Co-Defendants Charged in 2018 Drive-By Shooting Get Earlier Trial Dates

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On June 14, a DC Superior Court judge moved up the trial dates for four co-defendants charged in connection with a 2018 drive-by shooting that killed a 10-year-old girl.

Co-defendants Isaiah Murchison, 21, Antonio Murchison, 28, Marquell Cobbs, 20, and Darrise Jeffers, 21, are charged with first-degree murder while armed in the death of 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson on July 16, 2018, on the 300 block of 53rd Street, NE. The drive-by shooting is alleged to have been the result of a neighborhood rivalry.

The four are also facing charges of conspiracy, possessing a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault while armed and criminal street gang affiliation.

The four were scheduled to go before a jury in January 2023, but during the June 14 hearing, Judge Danya Dayson rescheduled the trial to start in October 2022. D.C. Witness does not know the exact dates Judge Dayson set aside.

The prosecution estimates that the trial would last six to eight weeks.

Cobbs is on pretrial release under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP). His defense attorney, Kevin McCants, asked Judge Dayson to amend his client’s stay away order, which prohibited him from entering DC, so he could look for employment. Judge Dayson agreed to the request.

Judge Dayson scheduled the co-defendants’ next status hearing for Sept. 15.

Qujuan Thomas, 22, Quentin Michals, 24, Gregory Taylor, 26, Mark Price, 27, Quincy Garvin, 21, and Saquan Williams, 19, are also charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with Wilson’s death. Their trial is scheduled to take place from May 2 to July 1, 2022.

Quanisha Ramsuer, 27, is also charged with obstructing justice in connection with this homicide. Her next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 3.

Carlin Fisher, Mara Osterburg, Lizzie Brennan and Mykala Jones wrote this article.

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