Instagram post set off a deadly fight between cousins, feds say. Man now found guilty
A man shot his cousin dead in broad daylight and dragged his body into the street in a fight that began with an Instagram post, federal prosecutors said.
Lewkus Turner, 29, has been detained since his arrest in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 29, 2020, on charges related to the killing of Vincent Gyamfi on Dec. 11, 2020, according to prosecutors.
Now, nearly three years later, a jury found Turner, of Washington, D.C., guilty of voluntary manslaughter while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and unlawful possession of a firearm on June 9, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced in a June 12 news release.
McClatchy News contacted Turner’s attorney for comment on June 13 and didn’t receive an immediate response.
Turner and Gyamfi grew up together and were described as close, lifelong friends by Gyamfi’s brother, according to charging documents filed in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
The deadly encounter between the pair on Dec. 11, 2020, originated with a post Turner shared to Instagram earlier that week about their cousin, according to prosecutors and the charging documents.
Turner posted to social media that the cousin was infected with COVID-19, the charging documents show.
The cousin told Gyamfi that if he didn’t speak up to Turner about the Instagram post, he was “complicit,” the charging documents say.
Afterward, Gyamfi called Turner the morning of Dec. 11 to tell him “if he had a problem with his cousin to speak to him and not play with him,” according to the charging documents.
Turner began “hollering” during the call, according to Gyamfi’s brother, the charging documents say.
Ultimately, Gyamfi drove over to Turner to confront him in person about the Instagram post when an argument between the pair ensued – resulting in Turner leaving to grab a gun, prosecutors said.
When Turner came back with the “large caliber” weapon, the cousins argued further before they both left in different directions, according to prosecutors.
With Gyamfi’s vehicle stopped at an intersection, Turner pulled up in his car and “confronted his cousin for a final time,” prosecutors said.
Gyamfi got out of his car and ran toward Turner, who is accused of shooting him three times, according to prosecutors.
Then, Turner dragged Gyamfi into the street and drove away, prosecutors said.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 25, the release said.
.jpg)