DC Witness

In a killing the prosecutor termed “entirely avoidable,” Tremon Jackson, 22, was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment for voluntary manslaughter before DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson on May 15. Read the story to find out more information about the case: https://dcwitness.org/i-aint-no-menace-says-murder-defendant-at-sentencing/

‘I Ain’t No Menace,’ Says Murder Defendant at Sentencing - DC Witness In a killing the prosecutor termed “entirely avoidable,” Tremon Jackson, 22, was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment for voluntary manslaughter before DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson on May 15. Jackson was originally charged with second-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm...

On May 6, a DC Superior Court judge transferred a defendant accused of killing her 5-month old son to a halfway house. He said that even though the crime was “horrific”, the defendant did not pose a danger to the community. Read the story: https://dcwitness.org/judge-transfers-infanticide-defendant-to-halfway-house/

Judge Transfers Infanticide Defendant to Halfway House - DC Witness DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman denied the defense’s request for an infanticide defendant to be released to home confinement, ordering she be transferred to a halfway house on May 6.  Christen Borden, 37, is charged with felony murder and first-degree cruelty to children for her alleged invo...

According to data collected by D.C. Witness, April is the city’s deadliest month so far this year with 15 recorded homicides. Most occurred in Southeast DC. Read more: https://dcwitness.org/april-homicides-make-2026s-deadliest-month-to-date/

April Homicides Make 2026’s Deadliest Month to Date - DC Witness According to D.C. Witness data, there were 15 reported homicide incidents in April, accounting for 17 victims, making it DC’s deadliest month so far in 2026. By comparison, there were three reported homicide incidents in January, 10 in February, and five in March. As of May 7, of the 15 incidents ...

Court Update: DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan ordered a third full mental competency examination for Stephen Rattigan on April 28. Rattigan is accused of shooting 3 police officers in Southeast DC. Read the story: https://dcwitness.org/judge-orders-third-mental-competency-exam-for-defendant-accused-of-shooting-police/

Judge Orders Third Mental Competency Exam For Defendant Accused of Shooting Police - DC Witness At a hearing on April 28, DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan ordered a third full mental competency examination for a defendant accused of shooting police officers. Stephen Rattigan, 50, is charged with six counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, six counts of assault on a police office...

Court Update: An eyewitness to a fatal bar shooting testified she was intoxicated at the time. However, she said a White man, prosecutors identified as Lowe, came "out of the blue" and punched the victim. https://dcwitness.org/eyewitness-testifies-about-u-street-bar-homicide/

Eyewitness Testifies About U Street Bar Homicide - DC Witness An eyewitness to a fatal bar shooting testified she was intoxicated at the time of the incident in a homicide trial in DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman’s courtroom, April 30. Robert Lowe, 42, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, ...

Court Update: During opening arguments the prosecution claimed Kenneth Barksdale’s homicide resulted from three defendants being “greedy” in wanting to steal more cars that day. https://dcwitness.org/prosecutors-claim-homicide-suspects-were-greedy-for-more/

Prosecutors Claim Homicide Suspects, ‘Were Greedy for More’ - DC Witness The prosecution argued a homicide resulted from the suspects’ greedy intent to steal cars in opening statements before a jury in DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan’s courtroom on April 27. D’Andre Montgomery, 20, is charged with conspiracy, felony murder while armed with aggravating circumst...

Court Update: DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman suggested, on April 24, sending Infanticide defendant, Christian Borden, to Fairview Halfway House. Fairview is a women's halfway house, for substance abuse treatment. https://dcwitness.org/judge-mulls-possible-halfway-house-for-infanticide-defendant/

Judge Mulls Possible Halfway House For Infanticide Defendant - DC Witness DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman suggest an infanticide defendant be sent to a women’s halfway house on April 24 to receive drug treatment. Christian Borden, 37, is charged with felony murder and first-degree cruelty to children with grave risk for her alleged involvement in the death of her f...

During an April 15 hearing, Judge Ryan denied a motion to modify release conditions for Wayne Blake, who is accused of infanticide for his alleged involvement in the death of 1-year-old Journee Moore. Read the story: https://dcwitness.org/judge-denies-released-infanticide-suspect-more-freedom-for-personal-needs/

Judge Denies Released Infanticide Suspect More Freedom for Personal Needs - DC Witness During a hearing on April 15, DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan denied a motion to modify pre-trial release conditions in a murder case involving an infant. Wayne Blake, 24, who is facing two counts of cruelty to children and one count of first-degree murder for allegedly killing one-year-old Jou...

Court update: DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz sentenced Dearay Wilson to 18 years in prison on April 10. The victim’s family members gave emotional statements before Judge Kravitz imposed the sentence. Read the story: https://dcwitness.org/what-you-did-that-night-was-evil-murder-victims-son-tells-defendant-at-sentencing/

‘What You Did That Night Was Evil,’ Murder Victim’s Son Tells Defendant at Sentencing - DC Witness DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz sentenced a homicide defendant to 18 years in prison after statements from the victim’s close family members on April 10.  Dearay Wilson, 30, pleaded guilty on Feb. 13 to second-degree murder while armed for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 53-year-old...

Court Update: The defense for shooting suspect Cotey Wynn told DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt an expert witness will analyze video of co-defendant Frank Johnson to prove he was armed before meeting with Wynn on April 7. Read the story: https://dcwitness.org/defense-says-expert-will-show-fatal-mass-shooting-co-defendant-was-armed/

Defense Says 'Expert' Will Show Fatal Mass Shooting Co-Defendant Was Armed - DC Witness DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt scheduled a hearing on April 7 to determine whether a defense witness can testify as an expert in a fatal mass shooting trial. Cotey Wynn, 45, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, three counts of assault with intent to kill, and four cou...