Defendant's phone activity examined during murder trial

By Alex Garcia Pecina
– October 3, 2024
court | Daily Stories | murders | Shoot | Suspicious | Victim |

On Oct. 2, prosecutors presented D.C. Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo with a murder defendant's Internet searches from the days leading up to the murder.

Eugene Burns, 32, is charged with first-degree armed murder, carrying a pistol without a license and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in the Nov. 14 shooting of Onyekachi Emmanuel Osuchukwu III, 2015, in the 2900 block of Second Street, SE.

Burns and Tire Allen, 24, are also charged with conspiracy, obstruction of justice by influencing or delaying a witness or official and obstructing the due administration of justice. The charges stem from her alleged involvement in the persuasion and intimidation of a witness who testified against Burns in the original trial.

Prosecutors called a special agent to the stand to testify about Burns' phone activity leading up to the shooting.

According to the agent, a few days before the murder, Burns conducted Internet searches including: “Are you capable of killing your best friend?”, “How does it feel to kill someone?” and “What does the Bible say about the killing?””

A few days later, the agent testified, Burns also conducted searches including: “How much does PCP cost and is it worth it?” and “Two men sentenced to prison for PCP ring.”

On the day of the murder, the agent testified, Burns was looking for a movie called “Paid in Full,” about a group of friends who become involved in the drug trade.

“If I do what I'm going to do, I'll explain later. Just don’t look at me any differently,” he wrote to a family member shortly before the murder, according to the agent.

The prosecution has previously claimed that the evidence was relevant because Paid in full is a film in which a drug dealer kills his partner over a conflict over drug money. Burns is accused of killing Osuchukwu for the profits from their joint drug dealings.

The parties are scheduled to meet again on October 3rd.