A 13-year-old boy was shot and killed in Washington, D.C. His family is outraged no arrest has been made
A 13-year-old boy was killed in Washington, D.C. after a man allegedly thought he was tampering with cars and pulled a gun on him, the Metropolitan Police Department said in a news release.
After receiving reports of gunshots, police arrived at the scene on Quincy Street around 3:56 a.m. on Jan. 7 and found the teenager, Karon Blake, who is black, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds . He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
A man inside a residence heard noises outside and saw what he thought was someone messing with cars, police said. The man told police he went outside with a registered firearm to investigate, police said. Metropolitan Police Chief Robert J. Contee III did not identify the man, but said during a news conference that he was black.
After an interaction with Blake, the man fired a gun, striking the teenager, police said.
The man has not been charged and the police department’s homicide unit is currently working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to review the facts and any possible criminal charges, the department said.
The police have been criticized for not publishing the suspect’s name or filing charges against him. During a meeting with city council members Tuesday night, several community members spoke of their frustrations, including Blake’s grandfather, Sean Long, according to CBS affiliate WUSA .
“I didn’t know you could get a gun permit and shoot someone for messing with a car,” he said. “I’m black, if I killed a white guy on that street I’d be put in jail.” Long also questioned why the police did not arrest the perpetrator at the scene.
After tonight’s meeting, several dozen people took to the streets of Brookland to demand “Justice for Karon”. They are walking on Quincy Street NE. #karonblake (@wusa9) pic.twitter.com/wZFTS2fYU9
— John Henry (@JohnHenryWUSA) January 11, 2023
After the meeting, several dozen people took to the streets to demand “Justice for Karon,” WUSA’s John Henry reports.
In an interview with WUSA, Blake’s grandfather said the family was worried they wouldn’t get justice. “Sad and desperate and mad because this should never have happened like this,” Long said.
“Thirteen years old, you shouldn’t be out. They’re right, you shouldn’t be out,” Long said. “But that doesn’t give you the right to kill anyone.”
Members of the neighborhood are accusing the shooter of vigilante justice, and Contee said in a press release that the way neighbors are pursuing the suspect could threaten the case.
Now there are fliers posted in the neighborhood by a so-called “DC Safety Squad,” calling on Deputy Mayor of Public Safety Lindsey Appiah to name the man and release the video evidence. “We have compiled the names and identities of all the homeowners on the street and aim to be able to identify Karon’s killer,” the flyer said.
Those flyers, apparently created by neighbors, are making the situation more dangerous, Contee said. “People are making assumptions and looking for people who aren’t involved. People are making accusations centered around race, and that’s wrong,” Contee said during a news conference about the incident Tuesday.
Contee spoke about the misinformation being spread about the case. “There has been a lot of misinformation about this incident, a lot of people have made assumptions about this case and it is unfair to the grieving family,” he said. “Spreading inaccurate information is dangerous, reckless and has the potential to negatively impact the investigation and relationships in our community.”
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Caitlin O’Kane
