Earl Johnson pleaded guilty Tuesday to a charge of voluntary manslaughter while armed in connection with the stabbing death of 29-year-old Antoinette Mitchell.
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Grand Jury Indicts Joshua Johnson in Connection with the Murder of Davon Brown
Joshua Johnson pleaded innocent Tuesday to charges that he fatally shot 22-year-old Davon Brown in July 2012.
A grand jury indicted Johnson on a charge of first-degree murder and several assault and weapons offenses last week.
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James Fells Found Innocent in 2011 Murder of Christopher Freeman
James Fells was found innocent Tuesday, freeing him from charges related to the 2011 murder of Christopher Freeman.
Jurors in the case deliberated for less than three hours before reaching their verdict.
Dressed in a sweater vest and tie, Fells, 28, wiped the tears from his eyes as the foreperson read the jury’s decision around 3.p.m Tuesday.
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Jury Deliberations Begin in Murder Trial Against James Fells
Jurors in the murder trial of James Fells heard closing arguments in the case Tuesday morning.
Fells, 28, is charged with first-degree murder and several assault and firearms charges in connection with the 2011 shooting death of 28-year-old Christopher Freeman.
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“I just apologize,” Brian Gaither Says at Sentencing in Murder of Latisha Frazier
Judge William Jackson sentenced Brian Gaither to 32 years in prison Tuesday for his role in the brutal 2011 murder of 18-year-old Latisha Frazier.
Gaither pleaded guilty last year, but later tried to withdraw the guilty plea. Jackson rejected that motion March 22.
Gaither and five others were suspected of beating Frazier to death in Aug. 2010. All except one, Johnnie Sweets, have pleaded guilty in connection with the case. One suspect told police they thought Frazier had stolen money from Sweet.
Police say the young people beat Frazier, taped and gagged her and left her in a closet. They then put Frazier’s body in a dumpster, police say, where investigators think it was taken to a Virginia landfill. Police haven’t been able to locate Frazier’s body.
Frazier’s father, Barry Campbell, told the court Frazier’s death has been difficult for his family and for Frazier’s young daughter.
“To lose a child, there’s nothing like it,” Campbell said.
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Comment of the Day: ‘I just hope I can find closure with all of this’
Today’s comment of the day comes from “A Friend Who is Mourning,” who left a comment about Christopher Lalchan:
I just hope I can find closure with all of this. Even as a friend of Chris’ there is so much that I would like to say, but can no longer say to him now that he’s gone.
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SE DC Shooting Victim Identified as Darius Cannon, 16
The victim of a fatal shooting in Southeast DC overnight has been identified as 16-year-old Darius Cannon of Southeast DC.
A press release from MPD states that police were called to the 2700 block of Langston Place, SE at about 12:37 a.m. Sunday for a report of gunshots. They found Cannon at that location injured. The teen was taken to a local hospital where he died.
Cannon is the second person under the age of 18 killed this year. Four-year-old Samauri Jenkins died in a fire in Southeast DC February 19.
MPD’s press release is after the jump.
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Teen Killed in SE DC Shooting Overnight
Week in Review
In brief:
James Fells‘ homicide trial began before Judge Ronna Beck, where a witness testified Tuesday that Fells shot and killed Christopher Freeman without provocation.
Dianna Lalchan was ordered held at a halfway house on a voluntary manslaughter charge after she shot and killed her husband, Christopher Lalchan. Dianna Lalchan told police she was defending herself against her husband.
A grand jury indicted Anthony Campbell Friday on first-degree murder charges in connection with the death of Antwain Henderson. Campbell was also charged with evidence tampering and two firearms offenses.
Quindetta Cosby was sentenced to 16 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of 49-year-old Paul Lawrence Morris. “I’d like to apologize to the Morris family,” Cosby said. “I’d also like to ask for their forgiveness because I truly didn’t mean to do it. I was under the influence of drugs. I regret it every day; I think about it all the time.”
Doctors at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital told a judge that Gary Montgomery is mentally competent to stand trial in the stabbing death of 23-year-old JaParker Deoni Jones.
Samuel Nelson was sentenced to 13 years and 4 months in prison for the death of his friend, Darnell Howard, last year. “I myself wish things would’ve went a different way than they did,” Nelson told the court. The fact that he knew their family made it more difficult, Nelson said.
Week Ahead
Each week, Homicide Watch brings you a list of upcoming hearings in the cases we follow. All hearings are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. unless otherwise noted. To add an item to the listing, email homicidewatchdc [at] gmail.com. To see scheduled court hearings beyond next week, see our calendar.
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