DNA Evidence, Social Media Posts Link Defendants in Murder Conspiracy

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Before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun in a July 25 hearing a DNA expert testified evidence recovered from a suspect vehicle “very strongly supports” a defendant’s presence in the vehicle.

Mark Price, 29, and Antonio Murchison, 31, are charged with first-degree murder while armed, five counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, seven counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, conspiracy, and seven counts of criminal gang affiliation.

The charges stem from their alleged involvement in a mass shooting on July 16, 2018, on the 5300 block of 53rd Street, NE in the Clay Terrace neighborhood. The highly publicized crime left 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson dead and four other individuals with gunshot wounds.

Price is also charged with first-degree murder while armed, two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, threat to injure or kidnap a person, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict and first-degree burglary while armed. These charges are connected to the fatal shooting of 47-year-old Andre Hakim Young on July 30, 2018, on the 1500 block of 19th Street, NE.

The third co-defendant, Quanisha Ramsuer, 31, is charged with obstruction of justice in connection to the homicide.

Six other defendants were convicted in 2023 of charges from the incident, including:

Marquell Cobbs, 22 – sentenced to serve six years in prison
Quentin Michals, 27 – sentenced to serve 40 years in prison
Gregory Taylor, 28 – sentenced to serve 65 years in prison
Qujuan Thomas, 25– sentenced to 68 years in prison
Darrise Jeffers, 24 – sentenced to serve 35 years in prison
Isaiah Murchison, 24 – sentenced to serve 60 years in prison

The DNA expert testified finding a high likelihood of Price’s DNA in the driver’s and passenger’s side of the SIlver BMW, which prosecutors allege belonged to Price and was used to transport some of the gunmen from Wellington Park closer to the crime scene. According to the witness, the likelihood ratio showed very strong support that the DNA sampled belonged to Price.

From the DNA swabs that were taken from the Black Infiniti, which prosecutors claim is the vehicle used in the murder, there was very strong support that the DNA found on the inside of the front driver’s window also belonged to Price. This corroborates the prosecution’s claim that Price was the getaway driver.

DNA recovered from the previously convicted defendants were likely found within both vehicles according to the prosecution.

Prosecutors ended the day with testimony from a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer regarding Instagram messages and videos exchanged between those previously convicted in the case featuring weapons and individuals described as the two current defendants.

Videos the prosecution says feature Price rapping with other alleged members of the Wellington Park Crew holding firearms, and both Price and Murchison captioning photos detailing that they were with their “gang” on the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road, NW.

Trial continues on July 29.