Judge Dismisses Case Against Dominique Massenberg
A DC Superior Court judge dismissed firearm and child cruelty charges after prosecutors could not reach the case's key witness.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Crime — General
Judge Carmen McLean dismissed the case against Dominique Massenberg, 24, on October 30 after repeated failed attempts to make contact. Massenberg had been charged with endangerment with a firearm, three counts of second-degree cruelty to children, unlawful discharge of a firearm, possession of a destructive device, possession of an unregistered firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.
Why it matters
The dismissal means the prosecution's case stalls without the witness, leaving the alleged August 2023 shooting unresolved in court. Prosecutors may refile the charges if contact with the witness is reestablished.
Massenberg, 24, faces seven charges, and the case was dismissed on October 30 with prejudice not specified. The prosecution may bring the case back if it reestablishes contact with the witness, who has not been reached since March.
The players
Carmen McLean
Carmen McLean is a judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia who presided over the hearing.
DC Superior Court
The DC Superior Court is the trial court of general jurisdiction for the District of Columbia.
The details
Massenberg is accused of firing shots out of a third-floor window of her apartment building on the 300 block of Anacostia Road, SE, on August 8, 2023. Her attorney said he could not reach her, and her phone number appeared to be cancelled, prompting Judge McLean to move to dismiss.
Timeline
August 8, 2023: Alleged shooting on the 300 block of Anacostia Road, SE.
March: Prosecutors last attempted a witness debrief.
October 30: Judge McLean dismissed the case.
Legal Context
The dismissal illustrates how DC Superior Court handles cases where a key witness cannot be located, a procedure that generally permits prosecutors to refile charges if the witness is later reached. Cases dismissed for absent witnesses are common in felony prosecutions, and this one remains open to refiling.
Residents near the 300 block of Anacostia Road, SE, may see the case stall without a resolution of the alleged shooting. The dismissal does not end the matter, since prosecutors can bring the charges back if the witness is reached.
The takeaway
Dismissals for unreachable witnesses are not necessarily final, and prosecutors may seek to reinstate charges later. Anyone with information about the case can contact the appropriate authorities.
Further reading
For more on local cases like this one, browse Crime — General coverage.
