Judge Admitted Redacted Audio in Brevard Murder Trial
A D.C. judge allowed partial audio evidence to be presented to jurors in the trial of Gerald Brevard III.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Sex Crimes
Judge Neal Kravitz ruled that an audio recording from February 2022 can be played for jurors in the murder trial of Gerald Brevard III, provided all references to a firearm are redacted. Brevard faces charges for the March 2022 shootings and murder of unhoused individuals in Washington.
Why it matters
The redaction was ordered to prevent potential prejudice against the defendant while still allowing the prosecution to connect the audio to his previous employment at City Winery. This evidence is a key component of the state's case, which also features bias-related hate crime charges.
Gerald Brevard III, 35, is being tried in D.C. Superior Court for charges including the March 2022 murder of 54-year-old Morgan Holmes. His trial features bias-related hate crime aggravating factors.
The players
Gerald Brevard III
He is the defendant currently facing murder and bias-related hate crime charges for the 2022 shootings of unhoused individuals.
Judge Neal Kravitz
He is the presiding judge in the D.C. Superior Court who is overseeing the ongoing murder trial.
SoundThinking
This company provides public safety technology, including the gunshot detection sensors used by law enforcement.
The details
Prosecutors used testimony from a SoundThinking forensic manager to authenticate gunshot detection sensor data from March 2022 near New York Avenue and H Street. Additionally, investigators presented findings from a March 2022 apartment search and data collected from two mobile phones.
Timeline
March 3, 2022: Sensors detected gunfire near the 1000 block of New York Ave.
March 8, 2022: Sensors detected gunfire on H Street and Benning Road.
March 9, 2022: The fatal shooting of Morgan Holmes occurred.
March 15, 2022: Analysts collected clothing and photographic evidence at an apartment.
October 5, 2026: The court argued the admissibility of the audio recording.
Legal Context
This case proceeds in the wake of the 2022 Washington unhoused individuals shooting spree, which prompted heightened security and investigations into gun violence. The trial reflects the judicial focus on balancing admissible electronic evidence against the risk of juror prejudice.
Residents in the neighborhoods near New York Avenue and H Street should be aware that the high-profile trial is ongoing in the city courts. The reliance on public gunshot detection data in court underscores the role of citywide surveillance technology in current criminal prosecutions.
The takeaway
The court's decision to redact specific mentions of a gun demonstrates the careful scrutiny applied to evidence in high-stakes criminal trials. Jurors must rely on substantiated forensic data while avoiding information that could unfairly influence their verdict.
What happens next
The testimony of the ATF digital media specialist is scheduled to continue in D.C. Superior Court on October 6.
Further reading
For more information on legal proceedings in the capital, visit the Washington Sex Crimes section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Dcwitness.
