WASHINGTON, D.C. — A fourth suspect has been sentenced in connection with the tragic 2020 shooting that claimed the life of 13-year-old Malachi Lukes.
On Friday, Aaron Brown, 29, was sentenced to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to assault with intent to kill while armed. His sentencing comes more than four years after the fatal shooting that shook the community.
A Deadly Day of Violence
The incident occurred on March 1, 2020, and involved a group of five men tied to a string of gang-related shootings. Prosecutors say Brown and the others were involved in escalating neighborhood gang disputes that led to violent acts of retaliation.
That day, the group used a stolen Kia Soul to follow Lukes and his three friends, who were simply on their way to play basketball near the 600 block of S Street NW. As the boys walked, the suspects got out of the vehicle and opened fire. Lukes was shot in the back while attempting to run away and later died from his injuries.
Just ten minutes later, the same group carried out a second shooting in a different neighborhood. Thankfully, no one was injured in the second attack.
Brown’s Role in the Attacks
During the first shooting, Brown remained inside the stolen vehicle while his accomplices fired the shots. However, he actively participated in the second shooting, according to prosecutors.
While Brown’s involvement was less direct in the murder of Lukes compared to his co-defendants, his role in the violent spree earned him a significant prison term.
Other Convictions and Ongoing Trial
Brown is the fourth individual to be sentenced in the case. The three other men — Stephon Nelson, Tyiion Freeman, and Koran Jackson — were previously convicted by a jury of first-degree murder while armed and related charges. Their prison sentences ranged from 108 to 164 years.
A fifth co-defendant is scheduled to stand trial in August 2025.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the group illegally shared and carried firearms between February and May 2020 as part of a larger pattern of violent criminal activity.
The sentencing marks another step toward justice for the family of Malachi Lukes, whose life was senselessly cut short by gang violence.
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