A jury trial will begin Wednesday in the case of Donte M. Washington vs. The Commonwealth of Kentucky, which focuses on Washington’s murder charge that stemmed from a Dec. 12, 2016 shooting incident that killed Jerard Fountain in the 600 block of Sycamore Street.
On Dec. 12, around 8:43 p.m., Owensboro Police Department responded to numerous 911 calls made in relation to shots being fired in the Sycamore Street area. Fountain was found with a gunshot wound to the chest and transported to Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The suspect alleged to have shot Fountain was Preston T. Williams, 26. After surveillance cameras and witness testimony helped Owensboro Police Department detectives identify Williams as the possible shooter, charges were made against Williams and Washington.
Washington, 26, was believed to be involved alongside Williams in the fatal crime, though detectives have thus far penned Williams as the primary shooting suspect. Williams’ case will go to trial on May 21, 2019.
However, Washington still faces charges of murder, tampering with physical evidence and persistent felony offender. Washington is being held at the Daviess County Detention Center on $50,000 full cash bond for the murder charge.
Circuit Court Judge Jay Wethington will preside over the trial, which is expected to last between two and three days. A jury was selected Tuesday morning, and evidence will be presented to the court on Wednesday.
