Defendant Acquitted of all Charges in Gang Linked Killing

By Yessica Osorio - November 26, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A homicide defendant accused of gang ties was acquitted of all six charges against him before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan on Nov. 22.

Tony Morgan, 31, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, assault with intent to kill while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, and conspiracy for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Malik McCloud on Oct. 20, 2018 on the 3500 block of Wheeler Road, SE.

Martinez Raynor, 26, is also charged in connection to McCloud’s death. Judge Raffinan had granted a request to sever the cases, allowing them to be tried separately.

During the prosecution’s closing arguments, they stated that the main motive was gang rivalry and that everyone involved knew the purpose was to “kill, kill, kill”. Shots continued even after McCloud had been disabled, creating a “hail of gunfire,” according to the prosecutor.

Morgan and Raynor were allegedly involved in the so-called Solid Gang, rivals with the PDS gang, which included McCloud.

Morgan’s attorneys, Steven Kiersch and Megan Allburn, noted that throughout the trial, no eyewitness identified Morgan as the shooter. Not one person said he fired shots or was responsible for anyone’s death.

The jury agreed and returned the not guilty verdicts.

Judge Raffinan ordered Morgan be released from the DC Jail. 

No further date was set.