Christopher Fletcher | Homicide Watch DC

John Bolton Sentenced to 26 Years in Prison for Christopher Fletcher Death

Ivan Natividad — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:03:43 -0400

John Bolton was sentenced to 26 years in prison Friday for the May 2011 shooting, and murder, of Christopher Fletcher.

Judge John Johnson referred to Bolton as a "good" person to his family and friends, but also said Fletcher's death was a tragedy that "did not have to happen"

"As reflected here, this crime shows what you are capable of," Johnson said to Bolton. "I'm very sorry for the victim's family."

Charging documents say Bolton, 49, and Fletcher, 41, were close friends.

During trial a witness testified that on May 24 2011, Bolton arrived to a cookout and kissed Fletcher on the forehead as if he was a woman.

Fletcher was at first angered. Bolton said, “Why you all up in your feelings? As much as you play with me like that?” Fletcher then said, “You’re right,” and they both began to joke around, touching each other.

Several minutes later Fletcher yelled to Bolton to meet him on D Street "If you wanna see me." Bolton left to get a gun, then came back to meet Fletcher near the intersection of D Street and 34th Street. Bolton testified that Fletcher attacked him with a knife, so he shot him in self-defense.

No knife was found. Fletcher died of one gunshot wound to the stomach.

"I'm sorry that it happened that way and that he died," Bolton said to the court. "Unfortunately it happened that way and I'm sorry."

Jurors found Bolton guilty of second-degree murder in February, and US Attorney Gary Wheeler sought the maximum 30 year sentence, saying Bolton has not "accepted his guilt" in the murder, and that he still contends it was self-defense.

"No weapon was found because there is no other statement from anyone saying Christopher Fletcher attacked him at all. He is the only person saying there was an attack," Wheeler said.

Fletcher's eldest daughter, Sierra, 20, spoke to the court about her father's death and how Bolton should be punished.

"He never got to see me walk across that stage on graduation. He will never walk me down the aisle, or see my kids. I will never see my father again," Sierra Fletcher said. "I hope he (Bolton) gets the justice he deserves for tearing my family apart."

Bolton's older sister asked the judge for leniency in his sentencing saying "My brother is not a beast."

"I'm asking you to be considerate for my brother. He's not a bad guy," she said. "This is not the way it's supposed to be. This is not the way he was raised."

As Judge Johnson gave his ruling on the sentence, Fletcher's family sat in the back of the courtroom. Some crying. Some praying.

Lizzy Duvall, 35, a cousin Fletcher often referred to as a sister, said she will miss Fletcher's smile, sense of humor, and "phone calls everyday."

"Justice was served and I finally can move on," said Duvall. "I can forgive him (Bolton), but I will never forget."

Jurors Find John Bolton Guilty of Second-Degree Murder in the Death of Christopher Fletcher

Penny Ray — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 15:52:51 -0500

Jurors found John Bolton guilty of second-degree murder today in connection with the shooting death of Christopher Fletcher.

Bolton was charged with first-degree murder; second-degree murder is a lesser charge. The jury also found Bolton guilty of three firearm charges.

The jury deliberated for three days before delivering the verdict around 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Fletcher’s sister, Rachel Young, was in the courtroom while the verdict was being read. She said the acquittal on the first-degree murder charge made her heart skip a beat.

“I almost passed out. I was thinking that this could not happen,” Young said. “I am very happy with the verdict.”

At trial, prosecutors argued that a ritual of "sex play" led to the dispute that left Fletcher dead.

One witness testified that when Bolton arrived at a cookout being held in the 3300 block of D Street Southeast, he kissed Fletcher on the forehead as if he was a woman. Fletcher initially acted standoffish towards the gesture, then Bolton said, “Why you all up in your feelings? As much as you play with me like that?”

Fletcher then said, “You're right,” and the two began to touch each other's buttocks and genital area, the witness testified.

The witness then went to the front yard, and minutes later Fletcher came around the side of the house with his shirt off, yelling, "Baby John, I'm on D Street. If you wanna see me, I'm on D Street."

Fletcher then walked towards 34th Street Southeast. Bolton, meanwhile, hopped the neighbor's fence, retrieved a gun, put it in his waistband, and then left the neighbor's yard through a back alley, the witness said.

Moments later, the witness saw Bolton and Fletcher about 300 feet away face-to-face near the intersection of D Street and 34th Street. She then testified that she heard a gunshot and saw a flash.

An autopsy later revealed that Fletcher died from a single gun shot wound to his abdomen, which pierced his aorta.

The defense, however, argued that Fletcher was drunk and carrying a knife, and that he threatened Bolton when they came face-to-face at the intersection.

