Police identify persons of interest, execute search warrants in Makiyah Wilson murder investigation
WASHINGTON - There has been significant progress in the murder investigation of 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson as D.C. police have identified multiple persons of interest and executed search warrants connected to the case.
Last Thursday evening, D.C. police fanned out in force and searched seven apartments on two different streets in Southeast D.C. According to three law enforcement sources, some people were taken into custody and questioned, but there were no arrests.
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Sources familiar with the investigation said police went to apartments in the 2300 block of Good Hope Court as well as the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road. Multiple apartments were searched at three different addresses on Pomeroy Road.
Detectives had enough probable cause to get a judge to sign off on the warrants, but the information is not yet public, according to sources. The warrants may have been filed under seal.
Two sources said investigators were after DNA evidence that could link the persons of interest in the case to the shooting on 53rd Street in the Clay Terrace neighborhood that killed Wilson and wounded four others on July 16. As many as 70 shell casings were recovered at the scene. Some of the ammunition were fired from an assault rifle.
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Investigators are trying to link the shooters to evidence recovered at the scene and inside the car that was stolen from Prince George's County.
A week ago, D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham announced the reward was increased to $45,000 in the case and investigators were making progress.
"I can tell you the amount of information that we are getting from the public is substantial," said Newsham. "Some of that information has been very helpful to us. I can tell you we also have homicide detectives and folks from U.S. Attorney's Office working around the clock to find out who these five people are. As soon as we have probable cause, we will be making an arrest in this case."
Police said there were four gunman along with a driver who never got out of the car during the shooting.
The motive for the shooting remains unclear.