Washington DC rapper, Douglas Brooks known under his alias Swipey was on the rise as the next artist with the potential to make it big out of the DC area.
His breakout tracks like “INTRO” https://youtu.be/ZdnnCI7NgAA which has accumulated over 5 million views on YouTube.
set him on pace to build a fanbase that was infatuated with his style and sound incorporating his life through the ups and downs in the environment that molded him https://youtu.be/rFw3SBLQHPA (13:01-13:14) He came up around the culture of the streets with violence and criminal elements, and although he himself became involved as he grew, music was his turning point to a better path and brighter future https://youtu.be/rFw3SBLQHPA (22:21-23:50).
The decision was definitely working in his favor, because he began getting recognition from many that appreciated his talent and craft. Swipey was doing music with popular Chicago rapper Lil Durk, collaborating on tracks like “Celebrate” https://youtu.be/RtkzkCBy0iA He would also be taken on tour with Lil Durk where he performed in various states https://youtu.be/rFw3SBLQHPA (9:04-9:15) https://youtu.be/I4h0yz7tbms (2:36-3:10).
His music was infectious, to the point where he was invited to perform on Good Morning Washington in June 2016 https://youtu.be/ywYvnbkY46c (0:00-0:57).
It appeared like his career was unstoppable and this was his moment to achieve his dreams, and achieve them he would if the fatal events didn’t occur just a couple months after.
August 21st 2016 Swipey attended a party at a family member’s apartment complex in the 3600 block of Parkway Terrace Drive in Suitland, Maryland. Police reports state that this is where things would end horribly wrong.
At approximately 0107 hours or 1:07am Swipey was outside in the parking lot of the apartment having a conversation with a witness, when the suspects arrived at the location in a light-colored four-door SUV. According to witnesses on the scene, the suspect vehicle came down Parkway Terrace Drive, Suitland, Prince Georges County, Maryland and went around the “round about” at the end of the street. The vehicle then proceeded back up Parkway Terrace Drive, Suitland, Prince Georges County, Maryland, and stopped near 3607 Parkway Terrace Drive, Suitland, Prince Georges County, Maryland. Witnesses stated four black male suspects then exited the vehicle and approached the decedent aka Swipey and the witness, who were still outside talking. The suspects began shooting at Swipey, striking him multiple times in the upper body. The four suspects then fled back to the light-colored four-door.
SUV and fled down Parkway Terrace Drive towards Silver Hill Road, Suitland, Maryland.
The timer was on to give Swipey any kind of hope of his life being saved. Witnesses on the scene got into action and called The Prince George’s County Public Safety Communications, reporting the shooting.
Upon their arrival, officers located Swipey suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body.
Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Paramedic 826 responded to the scene and administered life-saving measures the best they could, but it proved futile as it was met with negative results. Medic Hogan pronounced Swipey dead at 0120 hours or 1:20am.
On August 22, 2016, Dr. Stash with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner performed an autopsy of Swipey. Dr. Stash ruled the manner of death as a Homicide and the cause to be from multiple gunshot wounds.
Prince George’s County Homicide and Crime Scene Investigators responded to the scene the time of the shooting and began canvassing the area to collect physical evidence to track down the perpetrators.
Information led them to believe that they were on the hunt for around 4 to 5 assailants https://wjla.com/news/local/police-canvass-for-clues-in-up-and-coming-rapper-swipey-murder-in-maryland (0:41-1:06).
A reward of up to $25,000 was offered for information leading to an arrest and indictment in the killing, hoping to prompt anyone who may have leads to the suspects to come forward.
The community was left with a hole in their hearts recalling the type of person Swipey was and the frustration with the senseless murders of young talent https://wjla.com/news/local/police-canvass-for-clues-in-up-and-coming-rapper-swipey-murder-in-maryland (1:21-1:37) https://foxbaltimore.com/amp/news/local/police-two-dc-men-arrested-in-connection-with-murder-of-up-and-coming-md-rapper-swipey (0:52-0:59).
His family and mother would be brought to tears reminiscing on the injustice done to her son https://foxbaltimore.com/amp/news/local/police-two-dc-men-arrested-in-connection-with-murder-of-up-and-coming-md-rapper-swipey (1:08-1:24).
Months would pass and no updates on who were the suspects and if there were any leads to apprehend to face charges for their deeds. Rumors began circulating that Swipey’s girlfriend had a hand to play in his death, but police personnel soon dispelled those suspicions, leaving the public wondering who was responsible https://wjla.com/news/local/police-canvass-for-clues-in-up-and-coming-rapper-swipey-murder-in-maryland (1:55-2:10).
Some began to lose hope, thinking Swipey’s murder would be another statistic that goes unsolved, but investigators didn’t give up on justice for Swipey and in 2017, good news came to the family, friends, and fans of the DMV rapper. Two suspects were arrested in connection with his murder, 19-year-old Diante Michael Brewer of Southwest Washington and 18-year-old old Deshawn Watkins.
Supporters, friends, and family of the slain rapper were delighted to hear of the updates that two of those responsible for his murder were apprehended and it was evident in the overwhelming response to the news https://foxbaltimore.com/amp/news/local/police-two-dc-men-arrested-in-connection-with-murder-of-up-and-coming-md-rapper-swipey (0:24-0:34).
