James Brown | Homicide Watch DChttp://homicidewatch.org/suspects/james-brown/Latest news about James Brownen-usFri, 18 Jul 2014 17:07:05 -0400James Brown Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Darnell River's Deathhttp://homicidewatch.org/2014/07/18/james-brown-sentenced-to-18-months-in-prison-for-darnell-rivers-death/<p>Judge Robert Morin sentenced 23-year-old James Brown Friday to 18 months in prison for shooting <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/darnell-rivers/">Darnell Rivers</a> after Rivers and another man kidnapped his brother, Tony Brown, for ransom. </p> <p>Brown will only serve 2 of those months because Judge Morin decided to sentence Brown "in aggregate" to twenty months in prison, combining two separate incidents. Brown will additionally serve 18 months in prison for attempted first-degree child sex abuse.</p> <p>Brown, 23, <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/2014/05/19/james-brown-pleads-guilty-to-assault-with-a-deadly-weapon-in-death-of-darnell-rivers/">pleaded guilty in May</a> to one count of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of carrying a rifle in connection with Rivers' death. He was <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/2013/11/07/james-brown-indicted-in-darnell-rivers-murder/">originally charged</a> with first-degree premeditated murder, which can be punished by life in prison.<br /> <span id="more-23986"></span><br /> His brother, Tony Brown, was sentenced to 15 months in jail for one count of contempt and one count of escape in connection with River's death.</p> <p>Assistant US Attorney Michelle Bradford said Friday that when she first heard about the case, she thought it was a joke because of the situation's "Hollywood" plot. But instead of behaving like Chuck Norris and retrieving his rifle, James Brown should have involved the police, Bradford said.</p> <p>Charging documents say Tony Brown was kidnapped by Rivers and Javon Hale, who forced him at gunpoint into the back seat of a car. Rivers and Hale demanded money; Tony Brown shot them while the car was moving.</p> <p>Police found Rivers with multiple gunshot wounds in the driver’s seat of a crashed car at the 5000 block of Ayers Place Southeast <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/2012/12/30/man-killed-in-southeast-d-c-shooting-saturday-night/">on December 29, 2012</a>. Prosecutors say James Brown went to the crashed car with the gun and shot Rivers in the face and body after Tony Brown shot Rivers. </p> <p>Bradford said in court that Rivers' mother was unhappy with the plea deal, and declined to file a victim impact statements in the case.</p> <p>James Brown’s defense attorney Eugene Ohm said that before Rivers and Hale kidnapped Tony Brown, they stuck a gun in James Brown's mouth, threatened to "blow him away" and then gave him the opportunity to call someone. Ohm said he called his brother, but immediately regretted putting him in danger.</p> <p>In court Friday, James Brown said that situation was no joke to him. While he asked for forgiveness from the River's family, he also said the incident was the "single most terrible" moment of his life.</p> <p>"Early on", Brown said he struggled to sleep, dreamt of being killed, and often woke up bathed in sweat.</p> <p>Before delivering his sentence, Judge Morin admitted that when the case first came in, he had to reread "who was the victim and who was the defendant."</p> Megan ArellanoFri, 18 Jul 2014 17:07:05 -0400http://homicidewatch.org/2014/07/18/james-brown-sentenced-to-18-months-in-prison-for-darnell-rivers-death/Darnell RiversJames BrownJames Brown Pleads Guilty to Assault with a Deadly Weapon in Death of Darnell Rivershttp://homicidewatch.org/2014/05/19/james-brown-pleads-guilty-to-assault-with-a-deadly-weapon-in-death-of-darnell-rivers/<p><a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/james-brown/">James Brown</a>, 23, pleaded guilty Monday to one count of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of carrying a rifle in connection with the shooting death of <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/darnell-rivers/">Darnell Rivers</a>. </p> <p>In exchange for his plea, Brown will be sentenced to 2 to 3 years in prison. He was originally <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/2013/11/07/james-brown-indicted-in-darnell-rivers-murder/">charged with first-degree premeditated murder</a>, can be punished by life in prison.