Homicide Watch DChttp://homicidewatch.org/2015-05-07T08:07:59-04:00Mark every death. Remember every victim. Follow every case.We Remember: Four Years of Homicide Watch DC2015-05-07T08:07:59-04:00Laura Amicohttp://homicidewatch.org/2015/05/07/we-remember-four-years-of-homicide-watch-dc/<p>For more than four years, the faces of those killed in the District have circled through the top of Homicide Watch DC. Children, teenagers, adults, the elderly. In photos they smile, or scowl. They're pictured laughing, looking cool, or sometimes angry.</p>
<p>It can be too much to look at. To see who we've lost is to remember that each of them has family and friends, teachers, co-workers and neighbors. The community of people who've joined us here on Homicide Watch DC have opened their stories and the justice system for us in an incredible way.<br />
<span id="more-26905"></span></p>
<p>When Homicide Watch DC closed on December 31, my sadness was in realizing that we will no longer see these people. Not because murders in DC have ceased, but because there is no media organization, university, non-profit or other group willing to make sure Homicide Watch DC continues. </p>
<p><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eHHWh0j2uzDvU5A-gTEqjOLDywxRvOrldxzyaJGwTiU/edit#">I hope that changes.</a></p>
<p>The question I'm most often asked about Homicide Watch DC is what difference it has made. I'm asked if homicides have declined, or prosecutions improved. I’m asked if justice is being better served. </p>
<p>The truth is that I don't know.</p>
<p>Homicide Watch DC is defined by the space that it has created for all of us to gather. I hope that however you've come to this site -- whether you've had a member of your family killed, or a member of your family charged in a homicide, whether you’ve taught victims or suspects, prosecuted or defended them, or lived next door to them -- that you've had a place to come to learn, to share, to build connections and to understand. </p>
<p>Our success, for me, is measured by ourselves. By the families that comfort one another online. By the friends who live far away and each day visit Homicide Watch to see if there is news about a case. I measure it in the suspects' families, unable to talk about what they're experiencing with their neighbors and friends, turning to the Homicide Watch community where others understand. By the teachers, co-workers, neighbors who stay in touch with one another, a network of memory. By the courtroom clerks, defense attorneys, prosecutors, detectives, US marshals, victim and witness advocates, judges and all others. </p>
<p>I measure our success by our caring. And the truth is that you, the community, have shown on Homicide Watch that we do care.</p>
<p>This is my fifth Year in Review column, and I've made a tradition each year of reflecting on the lives we've lost, to violent death or to prison. Inevitably, this year, my reflections this year turn to what we are losing as Homicide Watch DC closes. Here's what I hope:</p>
<p>That you will not lose your access to the criminal justice system. The courts serve the people and are open to the public. Learn how to access court records and attend hearings. Know where to find news releases from MPD. Share what you learn from these visits to help others better understand the process.</p>
<p>That you will not lose the power of storytelling. It's from sharing our experiences that we understand one another. Write posts on Facebook or Twitter. Make videos for YouTube. Launch a WordPress site. Do not underestimate the significance of your unique perspective.</p>
<p>That you will not lose one another. Connect on the Homicide Watch Facebook page. Continue to support one another with your comments and "likes." If you can, go to court. Be present and public together.</p>
<p>To all of you who have joined us and shared with us, thank you. </p>
<p>-Laura</p>
How Those Convicted of Murder are Sentenced in DC2014-12-31T17:52:54-05:00Chris Amicohttp://homicidewatch.org/2014/12/31/how-those-convicted-of-murder-are-sentenced-in-dc/<p><img src="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Convictions-by-Charge-Total-Defendants_chartbuilder-500x176.png" alt="Convictions by Charge" width="500" height="176" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-26885" /></p>
<p><em>Since launching in 2010, Homicide Watch DC has tracked the cases of 320 people arrested for murder in the District. We track <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/status/">how those cases end</a> in our database, whether in conviction or acquittal.</em></p>
<p>At the end of 2014, <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/status/suspected/">96 suspects</a> are still making their way through the court system. They are awaiting preliminary hearings, indictment or trial, a process that can take years.</p>
<p>Most cases end with a plea deal: <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/status/pled/">116 of the cases we've followed saw a defendant plead guilty</a>, usually to something less than the original charge. Second-degree murder has been the most common conviction, with voluntary manslaughter close behind.<br />
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<p><a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/status/convicted/">Forty-five suspects</a> were convicted in a jury trial.</p>
<p>A much smaller number go free: <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/status/acquitted/">12 suspects</a> in cases we covered have been acquitted. Another 30 had <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/status/dropped/">charges against them dropped</a>.</p>
<p>D.C. doesn't use the death penalty, and life sentences are rare. </p>
<p><a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/calvin-shaw/">Calvin Shaw</a>, convicted of killing <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/crevontai-key/">Crevontai Key</a> on July 4, 2012, was sentenced to 107 years, the longest prison term for any single murder in the four years we've tracked homicides. He was 24 at the time of his arrest.</p>
<p>Kwan Kearney was 21 the day he was <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/2012/06/15/kwan-kearney-to-serve-105-years-for-week-of-deadly-shootings/">sentenced to 45 years</a> for the murder of <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/jamal-wilson/">Jamal Wilson</a>. A few months earlier, a judge <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/2012/02/10/you-all-got-the-wrong-man-kwan-kearney-tells-judge-at-sentencing/">gave him 60 years</a> for killing <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/joseph-alonzo-sharps-jr/">Joseph Alonzo Sharps Jr</a>. The two murders happened a week apart.</p>
<p>"He'll die in jail," Kearney's attorney, Gene Johnson, said at the second sentencing.</p>
<p>But there are as many short sentences as long ones. Many of those who commit murder in their 20s and plea will likely be out by middle age, sometimes sooner.</p>
