Tracy McFadden | Homicide Watch DC

Antonio Hester Indicted in Murder Outside of Night Club

Imari Williams — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 13:40:43 -0500

Antonio Hester pleaded innocent Thursday to first-degree murder and two weapons charges in the shooting that killed Tracy McFadden on June 19, 2013.

At 2:28 a.m., McFadden, 44, was found on the 2700 block of Georgia Avenue Northwest suffering from six gunshot wounds, including four to his neck. He died at a local hospital.

Hester's romantic partner at the the time told police that Hester and Mcfadden had two different heated arguments while they were inside the Chuck and Billy nightclub, MPD Detective Ricardo Leiva testified at a preliminary hearing.

Leiva said that the witness watched Hester leave the nightclub, then saw McFadden "immediately walk behind" him, he recounted. Soon after, the witness left, too, because it "was worried about something happening," Leiva said.

When the witness got outside, it saw McFadden on the ground next to a vehicle, but did not see Hester, according to court documents. The witness then called Hester's cell phone, picked him up two blocks north of the nightclub, and drove him to an address in Maryland.

The witness reported to police that Hester sounded "out of breath" on the call, Detective Leiva said.

Hester is scheduled for a status hearing on February 6, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. before Judge Rhonda Winston.

A copy of the indictment is embedded below:

Probable Cause Found Against Antonio Hester in the Shooting Death of Tracy McFadden

Megan Arellano — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 22:17:16 -0400

Judge Rhonda Winston ruled Thursday that there is substantial probability in the case against Antonio Hester, held in connection with the January 2013 shooting death of Tracy McFadden.

Police found 44-year-old McFadden outside a nightclub on the 2700 Block of Georgia Avenue Northwest, suffering from six gunshot wounds, including four to his neck.

At a preliminary hearing Thursday, MPD Detective Ricardo Leiva testified that a witness who was romantically involved with Hester at the time told police Hester and McFadden got into two different arguments while they were inside the Chuck and Billy nightclub.

Leiva testified that the witness reported watching Hester leave the nightclub, then saw McFadden "immediately walk behind" him. Shortly, the witness began to exit because the witness "was worried about something happening," Leiva said.

As the witness exited, many people were "rushing inside," the witness said, said Leiva.

Charging documents state that when the witness got outside, it saw the McFadden lying unresponsive on the ground next to a vehicle, but did not see Hester. The witness then called Hester’s cell phone, picked him up two blocks north of the nightclub, and drove him to an address in Maryland, according to documents.

According to the witness, Hester sounded "out of breath" on the call, said Leiva.

Burks' defense attorneys said that two others who saw the shooting weren't able to provide a very specific description of the shooter. Additionally, attorney William Roberts argued that another witnesses was believed to have said that McFadden was going outside to get a gun.

Winston disagreed and ruled to move the case forward, noting that the witness who allegedly said McFadden was leaving the club to get a gun indicated that he didn't say that when he was interviewed by the police.

A felony status hearing is set for August 13.

Antonio Hester Held in Connection to Shooting Death of Tracy McFadden

Kristian Hernandez — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 19:44:13 -0400

Antonio Hester, 30, was ordered held without bond Wednesday on suspicion of first-degree premeditated murder while armed in connection with the shooting death of Tracy McFadden.

McFadden, 44, was found by police in Jan. 2013 outside a nightclub on the 2700 Block of Georgia Avenue Northwest, suffering from six gunshot wounds, including four to his neck. He was taken to Howard University Hospital where he died at 2:55 a.m., less than half an hour after police spotters first detected the gunfire.

Charging documents say that a witness who was "romantically involved" with Hester at the time of the incident saw him arguing with McFadden inside the Chuck and Billy nightclub located on Georgia Avenue Northwest.

When the witness got outside, it saw the McFadden lying unresponsive on the ground next to a vehicle, but did not see Hester. The witness then called Hester's cell phone, picked him up two blocks north of the nightclub, and drove him to an address in Maryland, according to police documents.