</p> <p>As a condition of his plea, James Brown's brother Tony Brown also pleaded guilty to one count of contempt and one count of escape in a separate case. Documents say that both men had to plead guilty or neither would receive the deal.<br /> <span id="more-22922"></span></p> <p>On December 29, 2012, Rivers was <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/2012/12/30/man-killed-in-southeast-d-c-shooting-saturday-night/">found dead by police</a> with multiple gunshot wounds in the driver's seat of a crashed car at the 5000 block of Ayers Place Southeast.</p> <p>According to <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/2013/02/01/james-brown-held-in-connection-with-fatal-shooting-of-darnell-rivers/">arrest documents</a>, James Brown's brother, Tony Brown, was kidnapped by Rivers and another man, Javon Hale, who forced him at gunpoint into the back seat. Rivers and Hale demanded money, but Tony Brown shot both Rivers and Hale with his own gun while the car was moving.</p> <p>Witnesses told police that after the car crashed into a tree, they saw James Brown approach and fire several shots into the driver’s side of the car, <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/2013/11/07/james-brown-indicted-in-darnell-rivers-murder/">court documents state</a>.</p> <p>The brothers then got a ride to the hospital from a witness, who told police that James Brown came out with an assault rifle, according to arrest documents.</p> <p>Assistant US Attorney Michelle Bradford told the court that if the case had gone to trial, the prosecution would have proven that James Brown went to the car with the gun and shot Rivers in the face and body. </p> <p>James Brown's defense attorney Eugene Ohm described Brown's progress in prison, his familial ties to the community, and his relationship with mother of his child, adding, "He has a moral viewpoint that he should take care of this child."</p> <p>"It sounds like you have been doing a lot of soul searching," Judge Robert Morin told James Brown, referencing his 15 months in prison, "But I think you are in the safest place for you and for the community. At least until your sentencing."</p> <p>Sentencing is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on July 18.</p> Dana JenningsMon, 19 May 2014 17:44:42 -0400http://homicidewatch.org/2014/05/19/james-brown-pleads-guilty-to-assault-with-a-deadly-weapon-in-death-of-darnell-rivers/Darnell RiversJames BrownJames Brown Indicted in Darnell Rivers Murderhttp://homicidewatch.org/2013/11/07/james-brown-indicted-in-darnell-rivers-murder/<p><a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/james-brown/" >James Brown</a> 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 <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/darnell-rivers/" >Darnell Rivers</a>. </p> <p>Brown pleaded innocent to all charges and remains held pending a status hearing November 22.</p> <p><a href="http://homicidewatch.org/2012/12/30/man-killed-in-southeast-d-c-shooting-saturday-night/" >Rivers was found by police Dec. 29, 2012</a> 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 <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/2013/02/01/james-brown-held-in-connection-with-fatal-shooting-of-darnell-rivers/" >Brown, 23, was arrested</a> and charged in River's death.<br /> <span id="more-18855"></span><br /> Charging documents state on the day of the murder Rivers, and another man, Javon Hale, kidnapped Brown's brother Tony Brown. They put Tony Brown in a car and planned to take him to his apartment, and rob him. But as the car sped off, Tony Brown pulled out a gun and shot Rivers. Hale then shot Tony Brown in the face, and Brown returned fire, shooting Hale in the wrist, documents state.</p> <p>Rivers crashed the car into a tree, while Hale and Tony Brown both fled the scene on foot.</p> <p>Witnesses told police they saw James Brown then approach the crashed vehicle on foot, and fired several shots into the driver’s side of the car, court documents state.</p> <p><a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/darnell-rivers/" >At a preliminary hearing in September</a>, Metropolitan Police Detective Thomas Smith testified that a majority of the bullet wounds were found on the left side of Rivers’ body. Smith said that only one bullet wound came from behind, and was found in Rivers’ spine.</p> <p>Smith also testified that the medical examiner determined that it wasn’t possible to know which bullet caused Rivers' death.