<p>"Our pleas are very fact-driven and are made after consideration of the facts involved, the strength of the case and the defendant's criminal record," <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/2014/12/23/qa-usaos-chief-of-homicide/">Jeffrey Ragsdale</a>, who runs the homicide division for the US Attorney's Office, said in an email interview. "No two cases are the same and the plea offers often vary due to these factors."</p>
<p><a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/howard-bruce-randolph/">Howard Bruch Randolf</a> pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter for a fist fight that led to <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/rayshawn-hailstock/">Rayshawn Hailstock's</a> death. The 25-year-old was sentenced to two years.</p>
<p><a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/deon-eugene-thornton/">Deon Thornton</a> killed his brother, <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/derrick-thornton/">Derrick Thornon</a>, in a drunken brawl. He pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter 11 days after his arrest. A judge game him seven and a half years. </p>
<p>"A sentence given to Deon is a sentence given to us all," the men's family wrote to the court.</p>
<p>Twelve suspects who were originally charged with first- or second-degree murder pleaded guilty to <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/status/lesser/">something less than involuntary manslaughter</a>. For example:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/curtis-d-patterson/">Curtis Patterson</a> was sentenced to 11 1/2 years in prison for obstruction of justice and gun possession in connection with the October 2010 shooting death of <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/angelo-jones/">Angelo Jones</a>.</li>
<li><a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/lanee-bell/">Lanee Bell</a>, one of six teens charged with the brutal beating death of <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/latisha-frazier/">Latisha Frazier</a>, pleaded guilty to kidnapping. She was given a three-year suspended sentence.</li>
<li><a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/frank-lee-blanding/">Frank Lee Blanding</a> pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault for the fight that left Benjamin Jennings dead. He is awaiting sentencing.</li>
</ul>
<p>In four years, only two teenagers arrested for murder were <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/status/juvenile/">charged as juveniles</a>. The rest, all 16 or older, were charged as adults. <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/status/deceased/">Six suspects died before they could be prosecuted</a>.</p>
<p>Below is a chart of every cumulative murder sentence in our database:</p>
<p><img src="http://hwdc.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/2014/12/31/Murder-Sentences-in-DC-Since-2012-Total-Sentence_chartbuilder.png" alt="Murder Sentences in DC Since 2012" width="500" height="3036" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-26886" /></p>
Two Arrested in Gregory Lee's Christmas Eve Murder2014-12-31T16:41:37-05:00Imari Williamshttp://homicidewatch.org/2014/12/31/two-arrested-in-gregory-lees-murder/<p>Two D.C. men were arrested Wednesday in connection with the the Christmas Eve shooting death of 28-year-old <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/gregory-lee/">Gregory Lee</a>, MPD announced.</p>
<p>Police say <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/maurice-blakely/">Maurice Blakely</a>, 23, and <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/joseph-minor/">Joseph Minor</a>, 24 are suspected of second-degree murder while armed. <span id="more-26871"></span></p>
<p>Police <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/2014/12/26/four-homicides-on-christmas-eve/">found</a> Lee in the 1200 block of Stevens Road Southeast with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on the scene.</p>
<p>Lee is one of four people killed in homicides on December 24.</p>
<p><em>A press release from MPD is below:</em> </p>
<blockquote><p>Two Arrests Made in Homicide: 1200 block of Stevens Road, Southeast</p>
<p>(Washington, DC) – Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced that two arrests have been made in the homicide which occurred in the 1200 block of Stevens Road, Southeast.</p>
<p>On Wednesday, December 24, 2014, at approximately 9:05 pm, officers from the Seventh District responded to a call for the sound of gunshots in the 1300 block of Stevens Road, Southeast. An adult male suffering from a gunshot wound was located in the 1200 block of Stevens Road, Southeast. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded and found no signs consistent with life. Members of The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner transported the decedent to their facility.</p>
<p>The decedent has been identified as 28-year-old Gregory Lee, of Southeast, Washington, DC.</p>
<p>On Wednesday, December 31, 2014, two arrests were made pursuant to two DC Superior Court arrest warrants. Members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested 23-year-old Maurice Blakely of Southeast, Washington, DC and Sixth District Detectives along with members of Sixth District Patrol arrested 24 year-old Joseph Minor of Northeast, Washington, DC, charging them both with Second Degree Murder while Armed in connection to the shooting death of Gregory Lee.</p></blockquote>
Homicide in 2014: By The Numbers2014-12-31T14:08:50-05:00Chris Amicohttp://homicidewatch.org/2014/12/31/homicide-in-2014-by-the-numbers/<p>The District of Columbia recorded <strong>108</strong> homicides in 2014, two more than last year. It is the second consecutive year that the number of killings has risen.</p>
<p><strong>Three</strong> of those cases were ruled justifiable homicide by citizen: <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/cortez-carter/">Cortez Carter</a>, <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/michael-hrizuk/">Michael Hrizuk</a>, and <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/anthony-cornell-jones/">Anthony Cornell Jones</a>. MPD does not count those deaths as murders, meaning its official count is <strong>105</strong>.</p>
<p>Homicides reached a 50-year low in 2012. That year, MPD counted <strong>88</strong> homicides (excluding four ruled self-defense, for a total of <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/2013/01/01/92/">92</a>).</p>
<p>Five children were counted among this year's victims, including three infants. Two of those infants never had names. Both died late last year, and their deaths -- allegedly at the hands of their mothers -- were ruled homicides this year. <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/rajsaun-tyrik-brown/">Raj'saun Tyrik Brown</a> died in October, and his father is awaiting trial. <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/jonathon-adams/">Jonathon Malik Adams</a>, 17, was stabbed to death in February.<br />
