Mistrial Declared In Case Of Murder at Laurel Hotel

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The murder trial of a Washington, D.C., man charged with murder for allegedly killing a Landover Hills man during an armed robbery at a Laurel hotel has ended in a mistrial. Dalan Plummer of Landover Hills died July 3, 2016, at University of Maryland Shock Trauma Hospital from a gunshot wound suffered June 25, 2016, at the Knights Inn, 3380 Laurel Fort Meade Road.

The suspected shooters are Brandon Anthony Holmes from the 5000 block of Kansas Avenue NW, Washington D.C., and Malachi Tavon Ellis from the 200 block of Emerson Street NW, Washington D.C. Ellis' trial ended Tuesday when his attorneys argued they didn’t have enough time to prepare for testimony about statements Ellis may have made while made in jail, the Capital-Gazette reports.

Authorities say Ellis and Holmes approached Plummer at the hotel, and one of them shot him in the upper body. Investigators shared video that purportedly showed the suspected shooters at the McDonald's restaurant at 3418 Laurel Fort Meade Road in Laurel shortly before the fatal shooting, and at the Exxon Gas station at 3384 Laurel Fort Meade Road in Laurel.

Prosecutors said they plan to re-file charges against Ellis. Court records show the trial for Holmes is scheduled to begin Jan. 29.

At issue in the mistrial request was the timing of a prosecution witness who would reportedly have testified that Ellis made statements about the shooting while he was in jail awaiting trial. The trial started on Dec. 4, and prosecutors learned of the witness a day later; the witness was scheduled to testify Dec. 12. But Ellis' attorney successfully argued that she wasn't told of the witness’ testimony until Dec. 6, which was not time to look into his criminal background, the newspaper reports.

Ellis is charged with: first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, two counts of armed robbery, two counts of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, two counts of robbery, two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree assault, firearm used in a crime of violence, conspiracy to use a firearm in a crime of violence, two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of conspiracy to commit second-degree assault, two counts of reckless endangerment, two counts of theft less than $1,000, and two counts of conspiracy to commit theft less than $1,000.

The United States Marshal's Task Force tracked Holmes to the 4000 block of Minnesota Avenue, in Northeast D.C., where he was arrested. He has been charged with: first-degree murder, second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of robbery, two counts of armed robbery, two counts of theft less than $1,000, two counts of reckless endangerment, and a firearm used in a crime of violence.

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