Andre Pierce Joyner | Homicide Watch DC

James Walter Yates Gets 15 years for the Shooting Death of Andre Joyner

Imari Williams — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 22:09:11 -0400

"Five days earlier you were the victim," Judge Russell Canan told James Walter Yates III before his sentencing. "But you provoked all of this."

Yates, 29, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed in June for the April shooting death of Andre Pierce Joyner. On Friday, Judge Canan sentenced Yates 15 years in prison for the charge.

History between the two men could not hide the "cold facts" that Yates sought out revenge against Joyner, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Kravis argued Friday.

Joyner, 29, was found by police unconscious and unresponsive, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, across the street from Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School.

Kravis said Friday that Yates went to the 600 block of Morris Place Northeast at around 3 p.m., while children were just getting out of school, pulled up to Joyner, exchanged heated words and fired a gun.

Defense Attorney Madalyn Harvey argued that Joyner had threatened Yates and the mother of his child with a gun and this was not "cold-blooded," but rather, an act out of fear.

"We have a young man here that pulled a gun out on Yates five days earlier, and Mr. Yates was afraid," Harvey said. "The tables could have been turned and Mr. Joyner could've been standing here."

Yates emotionally addressed the court: "I feel like I made the biggest mistake of my life," he said. "I had a good life."

He added: "I don't know what came over me. I know I have to be away for a while."

Before delivering his ruling, Judge Canan told the court, "At the age of 29 with no prior record, this is a strange case."

Outside of the courtroom, Joyner's college roommate, Daryl Wiggins, said he didn't agree with the sentencing and that Joyner was a good person. "I don't think it's fair. You took a life," Wiggins said. "Andre Joyner was a great man."

James Yates Pleads Guilty to Murder of Andre Pierce Joyner

Kristian Hernandez — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 14:28:13 -0400

Under oath, and with his family crying in the courtroom, James Walter Yates III, admitted Wednesday to fatally shooting Andre Pierce Joyner in the head after an argument near Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School this April.

Yates, 29, pleaded guilty in response to a charge of second-degree murder while armed. Joyner, 29, was found by police in the 600 Block of Morris Place, Northeast, unconscious, unresponsive, and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

Under the plea agreement, Yates could be sentenced to 12 to 24 years in prison, following guidelines that both defense attorneys and prosecutors agreed on. The maximum sentence for second degree murder is 40 years, but prosecutors are asking for a maximum of 18 years in this case.

"I don't have to, but quite frankly I can't remember a time I've gone outside the guidelines," said Judge Canan, who set sentencing to be held at 11:00 a.m. on Sept. 5.

According to the factual proffer, five days before the murder, Joyner pulled a gun on Yates, but did not fire.

Defense attorney Madalyn Harvey had argued Yates shot in self-defense, but said Yates did not have the adequate evidence to hold this up in trial.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Kravis said eyewitnesses in the case identified Yates, but could not hear what words he and Joyner exchanged before the shooting happened.

Yates was arrested on April 28, after police tracked a license plate number from a car he was seen fleeing in, to his home address.

Charging documents say detectives found a gun and ammunition matching shells recovered from the scene of the shooting at Yates' address hours after the shooting.

Plea documents have been added to this post:

James Yates III Plea Docs (PDF)James Yates III Plea Docs (Text)

James Yates Held in Connection with Shooting Death of Andre Joyner

Dana Jennings — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 18:37:11 -0400

Judge Karen Howze ordered James Walter Yates III held without bond Tuesday in connection with the afternoon shooting death of 29-year-old Andre Pierce Joyner. Yates, 29, was arrested Monday on suspicion on second-degree murder while armed.

On April 25, Joyner was found unconscious and unresponsive, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, across the street from Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School at about 3:30 p.m., according to charging documents.

Documents say that about a week earlier, on Easter Sunday, Yates and Joyner got into an argument after Yates parked directly behind Joyner's car, according to a witness. That witness told police that Joyner pulled out a black handgun, pointed it at Yates and stated something to the effect of "I will bust you."

Five days later, another witness said that a man it didn't recognize approached Joyner and the two men "exchanged words as if they were going to fight," according to arrest documents.

Then the unknown man shot Joyner several times, according to the witness. Charging documents say the witness believed that Joyner didn’t see that the other man had a gun.