Reports on how the two were apprehended shows of unremorseful and ruthless they were. Diante Brewer, was linked to the scene by a GPS tracking device he was wearing under court order from a previous case, which means he didn’t care that he was already under monitoring by the law for another crime.
According to official police reports, the GPS information revealed that the defendant arrived on the scene at 0058 hours or 12:58 am and then fled the scene at 0105 hours or 1:05 am, at a high rate of speed. This speed and distance traveled in such a short period of time was confirmed to be consistent with being inside a vehicle. The ankle monitor also shows that the defendant commits a “round about” before coming to rest at 3607 Parkway Terrace Drive, Suitland, Prince Georges County, Maryland, which corroborates information obtained by witnesses on the scene. Detectives also recovered surveillance footage, in the area of the murder, which shows a light-colored four-door SUV fleeing the area of the murder at 0105 hours or 1:05 am. Detectives were able to confirm through the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) that the defendant, Diante Brewer provided T-Mobile cellular number (202) 696-0731, as his personal cellphone.
On September 07, 2016, a court ordered search and seizure warrant was obtained and served to T-Mobile for cellular number (202) 696-0731. Cellular phone records revealed that the cellular phone (202) 696-0731 was in communication with cellular number 757-613-1188 which has been identified to be associated with Co-Defendant, Deshawn Watkins, approximately twenty minutes prior to the Homicide.
Cellular phone records showed that both devices leave Washington, D.C., and arrive in close proximity of 3607 Parkway Terrace Drive, Suitland, Prince George’s County, Maryland, at the time of the Homicide of Douglas Myron Brooks. According to the cellular records, both cellular phones flee the area together back into Washington D.C., moments after the Homicide.
The second suspect, Deshawn Watkins was linked to the case, according to police, after he was arrested in the fall in the District. According to reports, police found him in possession of a gun that was linked by ballistic evidence to the shooting in which Brooks died. The arrest in the District followed an alleged argument on Oct. 31 on a school bus between Watkins and a female student in which Watkins reportedly flashed a gun that police said they later recovered near his home.
Official reports further break down the assessment that led to them to Watkins. On the October 31st, documents state that Co-Defendant Watkins was arrested in Washington, D.C. on unrelated charges. As a result of the arrest and subsequent investigation conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department, a black and silver Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun with serial number PDX1369 was recovered.
On December 6, 2016, Prince George’s County Firearms Examination Unit confirmed that some of the ballistic evidence recovered from the scene on August 21, 2016, at 3607 Parkway Terrace Suitland, Prince George’s County Maryland was fired by the Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun serial number PDX 1369 that was recovered during the arrest of the Defendant in Washington, DC.
With both suspects in cuffs and behind bars, the charges they faced were laid.
Both Diante Brewer and Deshawn Watkins were charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, assault in the first-degree, use of a firearm by a felon in the commission of a crime of violence, assault in the second-degree, and possession of a handgun.
Both are facing a lengthy time behind bars if convicted. Later in 2017, two more suspects were apprehended, Carlos Greene and Mandel Greene, and indicted in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County for the murder of Douglas Brooks aka Swipey. Justice seemed like it was a bout to be served, but according to documents, for various reasons, each case was continued multiple times and on the final trial date for each respective appellee, the State entered a nolle prosequi as to all charges, which is basically the prosecutor or plaintiff deciding to abandon the prosecution. However it is not an acquittal, so the defendants may later be reindicted on the same charges.
On June 11th, 2019, appellees were again indicted for the murder of Brooks aka Swipey. In the second set of cases, the four original co-defendants as well as an additional defendant, Kevin Baldwin, were identified as co-conspirators. That name, Kevin Baldwin was a shocking twist, because he was the manager of Swipey and the CEO of the label Swipey was signed to, Men Of Principles (M.O.P3).
According to court documents, it turns out Kevin Baldwin’s cell phone was reanalyzed and text messages that made several contacts to murder suspect Mandel Greene before and after Swipey’s murder were discovered.
Court documents further state that appellees, respectively, filed motions to dismiss the charges and following a joint hearing where appellees argued for dismissal of their charges, the circuit court granted the motions and dismissed all charges with prejudice.
The judge agreed with the appelles claims, stating that to hold persons upwards of 3 years having their cases nolle prossed only to be charged and incarcerated again on repeat wasn’t fair as it’s the defense’s delays which added to the back and forth.
However, the suspects could still be indicted later, and that was the case for Carlos Greene, who was arrested on April 29th 2023 when he was found with a firearm after a traffic stop.
Green was additionally charged with Felon in possession and transported to the 7th District of processing.
In addition to Carlos Greene’s arrest, it was discovered that on February 6th 2021, one of the suspects, Dashawn Watkins was shot and killed in the 4800 block of Benning Road SE, according to D.C. police.
Hopefully Swipey’s murder doesn’t get buried in the past and justice leads to convictions of all involved in taking the talented youngster’s life.
Swipey, the 3.9 GPA high school graduate had a scholarship to Morgan State University,
but decided music was his passion and chose to follow his dreams https://youtu.be/Vti_eVIspVk (4:01-4:25) It was right within reach, but a robbery gone wrong, as investigators call the events of his murder, stole the future awaiting in his destiny.
His little brother Baby Swipey is continuing his legacy following the path of the music industry himself and he has the talent which his brother was also blessed with https://youtu.be/VNzkiE0es1o.
Rest in peace Swipey https://youtu.be/X3BawoAT6_k (3:11-3:35).