</p> <p>Court documents state that casing shells recovered from the crime scene were fired from a Kel-Tec 9-millimeter semi-automatic firearm police found in Brown’s apartment.</p> <p>The case is scheduled for a status hearing on November 22 with Judge Robert Morin.</p> Ivan NatividadThu, 07 Nov 2013 14:22:27 -0500http://homicidewatch.org/2013/11/07/james-brown-indicted-in-darnell-rivers-murder/Darnell RiversJames BrownProbable Cause Found Against James Brown in Slaying of Darnell Rivershttp://homicidewatch.org/2013/02/15/probable-cause-found-against-james-brown-in-slaying-of-darnell-rivers/<p>Judge Robert Morin found probable cause Friday that <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/james-brown/" >James Brown</a> was involved in the Dec. 2012 slaying of 22-year-old <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/darnell-rivers/" >Darnell Rivers</a>.</p> <p>Morin also found probable cause that co-defendant Javon Hale kidnapped Brown's brother, Tony. And Morin found probable cause that Tony Brown was carrying a pistol outside his home without a license. All three men remain held.</p> <p>Defense attorneys initially requested that the men's cases be separated, but prosecutors argued that the cases were so intertwined that they needed to be tried as a group. <span id="more-13104"></span></p> <p>According to charging documents in the case, on the evening of Dec. 29, 2012, Hale and Rivers <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/2013/02/01/james-brown-held-in-connection-with-fatal-shooting-of-darnell-rivers/" >kidnapped Tony Brown at gunpoint</a> and had planned to take him back to his apartment and rob him of his belongings. The suspects, however, did not search Brown before forcing him into the backseat of a vehicle.</p> <p>As the vehicle sped off, Tony Brown pulled out a gun and shot Rivers. Hale shot back, striking Brown in the face. Brown returned fire, striking Hale in the wrist, the documents say.</p> <p>Rivers crashed the vehicle into a tree in the 5000 block of Ayers Place Southeast; Hale and Tony Brown both fled the scene.</p> <p>Arrest documents say that a few minutes later, a witness saw James Brown approach the crashed vehicle on foot and fire several shots into the driver's side of the car.</p> <p>Rivers died on the scene from multiple gunshot wounds.</p> <p>Detective Thomas Smith testified Friday that a deputy medical examiner determined that Rivers was alive when each bullet entered his body.</p> <p>"There was hemorrhaging in all of the wounds, indicating that his heart was still beating," Smith said.</p> <p>Smith said the majority of the bullet entry wounds were focused on the left side of Rivers' body and that only one bullet wound came from behind him. That bullet, Smith said, was found lodged in Rivers' spinal column.</p> <p>James Brown's defense attorney, David Maxted, argued that the bullet found in Rivers' spine was a fatal shot and that Brown's alleged actions happened when he was already dead.</p> <p>Smith testified that the medical examiner determined that the cause of death was multiple gun shot wounds and it wasn't possible to pinpoint which one caused death.</p> <p>Several 9-millimeter and .40 caliber shell casings were recovered from the scene of the incident, along with a .45 caliber pistol and a .38 special revolver with five spent cartridges in its cylinder.</p> <p>A search warrant recovered a Kel-Tec 9-millimeter semi-automatic firearm from Brown's apartment; technicians concluded that the casings recovered from the scene were fired from that gun.</p> <p>A felony status conference has been scheduled for April 12.</p> Penny RayFri, 15 Feb 2013 18:14:33 -0500http://homicidewatch.org/2013/02/15/probable-cause-found-against-james-brown-in-slaying-of-darnell-rivers/Darnell RiversJames BrownJames Brown Held in Connection with Fatal Shooting of Darnell Rivershttp://homicidewatch.org/2013/02/01/james-brown-held-in-connection-with-fatal-shooting-of-darnell-rivers/<p>Judge Lori Parker ruled today that there was enough evidence to hold <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/james-brown/" >James Brown</a> in connection with the death of 22-year-old <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/darnell-rivers/" >Darnell Rivers</a>, in what detectives believe was a kidnapping attempt that turned into a shootout. </p> <p>Brown, 23, was arrested Thursday afternoon and charged with first-degree murder while armed.