Defense Continues Arguments on Rap Lyrics in Multi-Defendant Homicide Trial 

By Adriana Marroquin - May 12, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On May 10, defense attorneys for Gregory Taylor continued arguments about rap lyrics the prosecution insists showed the defendant’s affiliation with a street gang in front of DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun. 

Taylor, 27, Quentin Michals, 25, Qujuan Thomas, 24, Darrise Jeffers, 23, Isaiah Murchison, 22, 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 fatal drive-by shooting that resulted in 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson’s death. The shooting happened on the 300 block of 53rd Street, NE on July 16, 2018. 

On Wednesday, defense attorneys for various defendants continued the cross examination of Taylor’s music manager on his knowledge of well-known rap lyrics. 

According to the witness, the lyric “been with the same gang since I was lil” is well known from one of famous rapper Lil Baby’s songs. 

These lyrics, among others, were utilized by various defendants on their social media when they posted images of them and their co-defendants and friends. 

The defense used the questioning of the manager to argue that some of the statements made by the defendants in text messages and Instagram posts were just quotes from famous rap songs, and insisted they were not trying to insinuate they belonged to a street gang, like the prosecution argued. 

Jonathan Zucker, defense attorney for Taylor, called up one of Taylor’s old childhood friends to discuss one of the last times he saw the defendant. 

According to the witness, he invited Taylor to a cookout three days before the deadly shooting in Clay Terrace. The cookout occurred in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood, right across the street from the scene of the July 16 attack. 

Thomas and Michals were also in attendance at the cookout, but, according to the witness, none of the defendants ever wandered onto the Clay Terrace area. 

A homicide detective also testified regarding his knowledge of individuals in the Wellington Park community, including those affiliated with the street gang. 

According to the detective, he kept a personal notebook of various individuals he had come into contact with during his stint patrolling and investigating the area. 

Taylor was not one of the individuals he kept a record of, he said. 

Following the detective’s testimony, Zucker rested Taylor’s case. 

Trial is slated to resume May 15.