Jashua Johnson | Homicide Watch DC

Jury Finds Jashua Johnson Innocent in Davon Brown's Death

Megan Arellano — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 17:50:18 -0500

"Do you believe medical records or do you believe the government's theory? Science or speculation?" defense attorney Jason Downs asked jurors Tuesday, as Jashua Johnson's trial for the death of Devon Brown came to a close. "Because the two don't go together."

Less than four hours later, those jurors found Johnson innocent of murder, acquitting him of all charges in connection with the shooting death of 22-year-old Brown. Johnson was arrested when he was 19 years old; his release forms were filed a week before his 21st birthday.

Defense attorneys argued that physical evidence showed Johnson could not have been the shooter and that witnesses who identified Johnson were impaired by marijuana consumption, poor eyesight, and for one witness, his own biases.

Police found Brown unconscious and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the 1700 block of Galen Street Southeast on July 8, 2012. Prosecutors say that Brown was shot twice; the first bullet entered his chest and severed his spine, the second bullet broke bones in his leg.

During the three-day trial, prosecutors argued that Brown and his two friends Terrence Green and Marcus Eggleston were hanging out in on Galen Street around midnight when they saw Jahi Marshall and Keith Betz approaching from down the street.

Green then noticed Johnson approaching from a set of stairs, said Assistant United States Attorney Shana Fulton in closing arguments. After the sudden sound of gunshots, Green looked up to see Betz push Marshall "into the line of fire," Fulton said.

Marshall fled and Johnson followed, still shooting toward the 1700 block of Galen Street Southeast, said Fulton. Both Green and Eggleston identified Johnson as the shooter, Fulton said, an identification strengthened by the fact both knew him from around the neighborhood.

Marshall was shot five times and Brown was shot twice, with "bullets that weren't meant for him," said Fulton. Marshall survived, said Fulton, but Johnson's intention to kill Marshall transferred to Brown.

"Intent to kill doesn't end because he shot the wrong person," Fulton said during closing arguments.

In his closing arguments, Downs said that Eggleston was biased against Johnson, pointing out that Eggleston called Johnson "a dirty little m-- f--."

Downs also questioned Eggleston's identification, because Eggleston testified that he smoked a joint 20 minutes before the shooting and said the marijuana made him more alert. And Eggleston himself said it was very dark, Downs noted.

Green's identification also gave jurors reason to doubt, said Downs. Green is near-sighted in one eye, far-sighted in the other, and wasn't wearing his prescription glasses that night. Downs asked jurors to recall that Green misidentified the color of Johnson's shirt in open court.

In her rebuttal, Fulton said that people don't become blind when they take their glasses off.

Inside the courtroom, some spectators expressed audible relief when the verdict was read.

As one man exited, he repeated, "He beat this. He beat this."

Johnson's release orders have been added to this post.

Johnson, Jashua Release Order (PDF)Johnson, Jashua Release Order (Text)

Trial Begins for Jashua Johnson in Murder of Davon Brown

Kristian Hernandez — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 20:37:48 -0500

When Davon Brown was gunned down in front of his apartment building in July 2012, he was hanging out with his two best friends cracking jokes.

In opening arguments Wednesday, prosecutors described that scene, calling the 22-year-old an "innocent bystander."

The man prosecutors say is responsible for Brown's death: Jashua Johnson.

But Johnson's defense attorney, Jason Downs, says that's "impossible."

Johnson was not near Brown when Brown was shot, Downs said.

Johnson, 20, is charged with first degree murder and several assault and weapons offenses in connection with Brown's shooting death. Another person was shot five times that night and sought shelter inside a neighboring apartment building.

Court documents state that a witness told police that Johnson approached Brown and another person from behind. The witness said that Johnson began shooting at Brown’s companion, who then fled into the 2300 block of Green Street Southeast, with Johnson in pursuit.

But defense attorney Downs says that the eyewitness who claimed to have seen Johnson has poor vision and therefore his testimony can't be trusted. Downs also noted that the shooter was wearing a mask that night, which prevented the other witness from identifying the shooter.

The trial is scheduled to resume Thursday in front of Judge Morin.