“Mr. Fletcher was not the kind of person who would listen to anyone when he was using alcohol or drugs,” defense attorney Chris Roberts said during closing arguments. “This is someone who could get out of control.”

One witness testified that Fletcher would pull a knife so often that he needed his own knife if he wanted to spend time with Fletcher.

At the time of his death, Fletcher was on a Most Violent Persons list maintained by MPD, according to a stipulation made at trial. A person is added to the list after being arrested enough times that police believe inclusion on the list is warranted, Roberts told the jury.

Bolton is scheduled to be sentenced April 5.

Sam Pearson contributed to reporting.

In Opening Statements, John Bolton's Attorney Says He Acted in Self-Defense

Vanya Mehta — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:51:41 -0500

Opening statements in the murder case against John Bolton began Thursday with an argument from Bolton's attorney that Bolton was acting in self-defense when he shot 41-year-old Christopher Fletcher.

"To prevent Mr. Fletcher from stabbing him... Bolton fired the gun," defense attorney Amanda Davis said. Bolton, Davis said, "wasn't trying to kill" Fletcher.

Prosecutors have said that Fletcher was ultimately killed when he and Bolton got into an argument at a neighborhood cookout in Southeast Washington in 2011.

Bolton, according to charging documents, approached Fletcher at the cookout and “kissed him as if he was a female.” In opening statements, prosecutors described the action as a kiss on Fletcher's forehead.

The kiss, though, started an argument between the men which prosecutors say ended with Bolton pulling out a gun and trapping Fletcher against the ground. Prosecutors say he then shot Fletcher in the chest, killing him.

Davis, Bolton's attorney, argued that Fletcher was drunk and "out of control" at the cookout. Bolton was on his way to his car to leave the cookout and avoid a conflict when Fletcher approached him and pulled out a knife, Davis said.

Paramedics found a Four Loko can in Fletcher's jacket pocket along with some vials, but did not find a weapon.

A jury was selected in the case Wednesday and opening arguments were held Thursday. The trial is scheduled to continue Friday.

Jury Selected in John Bolton Murder Trial

Vanya Mehta — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 19:57:14 -0500

Jurors selected Wednesday are expected to hear opening arguments Thursday morning in the murder case against John Bolton, accused of killing Christopher Fletcher at a cookout in 2011.

Bolton faces a charge of first degree murder and three weapons charges in the case.

Charging documents allege that Bolton and Fletcher fought at a Southeast D.C. neighborhood cookout after Bolton approached Fletcher and "kissed him as if he was a female."

Prosecutors say the interaction escalated quickly, eventually turning to violence.

According to the charging documents, Fletcher challenged Bolton about five minutes later.

He yelled out, saying he was not a "faggy," one witness told investigators. Then, Bolton allegedly shot Fletcher. Fletcher was taken to a hospital and died about two hours later.

Thomas Lipscomb Killed For His Television, Prosecutors Allege

Penny Ray — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 23:14:42 -0500

Judge Karen Howze found "substantial probability" Thursday afternoon that Dennis Washington murdered Thomas Lipscomb in April 2011.

Prosecutors say Washington and another man, Christopher Fletcher, went to Lipscomb's home -- either to purchase marijuana or to collect on a debt, depending on witness accounts -- but Washington decided to rob him of his television instead, and then ended up killing Lipscomb.

Washington, wearing black-rimmed glasses and a light brown bandage on his right forearm, wrist and hand, was ordered held Thursday. Howze ruled that his release would be too dangerous.

According to charging documents, at around 11 a.m. on April 26, 2011, Metropolitan Police Department officers were dispatched to the 3000 block of Minnesota Avenue to investigate a foul odor coming from an apartment.

Officers knocked on the door repeatedly, but there was no answer. A witness with a key unlocked the door, but a chain lock prevented the door from opening fully. Through the doorway, police officers observed a body lying on the floor, and the witness forced the door open, the documents state.

Lipscomb's body lay face up and the nearby kitchen floor was covered with blood, prosecutors say. His body had reached full rigor mortis -- a stiffening of the corpse that occurs about 12 hours from death -- and was partially decomposed. The bathroom tub was half full of bloody water, according to charging documents.

An autopsy later ruled the cause of death to be blunt force trauma to the head.

Lipscomb had 26 lacerations to his head and eight rectangular-shaped fractures to his skull. There were also multiple lacerations to his neck, back and upper extremities, as well as fractures to his left forearm, left leg and ribs, charging documents say.

