Tyrell Avery Swann | Homicide Watch DC

Daren Vaughn Released From Jail To Await His Second Trial

Kristian Hernandez — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 15:39:34 -0400

Daren Vaughn, 22, was released Thursday on a personal promise to return to court, pending a second trial in connection to the stabbing death of his best friend and neighbor Tyrell Swann.

During Thursday’s status hearing, defense attorney Jacqueline Cadman argued that Vaughn has no prior convictions and has been compliant and cooperative since his arrest on Sept. 27, 2012.

Swann, 23, died from a single stab wound that pierced his heart that night. Last week, jurors found Vaughn innocent of first-degree premeditated murder and other assault and burglary charges in connection with Swann's death.

Vaughn will face a second trial for the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter while armed and for carrying a dangerous weapon, charges for which jurors couldn't reach verdicts.

During the six day trial Vaughn's defense attorney argued Vaughn was acting in self-defense when he stabbed Swann. Prosecutors say Vaughn was acting out of rage when he returned to Swann's house, pushed into the house and stabbed Swann in front of his mother and sister.

Judge John Ramsey Johnson released Vaughn on his personal promise that he will appear for his trial readiness hearing scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 5. Judge Johnson also ordered Vaughn to stay away from the scene of the incident, the 500 block of 50th Place Northeast, and Swann’s family.

Mistrial Declared for Remaining Charges Against Daren Vaughn

Kristian Hernandez — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 20:50:08 -0400

Judge John Ramsey Johnson declared a mistrial late Thursday afternoon after jurors could not decide whether or not Daren Vaughn committed voluntary manslaughter while armed, a lesser included charge for first-degree murder, in connection with death of Tyrell Swann

Judge Johnson also declared a mistrial for Vaughn's charge of carrying a dangerous weapon after one of the jurors said she did not agree with the previous guilty verdict during a poll by Judge Johnson on Thursday.

Vaughn was acquitted yesterday for charges of first-degree premeditated murder, felony murder, burglary, and assault charges in connection to the stabbing death of Swann on September 27, 2012.

Vaughn remains held without bond awaiting a status hearing scheduled at 10 a.m. on Apr. 17.

Daren Vaughn Found Innocent of Most Serious Murder Charge, Burglary, and Assault

Kristian Hernandez — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 20:47:39 -0400

After two days of deliberations, jurors in the trial of Daren Vaughn reached a partial verdict Wednesday, announcing Vaughn innocent of first-degree premeditated murder in connection to the death of Tyrell Swann.

Vaughn was also acquitted of burglary and assault charges, though jurors did find Vaughn guilty of one count of carrying a dangerous weapon.

Judge John Ramsey Johnson ordered the jury to come back Thursday morning and deliberate on the final remaining charge: voluntary manslaughter while armed.

In a note filed Wednesday afternoon, jurors told Judge Johnson they have been unable to come to a conclusion for that charge, asking, “How long do we need to sit before we are hung?”

During the six day trial defense attorney Jacqueline Cadman argued Vaughn stabbed Swann with a pocket knife in self-defense to stop Swann from choking him.

But prosecutors argued that Vaughn acted in anger, not in self-defense, when he stabbed his best friend and neighbor, Swann, on September 27, 2012.

Vaughn testified on his behalf and told jurors that he recalled Swann beating him up during an argument after a night of drinking in Swann’s backyard. According to Vaughn, he jumped the fence to his house a few doors down and came back moments later to the front door to talk to his girlfriend Nakita Bourn, who is also Swann’s younger sister.

According to Vaughn’s defense attorney, Swann opened the door instead and continued attacking Vaughn outside the residence in the 500 block of 50th Place Northeast.

Prosecutors painted a different picture, saying Vaughn returned to the house enraged, pushed past Swann’s sister, brandished the knife in her face, and told her to “get the f*ck out” of his way. Then, as Swann’s mother stood between both men, Vaughn managed to reach around and stab Swann once in the chest piercing his heart and lung.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Truscott questioned why Vaughn waited until his trial to say that he was afraid for his life while he was being choked by Swann that night. Vaughn responded that he was trying to protect his friend from getting in trouble and that at the time he was asked by police he did not know Swann was dead.

Deliberations are scheduled to resume Thursday at 10 a.m. on the remaining charge.

Jury to Decide: Was Tyrell Swann Stabbed in Cold Blood or Self-Defense?

Megan Arellano — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 22:49:05 -0400

Prosecutors say that Daren Vaughn left a fight with his friend Tyrell Swann angry and bruised, planning to grab a knife from his house and seek revenge.

