Murder Defendants Charged in 10 Year Old’s Murder Waive DNA Testing

By Zakiyia Ortiz [former] - September 16, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Four murder defendants charged in a drive-by shooting that killed a 10-year-old girl decided Sept. 16 to waive their rights to DNA testing. 

Qujuan Thomas, 24, Quentin Michael’s, 25,  Antonio Murchison, 29, Gregory Taylor, 22, Marquell Cobbs, 20, Darrise Jeffers, 23, Isaiah Murchison, 22, and Mark Price, 28, are charged with first-degree murder, criminal street gang affiliation, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and 19 other charges in connection to the shooting that killed 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson on July 16, 2018, on the 300 block of 53^rd Street, NE. Other victims also suffered from non-life threatening gunshot wounds.

According to the prosecution, DNA testing was done and given to the defense to review with each defendant.

Thomas, Price, Cobbs, and Antonio were present in court during the hearing. 

Cobbs was released under the High-Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) in May of 2019.  He has to wear a GPS monitor. He also has a stay away order.

The defendants all knowingly and voluntarily waived their rights to personal DNA testing before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun, which he reviewed and accepted.

According to the prosecution, Thomas has a probation revocation matter, in another case, being handled separately.

Judge Okun said it was too early to set a trial date, so instead a date for a trial readiness hearing and a motions hearing was set. 

The trail readiness and motions hearing are set for Jan. 30 and May 15, respectively.

The prosecutor said she doesn’t believe it is necessary for the second date and believes they can file a motion for one if it necessary. The defense agreed.

Read more about this case, here.