Prosecution Presents Social Media Messages of Gun Images in teen Murder Case

By McKenna Bryant , Anthoine Godin - March 27, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Juveniles | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On March 26, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt heard testimony about social media messages showing firearms presented by the prosecution in a murder conspiracy case.

Koran Jackson, 23, Tyiion Kyree Freeman, 24, and Stephen Nelson, 33, are three of five individuals charged with multiple counts of conspiracy, assault with the intent to kill while armed, first-degree murder while armed, carrying a pistol without a license, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence in connection to the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Malachi Lukes on March 1, 2020 on the 600 block of S Street, NW. The shooting also left a second juvenile victim located in the vicinity suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the right leg.  

The case also involves alleged co-conspirators Reginald Steele, 24, and Aaron Brown, 27.

Throughout the trial, the prosecution has attempted to connect Jackson, Freeman, and Nelson to additional shootings that occurred on Feb. 22, Feb. 24, and a second shooting on March 1, 2020. The prosecution alleges a firearm conspiracy of the defendants, in which they aimed to obtain and use specific weapons in Lukes’ homicide .  

The prosecution brought in a custodian of records for META Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to complete her March 21 testimony authenticating multiple social media accounts, allegedly belonging to the co-defendants.

Additional reports for an Instagram and FaceBook account, allegedly associated with Nelson, were accepted into evidence. They include messaging history and images of the possession and sale of multiple firearms, including a Glock 17 as well as military and police grade weapons.

One of texts read, “Know anyone trying to buy a dog bruh?” And another text said, “I need a dog and not one with four legs.”

However, the witness could not verify the actual owners of either of the social media accounts. 

The prosecution also brought back a witness who had worked as a forensic analyst for the Department of Forensic Science (DPS).

The witness explained the findings of a warrant targeting a residence on the 1800 block of Bruce Place, SE, in May of 2020. He previously testified that the residence belonged to 19-year-old Tahlil Byrd and his family.

The prosecution alleges that Byrd had been a friend of the defendants and his fatal shooting on the 600 block of S Street, NW, was the reason for the defendants’ shooting frenzy.

Similarly, the prosecution claimed in their opening statement that they believe the defendants used Byrd’s residence as a safe house. 

The witness had previously testified to documenting evidence from Byrd’s residence including a 9mm Luger Glock firearm with an extended magazine allegedly used by one of the defendants in Lukes’ homicide. 

In cross examination, Jackson’s defense attorney, Brian McDaniel, asked the witness about the importance of proper evidence collection. When McDaniel stated “the way that you handle evidence…may affect the way a jury charges them[defendants] correct?”, the witness agreed. 

In response, McDaniel presented a photo of the scene displaying the magazine and cartridges of the firearm discovered at the Byrd residence lying on a bed. McDaniel reaffirmed that the witness “did not put anything down on the bed before putting the magazine and the bullets on the mattress?”. “No sir,” admitted the witness. 

Though the witness testified that his primary reason for removing the bullets from the firearm was general safety, he admitted that the mattress increased the probability of cross contamination of the magazine and the cartridges. 

In redirect, the prosecution established that the witness had not done further testing of the evidence himself and could not confirm any further information on the cross contamination of evidence collected at the Byrd residence. 

Parties are slated to return March 27.