Michael Gayle Arrested in NC for Eboni Donally Murder

A man suspected of killing 31-year-old Eboni Domally was arrested in Charlotte, North Carolina, according to WCNC, a local NBC station.

Michael Gayle was arrested by U.S. marshals and Charlotte-Mecklenburg police at his home in Charlotte. He was booked into Mecklenburg County Jail, the station reported.

Domally was found stabbed to death in the 5200 block of Queens Stroll Place Southeast on June 29. Police announced they were looking for Gayle and named him as a suspect on July 2.

New Flyers Identify Transgender Homicide Victims on MPD Site

The Metropolitan Police Department recently introduced a new category for transgender victims on their website’s unsolved homicide flyers page, one of the many steps the department is taking to improve relations with the city’s LGBT community.

The category titled Transgender Victims was introduced in preparation for last month’s town hall meeting between MPD and members of the LGBT community, organized in part by the DC Trans Coalition.

Transgender advocates and allies say the step is meaningful, but not enough.

Acknowledging that these victims were trans women of color is a necessary first step, but by itself is insufficient,” said RJ Nickels, member of DCTC. “More work is needed to repair the broken relationship between the trans and broader LGBTQ community and MPD.”
Read more

Is Cell Phone Location Data Good Enough For Court?

In the Washington Post this weekend, Tom Jackman wrote about a legal threat to the use of cell phone records to provide evidence to a person’s location.

Cell phone records are often used in court to testify to a defendant— or others— being in the vicinity of a crime.

The location information is determined based on an analysis of the cell phone towers a phone “pings” off of. Generally, a person’s phone, if proved to be with them, can provide evidence of where a person is (but not their exact location).

Reports Jackman:

Cellphone records are often used as evidence, relied upon to trace which cell tower was used to make or receive a call and then determine a caller’s whereabouts. But experts say that using a single tower to precisely locate where someone was at the time of a crime has severe limitations. Read more

Police Determine Suicide as Cause of Death in NE DC Fire

A man found dead inside a burning home in Northeast DC earlier this month has been identified and police have determined the cause of death to be suicide.

Investigators determined that the fire to the home was intentionally set, MPD said.

WUSA9: 14-year-old Pleads Innocent To Easter Monday Zoo Shooting

WUSA 9 reports 14-year-old boy charged with attempted first-degree murder in connection to the shooting outside the Smithsonian National Zoo on Easter Monday has pleaded innocent. WUSA9 reports the teen’s next court date has not been scheduled.

Police say the teenager is a member of a Southwest Washington gang that had been fighting with another group, Johnson reports.

Police say the 14-year-old shot the two members of the opposing gang in the hand and arm respectively. Both of the victims were treated and released from the hospital.

Read the rest at WUSA9.

Breaking the Cycle: Mental Health, Violence and Crime

Curtis Mozie from the Tale of the Tape Foundation. (Photo by Kristian Hernandez)

Curtis Mozie, videographer, author and founder of The Tale of the Tape Foundation, has witnessed death and violence firsthand on the streets of D.C. for over thirty years. (Photo by Kristian Hernandez)

He ran across the street looking for help leaving a trail of blood. The 19-year-old collapsed at the entrance of the nearby Kennedy Recreation Center, where his close friend Curtis Mozie worked.

Mozie remembers seeing him laying on the floor bleeding from a stab wound to his heart as he rushed to help him. He gave the teen CPR and brought him back to life twice, but when the medics arrived it was too late. Dalontray Williams, the boy people often mistook as Mozie’s little brother, passed away in his arms.

It was one more loss for a man who has spent years documenting the violence of DC’s streets.
Read more

Man Shot in NE DC Friday Afternoon Dies of Injuries

A man shot near H Street in Northeast DC has died of his injuries.

A message on the First District listserv states: Read more

Man Killed in Wednesday Afternoon Shooting May Have Committed Suicide

A man found dead from gunshot wounds inside a home on the 5600 block of Chillum Place Northeast may have committed suicide, according to MPD.
Read more

Week in Review

In brief:

Two homicides were reported in D.C. this week:

Kahlil Malik Tatum was found dead from an apparent suicide in Kenilworth Park on Monday. Police suspect Tatum is the abductor of 8-year-old Relisha Rudd, who is still missing.

Gregory Allen Green was arrested and held on suspicion of first-degree murder while armed, felony murder and attempted robbery in connection with the shooting death of Derrick Eugene Williams. Charging documents say a witness said that Green was one of two people standing over Williams moments after three gunshots were heard.

Antonio Williams was held on a charge of second-degree murder in connection with the death of Andre McIntyre. According to charging documents, two witnesses told police that McIntyre owed money to Williams for “drugs bought on credit” prior to the attack.

Rashad Slye was sentenced to 17 years in prison for second-degree murder in connection with the shooting death and attempted robbery of Domingo Ezirike, a 40-year-old cab driver from Prince Georges County. Prosecutors say that Ezirike stopped to pick up Slye and his girlfriend in his cab, but after an argument, Slye shot Ezirike.

Judge John Ramsey Johnson dismissed the case against Asia Dontrese Moore, suspected in connection to the stabbing death of her boyfriend Marvin Harvey. Bill Miller, spokesman for the United States Attorney’s Office, explained that the investigation of Harvey’s death will continue.

The retrial of Joshua Andrews began with opening arguments this week. Four months ago, a jury was unable to decide whether Andrews was guilty or innocent of first-degree murder while armed in the 2010 shooting death of Darond Alonte Lucas.

Attorneys gave their opening arguments in the case of Antoine Little, charged with second-degree murder while armed and carrying a dangerous weapon in connection with the stabbing death of James Eric Cain. Prosecutors say Little stabbed Cain five times after Cain called Little a “fake Muslim.” But Little’s defense attorneys say he acted in self-defense.

Jurors began deliberations in the murder trial of Donte Graves, charged with second-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Tyrone Joyner. In closing arguments Wednesday, defense attorneys said Joyner could have been shot and killed by another man, while prosecutors said eyewitness testimony proves Graves was the shooter.

The trial of Daren Vaughn continued this week with the defense’s case. Vaughn is charged with premeditated first-degree murder, felony murder, armed robbery and related weapons offenses in connection with the stabbing death of 23-year-old Tyrell Swann.

Relisha Rudd Case: Police Release Video of Person Who May Have Information

MPD has released a video of a person who who appears to be walking off an escalator in a DC area metro station. MPD is trying to identify that person in connection with the disappearance of eight-year-old Relisha Rudd. They say he may have information about the girl.

The video, and MPD’s press release, is below.

Read more