Grand Jury Indicts Joshua Johnson in Connection with the Murder of Davon Brown

Penny Ray — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 15:52:49 -0400

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.

Police found Brown gunned down on a sidewalk in the 1700 block of Galen Street Southeast on July 8, 2012. Charging documents in the case do not make it clear whether Brown was the target of the shooting.

According to the documents, a witness told police that Johnson, 19, approached Brown and another person from behind as they were walking along Galen Street SE. The witness said that Johnson began shooting at Brown's companion, who then fled into the 2300 block of Green Street Southeast, with Johnson in pursuit.

Police found Brown lying on the sidewalk on Galen Street; he died on the scene from a gunshot wound to the chest. A second victim was found suffering from gunshot wounds in the hallway of an apartment building on Green Street; he was taken to the hospital for treatment.

A status hearing has been scheduled for May 24.

The indictment is below.

Joshua Johnson Indictment (PDF)Joshua Johnson Indictment (Text)

"Substantial Probability" Finding in Jashua Johnson Murder Case

Laura Amico — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 12:49:37 -0400

The case against Jashua Johnson will be sent to the grand jury for investigation, after Judge Ronna Beck found substantial probability today that Johnson killed Davon Brown.

Johnson, who is listed in court records as Joshua Johnson, is suspected of shooting Brown July 8 in Southeast DC.

According to charging documents in the case, one witness told police that they saw one person pushing another down the street, in the direction of Galen St. The witness said Johnson came up behind those two people and began shooting at the person who was being pushed. That person fled into a nearby building; the documents describe Brown as being in that flight path at the time of the shooting.

The charging documents in the case do not make it clear that Brown was the intended target of the shooting, which also injured another man.

A status hearing in the case has been set for Oct. 26 with Judge Thomas Motley.

Jashua Johnson Held in Davon Brown Shooting Death

Laura Amico — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 18:15:01 -0400

Jashua Johnson was ordered held today on a charge of second-degree murder while armed pending a preliminary hearing after Judge Karen Howze found substantial probability that he shot and killed Davon Brown.

Johnson, whose first name in court records is listed also as "Joshua," appeared at DC Superior Court Thursday to be presented with the charge.

Charging documents in the case do not make it clear that Brown was the intended target of the shooting, which also injured another man.

According to those documents, one witness told police that they saw one person pushing another down the street, in the direction of Galen St. The witness said Johnson came up behind those two people and began shooting at the person who was being pushed. That person fled into a nearby building; the documents describe Brown as being in that flight path at the time of the shooting.

Technology used by MPD to record the sound of gunshots recorded eight gunshots in the area around the time Brown is believed to have been killed.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled in the case for July 23.

Charging documents are below.

Jashua Johnson Arrested in Fatal Galen St. SE Double Shooting

Laura Amico — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 21:33:28 -0400

Jashua Johnson, 19-year-old Southeast DC man was arrested Wednesday in connection with the shooting death of Davon Brown.

Brown was one of two shooting victims injured near Galen Street Southeast in the early hours of Sunday morning. Brown was pronounced dead at the scene, the other victim was taken to a hospital for treatment.

A press release from MPD is below.

July 11, 2012

Homicide Arrest: 1700 Block of Galen Street, SE

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced an arrest has been made in the fatal shooting which occurred in the 1700 block of Galen Street, SE.

On Sunday, July 8, 2012 at approximately 12:04 am members of the Seventh District responded to the 1700 block of Galen Street, SE for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they located an adult male victim unconscious and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Personnel from DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and determined there were no signs of life. The victim was later pronounced dead by a member of the Office of Chief Medical Examiner. A second victim was located in the 2300 block of Green Street, SE with multiple gunshot wounds and was transported by personnel from DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services to an area hospital for treatment.

The decedent has been identified as 22-year-old Davon Brown of Southeast, Washington, DC.

On Wednesday, July 11, 2012, 19 year-old Jashua Johnson of Southeast, DC was arrested by members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force pursuant to an arrest warrant, and charged with Murder Two While Armed in the shooting death of Davon Brown.