A co-conspirator testified as a cooperating witness that a 2019 fatal shooting was a planned act of retaliation before DC Superior Court Danya Dayson on May 27.
Alonzo Brown, 29, and Naquel Henderson, 28, are charged with conspiracy to commit a crime of violence while armed, first-degree premeditated murder while armed, four counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, and five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Brown and Henderson are charged for their alleged involvement in the shooting death of 21-year-old Michael Taylor on the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE. Two other victims also sustained injuries during the incident.
A co-conspirator testified as part of a plea agreement he accepted on May 12, 2019, related to his involvement in Taylor’s death. Although he testified that he completed his cooperation agreement and the his obligation to the prosecution, he stated he testified in the trial because he did not want to perjure himself.
According to the co-conspirator, he still faces a sentence for his involvement in the incident and a separate matter from January, but he testified the prosecution has made no additional promises in exchange for his current testimony.
The co-conspirator, who was also a shooter in the incident, testified that the motive for the attack was to avenge the death of a mutual friend, 19-year-old Shamar Marbury, who died on Jan. 1 2019, on the 4200 block of Barnaby Road, SE. The co-conspirator said their group, armed with Glocks, targeted the apartment building because they believed rivals responsible for Marbury’s death were located there.
The co-conspirator told the prosecution that he and his associates were deeply “hurt” and angry after Marbury’s death. He testified that Brown informed him of social media posts suggesting a rival group, “BC the Army” or “Benning Courts,” was responsible for “wiped one down,” meaning their friend.
On the day of the homicide, the co-conspirator testified that he met with Brown, Henderson, and others at a parking lot on Benning Road. He noted that Henderson, Brown, and the others were all armed with firearms.
“We all had glocks,” the co-conspirator testified. He told the prosecution that all four shooters wore masks to hide their identities during the attack.
In the days leading up to the incident, the co-conspirator alleged the group gathered at an apartment complex to smoke and discuss their plans to “run up” on their rivals. The co-conspirator testified that when the group discussed going to Benning Courts, the plan was “basically, like we just going to go do what we did,” which he understood to mean “killing.”
On the morning of Jan. 12, the co-conspirator said Brown reportedly signaled the start of the attack by asking another suspect, “You know what time it is?”
The co-conspirator testified that the group traveled to the incident address, in a car driven by another associate. He noted that Henderson was seated next to him in the back while Brown sat in the passenger seat, and all members of the group were armed with Glocks.
The group allegedly drove to the incident address where they spotted a group of people inside a building. The co-conspirator testified that they parked near a school and approached the building on foot, walking in a single-file formation.
Once inside the building, the co-conspirator said a “lot of shots” were fired as the four men began shooting simultaneously. He testified that Brown went up the stairs to fire from the first landing while Henderson remained on the same level as him near the entrance.
The co-conspirator admitted to the prosecution that he emptied his entire ammunition clip during the ambush. He stated that his intent while firing was to “get someone” and that hitting them included the intent to kill.
He identified both Brown and Henderson as active shooters who were positioned inside the building during the fatal incident.
Following the shooting, the group fled the scene and eventually learned that Taylor was killed via a phone call minutes after. The co-conspirator testified that he sold his firearm to an associate for $700 before traveling to Virginia with Brown by bus.
The defense did not have the opportunity to cross-examine the co-conspirator before the court adjourned for the day. That is expected to continue when the trial resumes.
Parties are scheduled to reconvene on June 1.