Documents say an MPD officer who arrived on the scene received the "the tag number of the vehicle that the guy got into" from a witness who observed the shooting but didn't provide their identifying information before leaving. Documents say that a different witness told police that the shooter left in a fairly new blue-gray Nissan Altima.

Charging documents say that after a lookout was broadcast for the vehicle's license plate number, an MPD officer determined that a matching vehicle was registered to Yates's home address.

Five and a half hours later, detectives executed a search warrant at Yates’ home address and found a gun and ammunition matching shells recovered from the scene of the shooting. Detectives also found clothing that matched descriptions given by witnesses.

Defense attorney Madalyn Harvey argued that there was evidence that the death was in self-defense, and therefore no reason to hold Yates.

Joyner “not just five days prior had a gun and had threatened my client,” said Harvey.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on May 30 before Judge Russell Canan.

Charging documents have been added below.

James Yates Criminal Complaint (PDF)James Yates Criminal Complaint (Text)

James Walter Yates III Arrested in Shooting Death of Andre Pierce Joyner

Megan Arellano — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 16:20:10 -0400

A 29-year-old Maryland man was arrested Monday in connection with the shooting death of Andre Pierce Joyner last Friday.

The man, identified by police as James Walter Yates III, is suspected of second-degree murder while armed.

On April 25, Joyner was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the 600 Block of Morris Place, Northeast, near Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School. He died at a local hospital.

In a listserve message, MPD First District Commander Jeff Brown wrote that "additional resources" will continue to be allocated to the area.

A press release from MPD is after the jump.

Arrest Made in Homicide: 600 Block of Morris 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 600 block of Morris Place, Northeast.

On Friday April 25, 2014, at approximately 3:35 pm, police officers from the First District responded to a call for the sounds of gunshots. Upon arrival, they located an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded to the scene and transported the victim to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The decedent has been identified as 29-year-old Andre Pierce Joyner of Fort Washington, MD.

On Monday, April 28, 2014, at 12:00 pm, 29-year-ol James Walter Yates III, of Southeast, Washington, DC, 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 Murder II While Armed in the homicide of Andre Pierce Joyner.

Shooting Victim IDed as Andre Pierce Joyner

Chris Amico — Sat, 26 Apr 2014 13:39:36 -0400

A man fatally shot in Northeast DC on Friday afternoon has been identified as Andre Pierce Joyner of Fort Washington, Maryland.

Joyner, 29, was found with multiple gunshot wounds in the 600 block of Morris Place Northeast, near Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School. He died at a local hospital.

A press release from MPD is below:

Homicide: 600 Block of Morris Place, Northeast

(Washington, DC) – Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a homicide which occurred in the 600 block of Morris Place, Northeast.

On Friday April 25, 2014, at approximately 3:35 pm, police officers from the First District responded to a call for the sounds of gunshots. Upon arrival, they located an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded to the scene and transported the victim to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The decedent has been identified as 29-year-old Andre Pierce Joyner of Fort Washington, MD.

The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone that provides information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons wanted for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at (202) 727-9099. Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411.

Man Shot in NE DC Friday Afternoon Dies of Injuries

Laura Amico — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 21:47:50 -0400

A man shot near H Street in Northeast DC has died of his injuries.

A message on the First District listserv states:

At approximately 3:00 p.m. today, First District Officers responded for the sounds of gunshots in the 600 Block of Morris Pl., N.E. Upon arriving on the scene, officers discovered an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was transported by ambulance to an area hospital where he was later pronounced. The case is currently being investigated by MPD. Anyone with information on the case is encouraged to contact MPD at 202-727-9099.

From Twitter:

DC cops say shooting 600 blk Morris Pl NE is now a homicide. Victim's name not released. pic.twitter.com/qOWUtGH2M4

— Darcy Spencer (@darcyspencer) April 25, 2014

Great job MPD! This was 1st time I can say I def heard gunshots. MT @HStGreatSt Am told police made swift arrest in Morris Pl NE shooting.

— capitolization (@capitolization) April 25, 2014

Shooting on Morris Pl NE near Ludlow-Taylor School at approx 3:30 today. Horrible and sad. #HstNE http://t.co/VeplXZMN4D

— Brendan Danaher (@bjdanaher) April 25, 2014

38YR-OLD MAN SHOT IN HEAD, cardiac arrest, probable homicide, Morris Pl at 7th St NE, DC. Suspect car in 300 blk 16th St NE.

— Alan Henney (@alanhenney) April 25, 2014