Carlton Coltrane | Homicide Watch DC

Probable Cause Found Against Zerrick Brown and Earl Patrick

Megan Arellano — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 15:49:33 -0400

A judge found substantial probability Friday that Zerrick Brown and Earl Patrick committed a robbery that led to the death of 60-year-old Carlton Coltrane. The men are each suspected of first-degree felony murder.

Coltrane died on May 9, three days after he was dragged out of a 7-Eleven on 8th Street Southeast and beaten after buying groceries.

One witness inside the 7-Eleven at the time later told police that a man with a white kufi grabbed Coltrane's wallet and "wrestled" Coltrane out of the store while a second man was "standing and watching as if being a lookout or protector," according to Brown's charging documents.

MPD Detective James Wilson testified that he reviewed video footage recovered from the 7-eleven and the 911 call Coltrane made that night.

According to Wilson, Coltrane said he was attacked by two people that night. In the 911 call, Coltrane also said he was punched in the face and that his wallet was taken from his back pocket, Wilson told the court.

"Based on the 911 call, Coltrane didn't seem incoherent and gave a description of Zerrick Brown," Wilson said.

According to Wilson, Coltrane said he was attempting to pay for his purchases when a man grabbed his hand with his wallet and dragged him out of the store.

Wilson also told the court that police recovered Coltrane's pocket-knife in front of the 7-Eleven store.

Gabriel Diaz, Brown's defense attorney, argued that there was not probable cause for felony murder because there wasn't evidence to support that a robbery took place. Diaz noted that Coltrane said during the 911 call that he was attacked, rather than robbed, and that the witness present for the altercation did not see the robbery take place, only Coltrane being forcibly removed from the store.

Diaz further argued that because Coltrane visited the hospital multiple times before his death, it was difficult to prove that the injuries sustained in the robbery were what caused Coltrane's death.

Patrick's defense attorney, Kevin Mosley, adopted Diaz's position that there wasn't proof of felony murder, but also added that Patrick's mere presence should not be considered evidence that Patrick intended to aid Brown.

Judge Lynn Leibovitz disagreed, explaining that Brown and Patrick were clearly identifiable in the video footage and that she saw "clear evidence of collusion" between Brown and Patrick in the "elaborate" hand signals that the men exchanged. Leibovitz added that a jury "could find evidence of conspiracy beyond a reasonable doubt" in the hand signals that the men exchanged.

Leibovitz further found no motive for Coltrane's assault "other than a robbery" and said it was "obvious" in the video that the men waited for Coltrane to finish paying before Brown did a "football-type of tackle to drag" Coltrane from the store.

A felony status conference is scheduled for November 13.

Earl Patrick Held in Death of Carlton Coltrane

Dana Jennings — Tue, 20 May 2014 18:29:04 -0400

Judge Karen Howze ordered Earl Patrick held without bond Tuesday in connection with the death of Carlton Coltrane.

Coltrane, 60, was robbed at a 7-Eleven shortly after midnight on May 6 and died of injuries sustained during the robbery three days later, according to arrest documents.

Patrick, 48, is suspected of felony first-degree murder and he is the second suspect to be arrested and held in connection with the case. Zerrick Brown, who is suspected of first-degree murder while armed in the case, was arrested four days before Patrick.

Arrest documents say that after police sought public help to identify suspects in Coltrane's death by releasing a video, a witness who saw the video on television told police that the men sought by police were Patrick and Brown.

Charging documents say that the video released by MPD shows one man wearing dark clothing and one man wearing a white cap watching Coltrane as he bought groceries from a 7-Eleven in 400 block of 8th Street Southeast. The man in dark clothing then motions to the other "to go outside" before leaving the store, documents say. Moments later, the other man can be seen dragging Coltrane out of the store, according to court documents.

The witness who identified Brown and Patrick from the video told police that Brown was the man with the cap, and that Patrick was the man all in black, according to arrest documents.

