Prosecutors presented a series of photographs, videos, and eyewitness testimonies allegedly showing a drive-by shooting and suspects abandoning their vehicle before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt in an ongoing homicide trial on Sept. 11
Reginald Steele, 26, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, conspiracy, 10 counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, 11 counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, four counts of carrying a pistol without a license, two counts of tampering with physical evidence, and five counts of possession of an unregistered firearm.
The charges are in connection to his alleged involvement in four shootings. One of the shootings fatally woundedf 13-year-old Malachi Lukes, at the 600 block of S Street, NW on March 1, 2020. Another individual sustained injuries during the incident.
Steele is also alleged to have been involved in a non-fatal shooting on March 1, 2020 at the unit block of Channing Street, NE and non-fatal shooting on Feb. 22, 2020 at the 700 block of Farragut Street, NW.
Additionally, Steele faces charges for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting on Feb. 24, 2020 at the 1700 block of Ninth Street, NW. Three individuals sustained injuries during the incident.
Witness testimony focused on the whereabouts of the defendant and a silver Kia Soul linked to Steele during the non-fatal shooting at the unit block of Channing Street. The silver Kia Soul featured prominently in an earlier trial of Steele’s alleged accomplices, Tyiion Freeman, Koran Jackson, Stephen Nelson, and Aaron Brown, who were all convicted in 2024 for the charges Steele faces.
The prosecution called to the stand two witnesses who lived in rowhomes on the unit block of Channing Street during the time of the non-fatal shooting. One witness captured footage of the shooting through a security camera facing the alley between Channing and Bryant Streets. The footage appeared to show a man in a black hoodie firing several gunshots before running in the direction of a silver Kia Soul, which is seen seconds later driving down the alley.
During cross examination, defense counsel Gemma Stevens noted that no muzzle flashes appeared in the video, nor could the number of passengers in the Kia Soul be determined.
The jury also heard the testimony of another resident of Channing Street, who took several photos of the street from their front porch seconds after the shooting. The images included a picture of a man whom the witness said grew up in the neighborhood, running down the alley in the direction from which the Kia had absconded. The subject in the photo faced no charges from the incident.
The defense focused cross examination on the fact that the witness only took pictures down Channing Street and had a minimal view of the alley where the shooting took place.
The prosecution also called a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer to the stand. The officer testified to responding to the unit block of Channing Street location and discovering a bullet hole through the front windshield of a parked Toyota Prius as well as shell casings at the top of the alley between Channing and Bryant Streets.
During the officer’s testimony, the prosecution played body-worn camera footage showing a bullet hole in the Prius and CCTV footage of the Kia Soul driving northbound on North Capitol Street.
A former resident of a condo building on the 500 block of Lamont Street, NW was called to testify. Earlier in the trial, it was established that the Kia Soul was abandoned at that location approximately 30 minutes after the non-fatal shooting at the unit block of Channing Street.
In March, 2020, the witness shared footage with MPD of four men, who the prosecution claim was the defendant and his co-conspirators, walking North on the sidewalk on the 500 block of Lamont Street.
Additionally, the prosecution called a witness to the stand who worked for the DC Housing Authority during the time of the shooting. Shortly after the shooting, the witness supplied MPD with CCTV footage from the public housing complex Park Morton which appeared to show an individual, who prosecutors claim is Steele, and his accomplices walking down the 3000 block of 6th Street, NW into the housing complex. The witness testified to seeing three individuals walking separately from a fourth towards Georgia Avenue.
Parties are slated to reconvene on Sept. 15.
