Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.metro From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Murder suspect faces trial tomorrow Date: Mon, 9 Nov 92 14:59:57 EST Message-ID: \SE B;METROPOLITAN \HD Murder suspect faces trial tomorrow \BY Laura M. Litvan \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES It's been six months since 13-year-old Joey Ford lost his life on his way home from church, when his family drove into a deadly line of fire on a Seat Pleasant street. The family of the Kenmoor Middle School honor student has held together since his May 1 killing, bonded by their Christian faith, his aunt said Friday. "I can say that he's missed, but we have continued on with our lives and are thankful that Joey was saved and passed on to the Lord," said Shannon Goodwin. "He's in a better place now." Tomorrow, the suspect charged as the trigger man in the slaying will stand trial. Darius Wiggs, 20, faces charges of first-degree murder and using a handgun to commit a felony. The killing occurred about 10:45 p.m. May 1 as the Ford family was driving home from True Way Deliverance Church, where Joey's grandmother is pastor. As Sharod Ford, Joey's mother, entered the 4800 block of Nash Street in Seat Pleasant, she slowed down because a green station wagon was blocking the road, according to court records. The driver of the station wagon began yelling at a man on the sidewalk and then pulled out a gun and fired at him. It was then that the man on the sidewalk pulled out his own gun and fired back, and the station wagon driver drove past the Ford car, leaving the family stuck in the middle. Joey was shot in the head and pronounced dead an hour later. The men fled. Police said they had a tough time finding leads. But within days, at least three witnesses stepped forward and gave police information that led them to arrest Wiggs and Gregory Hall, 22. One witness said he knew Darius, but not his last name. The witness described Wiggs' Nissan 280Z and told police that he lived behind Fairmont Heights High School in Capitol Heights. Another witness said he saw a man in a green station wagon yell "Greg" and an obscenity, then saw him begin firing. The witness identified Mr. Hall and gave police his address. Police charged both suspects with murder because it was not known which of the alleged gunmen may have fired the fatal shot. The prosecutor, William Manico, said he presented a county grand jury with evidence earlier this year that linked the bullet that killed Joey with the gun used by Wiggs that night. Based largely on that evidence, Mr. Hall was indicted only on a lesser charge of carrying a handgun. He has yet to face trial. Mr. Manico said his case will include a copy of Wiggs' statement to police, in which he initially claimed that he wasn't even at the scene, but in which he later said he was at Nash Street and fired a gun. The case will also rely heavily upon witnesses who went to police, as well as Mrs. Ford and other family members in the car that night. But the defense has a few witnesses of its own. Wiggs' attorney, Douglas Wood, said he has witnesses who will tell the jury that they saw Mr. Hall fire the first shot. "Mr. Wiggs is contending he shot in self-defense that night," Mr. Wood said. Wiggs has several drug convictions in his past. In one case, he was convicted of possessing enough cocaine to indicate he intended to sell it. He also faces court dates for possible parole violations. Meanwhile, Joey's relatives said they have forgiven the people who fired the shots on Nash Street that night. "What we're not looking for is vindication," said Ms. Goodwin. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM