Witness Describes Path of Suspect Vehicle in Murder, Conspiracy Trial

By Carmen Quinteros [former] , McKenna Bryant [former] - April 23, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Prosecutors in a murder, conspiracy trial continued to build their case by introducing GPS data that tracked a suspect vehicle as it moved to a crime scene and was finally abandoned.

Later in the April 22 hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt, police presented firearm evidence in an effort to link the suspects to weapons used in the shooting.

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.  

The case also involves alleged co-conspirators Reginald Steele, 24, and Aaron Brown, 27.

Throughout the trial, the prosecution has attempted to connect Jackson, Freeman, and Nelson to additional shootings that occurred on Feb. 22, Feb. 24, and a second shooting on March 1, 2020. The prosecution alleges a firearm conspiracy by the defendants in which they tried to get specific weapons used in Lukes’ homicide.

The prosecution recalled an FBI agent to authenticate Global Positioning System (GPS) data points for the suspect vehicle, a 2016 Kia Soul, from March 1, between the hours of three am and three pm. The car was stolen from a rental company and was equipped with a tracking device.

The agent confirmed that the vehicle stopped at multiple locations, including the 1800 block of Bruce Place, SE, and the 2600 block of Douglas Road, SE, which are alleged to be homes of Jackson and Freeman. 

The GPS data points also showed stops at a BP gas station, and “various routes before circling around the area prior to coming back to the 9th Street address,” traveling westbound and stopping on the 600 block of S Street, NW, around the time that Lukes was shot. Finally, the vehicle traveled towards the 500 block of Lamont Street, NW, where it was abandoned.

The agent stated that each GPS data point was peer-reviewed by one of his colleagues, and double-checked to confirm consistency.

The prosecution also called an MPD detective who executed a search warrant on May 29, 2020 on the 1800 block of Bruce Place, SE. During the search, a baseball cap and a firearm were recovered. The prosecution alleges the firearm was used by one of the defendants in Lukes’ homicide. 

According to the detective’s testimony, Jackon was present at the residence, along with eight other individuals. At the time, Jackson and another individual had pending arrest warrants and were taken into custody. 

Another officer testified he ran background checks on each of the defendants, along with Steele and Brown. The results confirmed none of them were cleared to carry firearms, despite multiple weapons recovered in their homes.  

In addition, the firearm that was recovered during Jackson’s search warrant was not registered in DC.

Parties are set to return April 23.