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<p>The most common age for a victim was <strong>22</strong>; <strong>43</strong> victims were in their <strong>20s</strong>.</p>
<p>Two victims -- <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/leroi-elliott/">LeRoi Elliott</a> and <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/lucille-proctor/">Lucile Proctor</a> -- were in their <strong>80s</strong>. Elliott, at <strong>88</strong>, was the year's oldest murder victim.</p>
<p><strong>Ninety-one</strong> victims were male; <strong>17</strong> were female. About one-third of victims were found dead; the rest were taken to hospitals.</p>
<p>Shootings remain the most common means of homicide: <strong>73</strong> victims died from gunshot wounds this year. <strong>Seventeen</strong> were stabbed. (<a href="http://homicidewatch.org/2014/12/30/what-we-know-about-dcs-deadliest-guns/">More: What we know about DC's deadliest guns</a>)</p>
<p>At least <strong>66</strong> victims were black. <strong>Three</strong> were Hispanic. <strong>Two</strong> were white. (The rest are unknown at this time.)</p>
<p><strong>Forty-seven</strong> homicides happened in Southeast DC, the most of any quadrant, followed by <strong>36</strong> in Northeast, <strong>23</strong> in Northwest and two in Southwest.</p>
<p>More than half of all homicides happened in Wards 7 and 8.</p>
<p>Police arrested or identified <strong>63</strong> <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/">suspects</a> this year in cases that Homicide Watch DC has covered.</p>
<p><strong>Two</strong> of those named died before they could be prosecuted.</p>
<p><strong>Six</strong> suspects are female; <strong>57</strong> are male.</p>
<p><strong>Fifty-four</strong> suspects are black, <strong>four</strong> are hispanic and <strong>one</strong> is white. </p>
<p>More than half -- <strong>34</strong> -- of those arrested this year were in their <strong>20s</strong> at the time, by far the most common age group. <strong>Thirteen</strong> were in their <strong>30s</strong>.</p>
<p>As with victims, the most common age for a murder suspect is <strong>22</strong>.</p>
<p>This year's closures include 15 prior year cases (some predating Homicide Watch).</p>
Arrest in February Shooting of Marquette Hooks2014-12-31T09:34:55-05:00Chris Amicohttp://homicidewatch.org/2014/12/31/arrest-in-february-shooting-of-marquette-hooks/<p>Police arrested <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/rocquel-shacore-bradley/">Rocquel Shacore Bradley</a> Tuesday night in connection with the February shooting death of 18-year-old <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/marquette-hooks/">Marquette Hooks</a>, <a href="http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/dc/2014/12/30/dc-police-arrest-february-homicide-marquette-hooks-rocquel-shacore-bradley/21088103/">WUSA reports</a>.</p>
<p>Police found Hooks and another man in the 1300 block of Alabama Avenue Southeast, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Both were taken to a local hospital, where Hooks later died from his injuries.</p>
<p>Bradley, 20, is suspected of first-degree murder while armed.</p>
<p>Update: MPD's full press release is below: <span id="more-26859"></span></p>
<blockquote><p>
Wednesday, December 31, 2014<br />
Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced an arrest has been made in the homicide which occurred in the 1300 block of Alabama Avenue, SE.</p>
<p>On Sunday, February 23, 2014, at approximately 9:16 pm, members of the Seventh District responded to a call for the sounds of gunshots in the 1300 block of Alabama Avenue, SE. Upon arrival, they located two adult males suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel arrived on the scene and transported both victims to a local hospital for treatment. One of the victims succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.</p>
<p>The decedent is identified as 18 year-old Marquette Hooks of Southwest, Washington, DC.</p>
<p>On Tuesday, December 30, 2014, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested 20 year-old Rocquel Shacore Bradley of Southeast, Washington, DC, charging him with First Degree Murder While Armed in connection to the shooting death of Marquette Hooks.</p>
</blockquote>
Deon Cole Held in Walter Goode Jr's Death2014-12-30T17:55:29-05:00Imari Williamshttp://homicidewatch.org/2014/12/30/deon-cole-held-in-walter-goode-jrs-death/<p><a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/deon-edward-cole/">Deon Edward Cole</a>, 19, was ordered held Tuesday after he was <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/2014/12/29/arrest-in-2013-shooting-of-walter-goode-jr/">arrested</a> on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed for the July 2013 fatal shooting of <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/walter-goode-jr/">Walter Goode Jr</a>.</p>
<p>Responding to a report of "man down," police <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/2013/07/23/saturday-fatal-shooting-victim-identified-as-walter-goode-jr/">found</a> Goode, 53, behind a building in the 1100 block of First Place Northwest suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Goode was lying on his back against a concrete wall wearing a backpack. He had a $50 dollar bill clutched in his right hand, according to documents. He died on the scene.</p>
<p>Police recovered multiple nine millimeter shell casings and bullet fragments near Goode's body.<br />
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<p>On December 17, 2013, Cole was interviewed at a local hospital in reference to Goode's death, according to court documents. He was hospitalized after an assault three days prior.</p>
<p>According to Cole, before midnight, Goode asked him if he wanted to "shoot a game of dice," charging documents say. They went towards the rear of First Place to gamble alone. </p>
<p>Cole told police that he and Goode played for exactly one hour and that he had won two to three hundred dollars from Goode, documents state. He told police that Goode was known to always have large amounts of cash on him. </p>
<p>According to documents, shortly after, Cole then noticed individuals walking by their dice game, causing him to quit and walk away. As he was walking away, he saw a masked man wearing dark clothing approaching them, court documents say. According to Cole, he ran towards M Street Northwest and heard Goode call out, "Oh shit," before he heard four gunshots.</p>
<p>He told police that he had known Goode for two years and that they gambled often.</p>
<p>In an interview with police, a witness said that it was with Cole a few weeks after Goode's murder, documents say. Cole told it he knew Goode from the neighborhood and that Goode would sell drugs, and would always be in possession of large amounts of cash. </p>
