‘I’m Just Trying to go Home,’ Says Victim of Non-Fatal Shooting Linked to 2020 Homicide Trial

By Anthoine Godin - March 12, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On March 12, the victim of a non-fatal shooting, allegedly connected to a 2020 homicide case, took the stand before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt.  

Koran Jackson, 23, Tyiion Kyree Freeman, 24, and Stephen Nelson, 22, are three of five individuals 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 shooting also left a second juvenile victim located in the vicinity suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the right leg.  

During the hearing, the prosecution focused on a shooting, allegedly committed by the defendants, that occurred 10 minutes after Lukes was killed. 

The incident occurred at the 2400 block of Channing Street, NE. No injuries were reported from the incident.  

The victim began his testimony describing March 1, 2020 as “just a regular day”. 

Early in his testimony, the victim exclaimed “I told you I don’t want to testify… I moved on with my life”. 

As the prosecution continued, he became exasperated and exclaimed “That was the first time in my life I’ve been shot at, it was traumatic… I’m trying to go home”. 

Judge Rainey Brandt had to admonish the victim several times for cursing and speaking out of turn in the courtroom. 

The judge reminded the victim that, “I have the power to lock you up” for noncompliance. 

Despite this, the prosecution pressed on asking the victim what he saw the day of the shooting. He testified he had been near a corner store on Channing Street, NE, when he noticed a gray Kia Soul with a very dark tint driving through the alley.

When the prosecution asked the victim about the speed of the Kia Soul, he testified that the car was moving at a “regular speed”. 

To refresh the victim’s memory, the prosecution read statements from the victim’s 2022 grand jury testimony revealing the victim’s saying the Kia Soul was moving slowly. 

The victim testified he had followed the car into the alley “because I[the victim] was curious” and because he had never seen the car in the neighborhood. 

He said the Kia Soul stopped and two men got out. Both were armed, according to the victim. 

He described one of the men as dark skinned and one as light skinned. 

The victim said when the two men begin to fire, he ran away immediately. When asked about what else the shooters could have hit, the victim exclaimed  “All I worry about is myself”. 

According to his grand jury testimony, the victim said a bullet from the shooters hit a nearby car. 

Then he dived between two cars to avoid gunfire and minutes later, he saw the gray Kia Soul driving on North Capitol Street past the corner store. 

The victim claimed that both passenger side windows were rolled down and that one of the men was yelling profanities.

In his previous grand jury testimony, the victim specified that the shooter who had yelled out of the car was the “light skin dude with glasses” who said “I hope you all die.”

At the start of proceeding, Jackson, who is the only light skin of the three defendants, was wearing glasses but later removed his glasses. 

The victim made it clear from the start of his testimony that he knew none of the shooters and had never previously interacted with them.

Although the victim admitted to having family who lived on 9th Street, he stated, “I am not affiliated with a group” and refused to name the family member in court. 

Lukes’ murder was allegedly caused by a “rap beef” between two rival street groups.

In a brief cross examination, Tyiion Freeman’s defense attorney, Shawn Sukumar, revisited the victim’s grand jury testimony to confirm that in 2022, the victim believed the man he saw stick his head out of the car after the shooting was light skinned. 

Following, Jackson’s defense attorney, Brian McDaniel, asked the victim if it was accurate to say his view of the shooters “was limited to a second” because the victim had to run.

McDaniel concluded cross examination by asking the witness if MPD officers had ever asked the victim to identify the shooters in a photo array procedure. The victim responded that MPD had not had him look at photos. 

Prosecution then called a shift supervisor from the Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) who had responded to the scene of the Lukes shooting. 

According to the witness, evidence collected at the scene included 11 cartridge casings, seven fragments of bullets, one projectile, blood, and some clothing. The prosecution then introduced this evidence and showed it to the jury.

The prosecution also introduced a tank top, t-shirt, and coat, all potentially belonging to Lukes according to the witness. 

The witness explained that markings on the coat presented in court were to indicate where defects, or holes were found. 

According to the witness, these defects may indicate the trajectory of the bullet that had killed Lukes. 

Due to time constraints, the witness was unable to conclude her testimony. 

Trial is set to resume March 13.