Ronald Deacon Smith | Homicide Watch DC

Probable Cause Found in Murder of Government's Witness

Imari Williams — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 18:33:53 -0400

A judge found probable cause Friday in the case against Dwayne Williams in connection to the 2011 shooting death of Ronald Deacon Smith.

On Nov. 14, 2011, police found a lifeless Smith, 27, with a gunshot wound to the head, in the 1100 block of 21st Street Northeast, charging documents say. A second man shot in the incident survived.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenn Kirschner argued that the evidence proved Williams was involved in Smith's death. "It paints a pretty clear picture of Williams' involvement in the death of a Government witness," Kirschner said.

Smith was expected to testify against Williams’ best friend David Warren, charging documents say. Warren was later convicted of murder for killing Ervin Lamont Griffin.

Detective Thomas Braxton testified Friday that ballistics evidence showed there were two shooters at the scene of Smith's murder.

Kirschner argued that one of those two shooters was Williams and that he admitted to hiding a gun that was stashed in his home, where Warren was arrested and had been living.

Defense waived their right to argue on behalf of Williams.

"When the police asked you, 'Did you know how many times you fired the gun,' you said 'No,' Reid said before her ruling, "I take that as admission of involvement."

Williams is scheduled for a felony status conference on Dec. 19 at 9:45 a.m. before Judge Winston.

Andre Hockaday Charged in Death of Ronald Smith

Imari Williams — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 18:44:44 -0400

A judge ordered Andre Dominique Hockaday held Wednesday on suspicion of first-degree murder while armed in connection with the shooting death of Ronald Deacon Smith in November 2011.

Last week, Dwayne Williams, 29, was also arrested and held for Smith's murder.

Hockaday told police that prior to Smith's murder, people from the neighborhood, including himself and Williams, believed that Smith was "snitching" about the death of Ervin Lamont Griffin.

Five days after David Warren was held in connection with Griffin's death, police found Smith dead in the 1100 block of 21st Street Northeast, documents say. Warren was ultimately convicted of killing Griffin.

Documents say Smith and another man tried to buy PCP from Hockaday, who is identified as a friend of Williams, on the day of Smith's death. The second man was shot in the same incident, but survived.

The surviving witness told police that Hockaday walked them to the area of 21st and M street, and told them to wait while the drugs were being delivered. During this time, Hockday approached two other men by himself.

Documents say that the two men Hockaday met were Williams and Stanley Isaac Moghalu, later tied to the area with cell phone data.

The surviving witness told police he began to walk away, but Hockaday called out, "They got it now," or words to that effect. Smith walked directly towards the three men while the surviving victim stood in the street near a vehicle, the surviving witness told police.

According to documents, the surviving witness was looking elsewhere when he heard a gunshot and saw Smith lying on the ground. Then a shooter, who the surviving victim described as having dreads, pointed a handgun at him and fired multiple times.

It remains unclear if Moghalu is the same man acquitted in the murder of Steven Curtis Moore. Both men are referred to with the nickname of “Smoke” in documents. Prosecutors argued Moore was also killed because of his ability to help police.

Documents allege that Hockaday is "complicit" in Smith's death and "minimizing his involvement" in statements to police. According to documents, cell phone records show Hockaday had communication with Williams minutes before and after Smith's death.

Hockaday is scheduled for a preliminary hearing October 8 before Judge Rhonda Reid Winston at 9:30 a.m.

Second Man Arrested in Ronald Smith's Murder

Imari Williams — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 09:17:55 -0400

MPD announced Tuesday that a second man has been arrested in connection to the shooting death of Ronald Deacon Smith on November 14, 2011.

The man identified by police as Andre Dominique Hockday, 26, is suspected of first-degree murder while armed, police say. Dwayne Williams, 29, was also arrested and held for Smith's death.

Smith, 27, was found with a gunshot wound to the head in the 1100 block of 21st Street Northeast. A second man was also wounded in the shooting.

Police believe Smith was murdered because he was a witness to the murder of Ervin Lamont Griffin.

A press release from MPD is after the jump.

Second Arrest Made in 2011 Homicide
1100 Block of 21st Street, NE

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced that a second arrest has been made in the shooting death of 27 year-old Ronald Deacon Smith which occurred on Monday, November 14, 2011, at approximately 5:18 pm, in the 1100 block of 21st Street, Northeast.

On Tuesday, September 30, 2014, at approximately 5:05 pm, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Fifth District arrested 26-year-old Andre Dominique Hockaday of Northeast, DC, pursuant to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant charging him with First Degree Murder while Armed in the shooting death of Ronald Deacon Smith.

Dwayne Williams Charged with Killing Murder Witness

Amelia Rufer — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 15:12:24 -0400

Judge Karen Howze ordered Dwayne Williams held Tuesday on suspicion of premeditated first-degree murder in connection with the November 2011 shooting death of Ronald Deacon Smith.

Smith was expected to testify against Williams' best friend David Warren, charging documents say. Warren was later convicted of murder for killing Ervin Lamont Griffin.

Five days after Warren was first presented in court, police found Smith dead, with a gunshot wound to the head, in the 1100 block of 21st Street Northeast, charging documents say. A second man shot in the incident survived.

The surviving victim told police that he and Smith were trying to buy PCP that day from Andre Hockaday, who is described in charging documents as a friend of Williams.

