Gary Dederichs (via Metropolitan Police Department)Michael Davis, the 19-year-old who arrested last month on two assault charges, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of a tourist, the Post reports.
Davis is being charged in the death of 66-year-old Gary Dederichs, who was visiting Washington last month from his home in Denver. Davis, who is the younger brother of San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis and Miami Dolphins cornerback Vontae Davis, was arrested April 26 after he allegedly assaulted a woman with a hammer in the Petworth neighborhood of Northwest D.C.
Dederichs’ death was one in a string of violent attacks that rattled the area two weeks ago. In addition to Dederichs and the woman whom Michael Davis allegedly attacked, three other people in the neighborhood were the victims of seemingly random and unprovoked attacks.
The Post reported last week that Davis has a history of mental disorders. He was hospitalized for 10 days last year at the Psychiatric Institute of Washington after teachers and a family member said he posed a physical threat to himself and to others.
Dederichs’ body was found in an alley on the 800 block of Emerson Street NW about 6 p.m. on April 24. Authorities said the cause of death was severe head trauma caused by a blunt object. He had been staying in mostly residential Petworth after finding lodging accommodations via the website Airbnb, which connects travelers with people offering short-term stays in their homes.
Davis will have a preliminary hearing tomorrow morning in D.C. Superior Court.