In 2021, a Black woman’s beef with her boyfriend over the conception of their child resulted in an unthinkable act that claimed the life of the new mother and nearly, her child. Only now has the DOJ brought the man in question to justice.
Federal prosecutors said Ebony Wright was in a relationship with 35-year-old Keanan Turner three years ago when the incident occurred. Evidence at Turner’s trial showed he got Wright pregnant but asked her to get an abortion. Wright refused to terminate the pregnancy and as a result, Turner stopped talking to her. After giving birth to baby Grayson, Wright filed a custody and child support lawsuit against Turner, per the DOJ.
However, four months after the baby was born on April 12, federal prosecutors said Turner reached out to Wright asking to see his child at her apartment. At the time, multiple people were present at Wright’s home including her mother, Wanda. After introducing himself to the family in the house, prosecutors say Turner went into the bathroom and emerged with a gun.
Turner shot Wright in the head as she held their infant son. He then shot her mother in the back of the head and shot her sister, Destiny, in the face, prosecutors said. Before leaving the apartment, Turner lit the custody papers on fire, leaving the apartment to set ablaze with the infant inside. The surviving sister managed to rescue the child, escape the scene and call 911, per prosecutors.
In July 2024, Turner was found guilty by a D.C. Superior Court jury of two counts of first-degree murder while armed with aggravating circumstances, assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault while armed, attempted first degree murder of a minor, second degree cruelty to children, arson, and destruction of property. He was also convicted on gun charges.
Given Turner’s “complete lack of remorse,” the substantial planning of the killings and the heinous nature of the offense, federal prosecutors argues that he should serve a sentence of life in prison without possibility of parole. He was given 68 years.
As for baby Grayson, he is three years old, non-verbal and autistic but is “strong and demanding,” a family member said in a GoFundMe post.