A shooting defendant was found guilty of first-degree murder, among other charges, before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on Nov. 19, following a three month long trial.
Reginald Steele, 26, was charged with conspiracy, first-degree murder, ten counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, 11 counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, four counts of carrying a pistol without a license, five counts of possession of an unregistered firearm, and two counts of tampering with physical evidence.
These charges stem from Steele’s involvement in four separate shootings including the murder of 13-year-old Malachi Lukes and injury of another juvenile on March 1, 2020, on the 600 block of S Street, NW. Steele’s accused of a separate shooting the same day with no reported injuries on the unit block of Channing Street, NE.
Prosecutors stated that Steele was “driven by the desire of revenge” for the murder of his friend, Tahlil Byrd, 19. Byrd, a rapper who was publicly known as the “North West Goon” and by his friends as “Slatt,” was fatally shot on Sept. 19, 2019 on the 600 block of S Street, NW. The killing ignited a rivalry between two neighborhood crews.
Steele’s other alleged crimes include a non-fatal shooting that injured two individuals on Feb. 22, 2020 on the 700 block of Farragut Street, NW, and a non-fatal shooting that injured three on Feb. 24, 2020 on the 1700 block of 9th Street, NW.
Steele was found guilty of first-degree premeditated murder while armed in connection to Lukes’ death. He was also found guilty on four counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, six counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license.
Steele was found not guilty of possession of a firearm.
Steele and his attorneys, Megan Allburn and Gemma Stevens, showed no emotion as the verdict was announced.
Judge Brandt concluded the hearing by thanking the members of the jury, some of whom have been in this trial since the first day of jury selection on Aug. 25. She stated “You have restored the court’s faith in their fellow man and woman.”
Sentencing has been set for Jan. 23, 2026.
