Homicide Watch D.C.

James Brown was arraigned Thursday on charges of first-degree premeditated murder while armed, obstruction of justice, tampering with evidence, accessory to murder after the fact, and related weapons offenses in connection with the 2012 shooting death of 22-year-old Darnell Rivers.

Brown pleaded innocent to all charges and remains held pending a status hearing November 22.

Rivers was found by police Dec. 29, 2012 at approximately 7:47 p.m. on the 5000 block of Ayers Place Southeast shot and dead inside a vehicle that had crashed into a tree. One month later Brown, 23, was arrested and charged in River’s death.
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A Southeast DC man died Tuesday after being shot multiple times in the 3200 block of 6th Street, Southeast, MPD said Wednesday afternoon.

Police have identified the man shot late Tuesday night as 24-year-old James Edward Booker.

Detectives believe that Booker was initially shot in the 3200 block of 6th Street, Southeast, and then ran to the 500 block of Alabama Avenue, Southeast where he eventually collapsed. Police found Booker unconscious in the 500 block of Alabama Avenue, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, at around 9:56 p.m. Booker was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Read more

DNA evidence nearly 30 years old helped MPD detectives close a cold case homicide with the arrest Tuesday of a suspect.

At a press conference Tuesday evening, Assistant D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham said that it was new technology to analyze DNA that led police to fifty-five-year-old Joe Anthony Barber, charging him with the January 1, 1984 stabbing death of Rachel Cox.
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Jury deliberations in the murder case against Joshua Andrews, on trial for first-degree murder while armed, assault with intention to kill and three related weapon charges in the shooting death of Darond Lucas began Tuesday.

Lucas was fatally shot on June 5, 2010. Prosecutors believe that Andrews and another man waited for Lucas outside 1644 W Street Southeast. When Lucas left the building, the men shot at him several times. Lucas fell to the ground. Prosecutors say Andrews then leaned over Lucas’s body and continued to shoot.
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MPD has closed a homicide case nearly 30 years old with the arrest of a Woodbridge, Va. man Tuesday.

The victim in the case is Rachel Cox, a Southeast DC woman who was 43 years old on January 1, 1984, the day she was found dead inside a building in the 3300 block of 6th Street, Southeast.

Cox had been sexually assaulted and stabbed, MPD said Tuesday. She was one 175 people killed in DC that year and until now her death remained unsolved.
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A shooting early Sunday morning in the 3500 block of Stanton Road, Southeast killed Jeffrey Jarrell Garnett, a 25-year-old Southeast DC man, MPD said Sunday evening.

Garnett was found dead by members from the Criminal Investigation Division who were canvassing the area in connection with another investigation, MPD said.

A press release is after the jump.
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In brief:

A double shooting on the 3000 block of Stanton Road Southeast injured one woman and killed 23-year-old William Deon Howard. MPD has not arrested a suspect in connection with Howard’s death.

Diallobe McDougal, 38, was stabbed and killed on the 1800 block of Central Place Northeast. No suspects have been arrested in connection with McDougal’s death.

Joseph David Fowlkes, 27, was shot and killed on the 400 block of Sheperd Street Northwest. No suspects have been arrested in connection with Fowlkes’ murder.

Justin Wilson and Reese William were ordered held in connection with a double shooting on Florida Avenue that killed 28-year-old Freddy Hawkins. Wilson and William remain held pending a preliminary hearing November 14.

Witness testimony began in the murder trial charging Jeffrey Mills with the 2012 death of 45-year-old Juan Antonio Paredes. Mills, 50, is alleged to have beaten Paredes with a six-foot barbell on a Saturday afternoon in January 2012, just one block from the Columbia Heights metro station.

Judge Robert Morin found probable cause in the case against Ahmad Robertson-Bey. Robertson-Bey is suspected of fatally shooting 26-year-old Andre Wilson. Robertson-Bey, 22, remains held pending a felony status conference December 20.

Opening arguments and witness testimony began in the murder trial charging Joshua Andrews with the 2010 shooting death of 17-year-old Darond Alonte Lucas.

Judge Russell Canan ordered that the murder trial charging Albrecht Muth with the 2011 death of his 91-year-old wife, Viola Herms Drath, will proceed without Muth being present. Muth, 49, has been unable to attend court hearings due to medical conditions he endures from a nine-month self-induced fast. The case is scheduled for a trial readiness hearing November 21.

Judge Ronna Beck sentenced William Faison to 25 years in prison in connection with the 2011 shooting death of 19-year-old Jeffrey Covington. Faison, 23, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed in June.

Alex cater was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the 2011 death of 56-year-old Leroy Studevant. Cater, 31, is one of two codefendants in the case. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in June.

Chave Myers is seeking to withdraw his guilty plea in connection with the 2012 shooting death of 17-year-old Olijawon Griffin. Myers, 17, remains held pending a status hearing November 15.

William Hogan pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed in connection with the September shooting death of 21-year-old Robert Spencer. Hogan is scheduled to be sentenced January 10, 2014 with Judge Beck.

MPD Chief Cathy Lanier spoke at the American Bar Association this week, addressing DC homicide investigations.

Reports the Associated Press:

Lanier spent most of the session explaining her management style and steps she has taken to reduce the homicide rate, including investing in technology, building sources in the community and expanding the department’s social media presence, since taking over as chief in 2007.
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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 homicidewatch [at] gmail.com. To see scheduled court hearings beyond next week, see our calendar.
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William Hogan pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree murder while armed in connection with the September shooting death of 21-year-old Robert Spencer.

Police found Spencer on Sept. 17 at 10:22 p.m. on the 100 block of Irvington Street Southwest suffering from a gunshot wound. Spencer was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead at 10:59 p.m.
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