Jurors See Instagram Evidence of Firearms Linked to Street Gang in Murder, Mass Shooting

By Sofia Feigelson [former] , Namita Nair [former] - July 2, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Social media evidence was presented to jurors in a co-defendant homicide, conspiracy trial before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun on July 1 revealing the presence of firearms in the weeks leading up to a shooting.

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 incident left 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson dead and four other individuals with gunshot wounds.

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:

• Isaiah Murchison, 24 – sentenced to serve 60 years in prison 

• 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

Additionally, Price is 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 separate charges come from his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 47-year-old Andre Hakim Young on July 30, 2018, on the 1500 block of 19th Street, NE. 

At the hearing, the prosecution brought in a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) investigator who explained numerous slang terms and went through Instagram records of two accounts believed to belong to Murchison and Price.

Both Instagram accounts’ “followers” and “following” list, were disclosed to the jury and included several accounts with “df” in its username, which prosecutors claim proves the individuals’ allegiance to the Wellington Park Crew.  

According to the prosecution, the defendants and their co-conspirators belong to the crew, which prosecutors argue is a criminal street gang operating throughout the city.

The investigator testified that one of the characteristics he looks for in a group includes a “vanity name,” which he described as a having specific facet, such as lettering or emojis, that would show an individual’s association with a group. He stated that the Wellington Park group’s “vanity name” was commonly referred to as “DF.” 

Evidence presented by the prosecution attempted to corroborate the investigator’s statement. In an Instagram post from July 5, 2018, a caption stated, “Front line b*tch… df sh*t.” An individual in the scene, believed to be Murchison, is seen smoking marijuana and pointing a firearm with a flashlight attached to it at the camera.

As well, the prosecution presented Instagram evidence from Price’s alleged account where he states “I DO DIS SH*T FOR MY MAN F*CK THE GRAM #longlivepoppy” in August 2018.

A previous a witness stated that her 22-year-old brother, Maleak Coffin – also known as “Poppy” – was best friends with Price. 

Coffin died on December 26, 2017, after being shot two days before Christmas on the 2900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE. On December 12, 2019, 27-year-old Robert Washington and 28-year-old Derrick Hart pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed for their role in the shooting.

The prosecution showed numerous Instagram posts showing an individual, believed to be Murchison, possessing firearms and in the Wellington Park area.

In numerous videos, the individual is either holding a firearm or showing a series of different firearms. Some of the firearms include a rifle with two ammunition drums and weapons with extended magazines. 

For instance, Instagram evidence from July 18, 2018, after Wilson’s death, shows an individual in a sleeveless shirt believed to be Murchison, pictured with a firearm in his waistband area while holding a semi-automatic firearm.

Other evidence features clips allegedly of the entire crew hanging out in the Wellington Park apartments area, which the investigator confirmed. 

The prosecution showed an Instagram picture of ten black males in a group signing “W” with their hands – referencing Wellington Park, according to the investigator – added by a caption stating, “Da gang.”

In addition to the cache of social media evidence, the prosecution also brought in a MPD detective who testified about Wellington Park and who would frequent the area. 

When presented with various photographs, the detective was able to identify alleged Wellington Park crew members, including Antonio Murchison, Isaiah Murchison, 24-year-old Quincy Garvin, 22-year-old Saquan Williams, Cobbs, Jeffers, and Michals.

The officer also allegedly dentified Michals as a gunshot victim from security footage taken at George Washington Hospital on March 13, 2018.

The prosecution continues the rest of its case on July 3.