Police: Suspects in D.C. lawyer's hotel death admit it was robbery that 'went bad' over $40

WASHINGTON (WJLA) -- Court documents filed Thursday revealed that two roommates accused in the hotel stabbing death of a D.C. lawyer plotted a robbery that 'went bad' - yielding only $40 and a Metro card, according to police.

Last week, 21-year-old Jamyra Gallmon was charged with first-degree murder and her roommate, 19-year old Dominique Johnson, was arrested Wednesday on a charge of conspiracy to commit robbery.

The new court documents were filed in advance of Johnson's court appearance on Thursday afternoon in connection with the Feb. 10 death of 30-year-old attorney David Messerschmitt at D.C.'s Donovan hotel.

Johnson was granted bail Thursday, but will be monitored with an ankle bracelet. Gallmon remained held without bond.

A previous court filing said Gallmon told police she went to the hotel to rob Messerschmitt but stabbed him after he grabbed her arm and they started fighting. The two connected after Messerschmitt posted a personal ad on Craigslist, police said in the filing.

Thursday's documents outlined that the two roommates were captured on video surveillance purchasing zip ties to be used on Messerschmitt during the robbery at a CVS drug store near the hotel. Police said in the documents that Johnson waited outside the hotel while Gallmon went inside; on the bus ride home afterwards, Gallmon reportedly told Johnson that "it went bad."

Other court records show that the pair were behind in their rent payments at Southeast Washington's Skyland Apartments - perhaps suggesting a possible motive for the robbery.