Witnesses Testify to Social Media and Text Messages Between Co-Defendants in 10-Year-Old’s Homicide

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A jury in DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun’s courtroom heard several witnesses testify about messages among homicide co-defendants during a trial regarding a mass shooting that killed a little girl.

Mark Price, 29, and Antonio Murchison, 31, are charged with first-degree murder while armed, five counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, seven counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, conspiracy, 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 in the Clay Terrace neighborhood. The incident left 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson dead and four other individuals with gunshot wounds.

Price is also charged with another murder. Charges for the other incident include 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 charges are connected to the fatal shooting of 47-year-old Andre Hakim Young on July 30, 2018, on the 1500 block of 19th Street, NE.

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

Five other defendants were convicted in 2023 of charges from the incident, including:

Isaiah Murchison – sentenced to serve 60 years in prison
Marquell Cobbs – sentenced to serve 6 years in prison
Quentin Michals – sentenced to serve 40 years in prison
Gregory Taylor – sentenced to serve 65 years in prison
Qujuan Thomas – sentenced to 68 years in prison
Darrise Jeffers – sentenced to serve 35 years in prison.

On June 27, trial resumed with the prosecution calling eight witnesses to continue testifying about text messages found between the alleged co-conspirators regarding weapons and online “beef.”

Multiple Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers testified to different cell phone information extractions that had been performed, such as contacts, by number and email; photos; messages; chats; and deleted content were recovered.

The prosecution also used digital information to begin slowly connecting Murchison and Price to the communications among the Wellington Park Crew. Prosecutors cited photographs where weapons were being held by the Wellington Park Crew members and text chains where convicted members discussed Instagram beefs.

Prosecutors also brought forth a special police officer from George Washington Hospital who testified to aiding individuals who were injured in a shooting that occurred on March 15, 2018. The witness was unable to identify the three individuals, but noted that only one of them had been shot -– in the leg – while the other two appeared uninjured.

Another MPD officer testified about a shooting that occurred on the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road, SE in October 2018. She testified to finding Michaels with gunshot wounds to his neck, back and leg, along with finding two other victims who had sustained injuries. The officer stated that she was unable to conduct official interviews because all three victims did not wish to speak with the police.

Trial is scheduled to resume on July 1, 2024.

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