Police arrested two men in the January homicide of University of Maryland student Justin DeSha-Overcash, who authorities say was slain during a drug robbery inside his College Park home. Stephan Weaver, 22, of Bowie and Deandre Ricardo Williams, 23, of the District were charged with first-degree murder, the Prince George’s County Police Department said Thursday.
In court documents provided to The Washington Examiner, a detective wrote that an informant told police that the suspects were looking for a “drug dealer that they could rob for his drugs and money.”
A friend gave them the 38th Avenue address where DeSha-Overcash and several roommates lived, the documents say. Police have said a large quantity of marijuana was found in DeSha-Overcash’s house.
One suspect stayed in a getaway car while the other suspect committed the Jan. 11 robbery, according to the documents.
The informant told police that DeSha-Overcash, 22, was shot after trying to fight off the suspect. He was “defiant and did not cooperate” when one of the suspects entered the house wearing a black mask, the detective wrote. After approaching the suspect “in an aggressive manner,” DeSha-Overcash was shot twice.
The detective wrote that the informant’s statement is “consistent with the crime scene” and includes information known only by police.
The case received substantial media attention in January, as Prince George’s County was being rocked by a spate of homicides. Just 11 days into the year, DeSha-Overcash became the county’s 11th homicide victim.
The county has seen a total of 27 homicides this year, a police spokesman said.
DeSha-Overcash’s mother, Karen DeSha, staged a protest at police headquarters in Palmer Park in January to express her displeasure at authorities suggesting her son’s involvement in drugs led to his slaying. She said his life was not defined by drugs.
She could not be reached Thursday, but told The Examiner in January that “my son lived with honor and integrity, and I want his honor restored.”
Friends of DeSha-Overcash took to his Facebook wall Thursday to celebrate the news of the arrests. One friend, Jarmichael Harris, wrote: “beyond elated about the news for you kid.”
