WASHINGTON – Five people have been found guilty for one of the deadliest attacks in D.C. history.
Brothers Orlando and Sanquan Carter, Robert Bost and Jeffrey Best were found guilty of first-degree murder in the so-called 2010 South Capitol Street massacre, which left five dead and eight others injured in as many days.
Lamar Williams was found guilty of second-degree murder.
The first shooting occurred on Alabama Avenue over a missing bracelet, and then two more retaliatory attacks followed. The victims were all between the ages of 16 to 23.
Trouble started on March 21, 2010 when 19-year-old Sanquan Carter’s bracelet went missing at a party in Southeast D.C. His brother and Best allegedly opened fire at the gathering in retaliation.
Jordan Howe, 22, was killed and two others injured.
Sanquan Carter was arrested within hours, but his brother was later released due to insufficient evidence.
Meanwhile, Howe’s friends allegedly plotted to avenge his death and shot at Orlando Carter. A bullet grazed his head and another hit his shoulder, but he survived.
More than a week later, police say he and four others opened fire on a group of people who had attended Howe’s funeral. The shooting killed Brishell Jones, 16; DaVaughn Boyd, 18; William Jones III, 19; and Tavon Nelson, 17. Six others were injured.
At Monday’s hearing, family members of the victims were relieved by the guilty verdicts.
Jones’ father, Lennox, said he felt a sense of peace and justice.
“These people will not be able to kill nobody’s children again,” he said “They will be getting a sentence as sure for the rest of their life.”
Howe’s mother, Dianne, noticed a different tone coming from the defendants.
“They were smirking and throwing kisses when the trial was going on. Not today,” she said. “That’s all I wanted to hear. Guilty, guilty, guilty.”
WTOP’s Mitchell Miller and Alicia Lozano contributed to this report. Follow Mitchell Miller, Alicia Lozano and WTOP on Twitter.
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