Charges dropped in fatal motel shooting

Murder and other charges were dropped ast week against a man who had been implicated in the shooting death of a motel front desk clerk in late September 2016.

On Dec. 5, Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Barbara Cooke withdrew charges of first-degree murder, robbery and two counts of using a firearm in commission of a felony against Jamal A. Washington, 21.

He was arrested April 10 and held without bail after indictments were issued by a grand jury.

Prosecutors could refile the charges since they were not dismissed by the judge.

The charges followed the death of Jerry V. Colyer, 43, at the Econo Lodge, 2310 Indian Hills Road in South Chesterfield. According to the medical examiner’s report, Colyer died from a gunshot wound to the head.

A photo in the court record dated 10:52 p.m. Sept. 29, 2016, shows someone with a red hooded sweatshirt pointing a pistol at a black man behind a desk. The face of the person wearing the sweatshirt is concealed in the photo, but the left hand is black. There appears to be a glove on the person’s right hand, which was holding the pistol.

Washington’s DNA was inside the cuffs and neck area of the red sweatshirt, as a forensic report shows. According to a report in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington’s attorney, Curtis Brown, said the sweatshirt also contained others’ DNA.

Washington faces charges in Colonial Heights Circuit Court of providing false information on a firearms form and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. A commonwealth’s attorney charged Washington by direct indictment. A status hearing on those charges is scheduled for Dec. 10.

According to a court document, Washington has numerous convictions dating from 2013 to 2017. These include: trespass (2), having a weapon at school, purchase/possession of alcohol, petit larceny, obstruction of justice, possession of marijuana and failure to appear.