In the early hours of September 19, 2015, a sense of unease lingered in the 3200 block of 28th Street, SE in Washington, D.C. It was here that 39-year-old Marcellus Green, a Black male, would become the victim of a fatal shooting. The events of that night were set in motion by a desire for revenge, culminating in a tragedy that would reverberate through the community.
Earlier in the evening, Steven Pugh, Maricco Knight, and Dominique Williams had gathered, their intentions fueled by
grievances. Pugh was seeking retaliation against someone who had reportedly slashed his girlfriend's tires, while Williams was motivated to confront an individual who had threatened him. After purchasing a bottle of tequila, the trio drove to the Southeast D.C. neighborhood. Pugh, who had provided Williams with a gun two days prior, was behind the wheel.
Upon arriving on 28th Street, they spotted two men. Although these were not the individuals they had initially sought, the situation escalated. Despite Pugh's alleged attempts to de-escalate, Knight reportedly encouraged Williams to shoot. At approximately 1:07 a.m., gunshots rang out, and Marcellus Green was struck. The Metropolitan Police Department, hearing the gunshots, responded to the scene and found Green suffering from his wounds. He was transported to a local hospital, but his injuries proved fatal.
Immediately following the shooting, a police chase ensued as Pugh, Knight, and Williams fled the scene. The pursuit extended through the District and into Maryland. During the chase, Williams was instructed to discard the weapon from their vehicle. The chase ended when a police car collided with their Honda Accord, causing it to crash. While Pugh and Knight were apprehended, Williams managed to escape on foot.
In the aftermath, the investigation led to charges against all three men. Stephen Pugh and Maricco Knight, both 22 at the time, were arrested shortly after the incident and initially charged with first-degree murder while armed. Pugh later accepted a plea deal. The U.S. Attorney's office eventually declined to file charges against Knight in this specific case, and he was released. Knight was later charged with being an accessory. Dominique Williams, then 22, remained at large for a period, with an arrest warrant issued for him on a charge of first-degree murder while armed. He was eventually taken into custody in July 2016. During his trial, DNA evidence linked Williams to a Styrofoam cup found inside the vehicle used in the shooting.
