Prosecutors Link Rapper’s Murder to Teen’s Death, Shooting Spree

By Carmen Quinteros , Aryana Zakeri - May 8, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Prosecutors allege a rapper’s shooting was the motive for three defendants’ shooting spree, which led to the death of a young boy and multiple injuries. 

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.  

Throughout the trial, before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt, the prosecution has attempted to connect Jackson, Freeman, and Nelson to additional shootings that occurred on Feb. 22, 2020; Feb. 24, 2020 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 case also involves alleged co-conspirators Reginald Steele, 24, and Aaron Brown, 27.

On May 7, the prosecution called a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer was stationed at Washington Hospital Center’s emergency room on Feb. 13, 2020, the night of a shooting on the 1200 block of North Capitol Street, NW.

According to court documents, the shooting left one victim in need of medical care for a wound to his left elbow. 

The victim is allegedly related to 19-year-old Tahlil Byrd. 

The prosecution doesn’t link the three co-defendants to this shooting, but regard the incident as a motive for their shooting spree.

According to the prosecution’s opening statement, the series of shootings allegedly committed by the defendants was an act of retaliation stemming from “rap beef.” The prosecution believes a feud between two groups from different DC neighborhoods stemmed from the groups attempting to earn the title of the true “Northwest Goon rapper,” culminating in the death of Byrd, who is alleged to have been a rapper.

Byrd was the victim of a fatal shooting on Sept. 9, 2019, just four months prior, at the same location as Lukes’ homicide. The prosecution alleges that the defendants were friends of Byrd and his family, and that their alleged shooting spree was an act of retaliation following his death.  

The witness got information at the hospital from the victim of the Feb. 13 shooting, who was accompanied to the hospital by Jackson, stating they were brothers. Her body-worn camera was presented to the jury as confirmation.

The case was then passed on to two detectives who were already at the hospital due to an unrelated case.  

One of the MPD detectives was then called by the prosecution. 

The detective spoke to the victim’s brother, allegedly Jackson, while his colleague spoke to the victim. 

The detective explained how Jackson said his brother was shot on the 1200 block of Capitol Street, NW, and then dropped off at the hospital. The witness stated that no video was captured as the surveillance cameras were facing the other way. 

The MPD Sergeant responsible for investigating the crime scene testified about her findings. 

After a thorough investigation, with other detectives and the K-9 unit, the witness confirmed that no bullet shell casings or blood were discovered, adding “nothing out of place was found,” at the scene.

Parties are set to return May 8.