Another witness who was in the store at the time told police that the man wearing the brimless cap, or kufi, then grabbed Coltrane, dragged him out of the store, punched him in the face, and took Coltrane's wallet out of his back pocket while the other man was "standing and watching as if being a lookout or protector," according to arrest documents.

After being arrested yesterday, Patrick watched the video and told police, "That's me," but later said that it "looked" like him, but it couldn't have been him because he was at home at that time, and that he didn't recall where he was at the time of the robbery, according to arrest documents.

Defense attorney Mitchell Baer argued that there is insufficient evidence that Patrick was involved in the robbery that led to Coltrane's death, saying, "All the video might show is that Mr. Patrick was present while someone else committed the robbery."

Assistant US Attorney Melinda Williams disagreed, telling the court that Coltrane told police before he died that he was attacked by two men. "The video shows two men working in concert," said Williams.

Patrick and Brown are scheduled for a preliminary hearing on June 10.

Patrick's charging documents have been added to the post below.

Second Man Arrested in Connection With Carlton Coltrane Death

Megan Arellano — Mon, 19 May 2014 15:28:46 -0400

Earl Patrick, 48, was arrested Monday on suspicion of first-degree felony murder in connection to the assault that lead to the death of 60-year-old Carlton Coltrane, according to MPD.

On May 6, Coltrane was taken to a local hospital after he beaten in a robbery attempt at a 7-Eleven in the 400 block of 8th Street Southeast. Three days later, Coltrane died as a result of his injuries.

Patrick is the second person arrested in connection with this case. Zerrick Brown, 42, was held on suspicion of first-degree felony murder in connection with the case.

Charging documents state that Coltrane was buying groceries in a 7-Eleven near the Eastern Market Metro station when he was dragged out of the store by a man identified as Brown while a second man was “standing and watching as if being a lookout or protector.”

A press release from MPD is after the jump.

Additional Arrest Made in Homicide: 400 Block of 8th Street, Southeast

(Washington, DC)- Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced that an additional arrest has been made in the homicide which occurred in the 400 block of 8th Street, Southeast.

On Tuesday, May 6, 2014, at approximately 12:50 am, members of the First District responded to a call for an assault in the 400 block of 8th Street, Southeast. Upon their arrival, they located an adult male with abrasions and swelling to his face. He was transported to a local hospital where he was treated, but subsequently succumbed to his injuries. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma and the manner to be homicide.

The decedent is identified as 60-year-old Carlton Coltrane of Southeast, DC, and was pronounced dead on the afternoon of Friday, May 9, 2014.

On Thursday, May 15, 2014, at approximately 1:10 pm, an adult male of Northwest, 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 First Degree Felony Murder in the homicide of Carlton Coltrane.

On Monday, May 19, 2014, at approximately 7:15 am, 48 year-old Earl Patrick of Southwest, Washington, DC, was arrested by members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, as a Fugitive from Justice. After his arrest, he was additionally charged by members of the Homicide Branch with First Degree Felony Murder in the homicide of Carlton Coltrane.

Witnesses Identify Murder Suspect After MPD Releases Video of Carlton Coltrane Assault

Dana Jennings — Fri, 16 May 2014 17:50:01 -0400

Zerrick Brown, 42, was held without bond in connection to the death of Carlton Coltrane, who was killed after sustaining injuries in a robbery at a 7-Eleven near the Eastern Market Metro Station.

Judge Karen Howze found probable cause to hold Brown based on identifications made from a surveillance video released by Metropolitan Police.

Another witness who was at the store during the incident did not identify any suspects, according to court documents.

Coltrane, 60, was buying groceries after midnight on May 6 from the 7-Eleven in 400 block of 8th Street Southeast when he was dragged out of the store by a man wearing a white kufi, or brimless cap, according to court documents.

One witness inside the 7-Eleven at the time later told police that the man with the kufi grabbed Coltrane's wallet and "wrestled" Coltrane out of the store while a second man was "standing and watching as if being a lookout or protector," according to court documents.