<p>According to the witness, Cole and Goode met behind a building for a drug deal, charging documents state. But, Cole told the witness that his plan was to rob Goode. </p>
<p>Cole said when he pulled out a handgun to rob Goode, Goode resisted, the witness recounted. </p>
<p>Cole shot Goode, stood over him, and shot him again and again in the head, according to the witness. Cole told the witness he took Goode's money and left him there.</p>
<p>The witness identified Cole in a single photograph provided by police.</p>
<p>Cole is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 12, 2015, at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Russell F. Canan.</p>
<p><em>A copy of charging documents are embedded below:</em></p>
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Police ID Victim in Sherman Avenue Shooting as Alem Habteymer2014-12-30T09:30:36-05:00Imari Williamshttp://homicidewatch.org/2014/12/30/police-id-victim-in-sherman-avenue-shooting-as-alem-habteymer/<p>Police have identified the man shot to death in the 2600 block of Sherman Avenue Northwest on Christmas Eve as <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/alem-habteymer/">Alem Habteymer</a>.</p>
<p>Habteymer, 57, was one of four people killed on Christmas Eve last week.</p>
<p>A press release from MPD is below: <span id="more-26838"></span></p>
<blockquote><p>Decedent Identified in Homicide:<br />
2600 block of Sherman Avenue, Northwest</p>
<p>(Washington, DC) – Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a homicide which occurred in the 2600 block of Sherman Avenue, Northwest.</p>
<p>On Wednesday, December 24, 2014, at approximately 9:55 pm, officers from the Third District responded to a call for the sound of gunshots in the 2600 block of Sherman Avenue, Northwest. Upon arrival, they located an adult male inside of the location suffering from gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded and found no signs consistent with life. Members of The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner transported the decedent to their facility.</p>
<p>The decedent has been identified as 57 year-old Alem Habteymer of no fixed address.</p>
<p>The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone that provides information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons wanted for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at (202) 727-9099. Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411.</p></blockquote>
Gregory Brown Killed in Monday Afternoon Shooting2014-12-30T09:15:24-05:00Imari Williamshttp://homicidewatch.org/2014/12/30/gregory-brown-killed-in-monday-afternoon-shooting/<p><iframe src="http://homicidewatch.org/api/v1/homicides/439.html" width="100%" height="350" frameborder=0></iframe></p>
<p>A D.C. man was killed in a afternoon shooting Tuesday in the 600 Block of Division Avenue Northeast.</p>
<p>At 1:54 p.m., after responding to a call for gunfire, police found <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/gregory-brown/">Gregory Brown</a>, 27, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he died.<br />
<span id="more-26836"></span></p>
<p><em>The press release from MPD is after the jump.</em></p>
<blockquote><p>Homicide: 600 Block of Division Avenue, Northeast</p>
<p>(Washington, DC) – Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a homicide which occurred in the 600 Block of Division Avenue, Northeast.</p>
<p>On Monday, December 29, 2014, at approximately 1:54 pm, members of the Sixth District responded to a call for the report of a shooting in the 600 Block of Division Avenue, Northeast. Upon arrival, they located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel transported the victim to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.</p>
<p>The decedent has been identified as 27 year-old Gregory Brown of Northeast, Washington, DC.</p>
<p>The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone that provides information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons wanted for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at (202) 727-9099. Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411.</p></blockquote>
Firearm Recovery 2014: By the Numbers2014-12-30T09:05:53-05:00Amelia Ruferhttp://homicidewatch.org/2014/12/30/firearm-recovery-2014-by-the-numbers/<p><em>As part of our 2014 Year in Review series, we analyze a list of firearms recovered in homicide cases from 2009 to December 15, 2014, obtained from a Freedom of Information request filed with the Department of Forensic Sciences. Check out our Year in Review story for more information on firearm recovery and D.C. homicides.</em></p>
<p>In the last six years, 350 guns were recovered from homicide cases:<br />
<span id="more-26759"></span></p>
<ul>
<li>2009: 75</li>
<li>2010: 37</li>
<li>2011: 58</li>
<li>2012: 34</li>
<li>2013: 58</li>
<li>2014: 88</li>
</ul>
<p>The <strong>Glock 17</strong> semi-automatic pistol is linked to more homicides than any other gun, making it D.C.'s deadliest firearm. </p>
<p><strong>Sixty percent</strong> of shooting homicides were committed with a handgun. The ratio of semi-automatics to revolvers is <strong>four-to-one</strong>. </p>
<p>In all, <strong>169</strong> homicides were committed with a semi-automatic pistol between 2009 and 2014. Of those, <strong>24</strong> were linked to a Glock 17.</p>
<p><strong>Three</strong> assault rifles, <strong>20</strong> BB/pellet guns and <strong>one</strong> toy revolver are also linked to homicides. </p>
<p>Over the last six years, <strong>87</strong> guns were recovered in District 6 since 2009 -- more than any other police district. <strong>Eighty-three</strong> were recovered in District 7.</p>
<p>In 2014, <strong>37</strong> guns were recovered in District 7, <strong>17</strong> were recovered from District 6 and <strong>15</strong> were recovered from District 5. </p>
<p>Since 2009, however, the 6th District has recovered the highest cumulative, 87 firearms. The 7th District is a close second at 83. Thirty-seven of the firearms in the data did not specify a district—23 of these were from 2013. </p>
<p><strong>Thirty-seven</strong> firearms did not specify a district -- <strong>23</strong> of these were from 2013. <strong>Eighty-one</strong> firearms did not specify the type of gun recovered -- <strong>68</strong> of these were from 2014. </p>
<p>The firearms recovered in D.C. are usually purchased in other states, according to a 2012 dataset obtained analyzed by ProPublica. <a href="http://projects.propublica.org/graphics/atf-gun-traces#District-of Columbia,imports">None of the 865 guns recovered in or traced back to D.C. that year were purchased in the District.</a> Virginia and Maryland supplied the majority of firearms, accounting for 31 percent and 25.4 percent, respectively. The findings suggest that most or all guns linked to D.C. crimes come from out of state. </p>
<p>There are several caveats in the data DFS provided. In addition to the missing address information, the data for 2014 only provided the type of gun for 20 of the 88 guns recovered. Therefore, the most-used gun of 2014 cannot be known at this time.</p>