Hockaday walked Smith and the other man to the area of 21st and M street, and told them to wait while the drugs were delivered. Hockaday approached two other black men by himself, according to the surviving witness.

The surviving witness began to walk away, but, Hockaday called out, "They got it now," or words to that effect, documents say. Smith headed directly towards the three men while the surviving victim stood in the street near a vehicle.

According to documents, the surviving victim was looking away when he heard a gunshot and saw Smith lying on the ground. Then a shooter, who the surviving victim described as having dreads, pointed a handgun at the surviving witness and shot multiple times.

Witnesses identified the two men at the scene as Williams and Stanley Isaac Moghalu, also known as "Smoke."

Police did not confirm Tuesday if Moghalu is the same man acquitted in the murder of Steven Curtis Moore. Both men are referred to with the nickname of "Smoke" in documents. Prosecutors believe Moore was also killed because of his capacity to assist police.

Williams initially told police he was elsewhere when Smith was shot. After detectives presented Williams with cell site information as evidence of his involvement, Williams admitted to being at the scene of the homicide, according to the documents.

Shortly before the shooting, Williams said that Smith and the surviving passed the area where he, Hockaday, and Stanley Moghalu were standing. When Hockaday saw Smith and the surviving witness, documents say that he said something to the effect of, "There is that snitching a**."

Williams said that he then heard gunshots, saw Moghalu and Hockaday with guns in their hands, and finally, saw both victims on the ground.

However, in a later interview, when Williams was asked how many times he fired the gun and who he pointed it at, Williams did not answer.

"Give me some time," Williams told police.

On May 1, Williams told detectives in an interview that he needed time to go home and get his affairs in order because he was "afraid of the unknown," documents say.

"Did you know it was going to feel like this afterwards?" Detective Thomas Braxton asked Williams, according to charging documents.

"Mr. Braxton, I didn't really know," Williams responded. "Have you ever been so disappointed in someone so bad, you don't even want to be around them?"

"I can't separate me from myself," Williams said.

At the presentment hearing Tuesday, Williams' attorney, Steven Kiersh, argued that the surviving witness's statement was not sufficient probable cause to hold Williams because the witness did not fully observe the shooter's face.

Kiersh also argued that the government took particular comments from Williams and falsely interpreted them as admissions of guilt.

A preliminary hearing is set for October 24 before Judge Rhonda Reid Winston at 9:30 a.m.

Dwayne Williams Arrested in the 2011 Shooting Death of Ronald Smith

Megan Arellano — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 17:14:34 -0400

MPD announced Monday that a 29-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the November 2011 shooting death of Ronald Deacon Smith.

The man, identified by police as Dwayne Williams, is suspected of first-degree murder while armed, police say.

Smith was found at around 5:18 p.m. with a gunshot wound to the head in the 1100 block of 21st Street Northeast on November 14, 2011. A second man was also wounded in the shooting.

A press release from MPD is after the jump.

Arrest Made in 2011 Homicide
1100 Block of 21st Street, NE

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced an arrest has been made in the shooting death of 27 year-old Ronald Deacon Smith which occurred on Monday, November 14, 2011, at approximately 5:18 pm, in the 1100 block of 21st Street, Northeast.

On Monday, September 22, 2014, detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch arrested 29-year-old Dwayne Williams of Southeast, DC, pursuant to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant charging him with First Degree Murder while Armed in the shooting death of Ronald Deacon Smith.

Monday Shooting Victim Identified as Ronald Deacon Smith

Laura Amico — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:32:46 -0500

A man killed in a double shooting Monday night has been identified as 27 year-old Ronald Deacon Smith of Northeast DC.

MPD issued a press release with the ID on Tuesday, but did not send the release to local media.

MPD's release is below.

November 15, 2011

Homicide: 1100 Block of 21st Street, NE
Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Departments Homicide Branch are investigating the fatal shooting which occurred in the area of 21st and M Street, NE.

On Monday, November 14, 2011, at approximately 5:18 pm units from the Fifth District responded to a call for the sounds of gunshots in the area of 21st and M Street, NE. Upon arrival, they located two victims. The first, an adult male who was unconscious, unresponsive and suffering from at least one apparent gunshot wound, was found in the 1100 block of 21st Street, NE. The second was found conscious and suffering from gunshot wounds in the 2000 block of M Street, NE. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded and determined that the first victim showed no signs of life and was pronounced dead by a member from the Chief Medical Examiners office. The second victim was transported to a local hospital.

The decedent is identified as 27 year-old Ronald Deacon Smith of Northeast, Washington, DC.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at (202) 727-9099 or 1-888-919-CRIME (1-888-919-2746).

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.

Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411.

Man Dead After Gunshot Wound to Head in Double NE DC Shooting

Laura Amico — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 07:40:57 -0500

A double shooting reported Monday evening in Northeast DC has been confirmed as a homicide.

The fifth district commander reported last night on a community listserv that "At about 5:30 pm, two adult men were shot near 21st and M St. NE. One victim was unconscious at the scene and one taken to the hospital in critical condition."

Reported WUSA this morning:

Police confirm one of the victims, an adult male, was shot in the head and pronounced dead at the scene. The second man shot was transported to a local hospital where he is said to be "stable".

Added NBC Washington:

One man in the neighborhood ran past the police tape after hearing a friend was one of the victims and had to be cuffed and placed in a police cruiser. He was released after he calmed down.