On May 22, Jonathan Zucker, defense attorney for Gregory Taylor, accused prosecutors of twisting the truth in a manner that would force his client to be involved in the case without his actual involvement.  Taylor, 27, Quentin Michals, 25, Qujuan Thomas, 24, Darrise Jeffers, 23, Isaiah Murchison, 23, 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. Read more »

On May 10, defense attorneys for Gregory Taylor continued arguments about rap lyrics the prosecution insists showed the defendant's affiliation with a street gang in front of DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun.  Taylor, 27, 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. Read more »

On May 8, defense attorneys for six defendants began arguing their case in a three month long homicide trial.  Gregory Taylor, 27, 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. Read more »

As a high-profile murder trial entered its third month, prosecutors Introduced dozens of Instagram posts and social media messages to convince jurors that the suspects tried to hide their identities using so-called “vanity names,” while communicating their violent intent in code.   Gregory Taylor, 27, Quentin Michals, 25, Qujuan Thomas, 24, Darrise Jeffers, 23, Isiah Murchison, 23 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 drive-by shooting that resulted in the death of 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson on the 300 block of 53rd Street, NE on July 16, 2018.  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective leading the investigation walked the jury through the online information in the form of message records, pictures and videos. Read more »

The defense in a homicide trial continued their cross-examination of a witness who stole the vehicle allegedly used in a drive-by shooting that killed a 10-year-old girl. Read more »

On March 7, a murder trial continued with the testimony of a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) investigator regarding his knowledge of the Wellington Park individuals, their associations, and connections to one another. Read more »

DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun set a new trial date for a murder defendant who has spent 7 years in pretrial confinement. Read more »

A DC Superior Court judge denied defense attorneys' requests for the release of three teenage murder defendants. Read more »

A felony defendant who waived his right to counsel in September says he won’t accept an attorney advisor. Read more »

On June 7, a DC Superior Court judge sentenced a murder defendant to 15 years in prison for second-degree murder while armed, in addition to four other charges. Read more »

On Dec. Read more »

After considering several factors, including a fatal shooting during the daylight hours and an active dispute between young men in differing neighborhoods, a superior court judge found both defendants charged with the alleged murder of Maleak Coffin to have substantial probable cause. Read more »

Judge Judith Bartnoff sentenced Wandell Roy to 27 years in prison for fatally shooting Victor Williams while he was walking his two dogs on the Anacostia River Trail in July of 2017. Read more »

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt sentenced a defendant to nine years of incarceration as part of a plea agreement wiring two separate cases.  Jermaine Harris, 22, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed, unauthorized use of a vehicle-crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with prior conviction, two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, and three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his involvement in a shooting with other suspects. Read more »

Thirty-one-year-old Mussay Rezene was back in court on May 7 in front of DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun, charged with a fatal stabbing incident at the DC Jail. Read more »