Documents say surveillance footage from that night shows the man with the kufi and a second man standing on either side of Coltrane, watching him pay the cashier. Video shows the second man motioning the man with the kufi to go outside, documents say. Moments after the second man leaves the store, video shows the man with the kufi "forcefully pushing" Coltrane out of the store, according to the documents.

The surveillance video then shows Coltrane reentering the 7-Eleven bleeding from his head. Coltrane was transported to United Medical Center, but he left without being treated, according to court documents.

Later that morning, Coltrane's family called 911 and he was transported to George Washington University Hospital, where he was released after treatment, according to court documents. That evening, documents say Coltrane called 911 and was transported back to the hospital in grave condition; he died of his injuries three days later.

Three people identified Brown as the man who was wearing the white kufi after viewing the video, including two who have known Brown for more than 10 years, according to court documents.

One of the witnesses called police after viewing the surveillance video on the news and "instantly" believing that Brown was the man in the white kufi. That witness told police that it had a sexual relationship with the defendant and has known him for approximately 13 years.

A status hearing in the case is scheduled for June 10.

Charging documents in the case are available below.

Brown, Zerrick Arrest papers (PDF)Brown, Zerrick Arrest papers (Text)

Zerrick Brown Arrested in Assault That Lead To Carlton Coltrane's Death

Megan Arellano — Thu, 15 May 2014 19:46:15 -0400

A 42-year-old Northwest D.C. man was arrested Thursday in connection with the death of 60-year-old Carlton Coltrane last Friday.

The man, identified by police as Zerrick Brown, is suspected of first-degree felony murder. Police believe Coltrane was beaten in a robbery attempt last week and died of his injuries last Friday.

On May 6, Coltrane was found with abrasions and swelling in his face in the 400 block of 8th Street, Southeast. He was transported to a local hospital, but later succumbed to his injuries.

A press release from MPD is after the jump.

Arrest Made in Homicide: 400 Block of 8th Street, Southeast

(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 400 block of 8th Street, Southeast.

On Tuesday, May 6, 2014, at approximately 12:50 am, members of the First District responded to a call for an assault in the 400 block of 8th Street, Southeast. Upon their arrival, they located an adult male with abrasions and swelling to his face. He was transported to a local hospital where he was treated, but subsequently succumbed to his injuries. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma and the manner to be homicide.

The decedent is identified as 60-year-old Carlton Coltrane of Southeast, DC was pronounced dead on the afternoon of Friday, May 9, 2014.

On Thursday, May 15, 2014, at approximately 1:10 pm, 42 year-old Zerrick Brown of Northwest, 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 First Degree Felony Murder in the homicide of Carlton Coltrane.

Carlton Coltrane, 60, Killed in SE DC Robbery

Laura Amico — Mon, 12 May 2014 02:15:38 -0400

A 60-year-old man beaten in a robbery attempt last week died of his injuries on Friday, MPD said Sunday night.

The man is identified as Carlton Coltrane of Southeast DC.

MPD is seeking two people in relation to Coltrane's death. Both are pictured in a YouTube video of surveillance video from what appears to be a convenience store.

A press release from MPD is after the jump.

May 11, 2014

UPDATE
Robbery Force and Violence and Aggravated Assault Resulting in Death Ruled a Homicide: 400 Block of 8th Street, Southeast

(Washington, DC) – Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a homicide and are seeking the public's assistance in identifying and locating two persons of interest in the Robbery Force and Violence and Aggravated Assault which resulted in a homicide, occurring on Tuesday, May 6, 2014, at approximately 12:50 am, in the 400 block of 8th Street, SE.

The victim 60-year-old Carlton Coltrane of Southeast, DC was pronounced dead on the afternoon of Friday, May 9, 2014.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma and the manner to be homicide.

The persons of interest can be seen in this video: http://youtu.be/eFWFd4O1bsw

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.