A reluctant witness delivered heated testimony in a homicide trial before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on Oct. 1.
Reginald Steele, 26, is charged with conspiracy, first-degree murder, ten counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, 11 counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, four counts of carrying a pistol without a license, five counts of possession of an unregistered firearm, and two counts of tampering with physical evidence.
The counts stem from Steele’s alleged involvement in four separate shootings including the murder of 13-year-old Malachi Lukes and injury of another juvenile on March 1, 2020, on the 600 block of S Street, NW. Steele’s accused of a separate shooting the same day with no reported injuries on the unit block of Channing Street, NE.
Steele is also accused of include a non-fatal shooting that injured two individuals on Feb. 22, 2020 on the 700 block of Farragut Street, NW, and a non-fatal shooting that injured three on Feb. 24, 2020 on the 1700 block of 9th Street, NW.
Arrested by US Marshals and compelled to testify, the handcuffed witness was brought into the courtroom. As the questioning proceeded he became increasingly combative to the prosecution and the judge.
When asked if he wanted to be in court, the witness stated, “I ain’t got no choice but to be here.”
He continued, “Y’all swarmed me like I was a suspect or something.”
At one point, Judge Brandt threatened to remove have him stating “I’m holding the pen that’s keeping you locked up, the longer you make this take, the longer you will be locked up.”
The witness ranted against the proceedings calling a prosecutor a b****, while being escorted out of the courtroom.
Judge Brandt responded, “I do not tolerate disrespect in my courtroom.” She said when you are disrespecting the prosecutor, “You are disrespecting me.”
During his testimony, the witness was able to identify images of Steele as “Gordo”, and a co-defendant who has already been sentenced in this case, Tyiion Freeman, 26. The witness also confirmed the identity of 19-year-old rapper Tahlil Byrd. calling him “that dead guy you keep asking about.” Byrd, also known as the NW Goon, was killed on Sept. 29, 2019 which may have triggered the mass shooting in retaliation as part of an ongoing feud with the 9th Street crew.
Steele and his alleged co-conspirators are said to belong to the 3500 crew, a criminal gang according to the prosecution.
With the jury in the room, the witness was asked about his relationship with Freeman. He explained that Freeman lived with him a few times around 2020.
The witness also said that he would take Freeman to his girlfriend’s house, but does not remember her name. In his grand jury testimony, he reportedly identified Freeman’s girlfriend by a nickname.
When asked about the relationship between Freeman and Byrd, the witness confirmed that they were best friends.
The witness claimed he was informed about Byrd’s death through a video in which he heard Byrd screaming and the sound of gunshots.
The prosecution asked the witness if he was aware of any feuds between 9th Street crew and the 3500 block crew. The witness said he was unaware of any conflicts.
However, in his grand jury testimony, the witness explained, “You all know it’s a war zone, you all know it’s a conflict, that’s common sense,” allegedly referring to the beef between 9th Street and the 3500 block crews.
But during his testimony the witness claimed, “I was talking about Northwest. I ain’t say nothing about 9th Street.”
Additionally, the prosecution also asked the witness about a phone when the witness told a prosecutor that she ruined his reputation in the streets.
The witness denied ever saying that .
Parties are slated to reconvene Oct. 2.
