Bowie Man Kills Police Witness To Protect His Friend: Attorney's Office

WASHINGTON, DC — In an effort to protect his friend, a Bowie man allegedly murdered a man who was a witness in a murder case, prosecutors said. Stanley Moghalu, 30, was found guilty of first-degree murder by a D.C. Superior Court jury Wednesday, U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu announced.

The jury agreed that Moghalu fatally shot a man and critically injured another at the intersection of 21st and M Streets, NE. on Nov. 14, 2011. The decedent was identified as Ronald D. Smith, 27.

Smith was allegedly killed because he was a government witness in an investigation into the May 2011 murder of Ervin L. Griffin. Moghalu was allegedly friends with the man who murdered Griffin, and did not want Smith to cooperate with police or attorneys, prosecutors said.

Mogahalu's friend, former D.C. resident David Warren, 31, was found guilty in Griffin's murder. He was sentenced to 36 years in prison in March 2014.

Charles Harrison was critically injured in the incident and was shot nine times by Moghalu, prosecutors said. Harrison lost the use of his right arm, but survived.

Moghalu was found guilty of first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, assault with intent to kill, conspiracy, obstruction of justice and other charges in the attack. He faces a potential sentence of life in prison without parole and will be sentenced Jan. 26, 2018.

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