Cooperating witness details Georgetown marijuana pop-up fatal shooting trial

A cooperating witness testified that suspects showed an "adrenaline rush" after fatally shooting Youness Zarouaki, 30, at a Georgetown marijuana pop-up in 2021.

Witness describes suspects' 'adrenaline rush' after fatal Georgetown pop-up shooting

A cooperating witness took the stand in DC Superior Court on Sept. 29, telling jurors she scouted the scene of an armed robbery that left one man dead at a Georgetown marijuana pop-up, dcwitness.org reports.

Michael Sanders, 32, and Darnell Resper, 33, face charges of conspiracy, first-degree felony murder while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, attempted robbery while armed, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction. The charges relate to the fatal shooting of Youness Zarouaki, 30, at the 1000 block of Thomas Jefferson Street, NW, on Feb. 18, 2021.

During redirect examination, the witness — who was in a relationship with Sanders at the time — said the two drove to pick up Resper before heading toward the Georgetown pop-up location. They parked on 31st Street, NW, within walking distance of the store.

She testified that both men carried handguns that day and that Resper wore latex gloves, which she believed was to avoid leaving fingerprints on his weapon.

Scouting the scene on FaceTime

Before the robbery, the witness said she entered the pop-up ahead of Sanders and Resper to survey the interior. To relay the layout to the men waiting outside, she placed her phone in her pocket while connected on FaceTime. She then returned to the car and made one more trip to the outdoor gate for a final look before going back to the vehicle.

Sanders and Resper then proceeded into the pop-up. When they returned to the car, the witness described both men as experiencing an "adrenaline rush." She testified that the defendants told her Sanders had seen Zarouaki reach for something, prompting him to draw his handgun and fire.

Arrest, interrogation, and immunity deal

According to court documents, investigators brought the witness in for questioning on March 25, 2021, after surveillance footage placed her car near the crime scene. She initially told police her cousins had been using the vehicle at the time of the shooting — a claim she admitted under oath was false, made to protect Sanders.

The witness said she ultimately agreed to testify against both Sanders and Resper in exchange for immunity from further prosecution in the case.

Evidence gathered at the scene

The prosecution also called a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) first responder who cleared the pop-up, located inside a residence, after the shooting. Body-worn camera footage showed the officer checking the attic for any remaining occupants. During cross-examination, Resper's attorney Jason Clark drew attention to the cluttered state of the attic, asking whether a full search of the space had been conducted — the officer confirmed it had not.

The lead MPD detective on the case testified that the crime scene remained cordoned off until approximately 11:00 a.m. on Feb. 19, 2021. While processing the pop-up, investigators recovered a bloody jacket and a bag of marijuana covered in blood. No firearms or shell casings were found at the scene, though bullets were. A silver Mercedes was seized and searched but contained only mobile phones; its owner was connected to running the pop-up but was not a suspect in the shooting.

Surveillance footage and vehicle trace

The detective said surveillance footage obtained from the Graham Hotel — which faced the front of the incident address — began around noon on the day of the shooting and ran for approximately three hours. The footage showed two tall, slim individuals in dark clothing approaching the address shortly before the first 911 call came in at 3:11 p.m.

Minutes later, one suspect was seen fleeing toward Wisconsin Avenue and M Street, NW. The second suspect's route was not captured on camera, though footprints near a bent fence pointed in the opposite direction.

Additional footage from Potomac Wines and Spirits on the 3100 block of M Street, NW captured a partial licence plate on a black Honda Accord. That plate was later read in full on a Virginia toll road on Feb. 21, 2021. After a lookout was issued, patrol officers spotted the vehicle on Feb. 26, 2021 on the 4200 block of Eads Street, NE.

The detective identified the Honda's owner as the cooperating witness and seized the car. He testified that no fingerprints were recovered from the vehicle, but documents belonging to Sanders — including a printed identification card — were found inside.

Phone records linked to Sanders

A T-Mobile employee also took the stand, testifying that an account registered in Sanders' name changed its phone number on Feb. 19, 2021 — the day after the shooting. The employee explained that the SIM card and associated personal information remained the same; only the number was altered. During cross-examination by Sanders' attorney Daniel Kovler, the witness confirmed that the SIM card is the most reliable method for tracking phones that change numbers.

When the detective and a partner visited the cooperating witness at her home on March 25, 2021, she disclosed that Sanders had been using the Honda when she was not. She provided his phone number, which the detective traced to an address he believed was Sanders' grandmother's home. The witness also claimed she had been at a restaurant in Maryland on the day of the incident with "Michael's friend," presenting a screenshot of a receipt as corroboration.

The trial before Judge Michael Ryan continues.

Source: Google News GY — Georgetown