‘They Weren’t Aiming at Anyone in Particular, They Were Just Shooting,’ Says Prosecutor in Closing

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A jury in DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun’s courtroom heard additional details of the prosecution’s closing argument in a homicide, conspiracy case on Aug. 14.

Mark Price, 29, and Antonio Murchison, 31, are charged with conspiracy, first-degree murder while armed, five counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault while armed, seven counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and seven counts of criminal gang affiliation. The charges stem from their alleged involvement in a mass shooting on July 16, 2018 on the 5300 block of 53rd Street, NE. The incident left 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson dead and four other individuals with gunshot wounds.

Additionally, Price is charged with first-degree murder while armed, two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, threat to injure or kidnap a person, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict and first-degree burglary while armed. These separate charges come from his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 47-year-old Andre Hakim Young on July 30, 2018, on the 1500 block of 19th Street, NE.

A third co-defendant, Quanisha Ramsuer, 31, is charged with obstruction of justice in connection to the homicide.

Six other defendants were convicted in 2023 of charges related to the incident, including:

Marquell Cobbs, 22 – sentenced to serve six years in prison
Quentin Michals, 27 – sentenced to serve 40 years in prison
Gregory Taylor, 28 – sentenced to serve 65 years in prison
Qujuan Thomas, 25– sentenced to 68 years in prison
Darrise Jeffers, 24 – sentenced to serve 35 years in prison
Isaiah Murchison, 24 – sentenced to serve 60 years in prison

As the prosecutor continued her closing arguments, which began on Aug. 13, she told the jury, “They have the guns, they have the car, they have the driver,” and insisted the defendants conspired to carry out the attack in the months and hours leading up to the incident.

“They weren’t aiming at anyone in particular, they were just shooting,” the prosecutor insisted, adding that the group of four gunmen unleashed 50 shots within 20 seconds.

According to the prosecution, Price and Isaiah Murchison were connected to the murder vehicle through DNA evidence, which was collected from gloves left behind in a black Infiniti.

The prosecution also argued that Michals showed his consciousness of guilt as he searched for the shooting the following days. She added that multiple co-conspirators communicated in code about the attack, in an attempt to prevent law enforcement from tracking their conversations.

“If you’re just a bad shot, you’re still guilty,” she ended, reminding the jury that, although one gunshot caused Wilson’s death, all individuals involved in the conspiracy and the recklessness can be found guilty.

Parties are slated to reconvene Aug. 15.