2nd Degree Murder Charge Filed Against MD Man: DC Police

WASHINGTON, DC — Homicide detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department arrested a Maryland man Wednesday in connection with the Nov. 26 fatal shooting of 39-year-old Edward Pearson near the National Zoo, according to a police release.

Officers from the Second District responded around 9:29 a.m., to the report of an unconscious person in the 2900 block of Connecticut Avenue, Northwest. They found Pearson inside of an apartment across from the Smithsonian National Zoological Park suffering from a gunshot wound. D.C. Fire and EMS examined Pearson and determined that he had died. He was later transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

MPD officers also discovered an additional victim in the hallway of the apartment building. The adult man was suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Acting on a D.C. Superior Court arrest warrant Wednesday, officers arrested Ernest Cleveland, 27, of Suitland, Maryland, and charged him with second degree murder while armed and assault with intent to kill.

Further investigations by MPD detectives led to Cleveland also being charged in connection with another offense that occurred on Tuesday, in the 1400 block of Cedar Street, Southeast. Police say Cleveland and the victim were in a vehicle around 5 p.m., when he brandished a handgun at the victim. Police recovered the handgun and narcotics.

MPD charged Cleveland with assault with a dangerous weapon (gun), carrying a pistol without a license, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, possession of unregistered ammunition, possession of unregistered firearm, and possession with intent to distribute MDMA.

At the time of his arrest, Cleveland was under the supervision of the Division of Parole & Probation of the Maryland Department of Public Safety & Correctional Services.