What We Know About DC's Deadliest Guns2014-12-30T08:11:55-05:00Amelia Ruferhttp://homicidewatch.org/2014/12/30/what-we-know-about-dcs-deadliest-guns/<p>The Glock 17, 9mm semi-automatic pistol is linked to more D.C. homicides in the last six years than any other gun, making it D.C.'s deadliest firearm. </p>
<p>According to data from the Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS), 350 firearms have been recovered from homicides since 2009.</p>
<img src="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/800px-Glock_17_2nd_Gen-300x205.jpg" alt="A "second generation" Glock 17, identified by the checkering on the front and rear straps of the pistol grip and trigger guard. Source: Wikipedia." width="300" height="205" class="size-medium wp-image-26830" /><p class="wp-caption-text">A "second generation" Glock 17, identified by the checkering on the front and rear straps of the pistol grip and trigger guard. Source: Wikipedia.</p>
<p>Semi-automatic pistols were used in homicides more than any other design. The Smith & Wesson revolver is second on the list after semi-automatics. The data shows that criminals who shoot to kill are four times more likely to use a semi-automatic handgun than a revolver.<br />
<span id="more-26579"></span></p>
<p>Additionally, the data found that most of these firearms are recovered in police districts 5, 6 and 7. </p>
<p>The 7th District recovered the highest number of guns this year with 37 firearms. Seventeen were taken from the 6th District and 15 from the 5th. </p>
<p>Since 2009, the 6th District has recovered the highest cumulative number of firearms, with 87. The 7th District is a close second at 83. Thirty-seven of the firearms in the data did not specify a district—23 of these were from 2013. </p>
<p>The gun extraction process in D.C. is making a difference, Police Chief Cathy Lanier argues: the number of shooting homicides has dropped, and continues to drop. </p>
<p>"So far this year, I think 67 percent of our homicides were with a firearm," Lanier said in an <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/2014/12/27/mpd-chief-cathy-lanier-homicide-prevention-is-every-agencys-responsibility/">interview at police headquarters</a>. "The first 15 or 16 years of my career, 97 to 99 percent of all homicides were gun homicides. So 67 percent is a pretty dramatic drop in gun-related homicides overall."</p>
<p>Firearm recovery is a crucial part of reducing and preventing violent crime, Lanier said. The same firearm can be linked to multiple cases, increasing the significance of gun reduction efforts. </p>
<p>"That's why I say it's so important to try and take shooters off the street as quickly as possible," Lanier said. "They're not going to stop shooting and where that gun goes, from victim to victim, is sometimes multiple people."</p>
<p>When a firearm is found at the crime scene, investigators deliver it to the Department of Forensic Sciences -- a department created in 2011, separate from the many police departments here, to provide science services for government agencies in the District.</p>
<p>DFS Director of Crime Scene Sciences Randall Wampler oversees the Crime Scene Sciences Division (CSS), which includes the Central Evidence Unit (CEU). According to Wampler, the firearms travel through several branches of DFS for analysis. </p>
<p>First, the Latent Print Unit will test a firearm for fingerprints and touch DNA to try and identify anyone who handled the weapon. The gun is transferred back to a vault in the CEU after it's been swabbed. </p>
<p>At this point, Wampler says, the weapon is ready for test firing and is transferred to the Firearms Examination Unit.</p>
<p>"Virtually every weapon is test fired," says Wampler. "The main reason we do that is so that we can gather fired cartridge casings to enter into the National Integrated Ballistics Identified System -- that's essentially the firearms characteristics database."</p>
<p>This characteristics database is part of the <a href="https://www.atf.gov/content/Firearms/firearms-enforcement/NIBIN">National Integrated Ballistics Information Network</a>, part of the the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.</p>
<p>Testing a gun involves firing into a water tank that saves the bullets. Technicians investigate bullet cartridges for two characteristics.</p>
<p>"When the hammer strikes a cartridge, it leaves a firing pin impression and breech face marks. Those are identifiable to a weapon like a fingerprint," says Wampler. </p>
<p>Microscopic images are taken of the impressions and breech face marks and uploaded to NIBIN. According to Wampler, bullet casings that police collect at crime scenes are also entered into NIBIN, as forensic evidence. The database will search for a match between a weapon’s test fire results and weapons in the system. </p>
<p>After the gun is test fired, it's transferred back to the CEU and then handed over to the MPD Evidence Control Branch. According to Chief Lanier, the gun is destroyed once the case is over.</p>
Arrest in 2013 Shooting of Walter Goode Jr2014-12-29T20:56:59-05:00Chris Amicohttp://homicidewatch.org/2014/12/29/arrest-in-2013-shooting-of-walter-goode-jr/<p><a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/deon-edward-cole/">Deon Edward Cole</a>, 19, was arrested Monday on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed in the July 2013 death of 53-year-old <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/walter-goode-jr/">Walter Goode Jr</a>.</p>
<p>Officers found Goode, 53, lying unconscious 1100 block of First Place Northwest, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.</p>
<p>MPD's full press release is below: <span id="more-26822"></span></p>
<blockquote><p>
Arrest Made in Homicide: 1100 Block of First Place, Northwest</p>
<p>(Washington, DC) – Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced that an arrest has been made in the homicide which occurred in the 1100 block of First Place, Northwest.</p>
<p>On Saturday, July 20, 2013, at approximately 4:20 am, police officers from the First District responded to the rear of the 1100 block of First Place, Northwest for a report of a “man down”. Upon arrival, they observed an adult male in an unconscious state, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded and did not find any signs consistent with life. The decedent remained on the scene and was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the District of Columbia, pending an autopsy.</p>
<p>The decedent has been identified as 53-year-old Walter Goode, Jr, of Southeast, Washington, DC.</p>
<p>On Monday, December 29, 2014, The Fugitive Squad of the Criminal Investigations Division arrested 19-year-old Deon Edward Cole of Northeast, Washington DC, pursuant to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant, charging him with Murder II while Armed in connection to the shooting death of Walter Goode, Jr.
