Officer Testifies to Being Berated By Murder Defendants

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A Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer testified on day four of a 6 co-defendant murder trial that he was berated by defendants and other individuals while patrolling the Wellington Park neighborhood.

Gregory Taylor, 26, Quentin Michals, 25, Qujuan Thomas, 24, Darrise Jeffers, 23, Isaiah Murchison, 22, and Marquell Cobbs, 21, are six of 10 defendants charged with first-degree murder, criminal street gang affiliation, conspiracy, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill, and other charges regarding a fatal drive-by shooting that resulted in 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson’s death. The shooting happened on the 300 block of 53rd Street, NE on July 16, 2018.

The officer testified that when he was assigned to patrol the Wellington Park area in 2017, he “heard a majority of individuals yelling ‘fuck 12.” According to the witness, that phrase means “fuck the police.”

He said there has always been tension between the Wellington Park neighborhood members and the officers assigned to patrol the area.

The testimonies during the Feb. 23 hearing revolved around incidents from 2017 that connected to the defendants’ conspiracy charges, prior to the homicide of 2018.

Witnesses also testified to evidence from shootings that occurred in 2017, allegedly in connection to the conspiracy charges for the defendants.

The parties are set to reconvene on Feb. 27 to litigate issues regarding evidence.

Trial is slated to resume on Feb. 28.

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