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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- May 3, 2023
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Juveniles
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Shooting
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Suspects
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Victims
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As a high-profile murder trial entered its third month, prosecutors Introduced dozens of Instagram posts and social media messages to convince jurors that the suspects tried to hide their identities using so-called “vanity names,” while communicating their violent intent in code.
Gregory Taylor, 27, Quentin Michals, 25, Qujuan Thomas, 24, Darrise Jeffers, 23, Isiah Murchison, 23 and Marquell Cobbs, 21, are six of 10 defendants charged with first-degree murder, criminal street gang affiliation, conspiracy, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill, and other charges regarding a drive-by shooting that resulted in the death of 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson on the 300 block of 53rd Street, NE on July 16, 2018.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective leading the investigation walked the jury through the online information in the form of message records, pictures and videos. Without specifically identifying each person, the evidence painted a larger picture of what prosecutors say was a conspiracy to commit murder. Several videos show individuals dancing and carrying guns.
Around the time of the murder, the prosecution says that Murchison and Michals exchanged messages about the need to recover a gun, whiie Cobbs, meanwhile was warning about the location of police. One prosecution exhibit showed a picture of Jeffers with a gun in his lap.
In another message, defendant Thomas says he felt disrespected and discussed the problem of “coordinating an attack.”
Ruling against defense objections,DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun said there’s sufficient basis to consider Murchison a part of the conspiracy.
One of the vanity names that came under scrutiny was “Hollywood Glizzy”. Online conversations in and around the murder, the prosecution says, indicate that Glizzy was shopping for firearms.
In one post, Glizzy says, “I need another cutter (slang for a firearm).” In a July 8, 2018 message, the MPD detective showed pictures of a pistol and a rifle that a correspondent named “Mook” sent to Glizzy. The price discussed for the pistol, identified as a Glock, was $850.
In another post from a source identified as “Real Big Goonie,” the message was “We got the choppas that Osama went to war with.”
Taylor’s attorney, Jonathan Zucker, countered that any individual could use someone’s cell phone to make a call or post in an effort to disguise their identity. Further, there were many names in the Instagram log that the detective couldn’t identify.
One video introduced by prosecutors and disputed by the defense showed Taylor performing a rap song as part of a “going live” performance. Taylor was allegedly upset about a “fake account” and the prosecution said he made remarks about “killing kids.”
However, Zucker says there’s no way to know if Taylor made threats to anyone in particular.
The trial resumed on May 3 and closing arguments are anticipated for the middle of May.