some info on Billy Mitchell's alleged murderer, Anthony Speight

From a Randolph Place NW resident:

Following up on the other links, this may be worth sharing, as well as an enhanced photo of the alleged murderer from his Facebook profile, in which he wears the hat he purportedly lost during the killing.

Detective's affidavit: http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/281393-scn-0045.html#document/p1

http://www.facebook.com/people/Speight-Guud-Shepherd/100000376074064

http://twitter.com/shepherd3000

photo is attached.

HomicideWatch.org: "robbery attempt at center of Bill Mitchell's Truxton Circle shooting death"

Here is a follow-up post on the arrest in the 01/19/2011 murder of Billy Mitchell -- from the HomicideWatch.org website (thanks for the tip, Mari!).

Robbery Attempt at Center of Bill Mitchell`s Truxton Circle Shooting Death
Posted Dec. 28, 2011, 3:45 p.m.

by Laura Amico
http://homicidewatch.org/2011/12/28/robbery-attempt-at-center-of-bill-mitchells-truxton-circle-shooting-death

A $20 robbery may have been the cause of Bill Mitchell`s shooting death in Truxton Circle last January.

That`s according to charging documents made public today just before Anthony Speight, the man prosecutors say killed Mitchell, was presented with a charge of first degree murder while armed.

Speight`s attorney submitted to the government`s facts and did not oppose Speight`s detention while he is awaiting a preliminary hearing.

Mitchell was walking home from the theater on Jan. 19 when he was shot and killed. Mitchell`s family and friends, and D.C. Council member Harry Thomas Jr., said Mitchell was killed while coming to the aid of a woman.

Homicide detectives now say it may be the opposite.

According to charging documents in the case, a man on a bicycle approached a woman near a small park in Truxton Circle and propositioned her for sex. She refused. The man then rode over to Mitchell, who was at a nearby bus stop, and asked for $20. When Mitchell refused, the man argued with him. The woman then came over to assist Mitchell, told the man man to leave Mitchell alone, and tried to call 911. The man knocked her cell phone out of her hand, Mitchell jumped on the man`s back, and he and the man fell to the ground.

During the struggle the man produced a handgun, said ``This is what I have been waiting for,`` shot Mitchell, and biked away.

The arrest was made until yesterday, when MPD announced that Speight would face a murder charge in connection with the case. A person who knows Speight said Speight biked past just after the shooting. When the witness asked Speight to give him his bike, Speight declined, saying police were likely searching for it.

The witness told police Speight had said ``a white man had played with him and was taking him for a joke.``

Speight was ordered held on the murder charge and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 6, 2012.

Speight is awaiting trial in an armed carjacking case. That offense is alleged to have occurred just six hours before Mitchell was killed.

Charging documents are below:
[you can click on the homicidewatch.org link above to see this charging document.]

arrest made in the 1/19/2011 fatal shooting of William Mitchell; man arrested has been charged with first-degree murder

See this news item from today`s Washington Post:

D.C. police charge three men with murder
By David Marino-Nachison, Published: December 27

http://www.washingtonpost.com/todays_paper?dt=2011-12-28&bk=B&pg=5

D.C. police charged three men with murder Tuesday, announcing arrests in shootings in January and May and a late-night stabbing this month.

Harold Proctor of Upper Marlboro, Anthony Speight of no fixed address and Andrew Wesley Williams of Northeast Washington were arrested separately Tuesday morning, according to police.

Proctor, 19, was charged with felony murder in the Dec. 17 stabbing of Kevin Blackwell Jr., 20. Authorities responding to the 900 block of Burns Street SE found Blackwell suffering from a stab wound at 10:36 p.m.; he died later at a hospital.

Williams, 25, was charged with first-degree murder in the May 14 shooting of Junon Tyree Snead, 30, of Northeast. Snead, one of two men shot dead in separate incidents that night, was found in the 3700 block of Jay Street NE about 5:50 a.m. and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police closed the second case Oct. 28, charging Montez Warren, 30, of Northeast with first-degree murder in the death of Ervin Lamont Griffin, 32, of Southeast.

Speight, 23, was charged with first-degree murder in the Jan. 19 shooting of William Mitchell of Northwest. Mitchell, 33, was found at North Capitol Street and Florida Avenue about 11 p.m., police said, later died at a hospital.,

perhaps Guns Into Plowshare sculpture for North Capitol & Florida Avenue NW ?

See this idea from a Bloomingdale resident who attended last night`s vigil for Billy Mitchell at the site of the 1/19/2011 homicide – the northwest corner of North Capitol Street NW and Florida Avenue NW:

At the vigil last night, our city councilmember recommended finding a way to revitalize the park where Billy Mitchell was shot. I just found this article about an anti-violence sculpture that`s been languishing out of sight in D.C. The sculptor is seeking a more high-profile place for the sculpture. I couldn`t think of a more visible appropriate location than the park at N. Capitol and Florida Ave. Do you have any suggestions, ideas, or thoughts on this?

