A Washington homeowner shot and killed a 13-year-old boy after he alleges he saw the teenager breaking into vehicles, authorities said over the weekend.
Members of the Fifth District and D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to a call about a shooting shortly before 4 a.m. on Jan. 7 and found a juvenile male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, the Washington Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said in a statement.
Authorities said the boy, who has been identified as 13-year-old Karon Blake of the Northeast quadrant of the city, was transferred to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead after life-saving efforts failed.
Following a preliminary investigation, detectives found that an unidentified homeowner “heard noises” outside his house and saw an individual who appeared to be tampering with vehicles.
“The male resident went outside, armed with a registered firearm, to further investigate,” police stated. “There was an interaction between a juvenile male and the male resident. During the interaction, the male resident discharged his firearm striking the victim.”
No immediate criminal charges have been filed against the homeowner, police said, noting that the man is cooperating in the case.
The MPD said that detectives are currently reviewing the shooting with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to determine whether the homeowner will face any potential charges.
Although the official police report did not reveal if Blake was carrying a firearm, Metro police reportedly told FOX5 DC that there was no indication the teenager was armed.
The network also reported that the homeowner was performing CPR on the boy as officers arrived at the scene.
During the investigation, police located a vehicle on Quincy Street that had been registered as stolen and is believed to have been used by Blake.
According to FOX5 DC, an eye-witness living in the area of the shooting saw two other people fleeing the scene inside a vehicle and later running away on foot in an alley.
The MPD is asking anyone with information in connection to the case to call police at 202-727-9099. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to the department’s tip line by texting 50411.
Community Response
The case sparked outrage from several councilmembers, as well as Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, who said on Monday that she’s “incredibly saddened” by the shooting.
“We would rather be talking about a 13-year-old going to school today than being killed on our streets,” Bowser said, according to a WAMU 88.5 reporter.
“This is my message: If anytime for any reason there is a public safety concern, residents should call 911 … I’m not going to talk about any of the facts [of this case],” the message reads. “I’m going to allow the police to complete their investigation. If you feel there is a public safety issue in or around your home, call 911. That is the appropriate thing to do.”
Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker said in a statement on Twitter that, “No car or material possession is worth a life—under any circumstances,” calling for officials to hold the homeowner accountable.
“Out community’s healing is linked to the trust we are able to cultivate with those tasked with keeping us safe, and I believe our neighbours are entitled to knowing more about the circumstances of Karon’s death,” Parker said.