Judge rejects defendant’s request for release

By Marissa Stambaugh, Alex Garcia Pecina – October 23, 2024
Burglary | Daily Stories | Robbery | Shoot | Suspicious |

D.C. Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein on Oct. 22 denied a defendant’s request for bail, saying neither the conditions nor the evidence had changed.

Deandre Christian, 29, is charged with assault with armed intent to kill and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in a shooting in the 200 block of M Street, SW, on September 5, 2023.

According to court documents, Christian and another man were in an apartment when the three suspects, Keyshawn Lavender, 23, Raymond Mathis, 36, and Deandre Sams, 28, allegedly broke in and shot the victim. Christian is said to have shot at the three people as they fled the apartment.

Defense attorney Brandi Harden argued that new DNA evidence from the blood in the apartment calls into question the timing of the shooting and that there was no evidence that Christian shot the intruders.

Harden also argued that Christian was shot twice and has no criminal record, suggesting self-defense. She also stated that he therefore did not pose a threat to the community and should at least be released to home confinement.

Judge Epstein denied the request, arguing that Christian fired back at the robbers to harm them.

The parties are scheduled to meet again on December 12th.