Juvenile Homicide Co-Defendant Rejects Plea Deal in Pre-Trial Hearing

By Carolyn Flammini [former] , McKenna Bryant [former] - January 24, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On Jan. 23, a homicide defendant, involved in a co-defendant matter, rejected a plea offer extended by the prosecution before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt. 

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 shooting of 13-year-old Malachi Lukes on March 1, 2020 on the 600 block of S Street, NW. 

According to court documents, the victim and several other friends were walking down the south side of the 600 block of S Street, NW, when a silver compact SUV pulled up beside them and began shooting. The defendants are alleged to be the individuals in the vehicle. 

During the motion hearing, the prosecution informed the court that they had offered Jackson a plea agreement, which required him to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit murder, second-degree murder, and two counts of possession of a deadly weapon, in exchange for dismissing the charge of first-degree murder while armed and all other charges. 

However, he informed Judge Brandt that he was rejecting the prosecution’s offer, and is ready for trial to begin in the coming weeks. 

Meanwhile, Steele is also suspected of a shooting on March 20, 2020, on the 2400 block of Alabama Avenue, that injured a juvenile male.

The prosecution’s first witness, a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer, took the stand to recount the March 1 shooting as depicted in body-worn camera footage showing Steele’s arrest.

The footage showed two individuals, one in light-colored clothing, later allegedly identified as Steele, and another individual in dark attire walking side by side. In the footage, the officer attempts to make contact with the two individuals, however Steele creates distance between himself and the other individual, and tries to run away from the officer. 

After Steele was stopped by another officer, the witness stated he performed a pat-down search on him, but did not find a weapon.

In cross-examination, Megan Allburn, Steele’s defense attorney, questioned if the officer had received information connecting Steele to the incident leading to his arrest. The officer stated he had not received information Steele was involved, but wanted to speak with the two individuals who were near the shooting.

He added because of “suspicious posture” as well as an empty satchel, recognizing it as potential way to hide a firearm, he believed it was necessary to stop the pair. His suspicion grew after Steele distanced himself from officers.

Then the prosecution called a gun recovery officer to explain that individuals may carry firearms in a cross-body satchel during warmer weather, rather than containing it in their waistband for access.

Parties are set to return Jan. 24 to continue motions hearings and witness testimony.