A jury in Washington, D.C., is deliberating in the case of four men charged in a mass shooting that left three people dead. The court heard closing arguments on June 26 from the prosecution and the defense, painting contrasting pictures of the events surrounding the September 4, 2021, incident on Longfellow Street NW.
The defendants—Erwin Dubose, 31; Kamar Queen, 28; Damonta Thompson, 28; and William Johnson-Lee, 22—face charges that include conspiracy and premeditated first-degree murder while armed. Prosecutors allege the shooting claimed the lives of Donnetta Dyson, 31; Keenan Braxton, 24; and Johnny Joyner, 37, while injuring three others. Additionally, Mussay Rezene, 32, and Toyia Johnson, 53, are charged with accessory after the fact and evidence tampering for allegedly assisting the primary suspects in evading law enforcement.
During the trial, the prosecution detailed a comprehensive array of evidence—ranging from digital data and surveillance footage to eyewitness accounts. They argued that the defendants acted as vigilantes who sought to carry out their own brand of justice. Critical to the case were visual details from the shooting, including a white flap on the gunman’s pants and masks that appeared consistently in CCTV footage and social media posts leading up to the shooting.
An important piece of evidence was a private identification made by Johnson-Lee’s ex-girlfriend. She initially indicated to detectives that a figure in the surveillance footage resembled Johnson-Lee. Although her in-court testimony changed, the prosecution asked jurors to rely on her earlier statement, emphasizing the pressure she faced while testifying against an ex-partner.
Queen’s distinctive clothing also played a crucial role in the prosecution’s case. Video evidence captured him firing a 5.7 caliber round, with witnesses corroborating his identity through bright yellow shoes and distinctive jeans.
While Rezene was not accused of directly taking part in the shooting, prosecutors contended he aided in its aftermath, including helping to conceal the getaway vehicle, a Honda Accord, which was later set ablaze. Cell site data allegedly traced Rezene’s movements after the shooting, suggesting he met with Dubose before the vehicle was destroyed. Surveillance footage further indicated flames rising from that location shortly after the incident.
The defense attorneys countered by questioning the prosecution’s reliance on circumstantial evidence. Dubose’s lawyer argued that no direct evidence linked his client to the crime scene, emphasizing procedural flaws in the investigation, including reports of a chaotic crime scene that could have compromised the integrity of the evidence.
Meanwhile, Johnson-Lee’s attorney sought to distinguish his client from the others, highlighting cell phone records that purportedly placed him away from the scene just before the shooting. He also challenged the DNA evidence presented by prosecutors, suggesting it was inconclusive and did not definitively place Johnson-Lee at the crime scene.
The defense attempted to shift focus onto the numerous potential culprits in the area, raising doubts about the motives attributed to Dubose and questioning the reliability of the evidence presented. Johnson’s alleged relationships with the co-defendants were intended to frame her actions in a specific context; however, the defense argued that such connections were insufficient to infer guilt.
Both sides made their arguments with the jury’s pivotal decision looming ahead. The trial is set to resume on June 30, where jurors will weigh the evidence and testimonies in this high-stakes case.
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