Here is the article in question, which an image of the sculpture:

Plowshares sculpture in Washington moved again
By Sheldon C. Good
Mennonite Weekly Review
http://www.mennoweekly.org/2011/2/7/plowshares-sculpture-moved-again/

"the problems at North Capitol St NW & Florida Ave NW"

See this 1/21/2011 post at the Eckington list by Bloomingdale resident Tom Usselman:

The problems at Florida & North Cap NW

For the 9 years I`ve lived in this neighborhood, Everyone in the city government has known about that intersection and what a nightmare it is. And I mean EVERYONE.

I think it is safe to say that every civic, police and business meeting has held special meetings to discussed this topic for as far back as anyone can remember.

Here are the issues:

1. S.O.M.E. ~ So Others Might Eat (www.some.org) feeds 488 people from around the city twice a day. These people are bused in from all over the city. Bused in!
a. So after breakfast they hang out from New York Ave to Florida Ave and drink etc. until it is lunch time. Then hang out till it is time to head for the shelters or just sleep in the parks.
b. Talk to the owners of City Gear and Subway if you want an earful about that.
c. This loitering creates an atmosphere of lawlessness that allows other behavior to exist, drinking in public etc.

2. The bus stop on Florida Avenue is too close to the liquor store.
a. When the police attempt to move the troublemakers on, they claim to be waiting for the bus.

3. Methadone Clinics
a. At one point we had 3 methadone clinics located on New York Ave, I think there is only 1 left? And it may be closing soon which will help.

4. Vacant Properties
a. Property owners need this area to feel safer so they can attract businesses.
b. Talk to Brian Brown and Phyllis Klein. They have told me stories of potential tenants that drive up to check out a location and won`t even get out of their cars. They know they can`t make a business work with 15 homeless guys hanging out in front.

So the solution sounds easy to me, but there is no political will to make it happen.

1. Convince S.O.M.E. that the current feeding program it too large for a residential neighborhood. Encourage them to open smaller sites around the city to serve people where they stay. Why don`t they feed them from Catholic Churches?
a. We have had numerous meetings with them in the past 9 years and Catholic Charities only cares about the homeless they are feeding. They don`t give a crap about the havoc they unleash in our neighborhood.

2. Move the metrobus stop away from the liquor store.
a. Again no political will to make this happen.

3. Get Health and Human service workers out from behind their desks at the peoples building (right next to Wendy`s and out into the streets to help those people that can be helped.
a. I find it ironic that the building that houses Health and Human Services is a gated Campus!!!! So they don`t feel safe with their workplace location and stick a big fence around it, yet we are expected to put up with it.

And BTW these are not just my opinions, but things I have heard in the countless police, business and planning meetings.

The bottom line is that we need to reduce the loitering so we can attract businesses that will increase foot traffic and reduce crime. Seems very simple.

Tom Usselman

articles, newscasts, blog posts on the 1/19/2011 Fatal Shooting of Billy Mitchell at North Capitol & Fla Ave NW

Random act of violence claims man`s life
By Theola Labbé-DeBose
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 21, 2011; 11:33 PM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/21/AR2011012106944.html

33-Year-Old DC Man Killed Walking Home in Northwest
Billy Mitchell was active in N Capitol St corridor
Updated: Friday, 21 Jan 2011, 5:44 PM EST
Published : Thursday, 20 Jan 2011, 11:43 PM EST
By ROBY CHAVEZ/myfoxdc
http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/dc/33-year-old-dc-man-killed-walking-home-in-northwest-012011

More Details in Truxton Circle Shooting of Billy Mitchell
Posted on January 21, 2011
http://homicidewatch.org/2011/01/21/more-details-in-truxton-circle-shooting-of-billy-mitchell/

DC man murdered for intervening during a harassment incident
http://streetharassment.wordpress.com/2011/01/22/dc-man-murdered-for-intervening-during-a-harassment-incident /

MPD 1D PSA 102 blogspot.com
Homicide at North Capitol Street and Florida Avenue, NW
http://mpd1dpsa102.blogspot.com/2011/01/homicide-at-north-capitol-street-and.html

Man Shot and Killed at North Capitol and Florida Ave, NW Last Night
20 January 2011 12:30 PM
Homicide at North Capitol Street and Florida Avenue, NW
http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2011/01/man-shot-and-killed-at-north-capitol-and-florida-ave-nw-last-night/

Father Of Man Killed Near Truxton Circle Asks For Help
http://dcist.com/2011/01/father_of_man_killed_near_truxton_c.php