In the early morning hours of March 23, 2017, the life of 38-year-old Daquan Hooks, a male resident of Northeast Washington, was tragically cut short. Police responded to a call at approximately 4:45 a.m. in the 1900 block of 13th Street in Southeast Washington, D.C. Upon arrival, they discovered Hooks suffering from what appeared to be a head wound. He was quickly transported to a local hospital, but his injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead.
An autopsy later confirmed that he had died from a gunshot wound to the base of his head, and his death was officially ruled a homicide.
The investigation into the shooting continued for over a year without a public suspect. Then, in August 2018, the Metropolitan Police Department announced a significant development in the case. Acting on a D.C. Superior Court warrant, authorities arrested 47-year-old Cedric Alexander of Greenbelt, Maryland. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in Daquan Hooks' death. Court documents revealed that surveillance footage from near the scene captured a man exiting Hooks' truck shortly after the time of the incident.
Cedric Alexander, who was also known by the name Tony White, faced a trial for the murder of Daquan Hooks. In addition to the murder charge, he also faced charges of armed robbery and multiple firearm offenses. During the legal proceedings, a family member of Hooks testified that he was supposed to meet him on the morning of the murder near a methadone clinic. The witness recounted seeing a group of people gathered around a body on the ground, which he then realized was his relative. Despite the arrest and the subsequent trial, the case concluded with an acquittal for Cedric Alexander.
