Antonio Vela | Homicide Watch DC

Charges Dropped in Antonio Vela Murder

Chris Amico — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 21:01:35 -0400

Prosecutors dropped their case against Deangelo Garner on Friday in the 2010 shooting death of Antonio Vela.

Garner was arrested on Sept. 24, 2010, and a grand jury indicted him on a charge of first-degree murder, plus several weapons charges, in June 2011. Garner pleaded innocent.

A jury trial scheduled for April of this year was delayed at the government's request, according to court records. It was scheduled to begin on Sept. 23, before the US Attorney's Office moved to dismiss all charges.

Vela was shot to death around 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 30, 2010, in the 4400 block of F Street Southeast.

NBC Washington's Mark Segraves spoke to Vela's father on Friday.

Deangelo Garner Pleads Innocent in Death of Antonio Vela

Laura Amico — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:05:34 -0400

Deangelo Garner pleaded innocent today to one count of first degree murder in the August 30 shooting death of Antonio Valdez Vela.

Garner also pleaded innocent to weapons charges connected with the case.

Judge Lynn Leibovitz set a trial date for the case of Jan. 30.

Remembering AJ: A Homicide Victim's Father Speaks

Laura Amico — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 19:43:10 -0400

This guest column comes from Ricardo Vela, whose 22-year-old son Antonio Valdez Vela was killed in a shooting Aug. 30 in the 4400 block of F Street, SE.

DeAngelo Jose Garner, a 26-year-old District Heights man, is being held on suspicion of second-degree murder in the case but has not been indicted. Garner is due to appear in court Wednesday for a felony status hearing. As a note, guest columns are published unedited.

Homicide victim Antonio "AJ" Vela with his son Kyiree in a submitted photo

We call him AJ. AJ was 22 when he was murdered. He was a good son.

He was attending Southern Maryland Community College. This would have been his second year. After he received his AA in Criminal Justice, his plans was to join the DC police department. His goal was to join the department and once settle in his job, he would continue his education to get his bachelor degree. Once he got that he want to becomes a member of the Crime Scene Investigation teams. He like helping people. He had so many of his friend murdered, he want to be able to help solved crimes and ensure that everyone that was involved in the crime get the punishment that they deserve.

If you check out his facebook profile you would see how many of his friends still write him wishing he was here to give advice. We used to live in SE DC, but moved to get away from the violence, the only problem was that his Mother still lived in the area and all of his friends. He kept going back!!

I will be in court Wed.

AJ was not only my son, he was a friend. I love him so much and when this happened, I really didn't know what to do. I am currently in the Air Force Reserve. I am on Active Duty at Andrews AFB. I am a Military Police Officer. After this happened I couldn't returned to work for almost 3 months. I lost about 20 lbs, couldn't sleep and couldn't eat. I didn't want to be bother by anyone. This tragic event changes our whole world. I still can't believed this have happened.

I prayed that this is a nightmare and I will wake up and walk into my son room while he is asleep. It still seem like it just happened yesterday. My daughters and other sons was feeling the same way I did. They are angry right now. AJ have a 2 yrs old son name Kyriee. I remembered when first brought his son home. He got up during the night, change his diaper, fed him and took very good care of him. I was so proud of him. He loved his son so much.

A video in memory of Vela is on Facebook.

Antonio Valdez Vela

Laura Amico — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 15:48:31 -0400

Antonio Valdez Vela, a 22-year-old man from Waldorf, Md., died August 30 after being shot. Vela was found suffering from gunshot wounds by Metro Police responding to a gunshots call at approximately 11:30 p.m. at in the 4400 block of F Street, D.C. Metro Police said. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

On Sept. 24 DeAngelo Jose Garner, a 25-year-old man from District Heights, Md., was arrested and charged with first degree murder for Vela's death (2010 CF1 018020 United States Vs. GARNER, DEANGELO). Garner is currently (10-20-10) in custody at the Central Detention Facility.

He is expected in court again Oct. 21 at 9:30 a.m. for a preliminary hearing. Garner is represented by court appointed attorney, Justin Okezie.

Garner was arrested the same day as two other murder suspects wanted by Metro PD. Marlon Williams was arrested for the death Min Soo Kang and Damon Antonio Sams was arrested for Ashley McRae's death.

Garner, DeAngeloJose VINElink

GARNER, DeAngelo docket 10-20

Arrest in Ashley McRae Homicide

Laura Amico — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 10:50:55 -0400

Reader Kaai gave an excellent heads up this morning that an arrest has been made in the shooting death of 21-year-old Columbia Heights woman Ashley McRae.

"Antonio Sams of Southeast has been arrested and charged with 2nd degree murder. God is Good. She was such a sweet girl. I hope he never sees sun light again.... RIP Moma," wrote Kaai.

In a press release, Metro Police said 22-year-old Damon Antonio Sams of Southeast, DC was arrested just before 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24 and charged with second degree murder while armed for McRae's death.

In D.C. Superior Court records, a misdemeanor case against Damon A. Sams is currently open. That suspect was charged July 10, 2010 with threats to do bodily harm. On Thursday the prosecution filed a motion for continuance of the trial date. Damon A. Sams is being represented in that case by Attorney Cherlyn Freeman-Watkins of the Law Office of C. Freeman-Watkins. We can't be certain that this is the same suspect as Damon Antonio Sams but will follow up.

A memorial service for McRae is planned for Tuesday, September 28, 2010 at 10 a.m. at Walker Memorial Baptist Church 2020 13th st N.W, according to a Facebook memorial post.

Metro Police announced Sams' arrest at the same time as two unrelated homicide case arrests: Marlon Williams of Southeast, DC for the shooting death of Min Soo Kang on the 3500 block of Croffut Place, SE and 24-year-old DeAngelo Jose Garner of District Heights, Md. for the shooting death of 22-year-old Antonio Valdez Vela of Waldorf, Md. on the 4400 block of F Street, SE.

Read the Washington Post's coverage here and the Examiner's coverage here.