</p></blockquote>
Ten Unsolved Murders Could Become Cold Cases2014-12-29T16:52:45-05:00Amelia Ruferhttp://homicidewatch.org/2014/12/29/cold-cases/<p>Ten unsolved homicides covered on this site could officially become cold cases at the end of 2014, meaning leads have been exhausted and further investigation will move out of MPD's regular homicide division.</p>
<p>Cases that go unsolved for four years are transferred to the Cold Case Unit on a case-by-case basis, according to MPD Spokesman Lieutenant Sean Conboy.</p>
<p>"If there are leads to pursue, we will investigate a case regardless of how old it is," Conboy wrote in an email interview. "The amount of time devoted to a case is not determined by the age of the case, but rather by the time required to properly and completely investigate the leads."<br />
<span id="more-26684"></span></p>
<p>Unlike typical homicide investigations, Lt. Conboy says cold cases are not assigned to any particular detective. The Family Liaison Specialists Unit (FLSU) provides support and advocacy, in addition to suggesting community-based resources to assist the victims' next-of-kin. </p>
<p>At this point, families of victims have to go through the FLSU if they wish to receive updates and to remain in contact with the department, Lt. Conboy says. </p>
<p>"The hardest part about interacting with families is when we have to report to them that there has not been significant progress in the investigation, and all current investigative leads have been exhausted," says Conboy.</p>
<p>Family members frequently ask for specific updates on cases, Conboy said, but the MPD can't always share when there is progress, due to the nature of cold cases and how they need to be handled. </p>
<p>"In most cases this information cannot be released, even to the next-of-kin, in order to maintain the integrity of the investigation," Conboy said. "This can be very difficult and frustrating for the family members, who want to know details of the investigation, what witnesses said etc."</p>
<p>As cases grow older, witness statements are less reliable. Newly discovered witnesses may not be able to remember much of what they saw. </p>
<p>Technology, on the other hand, can allow time to work in the MPD's favor. DNA analysis can be used to analyze evidence that was gathered at a time when the technology to do so did not exist. As technology continues to advance, there is potential hope for older cases. </p>
<p>And there are still courses of action that a victim's family can take to expedite the investigation process. </p>
<p>"If families obtain pertinent information, they should provide it to a member of the Cold Case Squad," Conboy said. "They can also hand out reward fliers which can be obtained from the department."</p>
<p>Cold case definitions differ by city. In the District, unsolved cases must meet several criteria before they are officially considered cold cases.</p>
<p>To start with, unsolved cases need to be investigated for fours years. Then, in the event that all leads have been considered and pursued, the assigned detective will review the case with a supervisor to determine additional courses of action. On the condition that further steps cannot be taken at the present time, the case is transferred to the Cold Case Squad. </p>
<p>Ten homicides have been classified as cold cases since Homicide Watch DC launched in 2010:</p>
<p><a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/michael-manuel-moss-cornish/"><img src="http://hwdc.s3.amazonaws.com/cache/photos/2011/07/31/moss-cornish-photo/225x300/716d90ba0b6e2c35e5d77977088ef2d7.jpg" width="75" height="100" alt="Michael Manuel Moss-Cornish" class /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Michael Manuel Moss-Cornish</p> <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/michael-manuel-moss-cornish/">Michael Manuel Moss-Cornish's</a> friends knew him as Tino. The 22-year-old died from gunshot wounds in a double shooting on Oct. 3, 2010, in the 600 block of Harvard Street Northwest. Moss-Cornish lived in Silver Spring, Maryland, where he worked as an interpreter and waiter at Austin Grill. Moss-Cornish was fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, according to his obituary.<br />
<br style="clear:both"></p>
<p><a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/mujahid-taalibdin/"><img src="http://hwdc.s3.amazonaws.com/cache/photos/2013/05/09/MT/225x300/e34e25a511365ecac08a83e030f0fe51.jpg" width="75" height="100" alt="Mujahid Taalibdin" class /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Mujahid Taalibdin</p> <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/mujahid-taalibdin/">Mujahid Taalibdin</a>, 21, was shot and killed at approximately 1:10 a.m. near the 300 block of Southern Avenue, Southeast on Oct. 10, 2010, according to an MPD press release. On Oct. 29, 2010, MPD released a video from Shell gas station surveillance footage in hopes that the public might identify the individuals, who police described as "persons of interest."<br />
<br style="clear:both"></p>
<p><a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/darnell-lucas/"><img src="http://hwdc.s3.amazonaws.com/cache/photos/2011/07/31/Darnell_Lucas-foto/225x300/ef46a4b108000142418ec6135550083c.jpg" width="75" height="100" alt="Darnell Lucas" class /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Darnell Lucas</p> Thirty-seven year-old <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/darnell-lucas/">Darnell Antoine</a> Lucas was shot and killed on Oct. 27, 2010, according to police. Lucas, 37, lived in Capital Heights, Md.<br />
<br style="clear:both"></p>
<p><a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/scott-staten/"><img src="http://hwdc.s3.amazonaws.com/cache/photos/2011/07/31/scott-staten-fb-photo/225x300/abde2e335391ed77c2b80578fa4f4102.jpg" width="75" height="100" alt="Scott Brian Tolson Staten" class /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Scott Staten<br /></p> Seventeen year-old <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/scott-staten/">Scott Brian Tolson Staten</a> died from gunshot wounds on Dec. 8, 2010. Staten was already dead when police found him at approximately 8:30 a.m. in the 1300 block of Half Street, Southwest.<br />
<br class="clear"></p>
<p><a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/antonio-wade/"><img src="http://hwdc.s3.amazonaws.com/cache/photos/2011/07/31/Antonio-Wade-photo/225x300/4d85181eb92b74a49940cddf99387619.jpg" width="75" height="100" alt="Antonio R. Wade" class /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Antonio R. Wade</p><a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/antonio-wade/">Antonio R. Wade</a>, 18, was found inside a car with a gunshot wound in the 1700 block of 14th Street at around 2:30 a.m. on Dec. 11, 2010. Four other people were shot near where police found Wade’s body.<br />
<br class="clear"></p>
<p>Police found <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/james-campbell/">James Campbell</a>, of Bladensberg, Maryland, just before 8:00 p.m. on Dec. 12, 2010. Campbell, 25, was suffering from gunshot wounds when he was discovered near the 2900 block of Southern Street, Southeast.<br />
<br class="clear"></p>
<p><a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/raj-patel/">Raj Patel</a>, 46, was the manager of Brookland’s Newton Foodmart who was shot in the chest during an armed robbery at 6:40 p.m. on Dec. 18, 2010. Police were looking for two suspects, one wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt with a black patch on the hat and another suspect wearing a black hooded sweatshirt. “We need your help to close this horrible crime,” Metro Police Commander Lamar Greene said in a message on the 5th District’s listserv the following day.<br />
<br class="clear"></p>
<p>Twenty-nine year-old <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/aaron-woodfork/">Aaron Levi Woodfork</a> was found suffering from gunshot wounds in the 2100 block of Bladensberg Road, Northeast at 3:30 a.m. on Dec. 19, 2010. Police found another unidentified victim at the scene who was taken to a local hospital and treated.<br />
<br class="clear"></p>
<p><a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/james-pone/"><img src="http://hwdc.s3.amazonaws.com/cache/photos/2011/07/31/James-Pone-contributed-photo/225x300/d2c431ed45f92c5d93a46aa8798dc242.jpg" width="75" height="100" alt="James Ray Junior Pone" class /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">James Ray Junior Pone</p><a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/james-pone/">James Ray Junior Pone</a>, 30, was found suffering from a gunshot wound in the 700 block of Brandywine Street, Southeast at 9:00 p.m. on Dec. 21, 2010. Pone died at a local hospital.<br />
