Homicide Watch D.C.

Two men named in court documents in August have been arrested in connection with the stabbing death of Kelvin Willis.

Willis was killed in November 2010 in the unit block of N Street Northwest. In August of this year, Ladonte Hawkins was arrested and ordered held while a grand jury investigates his connection— if any— to Willis’ death.

In charging documents, detectives named Robert Crowder and Rico Carr and said they were participants in the death. Crowder and Carr were arrested Wednesday and are expected to be presented each with a charge of first-degree murder.
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Despite a government shutdown, operations at D.C. Superior Court are proceeding as planned, with all scheduled hearings and trials underway and filings and payments being accepted.

Those on jury duty are expected to report for service. At least one murder trial is expected to be seated this week. Read more

Judge Karen Howze ruled that there was enough evidence Monday to hold William Hogan, 28, in connection with the September shooting death of Robert Spencer.

On Sep. 17th at 10:22 p.m. police found Spencer lying unconscious next to a wad from a fired shotgun shell and a steel projectile consistent with buckshot ammunition near the sidewalk of 134 Irvington Street, SW, according to court records. Spencer, who was taken to a local hospital due to multiple gunshot wounds to the body, was pronounced dead at 10:59 p.m.
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A 28-year-old Maryland man was arrested Sunday in connection with the September 17 shooting death of 21-year-old Robert Spencer.

The suspect, identified by police as William Hogan, is expected to be presented with a charge of second-degree murder while armed, police said.
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In brief:

Devar Battle, 34, was killed shortly after midnight Saturday in Southeast DC.

Mark Anthony Coates was sentenced to 23 years in prison for the December 2011 death of 56-year-old Leroy Studevant.

Judge Russell Canan found substantial probability in the case against Allen Culver. Prosecutors have charged Culver with the shooting death of 31-year-old Robert Plight. Culver remains held pending a grand jury investigation.

Judge Robert Richter found substantial probability Monday in the case against Donald Dubose. Dubose is suspected of participating in the May 2012 drive-by shooting death of 34-year-old Michael Oshea Smith.

A warrant was issued for a suspect wanted in connection with the shooting deaths of siblings Jamie and Jamahl Jenkins, who were killed in the 5300 block of Eat Capitol Street Northeast in July. MPD said that the warrant was issued for 38-year-old Kevin Antione Walker. Police described Walker as a “black male, 5’8 in height, 195 pounds, brown eyes, black hair, and medium complexion.”

The family of Richard “Mike” Ridgell, 52, one of the victims of last week’s mass shooting at the Washington Navy Yard, has established a fund to help the man’s children with college and other expenses.

The FBI released new details about the mass shooting, including video of the gunman, Aaron Alexis, who was fatally shot by police.

Michael Smith, 33, was arraigned last Friday on charges of first-degree murder while armed, and other related offenses in connection with the shooting death of 24-year-old Paul Aime Tanoh Danzo. The charges were part of a case that initially charged Smith as being an accessory to Danzo’s murder. This week, Judge Frederick Sullivan found that there was substantial evidence in the case.

Judge Russell Canan sentenced Earl Johnson Tuesday to 14 years and three months in prison for the August 2012 stabbing death of 29-year-old Antoinette Mitchell.

Peter Hendy pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with the death of 4-year-old Kamari Zavon Taylor. Prosecutors dropped an initial charge of first-degree murder in exchange for the plea.

Marvin Moore was arrested on a charge of second-degree murder while armed in connection with the stabbing death of Timothy Benjamin on Saturday, Sep. 21 in the rear of the 5300 block of Georgia Avenue, NW.

Greg Whittaker and Chavez Myers pleaded guilty Tuesday in connection with the stabbing death of 18-year-old Olijawon Emmanuel Griffin. The men were scheduled to stand trial this week.

Davon Thomas pleaded guilty in connection with the January death of 53-year-old Emanuel Campbell, who died after being pushed to the ground and striking his head.

Marvin Moore, 36, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed in connection with the stabbing death of 58-year-old Timothy Benjamin. He was released on a $500,000 bond due to being hospitalized and unavailable to attend a court hearing Friday.

An overnight shooting in the 3000 block of 30th Street Southeast killed 34-year-old Devar Battle, MPD said in a statement.

Battle, a Southeast D.C. resident, was found suffering from gunshot wounds around 12:40 a.m., police said. He died at a local hospital.

MPD’s full statement is below: Read more

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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Davon Thomas, 24, pleaded guilty Friday in connection with the January death of 53-year-old Emanuel Campbell, who died after being pushed to the ground and striking his head.

Thomas pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the case and faces a potential sentence of four to ten years in prison. By accepting the plea, Thomas avoids a trial on a charge of second-degree murder.
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Marvin Moore was released on a $500,000 bond after being hospitalized and unavailable to attend a court hearing Friday. Moore, 36, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection with the stabbing death of 58-year-old Timothy Benjamin.

Court documents state that Moore is currently at Providence Hospital receiving medical care, but do not state whether he is injured or ill or what his condition is.

Police found Benjamin on September 21 at approximately 12:41 a.m. in the rear of the 5300 block of Georgia Avenue Northwest suffering from multiple stab wounds.
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A 36-year-old Northwest DC man was arrested Thursday in connection with a fatal stabbing on Georgia Avenue NW last week.

The suspect, identified by police as Marvin Moore, is expected to be presented with a charge of second-degree murder while armed, police said.

Timothy Benjamin was found stabbed shortly after midnight on Saturday, Sep. 21 in the rear of the 5300 block of Georgia Avenue, NW. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A press release from MPD is after the jump.
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