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By
Avery Kinnison
, Robert Crear - June 9, 2025
Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Shooting
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DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman pronounced murder defendant Carlos Turner’s, 27, sentence on June 5, suspending all but time served, effectively releasing him.
Turner pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of Michael Taylor, 21, in a shooting that took Taylor’s life and injured two additional victims on the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE, on Jan. 12, 2019.
According to court documents, Turner was spotted on apartment surveillance, armed with a black hand gun and an extended clip. At 2:02 p. m. Turner approached the building, standing at the base of the stairs, aiming up, and firing into the building.
Family members of Taylor, as well as another victim, attended the hearing remotely. They have followed through with the case since its inception, and are unhappy with how long they’ve waited for resolution. Turner’s arresting officer also appeared in person in support of the victims.
In their allocution recommendation, the prosecution claimed that the incident “is a tragedy,” however, Turner “appears to have taken responsibility for his actions.” Prosecution recommended Turner receive 132 months incarceration with five years of supervised release.
Turner’s defense, Michael Bruckheim, provided evidence in favor of the defendant, in the form of a letter from the Hope Foundation re-entry network. Bruckheim agreed with the prosecution’s sentence recommendation.
“I accept full responsibility for my actions” and “I want to show you that I will continue to learn and grow from my mistakes,” Turner said.
Judge Edelman sentenced Turner to eleven years of confinement, five years of supervised release and three years of probation for second-degree murder while armed. Additionally, Turner was sentenced to three years of confinement, three years of supervised release and three years of probation for conspiracy to commit a crime of violence.
However, all but the time already served by Turner has been suspended by the court, effectively freeing Turner, and condensing his sentence to three years of probation.
No further dates were set.