<br class="clear"></p>
<p>Because cases were eligible for transfer to Cold Case after three years before 2012, cases from 2011 will begin being transferred on a case-by-case basis after the New Year, according to Conboy. </p>
Father and Son Found Dead in Car2014-12-29T13:58:25-05:00Imari Williamshttp://homicidewatch.org/2014/12/29/father-and-son-found-dead-in-car/<p><iframe src="http://homicidewatch.org/api/v1/homicides/438.html" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="400"></iframe></p>
<p>A father and son were killed in a shooting Sunday night along Southern Avenue.</p>
<p>A police officer discovered <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/preston-cornelius-johnson-sr/">Preston Cornelius Johnson</a>, 71, lying outside a car and <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/preston-cornelius-johnson-jr/">Preston Cornelius Johnson Jr</a>, 49, inside the vehicle on the 1300 block of Southern Avenue Southeast, according to <a href="http://www.wjla.com/articles/2014/12/2-dead-3-injured-in-sunday-shootings-in-d-c--110150.html">WJLA</a>. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene.</p>
<p>MPD will conduct a press conference at 4 p.m.</p>
<p><em>A media press release from MPD is below:</em> <span id="more-26816"></span></p>
<blockquote><p>
Double Homicide: 1300 Block of Southern Avenue, Southeast</p>
<p>(Washington, DC) – Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a double homicide which occurred in the 1300 block of Southern Avenue, Southeast.</p>
<p>On Sunday, December 28, 2014, at approximately 9:50 pm, a police officer from the Seventh District was on routine patrol in the 1300 block of Southern Ave, Southeast. The police officer discovered two adult males, unconscious and unresponsive suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded to the scene. Neither gunshot victims’ exhibited any signs consistent with life. Both decedents were subsequently transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the District of Columbia, where an autopsy will be performed to ascertain the cause and manner of death.</p>
<p>The first male gunshot victim has been identified as 71-year-old Preston Cornelius Johnson of Capitol Heights, Maryland.</p>
<p>The second male gunshot victim has been identified as 49-year-old Preston Cornelius Johnson, Jr of Suitland, Maryland.</p>
<p>The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone that provides information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons wanted for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at (202) 727-9099. Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411.
</p></blockquote>
Taking the Stand: What it Means for Murder Witnesses in D.C.2014-12-29T10:01:11-05:00Amelia Ruferhttp://homicidewatch.org/2014/12/29/taking-the-stand-what-it-means-for-murder-witnesses-in-d-c/<p>When Misty Gibson was subpoenaed to testify in the murder trial against Andre Miles on December 1, she refused to cooperate out of fear for her life.</p>
<p>"Your promises don't mean shit," she told a prosecutor.</p>
<p>When Gibson continued to refuse, Judge John Ramsey Johnson held her in contempt of court. After four days in the D.C. jail, she conceded. But when she failed to appear at Superior Court on December 10, <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/2014/12/10/judge-issues-bench-warrant-for-sole-eyewitness/">Johnson issued a bench warrant</a>. </p>
<p>Gibson is a murder witness, and a trial relies heavily on witnesses. But many, like Gibson, fear for their safety.<br />
<span id="more-26581"></span></p>
<p>"Making a decision as to whether you're going to help take a murderer off the street is not a decision to be taken lightly," Police Chief Cathy Lanier said in an interview with Homicide Watch. "I get that. I mean I do get that."</p>
<p>MPD offers protection, but that often means relocating, and staying away from old neighborhoods and old friends.</p>
<p>"There's nothing easy about relocating," Lanier said. "There just isn't. But there's also nothing easy about being the witness to a murder."</p>
<p>The police chief added: "Your life is forever changed when you witness a murder. Whether you cooperate with police or prosecutors, your life is never going to be the same."</p>
<p>The fear of testifying is not unfounded. <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/ronald-deacon-smith/">Ronald Deacon Smith</a> was expected to testify against <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/david-warren/">David Warren</a>, who was later convicted of murder for killing <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/ervin-lamont-griffin/">Ervin Lamont Griffin</a>. </p>
<p>Smith was shot to death in November 2011. <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/dwayne-williams/">Dwayne Williams</a>, a friend of Warren, was charged in Deacon's death. Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenn Kirschner said the evidence "paints a pretty clear picture of Williams' involvement in the death of a Government witness."</p>
<p>The U.S. Attorney's Office extends protection and other services to victims, witnesses and their families, USAO spokesman William Miller said.</p>
<p>According to Miller, the Emergency Witness Assistance Program handles security concerns through measures that include housing relocation, monitored security systems, security lighting, locks, window security, emergency telephone service, transportation funds, counseling and social service referrals, as well as care for dependent children or elders. In extreme cases where witnesses have no other means of making a living, the program can also provide temporary subsistence.</p>
<p>The Victims Witness Assistance Unit provides additional services. The 30-person staff includes advocates and security specialists and offers services such as crisis prevention, court accompaniment and assistance crafting victim impact statements. </p>
<p>Miller says the Attorney's Office typically spends around $2 million on witness security each year. </p>
<p>"In 2013, for example, the office's Victim Witness Assistance Unit interviewed 674 witnesses about security concerns," Miller wrote in an email. "A total of 150 witnesses received help with relocation, transportation, and other security-related assistance through the Emergency Witness Assistance Program, along with 389 of their dependents."</p>
<p>Beyond protection, Miller said the justice system can add deterrents.</p>
<p>"The office aggressively investigates and prosecutes criminals who intimidate, threaten or hurt witnesses willing to stand up and tell the truth," Miller said.</p>
<p>"Each court [Superior and Federal] has a strong obstruction of justice statute, and we frequently prosecute individuals when our witnesses are threatened or harmed, or if their property is damaged as a result of their role as a victim or witness."</p>
<p>Obstruction of justice charge carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence of three years and a maximum of 30 years. In Federal court, attempting to kill a witness is punishable up to 30 years in prison. Crimes of bodily injury or property damage against witnesses have a 20-year maximum prison sentence. </p>
<p>"Public safety depends upon individuals who are willing to come forward with information about crimes and those who commit them," Miller said. "When people do come forward, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia does everything it can to ensure their safety."</p>
<p>Since 2010, the USAO has issued six press releases announcing convictions for the murder or attempted murder of a witness. D.C. judges ordered long sentences in all of the cases.</p>
<ul>
<li>John Foreman, 20, was sentenced to 33 years in prison in 2010 for the 2008 murder of 19-year-old Arthur Gale. When Gale and Foreman's brother, Maurice Foreman, were arrested after a shoot-out in July 2008, Gale and others told police that Maurice Foreman had a firearm, the October 2010 press release states. In October 2008, Foreman and Gale -- who were friends -- were hanging out at an elementary school playground with two other individuals on the 700 block of Columbia Road Northwest. Gale and one of the individuals began shooting at a vehicle. Foreman shot Gale in the back after the four of them walked into an alley and continued to shoot him multiple times in the head.