When Vaughn returned, he pushed past Swann's sister, brandished the knife in her face, and told her to "get the f*ck out" of his way. Though Swann's mother also tried to keep the men separate, Vaughn managed to stab Swann through his lung and into his heart, killing him.

Vaughn's defense attorney, Jacqueline Cadman, says that Swann's sister, Nakita Bourn, wasn't even in the room where she claims Swann was stabbed. According to Cadman, Vaughn purposefully avoided Swann when he returned that night because he instead hoped to speak with Bourn, a woman he occasionally dated. But when he returned, Swann began choking him, so Vaughn stabbed him in self-defense.

Jurors considered these arguments Monday as they began deliberating in the case charging Vaughn with first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree burglary and three other related charges in connection with stabbing death of 22-year-old Swann.

Swann was found dead from a stab wound in the 500 Block of 50th Place Northeast on September 27, 2012. Vaughn was arrested shortly after.

On the stand, Daren Vaughn held back tears as he told the court how he did not mean to kill his best friend. Vaughn told jurors that Swann choked him and that he was forced to use his pocket knife on Swann.

"It's not easy telling this story at all," Vaughn said. "I did not deliberately kill him. I love Tyrell."

In his closing argument, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Truscott questioned why Vaughn waited until he took the stand to explain that the stabbing was a matter of self-defense.

Vaughn returned home after the stabbing to talk with his mom that night, but he "doesn't tell his own mother that he was acting in self-defense," Truscott said.

Detective Arrington "begged" Vaughn to explain what happened after his arrest, but at that time, Vaughn told the detective, "We fought and it escalated," according to Truscott.

Cadman argued that Bourn was not truthful either. Contrary to her testimony, Borne told the first police officer on the scene that she came downstairs because of the noise and "found her brother in a pool of blood," Cadman said.

Then, in an interview with detectives, Bourn says she didn't see her brother get stabbed, Cadman said. But soon after, Bourn says she saw Vaughn swing four to five times, Cadman said.

Yet, Bourne "never tells detectives a single word about being pushed," Cadman told jurors.

Ross Gardner, an crime scene forensic specialist, testified that Swann "had to be somewhere outside the door" at the time of the incident.

Prosecutors say that Gardner didn't account for the rain in his analysis, but Cadman called on jurors to look critically at the testimony of mother and sister. Both women care about what people think of Swann and "want him remembered a certain way."

Deliberation are scheduled to resume at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Daren Vaughn Trial Begins in Connection to the Fatal Stabbing of His Best Friend Tyrell Swann

Kristian Hernandez — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 17:25:38 -0400

When 22-year-old Daren Vaughn stabbed his best friend and neighbor Tyrell Swann on Sept. 27 2012 in the chest, piercing his heart, it was self-defense and not in cold blood, his defense attorneys say.

Whether or not that's true will soon be up to jurors; the trial began Thursday with opening statements from both sides. Prosecutors asked the jury to find Vaughn guilty of first-degree premeditated murder while armed, felony murder and other related weapon and assault charges, stating that the evidence in the trial will prove these charges beyond a reasonable doubt.

Vaughn was indicted on June of last year and has awaited trial in custody without bond since his arrest the day of the incident when he turned himself in to police after they knocked on his door.

"That was my man, I didn't mean to to do it. I give up," said Vaughn, according to Officer Matthew Fitzgerald who testified Thursday.

During opening statements, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Bradford, said that on the night of the incident Swann and Vaughn got into an argument in the backyard of an apartment in the 500 block of 50th Place Northeast.

The argument escalated and resulted in Swann beating up Vaughn and smashing him against a window.

“Tyrell hit the defendant,” said Bradford, “He gave him a butt whooping. He hit him once and hit him again.”

Bradford said that after the fight Vaughn left through the backyard to his apartment two doors down and came back with a knife.

“He was not going to accept that his friend beat him up like that,” Bradford said.

Defense attorney Jacqueline Cadman paints a different picture stating Vaughn, who was dating Swann’s sister at the time, went home but decided to come back to the house because he was confused about what
had just happened.

“He went back to speak to his girlfriend, not to get payback,” Cadman said. She told jurors that Vaughn deliberately went to the front of the house to avoid Swann but was greeted by Swann opening the door and swinging at him with a small chair.

Prosecutors describe the following altercation as Vaughn forcing his way into the apartment while Swann’s mother and sister stood between the two men begging Vaughn to leave. Prosecutors said Vaughn reached around Swann’s mother and stabbed him once in the chest, then left the residence without saying anything.

Cadman asked the jurors to pay close attention during Swann’s mother and sister’s testimony and to "find the inconsistencies," of their story and that both their testimonies don't make sense.

“He stabbed him one time, one time to get him off of him and then left. He did what any one of us are allowed to do, protect ourselves,” Cadman said.

