was looking to buy drugs on 18th Street the day he was killed and met Charles Harrison, who watched David and Montez Warren drag Griffin out of his SUV, according to prosecutors. Mosley has argued that Harrison may have had a role in Griffin's death and pointed the finger at the Warrens.

“Because it’s possible that Charles Harrison is involved, that’s a reason to doubt the government’s case,” said Mosley.

In court, Charles Harrison admitted to lying to the grand jury.

“I lied about me seeing what happened, I lied about me not knowing them,” Harrison said.

“They want you to credit Charles Harrison and ignore his perjury,” Mosely said.

“This is not a joke,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Jackson, “Ervin Griffin was out to have fun,” said Jackson, “And those two men sat in that alley and planned his demise.”

The case is scheduled to continue deliberations tomorrow.

Closing Arguments Begin in the Murder Trial of David and Montez Warren

Dana Jennings — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 19:23:11 -0400

Closing arguments began Monday in the case charging brothers Montez Warren and David Warren with the May 2011 shooting death of Ervin Lamont Griffin.

Prosecutors say Griffin was shot when he didn't have anything to provide in a robbery. But defense attorneys have argued that the proof of that case is troubled.

On Monday afternoon, Montez Warren's defense attorney, Madalyn Harvey, described the case as being fraught with witness issues.

“Montez Warren deserves a good investigation,” argued attorney Madalyn Harvey. “The government wants to manipulate the facts to their benefit.”

The Warrens are charged with 14 criminal counts in connection with Griffin's death in an alley behind the 1200 block of 18th Place Northeast.

Prosecutors have argued that Griffin was shot when Montez Warren dragged him from his car at gunpoint, demanding money or property. When Griffin didn’t have anything to give, the brothers shot him in the neck.

“Montez met his brother and brought Ervin Griffin to the back of the alley armed with a firearm,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Holly Shick. “Their actions showed that this was a well-orchestrated plan.”

Shick said Griffin was on 18th Street the day he was killed asking about buying drugs. Two of the people he asked testified that Griffin was directed to the alley where he met David Warren.

But witnesses called by prosecutors were either admitted liars or coerced by the police, according to Harvey. And one witness, Ronald Smith, is dead.

On the stand one of those witnesses, Damada Fields, told the jury that she did not feel safe telling the truth until trial because lead detective William Covington threatened her with charges of accessory to murder.

“I feel scared,” said Fields, who said the police are still watching her. Fields said that she heard an MPD officer talking to Detective Covington about her testimony.

Judge Rhonda Winston removed the officer from her courtroom during Fields' testimony saying, “Everybody needs to feel the freedom to testify under oath.”

Detective Covington testified that he did not threaten Fields or tell her what to say during an interview. He also said that the entire interview was not recorded. Explaining when he decided to record Fields, Covington said he began by "getting a feel" for what Fields came to say, and then began recording once she started telling "the truth."

Closing arguments will resume Tuesday and then the case will go to the jury.

Murder Trial of DC Brothers David and Montez Warren Underway

Dana Jennings — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 19:51:54 -0500

Prosecutors say Ervin Lamont Griffin didn't have anything to give to D.C. brothers David and Montez Warren the night of May 13, 2011 when he was dragged from his car at gunpoint. And so the Warren brothers shot him in the neck.

The Warren's attorneys though say that story lacks crucial forensic evidence and relies on questionable testimony.

Jurors heard these arguments Tuesday morning, the first day of trial in the case.

David Warren, 27, and Montez Warren, 32, face 14 charges including first-degree murder, kidnapping while armed, and related weapons offenses in connection with Griffin's death.

Police found Griffin dead of a gunshot wound to the neck on Friday May 13th, 2011, in an alley behind the 1200 Block of 18th Place Northeast.

Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Jackson told jurors Tuesday that Griffin had expressed interest in buying marijuana from the brothers before his death. On the night of the murder, David Warren sat in Griffin's car, held a gun to his head, then brought him into the alley where both brothers demanded money or property, Jackson said.

When he didn’t have anything to give them, the brothers shot Griffin in the neck, according to Jackson.

Said Griffin's friend, Joseph Pitt, “I heard what I thought was firecrackers.”

Later, after seeing police in the alley, Pitt told jurors, “I saw my friend laying in the grass.”

Defense attorney Monica Douglas argued that there is no fingerprint evidence, no DNA evidence, and no ballistics evidence to link Montez Warren to Griffin's murder.

“Bad police work and misconduct tainted this case,” Douglas told jurors.

David Warren’s attorney, Kevin Mosley, argued the government’s case was founded on conflicting testimony.

“Admitted liars, that’s who the government is going to ask you to believe," he said.

Prosecutors: Witness In Warren Murder Trial Was Killed for Connection to Case

Dana Jennings — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 20:45:05 -0500

A witness in the murder trial of brothers David and Montez Warren who was killed in 2011 has been identified as Ronald Smith.

"The government believes that the witness was killed in respect to this case," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Jackson.

On Monday, as jury selection began, Jackson sought to introduce the testimony of Smith posthumously at trial. Jackson argued that the brothers' defense attorneys would benefit unfairly if Smith's testimony was excluded.

Jackson said she expected Smith to testify that he and another man were in the Northeast DC alley when Ervin Lamont Griffin was shot to death on May 13, 2011.

Charging documents, which are now under seal, state that detectives believe David Warren pulled Griffin from his car on 18th Place Northeast. Outside the car, Montez Warren and a third man followed David Warren as he forced Griffin to a back alley, documents say. In the alley, Griffin was shot once in the throat.

Smith, who had been labeled as Witness 4, and another man said that they were in the alley of 18th Place NE before the shots and saw someone run out of the alley, according to Jackson.