Fletcher eventually told detectives he'd been in the apartment with Washington and Lipsomb, but that he walked away when Washington began assaulting Lipscomb because "he wasn't with that." Fletcher later saw Washington crossing Minnesota Avenue with Lipscomb's television, the documents say.

When Fletcher confronted Washington the next day, documents say, he saw the Lipscomb's flatscreen TV in Washington's apartment. "You took the old man's TV?" Fletcher asked. "Yeah I took it," Washington replied.

On May 25, 2011, Fletcher was shot and killed at a cookout in Southeast D.C. John Bolton was arrested for Fletcher's murder and is awaiting trial.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for December 11.

Charging documents are below:

John Bolton Pleads Innocent in Death of Christopher Fletcher

Laura Amico — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 13:52:07 -0400

John Bolton pleaded innocent this morning to a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Christopher Fletcher.

Fletcher, 41, was fatally shot May 25, 2011.

Charging documents allege that a disagreement between the two men started with Bolton showed up at the cookout and, in the course of greeting people there, approached Fletcher and “kissed at him as if he was a female.” When Fletcher didn’t respond, Bolton pressed him saying something to the effect of “What’s wrong with you, and other time you be playing. What’s wrong with you? You in your feelings or something?” After that, Fletcher “then began to play with” Bolton.

Later, the charging documents allege, Fletcher appeared to challenge Bolton. A witness then heard Fletcher yell out words similar to that he was not a “Faggy.”

Bolton was arraigned on three additional charges (all weapons charges) connected to the murder. He pleaded innocent to all of them.

A trial date has been set for June 11.

John Bolton held in death of Christopher Fletcher; Charging Documents Describe Disagreement Between Men

Laura Amico — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:50:00 -0400

John Bolton was ordered help pending a preliminary hearing today at his first court appearance on a charge that he killed 41-year-old Christopher Fletcher following a Southeast DC cookout.

Bolton, 49, is a resident of Southeast DC. Fletcher lived in Fairmont Heights, Md.

According to charging documents in the case, a disagreement between the two men started with Bolton showed up at the cookout and, in the course of greeting people there, approached Fletcher and "kissed at him as if he was a female." When Fletcher didn't respond, Bolton pressed him saying something to the effect of "What's wrong with you, and other time you be playing. What's wrong with you? You in your feelings or something?" After that, Fletcher "then began to play with" Bolton.

But the peace didn't last long. Five minutes later, the charging documents state, Fletcher appeared to challenge Bolton, swearing and shouting out his location on D Street. A witness then heard Fletcher yell out words similar to that he was not a "Faggy."

Fletcher was struck by gunfire one time; the single gunshot struck his aorta and killed him.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for the case for July 14 at 9:30 a.m.

John David Bolton arrested for death of Christopher Fletcher

Laura Amico — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 21:46:50 -0400

Christopher Fletcher, killed May 24, 2011 in SE DC

A 49-year-old Southeast DC man was arrested today in connection with the shooting death of Christopher Fletcher in Southeast DC on May 24.

John David Bolton is suspected of first degree murder while armed, MPD officials said.

Fletcher, 41, was a resident of Fairmont Heights, Md. at the time of his death.

MPD's press release is after the jump.

June 28, 2011

Homicide Arrest for Fatal Shooting in the 3300 Block of D Street, SE

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced that an arrest has been made in the fatal shooting which occurred in the 3300 block of D Street, SE.

On Tuesday, May 24, 2011, at approximately 10:55 pm, units from the Sixth District responded to the 3300 block of D Street, SE to investigate the report of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they located an adult male victim suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services Personnel responded and transported the victim to an area hospital. At 12:49 am the victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

The decedent has been identified as 41 year-old Christopher Fletcher of Fairmont Heights, MD.

On Tuesday, June 28, 2011, at approximately 1:10 pm, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested and charged 49 year-old John David Bolton of Southeast, Washington, DC with First Degree Murder while Armed.

Man Shot Dead in SE DC Tuesday Night

Laura Amico — Wed, 25 May 2011 08:06:59 -0400

A man was shot dead in Southeast DC late Tuesday night, WUSA, WJLA and The Washington Post report this morning.

According to WUSA,

Officials tell 9 NEWS NOW police responded to the intersection of 34th and D Streets just before 11:00 Tuesday night where they found a man lying on the ground suffering from a gunshot wound. Police say the man was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead around 12:49 Wednesday morning.

MPD Sixth District Commander Robert Contee sent a message to the 6D listserve at about 11:30 Tuesday night. He wrote,

The Sixth District is currently investigating a shooting at 34th and D Street S.E.

Anyone with information should call 1-888-919-CRIME or text to 50411.