Court of Appeals Reverses Substantial Probability in Murder Case

By D.C. Witness Staff - April 9, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

On April 8, a DC Superior Court judge said the Court of Appeals reversed his substantial probability finding in a murder case.

Darrise Jeffers is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the shooting death of 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson on the 300 block of 53rd Street, NE in 2018. Wilson was apparently in the area getting ice cream and was an unintended target.

Jeffers’ defense attorney, Veronice A. Holt, said the Court of Appeals saw more footage than DC Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe when he reviewed the case on Jan. 10. She said that during the preliminary hearing the prosecution only showed “snippets” of surveillance footage that made her client look guilty.

Apparently, after reviewing the additional footage, the Court of Appeals ruled on April 5 to reverse Judge Iscoe’s substantial probability finding that Jeffers, 19, was involved in Wilson’s death. Even though the Court of Appeals reversed Judge Iscoe’s ruling, Jeffers is still charged with the crime. 

Holt also said she initially didn’t receive the full surveillance footage from the prosecution and requested more time to review the evidence.

Judge Iscoe granted Holt more time to examine the evidence and scheduled a felony status conference on April 11.

Police said the shooting seemed to stem from a disagreement between two neighborhoods. According to court documents, surveillance footage captured four suspects exiting a black sedan and firing toward 53rd Street. The prosecution said Jeffers was not at the scene during the shooting, but that he assisted the shooters by acquiring and storing guns.

Police also arrested Marquell Cobbs, 17; Mark Tee Price, 24; Quentin Michals, 21; Gregory Taylor, 23, and Qujuan Thomas, 20, in connection to Wilson’s death. Quanisha Ramsuer, 25, was charged with obstruction of justice.

Cobbs, Price, Michals, Taylor and Thomas are currently being held without bail. Ramsuer has been released on personal recognizance under the High Intensity Supervision Program. All of the defendants are scheduled for a felony status conference on May 23.