Autopsy Photos Shown in Murder Trial Trigger A Mother’s Grief

By Mariam Kamate [former] - March 21, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

During trial on March 20, a family member hugged a grieving mother as she shed tears for her murdered son as prosecutors showed photos of the killing.

Jean-Paul Kearney, 36, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 33-year-old Dontra Harris on April 4, 2021, on the 1800 block of 24th Street, NE. 

“It’s like stitches being ripped out– this is worse for me than the actual death. Seeing the pictures and hearing the video [and] audio,” the mother told D.C. Witness.

Kearney is also charged with assault on a police officer while armed for allegedly firing four gunshots as officers were trying to exercise a search warrant. According to court documents, a sergeant conducted three “knock-and-announces” before ordering his officers to break down the front door. 

During the proceeding, a D.C. medical examiner told prosecutors Harris’ death was a homicide, not a suicide based on the seven bullet wounds that entered and exited his body. 

Defense attorney Michael Madden asked the expert if it was possible to determine who the shooter was based on the bullet wounds. The answer was no. 

The prosecution also played a video in which Kearney says in an apparent reference to the police investigation, “She might of fucked up. The officers can’t search the car without a warrant”. 

The trial is set to reconvene March 21.