Homicide Defendant’s Lawyer Argues Against Phone Records

By Phillip Lopez , McKenna Bryant - January 30, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting |

On Jan. 29, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt heard testimony from a detective and reviewed evidence in a continued motions hearing.

Koran Jackson, 23,Reginald Steele, 24, Tyiion Kyree Freeman, 24, Stephen Nelson, 22, and Aaron Dequan Brown, 27, are charged with multiple counts of conspiracy, assault with the intent to kill while armed, first-degree murder while armed, carrying a pistol without a license, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence in connection to the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Malachi Lukes on March 1, 2020 on the 600 block of S Street, NW. The incident also left a seven-year-old boy suffering from gunshot wound injuries. 

Prosecutors called a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective who responded to the incident.

He noted the description of the premises and found a firearm, casing, and a spent bullet were recovered at the scene.

Even though Steele didn’t initially run from police he was not compliant when officers told him to stop, according to the detective and an officer saw Steele’s phone on the ground and kept it as evidence. 

The detective explained the reason for seizing Steele’s phone was to establish his presence at the premises during the incident, but his attorney, Megan Allburn, said it wasn’t clear who authorized the seizure.

The prosecution was able to reach out to the officer who stopped Steele at the crime scene to confirm the time of his police encounter.

Meanwhile, an officer who spoke with the seven-year-old victim’s mother, said she had not shared her description of the shooter with “dreads.”.

The prosecution motioned to introduce a responding officer’s body worn camera footage showing another detective’s initial questioning of a person in dark-colored clothing during a stop as evidence which shows a timeline. An officer in the body worn camera footage states a second suspect has been stopped.

Judge Brandt expressed concern about the absence of an officer to authenticate the footage.

“It’s a bit troubling that he’s not here to testify,” Judge Brandt said. “A lot of the time, a body worn camera speaks better than a live witness.”

An officer in the body worn camera footage is seen questioning a suspect, and communication over the radio states a second suspect has been stopped. Prosecution argued that it developed probable cause due to aiding in establishing a timeline of events following the incident.

Judge Brandt has not made a final ruling of the motions discussed.

Parties will return Jan. 30.