Murder Defendant Pleads Guilty to January Homicide

By D.C. Witness Staff - May 14, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

A murder defendant pleaded guilty May 14 to his role in a 22-year-old man’s death.

Carlos Turner pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed and conspiracy to commit a crime of violence for his role in the shooting of 22-year-old Michael Taylor on the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE on Jan. 12.

Per the terms of the plea agreement, the prosecutor agreed to downgrade Turner’s first-degree murder while armed charged to second-degree murder and also add the conspiracy charge.

As stated in the 2018 voluntary sentencing guidelines Turner, 21, could face a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison for second-degree murder while armed and a maximum of 15 years for the conspiracy charge.

DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman scheduled a status hearing on Oct. 11. According to DC Courts, Turner does not have a sentencing date.

Alonzo Brown and Stephon Evans are also charged in connection to Taylor’s death. Brown and Evans are scheduled for a felony status conference on July 2.

According to court documents, surveillance footage shows four armed men walking near an apartment complex on Benning Road. The men then stood in a line, shooting towards the top of a staircase.

A witness identified Brown, 22, who he knew as “Spark Plug Shawty,” as one of the shooters. Police officers identified Evans and Turner from surveillance footage.

During the investigation, police learned Brown and Evans, 18, were linked to the “Big Walk Down Gang” and so was their friend, Shamar Marbury, documents state. Marbury, 19, was killed on Jan. 1 and his family members told police they believed there would be “retaliation” for his death.