Lukes Murder: Gun Supplier & Crew Face Justice

WASHINGTON D.C. – Justice, however delayed, arrived July 10, 2024, for 13-year-old Malachi Lukes. A Superior Court jury found Tyiion Freeman, Koran Jackson, and Stephon Nelson guilty on multiple counts, including first-degree murder while armed, stemming from the brazen shooting that took Lukes’ life on March 1, 2020. The verdict caps a years-long investigation into a ruthless cycle of violence gripping the nation’s capital.

The court heard evidence detailing a conspiracy stretching from February 1, 2020, to May 31, 2020, where Freeman, Jackson, and two other co-defendants (cases severed pre-trial) systematically stockpiled firearms for use in escalating gang warfare. Jackson and Freeman are identified as members and associates of neighborhood crews locked in a bitter feud that ignited after the killing of Tahlil Byrd, also known as Slatt Goon, in September 2019. This wasn’t just about guns; it was about escalating a territorial war with deadly consequences.

Stephon Nelson, a felon approximately 10 years older than his co-conspirators, played a crucial role as the supplier, funneling the illegal weapons that fueled the violence. Between February 22 and March 1, 2020, the crew unleashed a nine-day terror on the Petworth, Shaw, and Stronghold neighborhoods. The first documented shooting on February 22 involved a verbal altercation that quickly escalated into gunfire, wounding two victims. Two days later, the conspirators targeted rivals on Ninth Street, unleashing a barrage of bullets that narrowly missed an innocent bystander whose windshield absorbed most of the damage.

The spree culminated in the horrific murder of Malachi Lukes. On March 1, 2020, at 2:08 p.m., the defendants, traveling in a stolen Kia Soul, tracked down Lukes and his three friends near the 600 block of S Street, N.W. Two defendants exited the vehicle and opened fire as the teens attempted to flee. A single bullet ripped through Lukes’ back, piercing his heart and lungs, ending his life instantly. Just ten minutes later, at 2:18 p.m., the crew opened fire on another block known to house rival crew members, though thankfully, no one was injured in that incident. The callous disregard for life is staggering.

The jury delivered guilty verdicts on all counts, including charges of assault with intent to kill while armed, conspiracy to commit various firearms offenses, and other related firearms violations. Crucially, the verdict holds accountable not just those who pulled the trigger, but also the man who supplied the means to commit this horrific act. The fact that Nelson, the gun supplier, was not present during the homicide itself doesn’t diminish his culpability.

U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves commended the diligent work of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the prosecution team—Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle Jackson, Tamara Rubb, and Nebiyu Feleke—for securing this conviction. While no sentence can bring back Malachi Lukes, this verdict sends a clear message: those who arm the perpetrators of violence will be held accountable for the devastation they unleash. This case serves as a chilling reminder of the ever-present threat of gun violence and the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to address the root causes of crime in our nation’s capital.