That witness asked Hester if he saw McFadden lying on the ground in front of the nightclub, he responded, "Yeah that's f**ked up. He asked for it, he deserved it," according to police.

According to charging documents, another witness that night saw the shooter fire on McFadden, then watched the shooter fire more shots down at him.

A second witness who was saw the shooting while standing outside the nightclub gave a description of the shooter to police similar to the other witness, charging documents say. That witness said it saw the shooter with his arm extended pointing downward toward a vehicle in front of the nightclub.

A third witness told police it knew McFadden for some 25 years and was present at the nightclub before the shooting. This witness said McFadden was intoxicated and disrespectful to people. Charging documents say the witness said it told Hester, "Get yourself together and calm down."

Defense attorney Amanda David said that witness is not reliable because the only reason it came forward was because it believed it was a suspect. David argued that witness "has a motive to fabricate." David also noted that the two witnesses who gave a description of the suspect did not identify Hester as the shooter.

David asked the judge to release Hester on his promise to return to court, because he is currently working two jobs, and is responsible for the care of his 13-year-old daughter. Judge Howze ruled Hester was a danger to the community based on two previous weapon related convictions and his prior manslaughter conviction in Maryland.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 14 at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Rhonda Winston.

***Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the location of the Chuck and Billy nightclub. We regret the error.

Charging Documents have been added to this post

Antonio Hester Arrested in 2013 Shooting Death of Tracy McFadden

Megan Arellano — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 15:37:47 -0400

A 30-year-old Northwest D.C. man has been arrested in connection with the January 2013 shooting death of Tracy McFadden.

The suspect, identified by police as Antonio Hester, is expected to be charged with first-degree while armed, police said.

On January 19, 2013, McFadden was found shot on the 2700 block of Georgia Avenue Northwest, according to MPD. He later died at a local hospital.

A press release from MPD is after the jump.

Arrest Made in 2013 Homicide:
2700 Block of Georgia Avenue, NW

(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 2700 block of Georgia Avenue, NW.

On Saturday, January 19, 2013, at approximately 2:28 am, units from the Third District responded to the 2700 block of Georgia Avenue, NW for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they located an adult male lying on the ground suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services transported the victim to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

The decedent is identified as 44-year-old Tracy McFadden of Northeast, Washington, DC.

On Tuesday, April 29, 2014, at approximately 11:40 am, 30-year-old Antonio Hester 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 Murder While Armed in connection to the death of Tracy McFadden.

Saturday Shooting Victim IDed as Tracy McFadden

Chris Amico — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 23:06:35 -0500

Police have identified the man killed early Saturday morning as 44-year-old Tracy McFadden of Northeast D.C.

McFadden was found shot on the 2700 block of Georgia Avenue Northwest at 2:28 a.m., MPD says. He died at a local hospital.

MPD's full statement is below:

Homicide: 2700 Block of Georgia Avenue, NW

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a fatal shooting which occurred in the 2700 block of Georgia Avenue, NW.

On Saturday, January 19, 2013, at approximately 2:28 am, units from the Third District responded to the 2700 block of Georgia Avenue, NW for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they located an adult male lying on the ground suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services transported the victim to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

The decedent is identified as 44-year-old Tracy McFadden of Northeast, Washington, DC.

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 Killed in Georgia Avenue Shooting Early Saturday Morning

Laura Amico — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 09:35:37 -0500

A man was shot and killed on Georgia Avenue in Northwest DC early Saturday morning, WJLA and WUSA report.

WJLA reports that the shooting occurred at about 2:45 a.m, that there were no witnesses, and that the man has not yet been identified.

The following DC Alert was issued about the shooting:

Shooting 0231 HOURS 2700 BLOCK GEORGIA AVENUE NW NO LOOKOUT GIVEN FOR SUSPECT DO NOT TAKE ACTION CALL 911 W/EVENT... 1.usa.gov/XL3bJs

— dcalerts (@dcalerts) January 19, 2013