A witness, identified as both a friend of the victim’s and the defendant’s, testified about an ongoing feud between rival neighborhoods that may have inspired a murder and a series of shootings before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on Oct. 16.
Reginald Steele, 26, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, conspiracy, ten counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, 11 counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, four counts of carrying a pistol without a license, two counts of tampering with physical evidence, and five counts of possession of an unregistered firearm for allegedly fatally shooting Malachi Lukes ,13, with co defendants Aaron Brown, Tyiion Freeman, and Koran Jackson on March 1, 2020 on the 600 block of S Street, NW.
Steele is also facing charges for his alleged involvement in nonfatal shootings on March 1, 2020 at the unit block of Channing Street, NE, and a non-fatal shooting on Feb. 22, 2020 at the 700 block of Farragut Street, NW. Steele also faces charges for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting on Feb. 24, 2020, on the 1700 block of Ninth Street NW. During this incident, three individuals were injured.
Prosecutors called a witness, who identified herself as Lukes’ and Steele’s friend. She testified that, on the day of the incident, Steele and Jackson dropped her off at home in a white Kia Soul. According to the witness, once she was inside, she heard shots fired.
Prosecutors have repeatedly identified a rented Kia Soul as the suspect vehicle in the shootings.
The witness included Steele, Jackson, and Lukes, among her friends and that she met the defendants and the victim through her child’s father. Additionally, she stated that all three of her friends were from rival neighborhoods and couldn’t hang out with each other because of an ongoing feud that began after the murder of Tahlil Byrd, 19. Byrd, a rapper who was known by the disputed title as the “North West Goon,” was shot on September 19, 2019 on the 600 block of S Street, NW.
Prosecutors recalled the senior officer responding to the scene on Feb. 22, who testified about maps and video footage that he compiled as part of his investigation. During his testimony, prosecutors played footage showing the suspect’s vehicle driving up to 7th Place, NW, stopping with hazard lights on, occupants exiting the vehicle and walking to Farragut Street, NW. The video cut to a popping sound and the occupants were seen running back to the car and driving away.
During cross examination, defense counsel Megan Allburn clarified that the geographic representations of the car’s route during the video were taken from witness accounts and video, not GPS tracking of the suspect’s car.
In rebuttal, the prosecution called a detective who identified Steele in body-worn camera footage and several music videos. On cross examination, Allburn pointed out, and the witness confirmed, the firearm that Steele was holding in the music video he didn’t fire the gun, and it is unclear if it was a real or prop gun.
The parties are slated to reconvene on Oct. 29.
