Sexual Relations with Teen from a Rival Crew May Have Triggered A Homicide

By Carmen Quinteros - May 7, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A friend of two homicide defendants testified to having an “intimate relationship” with a teen that might have led to his murder by a rival crew.

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, 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 6, the prosecution called an old friend of Jackson and Freeman’s, who was a next door neighbor of one of the Feb. 22, 2020 victims. The incident took place on the 700 block of Farragut Street, NW, leaving two victims uninjured.

When asked if she knew 13-year-old Malachi Lukes, the witness asserted she had “an intimate relationship” with him when she was 16 years old. 

The witness claims Lukes aligned himself with a ‘crew’ that was a rival of the neighborhood gang to which Freeman, Jackson, and Steele allegedly belonged.

Prosecutors have previously presented testimony citing a motive for the multiple shootings as a “rap beef” stemming from different neighborhood ‘crews.’

She said the defendants and an associate, who was arrested for gun-related charges in another case, confronted her after discovering her relationship with Lukes. 

The associate was “blowing up her phone” even after she had told him to leave her alone. He called the witness an “opp thot” in one of the text messages referring to someone, most likely a female, having sexual encounters with a person highly disliked by the other. 

“Why was you on baby bro d**k” said the associate in a text message sent on Feb. 28, 2020, two days before Lukes’ murder. 

According to the witness, “baby bro” was Lukes’ nickname and Instagram username.  

“I was having sex with Malachi, and he didn’t like that” the witness stated. 

The witness began her testimony affirming she was in a vehicle with “moose,” “gordo,” and two other friends that were dropping her off at home the day of the shooting. 

The witness positively identified Jackson as “moose” and Steele as “gordo.”

When asked by the prosecution, the witness described the vehicle as a “boxy kia car.”

The prosecution has previously identified a 2016 Kia Soul as the suspected vehicle for most of the shootings. The vehicle has been specifically tracked to the alley of Luke’s homicide on March 1, 2020, by surveillance footage and GPS tracking.   

The witness testified to seeing two individuals on her neighbor’s front porch while walking into her house, moments before hearing gunshots. 

Hearing gunshots, the witness affirmed she received a FaceTime call from one of her friends who was still in the car. As her friend laughed, she explained to the witness that Jackson and Steele had gotten into an altercation with her neighbors. 

The prosecutor asked the witness if her relationship with Jackson was ever more than just a friendship. “No,” the witness said as she smiled. She explained Jackson had attempted to pursue a romantic relationship with her, but she was never interested. 

The witness also confirmed her friendship with Freeman back in 2020, identifying him as “ty,” after the prosecution presented a picture of the defendant. 

The prosecution has previously alleged Freeman’s nickname to be “ty” or “T-y” and have linked him to a Glock 26, the same type of firearm used in the Feb. 24, 2020 shootings, from social media text threads. 

The witness could not confirm “moose,” allegedly Jackson, was the one that fired the gun during the Feb. 22, 2020, shooting during cross-examination by Brian McDaniel, Jackson’s defense attorney.

Additionally, she does not recall the clothing worn by Jackson and Steele the day of the shooting. 

Due to time constraints, cross-examination will continue at a later time.

Prior to the testimony, the two victims of the Feb. 22, 2020, shooting were called to the stand.  

Both victims, regarded as boyfriend and girlfriend, testified to smoking “potent” marijuana on the front porch of the girlfriend’s home moments before a verbal altercation that led to gunshots. 

After observing a suspicious vehicle, the boyfriend stated “they keep looking at us.” An individual inside the vehicle responded “What did you say?” as he exited the vehicle along with another male individual. 

Anticipating a physical altercation, the girlfriend stated “You not about to fight.” She recalls “bullets flying” shortly after. 

During the boyfriend’s testimony, his failure to remember resulted in a verbal altercation with the prosecutor. 

“Swear to God you’re already pissing me off,” the witness stated early in his testimony.

“No. I ask, you answer,” the prosecutor repeatedly exclaimed as he raised his voice. 

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt intervened, telling the prosecutor to “dial it back.”

“[The witness] clearly doesn’t wanna be here” she stated, as she mentioned that “flaring up” wouldn’t be tolerated.

The witness told police, “it was a Kia, built like a box” in a body worn camera footage played by the prosecution. He also asserted there were four people in the vehicle. 

In addition, he testified seeing a woman exit the vehicle and enter his girlfriend’s neighboring house in the video.  

Parties are set to return May 7.