Judge Rhonda Reid Winston has not yet ruled on whether Smith's account can be included in trial testimony.

Jury selection in the case is scheduled to resume tomorrow.

Witness Dead in Ervin Lamont Griffin Murder Case

Chris Amico — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:58:28 -0500

A witness in the murder case against David and Montez Warren is dead, killed sometime after the two brothers were arrested in the shooting death of Ervin Lamont Griffin.

Prosecutor Michael Ortwein told said Friday that it's not clear whether the witness's death is linked to the Warrens' case. He said an investigation is ongoing.

Ortwein referred Homicide Watch to the US Attorney's spokesman, Bill Miller, who said in an email: "It’s unlikely we would provide these details because the case is still under investigation."

The witness, called W4 in court documents, has not been identified.

The Warren brothers were in Judge Lynn Liebowitz's courtroom for a preliminary hearing in Griffin's death. The hearing was left unfinished Friday and will be continued Jan. 6 at 2 p.m.

Witnesses in the case describe David Warren sitting in Griffin's car the night of May 13, arguing with him, then getting out and pulling Griffin from the car. David and Montez Warren then walked Griffin into the alley, according to charging documents.

Those witnesses each said they heard an argument, then two gunshots, then described David and Montez Warren and others leaving the alley.

In testimony Friday, MPD Homicide Detective Ray Shields said several witnesses initially denied seeing or hearing anything that night. One described in court as Witness 5--who is not listed in charging documents--initially said it heard gunshots and saw people running out of the alley, but said it didn't know who those people were.

After David and Montez Warren were arrested, the same witness said it saw David Warren walk Griffin into the alley. It later heard David Warren say, "Give it up, gimme the money!" Shields said.

The witness, Shields told the court, was "scared for its life."

This post has been updated to include a response from Bill Miller, the US Attorney's spokesman.

David Warren Added as Co-Defendant in Ervin Lamont Griffin Murder Case

Laura Amico — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:23:48 -0500

The brother of a man arrested in October on suspicion of first-degree murder while armed has been arrested in connection with the same case.

David Warren, the brother of Montez Warren, is suspected of felony murder while armed in the shooting death of Ervin Lamont Griffin. Court records indicate he was presented with the charge on Nov. 9 and is expected for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 16.

David and Montez are listed as co-defendants in the case.

Charging documents in the case against Montez Warren, which are now under seal, describe Griffin and another man sitting in Griffin’s car on 18th Place NE late on May 13. Griffin was pulled from the car and forced to a back alley, where he was shot once in the throat, charging documents allege.

Charging documents in David Warren's case state that it was David Warren who was in the car with Griffin that night.

The documents state:

[A witness] stated that IT observed David Warren grab [Griffin] by his collar and pull him from his vehicle. [The witness] heard [Griffin] state, "I don't have any money." [The witness] saw another person it knew by the name of Montez Warren sitting on the wall near David Warrn and within a few feet of the driver's side of [Griffin's] truck. [The witness] further stated that it saw Montez Warren, along with a third man unknown to [the witness], get up and accompany David Warren as he forcibly took [Griffin] up the alley and into the rear of the 1200 block of 18th Place NE Washington DC. [The witness] did not see a gun in David Warren's hands. [The witness] stated that shortly after [Griffin] was escorted into the darkness of the alley by the three men, it heard a loud gunshot and then a loud scream from [Griffin].

Charging Documents in the Case Against Montez Warren Sealed

Laura Amico — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 09:46:12 -0500

Public court documents charging Montez Warren with first-degree murder while armed have been sealed by the DC Superior Court Warrant Office.

Homicide Watch D.C. published the documents on Oct. 31 when they were public. On Nov. 4 the Warrants Office realized that the documents were supposed to have been filed under seal. At the Warrant Office's request, Homicide Watch has removed the documents from our public database.

The charging documents describe the case against Warren. Police believe that he fatally shot Ervin Lamont Griffin in a Northeast DC alley on May 13.

Warren, 30, was arrested on Oct. 28 in connection with the case and was presented with the charge on Oct. 29. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 28.

The charging documents describe Griffin and another man sitting in Griffin's car on 18th Place NE late on May 13. Griffin was pulled from the car and forced to a back alley, where he was shot once in the throat, charging documents allege.

Montez Warren is the only person who MPD has announced they have arrested in connection with this case.

MPD Corrects Information in Charging Documents about Ervin Griffen's Shooting Death

Laura Amico — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:48:01 -0400

Charging documents in the case against Montez Warren incorrectly state that the victim, Ervin Griffen, was shot in the head, a detective in the case says.

Griffen was instead shot in the neck, said Detective William Covington.

Montez Warren Arrested in the Death of Ervin Lamont Griffin

Chris Amico — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 22:46:16 -0400

MPD today arrested Montez Warren, 30, in the shooting death of Ervin Lamont Griffin on May 13.

Warren, a resident of northeast Washington, DC, is being held on suspicion of first degree murder while armed. A statement from MPD is below the jump.

Arrest Made in the Homicide in the Rear of the 1200 Block of 18th Pl., NE

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department's Homicide Branch have announced an arrest in the fatal shooting which occurred in the rear of the 1200 block of 18th Pl., NE.

On Friday, May 13, 2011 at approximately 11:25 pm units from the Fifth District responded to the rear of the 1200 block of 18th Pl., NE. Upon their arrival they found an adult male victim suffering from gunshot wounds. Personnel from DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded and the victim was pronounced dead on the scene by a member of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the District of Columbia.

The decedent is identified as 32 year-old Ervin Lamont Griffin of SE, Washington, DC.

On October 28, 2011, at approximately 1:15 pm, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested 30 year-old Montez Warren of Northeast, Washington, DC, pursuant to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant charging him with First Degree Murder while Armed.