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District Man Convicted of 26 Counts, Including Obstruction of Justice and Threats, In Events Surrounding 2008 Killing - Defendant Faces Retrial on Murder Charges -
WASHINGTON - Roderick A. Ridley, 34, of Washington, D.C., has been convicted of 26 felony counts stemming from events surrounding the 2008 murder of a woman inside an apartment building in Southeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Ridley was convicted on June 3, 2011, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, of one count each of first degree burglary and carrying a dangerous weapon, eight counts of obstruction of justice, six counts of contempt, and 10 counts of felony threats. However, after six days of deliberations, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on felony murder, premeditated murder and another count of threats stemming from the killing of 33-year-old Tiffany Gates. Read more
Tina Lindsay wrote in today about her son, Ralph Hodge Jr., who was 17 years old when he was killed in August 2008 in the 4800 block of Benning Road, SE.
Johnny Graves was 19 years old when he was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder in connection with the case. Graves, who will be 22 years old at the end of this month, is in custody and awaiting trial. He has been indicted on one count of first-degree murder, one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count of carrying a pistol without a license. No trial date has been set.
Tina Lindsay said she’s haunted by her son’s death. She wrote:
I lost my son on 8/27/2008 to a violent crime by his own friend. My son’s name was Ralph Hodge Jr, (Chuck) a lot of people knew him, because he played football for Marshall Heights Bison. He was on the team that went to Florida and won the Superbowl. It is a very hard thing to lose a child, I still sits and wait for him to walk through the door, even though I no that he never will. I have a hard time listening to some songs that he liked, I can’t even look at his pictures. Ralph was killed in Washington, DC at a Corner store on Benning Road SE. He will always be in my heart.
Witnesses to a Friday evening shooting that killed 36-year-old Ralph Thomas described a chaotic scene to police, with people shouting to protect children and running for cover.
In charging documents, prosecutors allege that Oma Crawford, a 25-year-old Maryland man, shot Thomas that night after an argument about Thomas communicating with Crawford’s wife.
Both men played on a minor league football team and at least one other person from the team was at McKinley High School’s football field with the men when the shooting occurred.
Thomas and Crawford appeared to have settled their argument Friday evening, when the two walked with another man toward the high school parking lot, a witness said. But moments later, calls to “get out of the way, get your children” rang out and people ran for cover. Four shots fired and a man said “OMARNO, OMARNO,” then an expletive, charging documents allege.
A Maryland man suspected of shooting to death 36-year-old Ralph Thomas outside McKinley Tech High School on Friday evening is expected in court July 1 for a preliminary hearing in the case.
Oma Crawford, 25, was presented with a second-degree murder charge in the case Saturday.
MPD Chief Cathy Lanier said this morning that an arrest has been made in the shooting death of a man in McKinley Tech High School’s parking lot Friday evening.
The case has been closed with an arrest thanks to the 5D officers quick action on the scene last night.
A later press release identified the shooter as 25-year-old Oma Crawford of Landover, Md. He is suspected of first degree murder while armed, police said.
Update:MPD has identified the man arrested as 25-year-old Oma Crawford of Landover, Maryland.
Arrest Made in the Homicide in the 100 Block of T Street, NE
(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating the fatal shooting which occurred in the 100 block of T Street, NE.
On Friday, June 3, 2011, at approximately 8:35 pm, units from the Fifth District responded to the 100 block of T Street, NE to investigate a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered an adult male victim suffering from gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded to the scene and determined there were no signs of life. His remains were transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner.
The decedent has been identified as 36-year-old Ralph Thomas of Temple Hills, MD.
Arrested and charged with First Degree Murder while Armed is 25-year-old Oma Crawford of Landover, Maryland.
Garrett Armand White, a 25-year-old Northwest DC man, was stabbed to death in the 5400 blk of Georgia Avenue, NW Sunday.
A previously unidentified shooting victim was identified as Ronnie Speight, a 20-year-old Northwest DC man.
A fatal shooting early Monday morning on Morse Street NE claimed the life of 28-year-old Keith Leon Turner, of Capitol Heights, MD.
Fifteen year old Isaiah Harriswas killed in a shooting near Truxton Circle Monday night. His 14-year-old friend was also shot, but survived. Eugene Kelly, 26, was arrested later in the week in connection with Harris’ death. In charging documents prosecutors allege that Kelly was attempting to avenge his brother’s murder.
Ronald Page pleaded innocent to the shooting death of his stepson, Nicholas Satcher, in Northeast DC in January. Page is charged with second-degree murder in the case.
Alonzo Vaughn was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the October 2007 murder of 20-year-old William Bates.
Charles Coates was ordered held in the shooting death of his cousin, Eddie Leonard Jr., who was killed in Northeast DC in February. Prosecutors allege Coates may have killed Leonard for $200, money he needed to pay a cable bill.
Lamont Warren, 36, was stabbed to death in Northeast DC early Thursday morning. Patricia Cave, 49, was arrested in connection with the murder.
Monquel Nathan Cook, 21, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of felony murder while armed in the shooting death of 47-year-old Michael Milton Wilson in August 2010.
Investigators determined that there is not enough evidence to pursue criminal charges in the death of Ali Ahmed Mohammed outside the DC9 nightclub, closing the investigation.
“Ralph Thomas RIP my dude, I was just with @ the shop …. this shit makes no sense!!!” said Chris Createdc .
“my friend was killed in dc tonight in my hometown RIP Ralph aka Suga Wuga DC we need to put the GUNSDOWN! please,” said DODATONY-T.
MPD has not issued any statement on the homicide.
According to Thomas’ Facebook profile, he was a media entrepreneur who lived in Camp Springs, Md. He said he founded “Show N Tale,” “an American men’s magazine that features photographs of sexy women as well as journalism and fiction.” The magazine was founded this year, according to Thomas’ profile.
He lists his previous employers as The Phoenix Theater, PG County Public Schools and the United States Navy. He attended Bladensburg High School and Bowie State University.
A man died of a gunshot wound Friday night in a high school parking lot in Northeast DC, the Washington Post reports.
Reports the Post,
The shooting occurred in a parking lot at McKinley Tech high school in Northeast Washington, authorities said.
D.C. public school officials said it appeared that the man was not connected with the school system.
A DC Alert went out at 8:44 Friday night for a shooting at the same location. That alert included a lookout for a black male with dreads and wearing all black clothing.
A homicide occurred at 101 T Street NE (McKinley Tech H.S.) at approximately 8:30 PM on June 3, 2011.
Fifth District units responded to the scene, along with members of multiple other units of the Metropolitan Police Department. An investigation was conducted by detectives of the Violent Crimes Branch.
I would like to express my thanks to the community and specifically the large group of citizens who were asked to remain on the school campus while the investigation on scene was conducted. I am aware of the hardships and difficulties this may have posed for many of you. The attitudes we encountered were refreshingly polite and showed an understanding of the situation I have never encountered before. Your support and understanding as a group assisted us as members of the department working such a serious investigation greatly. Thank you.
Homicide Watch is a community-driven reporting project covering every murder in the District of Columbia. Using original reporting, court documents, social media, and the help of victims’ and suspects’ friends, family, neighbors and others, we cover every homicide from crime to conviction. Read more…
