Two D.C. Men Handed Long Prison Sentences for Fatal Shooting of 10-Year-Old Makiyah Wilson

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Two men have been sentenced to decades behind bars for their roles in the 2018 murder of 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson, who was shot and killed while sitting outside her home in Washington, D.C.’s Clay Terrace neighborhood. 

On Friday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced that Mark Price, 25, received a 50-year sentence. At the same time, Antonio Murchison, 24, was handed a 72-year term for their involvement in the gang-related attack.According to prosecutors, both men were affiliated with the Wellington Park crew, a violent criminal street gang based in the city. 

On July 16, 2018, Price, Murchison, and three other gang members drove into the Clay Terrace courtyard armed with high-powered firearms. Price, acting as the driver, dropped off the others before parking. Seconds later, he and Murchison opened fire, unleashing more than 50 rounds into the courtyard. Their bullets hit multiple people and fatally struck Makiyah, who was seated on her front steps.

Three other members of the Wellington Park crew, Quentin Michals, Darrise Jeffers, and Marquell Cobbs, were also convicted in connection with the crime. Authorities say the shooting was gang retaliation, carried out without regard for the safety of residents, including children.

In a related case, Quanisha Ramsuer was sentenced to three years in prison for obstruction of justice earlier this year. Prosecutors revealed that Ramsuer witnessed the group preparing for the attack but initially refused to cooperate with investigators. She later admitted to knowing the suspects, identifying one as her cousin.

Officials described the shooting as a planned and deliberate act intended to target rival gang members. Instead, the reckless attack ended a young life and left an entire community in mourning. Makiyah’s death became a rallying cry for action against gang violence, drawing widespread media attention and public outrage.

Gang Violence

Following an extensive investigation, Price and Murchison were found guilty on September 3, 2024, of several charges: first-degree murder while armed, conspiracy to commit a violent crime, participation in a criminal street gang, obstruction of justice, and multiple counts of assault with intent to kill while armed. Their convictions reflect the crime’s severity and the attack’s calculated nature.

“This was an utterly senseless act of violence that took the life of a completely innocent child,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office stated in a press release. “This sentence reflects the gravity of what was done and the pain inflicted on Makiyah’s family and community.”

The convictions represent a hard-won victory for law enforcement in a city where gang violence continues to impact families. While no sentence can bring Makiyah Wilson back, Friday’s ruling offers a sense of closure for her loved ones and sends a strong message about the consequences of gang-related crime in the nation’s capital.