</li>
<li>In 2011, Bobby Johnson, 30, received a 33-year prison sentence for assault charges against an unnamed individual who was expected to testify against his brother for criminal charges relating a robbery. According to a January 7 press release, Johnson shot at the victim at least 15 times. The victim survived but was seriously injured after being hit by four of the bullets.
</li>
<li>In 2012, three people were sentenced for killing witnesses. In March, Anthony Waters, 44, was sentenced to life in prison without parole for killing 37-year-old Derrick Harris. Waters and Harris belonged to a crew in the Parkchester neighborhood. The press release states that Harris was shunned by his friends in 1998 after he testified about a Barry Farm murder from 1996. In July 2010, Harris returned to his old neighborhood for the first time in 12 years. Waters saw Harris and threatened to kill him if he didn’t leave. Later that night, Waters saw Harris again—he shot him once in the head and five times in the back.
</li>
<li>Weldon Gordon, a 34-year-old Maryland man, was sentenced in May to life in prison for killing a witness, committing obstruction of justice by tampering with a witness and two federal drug charges. Andre Hayes, 32, purchased narcotics from Gordon in May 2008 while he was working as a confidential informant for the DEA, according to a press release. Gordon was arrested and indicted the following September on drug charges for his sale with Hayes. Five days after his arrest, a co-conspirator lured Hayes to Gordon’s driveway. Gordon shot Hayes three times while he sitting in a parked vehicle.
</li>
<li>Mark Pray, 31, and Alonzo Marlow, 32, received life sentences in June. Among dozens of other charges, a press release states the two were charged with killing 44-year-old witness Crystal Washington three days before their trial in April 2009. Pray was sentenced to life in prison plus 130 years. Marlow was sentenced to life in prison plus 55 years.
</li>
<li>In July 2014, a D.C. judge sentenced 24-year-old Willie Walker to 88 years in prison and 23-year-old Ricky Donaldson to 45 years in prison for violent crime charges that included the March 2008 murder of 44-year-ol Delois Persha. According to the press release, Walker shot Persha multiple times in the torso and the face after they got in an argument. Persha survived and identified Walker to police. From his jail cell, Walker conspired with Donaldson to kill the witness against Walker. Persha, who was relocated from the LeDroit Park area after she was shot in March, returned to the area in September. Donaldson shot her multiple times in the back and head. Persha died five days later.
</li>
</ul>
<p>"Weldon Gordon will spend the rest of his life behind bars because he chose to shoot a witness rather than take responsibility for his crack dealing," U.S. Attorney Ronald Machen Jr. said according to the press release. </p>
<p>"This life sentence demonstrates that striking out against witnesses is no way to escape justice. Nothing strengthens the resolve of law enforcement more than pursuing and punishing criminals who foolishly decide to intimidate, threaten, or hurt a witness willing to stand up and tell the truth." </p>
<p>The effectiveness of the government's witness protection program depends on how closely witnesses adhere to the rules. MPD Chief Lanier emphasized that witnesses who stay in the program and avoid returning to the area are never killed.</p>
<p>"The important thing I'd say about that is: We never have witnesses that are killed," Lanier said. "I mean we offer witness protection, and we offer some means to protect people, and if they take that protection and follow the rules, they're never killed."</p>
Police ID Victim, Suspect in Christmas Eve Shooting2014-12-28T21:57:03-05:00Chris Amicohttp://homicidewatch.org/2014/12/28/police-id-victim-suspect-in-christmas-eve-shooting/<p>Police have issued an arrest warrant for a suspect in the death of <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/yamalith-arroyo/">Yamalith Arroyo</a>, who was shot to death on Christmas Eve in the 3900 block of 14th Street Northwest.</p>
<p><a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/marvin-w-lopez/">Marvin W. Lopez</a>, 35, was last seen wearing a red, white and blue jacket and brown pants. He's shown in the photos below:</p>
<p><img src="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/lopez-2.png" alt="lopez-2" width="213" height="280" class="alignright size-full wp-image-26810" /></p>
<p><img src="http://wordpress.homicidewatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/lopez-1.png" alt="Marvin W. Lopez" width="228" height="285" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-26811" /></p>
<p><br class="clear"><br />
Arroyo was one of four people killed in homicides on Christmas Eve. </p>
<p>MPD's full press release is below:<br />
<span id="more-26809"></span></p>
<blockquote><p>
Marvin W. Lopez also known as Marvin Lopez Cabrera<br />
DOB: 7/19/1979<br />
104 Emerson Street, NW #1 Washington, DC<br />
Hispanic/Male 6’0” in height, weighing 190 lbs.<br />
Last seen wearing a red/white/blue jacket and brown pants</p>
<p>On Wednesday, December 24, 2014, at approximately 5:30 pm, Yamalith Arroyo was shot and killed in the 3900 block of 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC. Detectives of Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch investigated this case and subsequently obtained an arrest warrant charging the suspect named and pictured above with murder.</p>
<p>If this subject is seen call 911 for immediate police response. Do not approach this person or attempt to apprehend him.</p>
<p>Anyone with information on this suspect’s whereabouts should call police at 202-727-9099. Additionally, information may be submitted to the TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411.</p>