</p> <p>According to arrest documents, several witnesses helped police piece together what occurred on that Saturday evening. </p> <p>Detectives believe that Rivers and another man, Javon Hale, had kidnapped Brown's brother Tony at gunpoint in the vicinity of 51st Street and Astor Place Southeast on December 29, 2012. Hale and Rivers forced Tony Brown into the rear passenger side of a vehicle -- but did not search him -- and then sped off, according to documents in the case. <span id="more-12777"></span></p> <p>As the alleged kidnappers drove away, Brown suddenly pulled a gun and shot Rivers.</p> <p>Hale shot back, striking Tony Brown in the face. Brown returned fire, striking Hale in the wrist, the documents say.</p> <p>Rivers crashed the vehicle into a tree in the 5000 block of Ayers Place Southeast; Hale and Tony Brown both fled the scene. </p> <p>Arrest documents say that a few minutes later, a witness saw James Brown approach the crashed vehicle on foot and fire several shots into Rivers' body.</p> <p>Rivers died on the scene from multiple gunshot wounds. </p> <p>Police found a blood trail that led south from the crashed vehicle through the 5000 block of Ayers Place Southeast; a second blood trail led east towards 51st Street.</p> <p>Several 9mm and .40 caliber shell casings were recovered from the scene, along with a .45 caliber pistol and a .38 special revolver containing five spent cartridges in its cylinder. </p> <p>Two days later, a search warrant recovered a Kel-Tec 9mm semi-automatic firearm from Brown's apartment; technicians concluded that the 9mm casings recovered from the scene were fired from that gun.</p> <p>Hale was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping earlier this week. He's expected for a preliminary hearing Feb. 8 with Judge Robert Morin. Brown is expected for a preliminary hearing in the same courtroom at the same time. </p> <p><em>The MPD press release and charging documents are below.</em></p> <blockquote><p> <strong>Arrest Made in Homicide: 5000 Block of Ayers Place, SE</strong></p> <p>(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced that an arrest has been made in the fatal shooting which occurred in the 5000 block of Ayers Place, Southeast.</p> <p>On Saturday, December 29, 2012, at approximately 7:47 pm, DC Housing Police responded to the area of the 5000 block of Ayers Place, SE for the report of the sounds of gunshots. During a canvass of the area they discovered an unresponsive adult male inside of a vehicle suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and determined that the victim had no signs consistent with life. He was later pronounced dead by a member of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Two additional adult male victims, who sustained apparent non-life-threatening gunshot wounds, were later located at a local hospital.</p> <p>The decedent is identified as 22-year-old Darnell Rivers of Southeast, Washington, DC.</p> <p>On Thursday, January 31, 2013, at approximately 5:14 pm, 23-year-old James Brown of Southeast, DC, was arrested by officers of the Sixth District pursuant to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant charging him with First Degree Murder in the shooting death of Darnell Rivers. </p> <p>###</p> <p>Police Officer Araz Alali</p> <p>Metropolitan Police Department</p> <p>Executive Office of the Chief of Police</p> <p>Office of Communications</p> <p>Main: 202-727-4383</p> <p>Desk: 202-727-2662</p> <p>Please follow us on Twitter.com @DCPoliceDept</p> <p>araz.alali@dc.gov</p> <p><script src="//s3.amazonaws.com/s3.documentcloud.org/viewer/loader.js"></script><br /> <script> DV.load("//www.documentcloud.org/documents/564252-james-brown-arrest-documents.js", { width: 450, height: 600, sidebar: false, container: "#DV-viewer-564252-james-brown-arrest-documents" }); </script></p> <noscript> <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/564252/james-brown-arrest-documents.pdf" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','download','http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/564252/james-brown-arrest-documents.pdf']);">James Brown Arrest Documents (PDF)</a><br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/564252/james-brown-arrest-documents.txt" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.documentcloud.org']);">James Brown Arrest Documents (Text)</a><br /> </noscript> Penny RayFri, 01 Feb 2013 18:22:13 -0500http://homicidewatch.org/2013/02/01/james-brown-held-in-connection-with-fatal-shooting-of-darnell-rivers/Darnell RiversJames Brown