Cadman told jurors the evidence will prove "beyond a reasonable doubt" that the stabbing happened outside of the home and was a split second decision by Vaughn.

The prosecution began their case today and is scheduled to continue Monday at 10 A.M.

Grand Jury Indicts Daren Vaughn in Connection with Tyrell Swann Murder

Penny Ray — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 14:14:32 -0400

A grand jury has indicted Daren Vaughn on charges of premeditated first-degree murder, felony murder, armed robbery and related weapons offenses in connection with the stabbing death of 23-year-old Tyrell Swann. Vaughn pleaded innocent to all charges Thursday and a trial date is scheduled for March 2014.

Police found Swann lying on his kitchen floor in a large pool of blood around 11 p.m. on September 27, 2012. At a preliminary hearing last year, prosecutors alleged that Vaughn attempted to rob Swann after an evening of drinking at the apartment complex where they both lived.

A witness told police that after an altercation outside their building, Swann threw a chair at Vaughn and then ran into the house. The witness said that Vaughn then forced his way into Swann’s apartment and stabbed him once in the chest.

Vaughn is scheduled for a status hearing October 4.

The indictment is below.

Daren Vaughn Indictment (PDF)Daren Vaughn Indictment (Text)

Judge Finds Probable Cause Against Daren Vaughn, Accused of Killing Tyrell Swann

Penny Ray — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 16:16:07 -0500

Daren Vaughn was ordered held Friday after Judge William Jackson found probable cause for the felony murder charge against him. Vaughn is suspected of fatally stabbing Tyrell Swann in September.

Vaughn rejected a deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to second-degree murder, which would carry a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

At the hearing, Vaughn sat slightly hunched over, with his head raised, a blank stare and steady blinking eyes as MPD Detective Robert Arrington described his conversations with witnesses just minutes after the incident.

According to Arrington's testimony, Vaughn, 22, and Swann, 23, had been best friends and neighbors for approximately five years. The two were drinking on the evening of Sept. 27, a witness said, adding that they heard Vaughn say that he felt “twisted,” according to the detective.

Just before 11 p.m. that night, Vaughn and Swann had an altercation outside their apartment building, which prosecutors say witnesses inside overheard.

One witness saw Swann throw a chair at Vaughn and then run into the house. Witnesses say that Vaughn then forced his way into Swann's apartment and stabbed him once in the left chest, Arrington said.

Arrington testified that during his initial interview with police Vaughn “appeared to be lethargic and tired.” After Vaughn was told that Swann had died, his demeanor turned “upset and emotional,” the detective said.

At the end of the interview Swann told detectives that he “couldn't recall what happened.” Vaughn also appeared to have redness around his neck and dried blood on his lip, Arrington said.

At the hearing, the government argued that Vaughn entered Swann's residence to rob him. The defense argued that the government had shown no evidence of Vaughn's intention of robbery.

Vaughn is expected back in court for a status hearing on Feb. 8. Jackson has not yet set a trial date for the case.

Daren Vaughn Arrested on Suspicion of Stabbing Tyrell Swann

Sam Pearson — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 11:53:32 -0400

Police have arrested Daren Vaughn, 22, of Northeast DC on suspicion of stabbing 23-year-old Tyrell Swann to death Sept. 27.

Officers responded to a report of a stabbing in the 500 block of 50th Place NE at 11:05 p.m. that day.

According to court documents, officers arrived at Swann's apartment and found him on the kitchen floor in a large pool of blood. Witnesses told police that Swann was stabbed by Vaughn, who lived a few doors away.

Vaughn turned himself in to police after they knocked on his door, according to court records.

Officers say witnesses told them the men were fighting outside Swann's apartment when Vaughn left and returned with a knife. Swann threw a chair at Vaughn and tried to flee into his apartment but Vaughn overpowered him, police say.

A preliminary hearing in the case is set for Tuesday to determine if Vaughn will stand trial for first-degree murder while armed.

A press release from MPD is below.

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced that an arrest has been made in the fatal stabbing which occurred in the 500 block of 50th Place, NE.

On Thursday, September 27, 2012, at approximately 11:05 pm, units from the Sixth District responded to the 500 block of 50th Place, NE for the report of a stabbing. Upon arrival, they located the victim who was suffering from an apparent stab wound inside the location. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded to the scene and determined that the victim had no signs consistent with life. The victim was later pronounced dead by a member of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

The decedent is identified as 23 year-old Tyrell Swann of Northeast, Washington, DC.

A short time later, 22-year-old Darren Vaughn of Northeast, DC, was arrested and charged with Felony Murder and Burglary One while Armed in the stabbing death of Tyrell Swann.

Charging documents are below: