A Washington, DC, employee turned himself in to police Tuesday morning in connection with the fatal shooting of a 13-year-old boy.
The employee, Jason Lewis faces a second-degree murder charge, multiple sources said NBC Washington. The Metropolitan Police declined to comment on Tuesday, saying more information about the case will be released at a news conference at 11 a.m.
Police said a man shot and killed Karon Blake, a high school student, around 4 a.m. on January 7 after the man believed someone was tampering with the vehicles. The man left his home with a registered firearm, had an «interaction» with Karon and fired his gun, killing the teen, police said.
The man called 911 and was performing CPR when officers arrived, Police Chief Robert J. Contee III said. Two other minors were seen fleeing the scene, according to NBC Washington. At least two cars were damaged on the block where the shooting occurred, and police found a stolen car they believed Karon had used near the scene, the news station reported.
The chief called the shooting a «horrible situation.»
“We have a 13-year-old boy who died and we don’t have all the facts,” Contee said. days after the shooting. «And the people responsible for gathering the facts and making prosecution decisions are doing it as quickly as possible.»
An attorney for Lewis said his client maintains his innocence.
«While this is certainly a tragedy, once all the facts are heard, I believe a jury will determine that there was no wrongdoing here,» attorney Lee Smith said. «Mr. Lewis has dedicated his career to counseling and supporting youth in the District of Columbia, which only adds to his distraught over the death of Karon Blake. Mr. Lewis and his family offer their sincerest Condolences to Karon’s family and other loved ones.»
The shooting outraged the community. as residents pressured police for answers. Many said that the alleged tampering with material property should not result in the death of a person.
«The property is not larger than life. Karon should be alive today,» Councilor Christina Henderson tweeted. Ward 5 Councilor Zachary Parker said in a declaration that he was «outraged by Karon’s murder».
«No car or material possession is worth a life, under any circumstances,» he said.
Karon, from Northeast Washington, was a student at Brookland High School. The school’s principal, Kerry Richardson, said in a note to school staff, obtained by NBC Washingtonthat he was a «quiet and inquisitive scholar who loved fashion and football».
«While she loved her neighborhood, she loved Brookland MS (the faculty and her peers) and the structure it presented to her even more,» Richardson wrote.
The teen’s grandfather said he is grieving that Karon never had a chance to grow up.
«He’s too young, he’s 13,» Sean Long previously told NBC News. «That’s what’s killing me, he’s a baby.»
Marlene Lenthang, phil helsell Y daniella silva contributed.