Shooter Found Guilty of Killing One Man and Injuring Two Others in January 2019

WASHINGTON - Alonzo Brown, 29, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty yesterday in D.C. Superior Court, on charges related to the shooting death of 22-year-old Michael Taylor and injuring two others, on January 12, 2019, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

Brown was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder while armed, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of assault with intent to kill and one count of conspiracy on June 5, 2026. This case went to trial in May of 2025 but resulted in a hung jury. 

Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson scheduled sentencing for October 16, 2026.

"By firing 72 rounds into an apartment complex, Alonzo Brown and his co-conspirators carried out an act of extraordinary violence that claimed a young man's life and injured two others," said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. "This verdict brings long-awaited justice to the victims and sends a clear message that such reckless disregard for human life will not be tolerated."

According to the government's evidence, on January 12, 2019, Brown, and four other co-conspirators, who associated themselves with the Pentacles Apartment Complex or "Walkdown" wanted to exact revenge for the murder of their friend, Shamar Marbury, which had occurred 11 days earlier. It was believed that Shamar was murdered by a rival, the Benning Court Complex or "BC Da Army" with whom the Pentacles group had been "beefing" for close to two years. A "beef" that culminated in a series of shootings, including the murder of Shamar Marbury. Marbury was laid to rest on January 11, 2019. The day after Marbury's funeral, the defendants executed their plan to retaliate in a brazen daylight shooting that targeted five other young men from Benning Court. Together, the defendant and his co-defendants, drove to the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE, drove past the complex looking for targets against whom to retaliate. As they passed the Benning Court Apartments, they looked through the glass front of 1707 and saw a group of young men inside. They continued driving past and parked their car out of sight. They left a get-away driver in the car, and the defendant and three others walked into the Benning Court complex. They entered 1707 and fired 72 rounds, killing the victim, Michael Taylor, and injuring two of his friends.

Unbeknownst to the shooters, however, they were captured on video before, during, and as they fled to their awaiting gateway car. The shooting lasted only 8 seconds. One of the shooters, Carlos Turner, pleaded guilty to second degree murder while armed and conspiracy to commit a violent crime.  Another shooter, Stephon Evans, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed.

Brown was arrested on January 23, 2019.

Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.

This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nebiyu Feleke and Marybeth Manfreda.

2019 CF1 001059