Tragedy struck the neighborhood of Brookland in Washington, D.C., over the weekend. Early on Saturday, 13-year-old Karon Blake was discovered by police with multiple bullet wounds after being shot by a still-unidentified neighbor. Blake later died at the hospital.
What started as a moment of grief has turned into calls for accountability.
According to the DC Metropolitan Police Department, the shooter “heard noises and observed someone that appeared to be tampering with vehicles. The male resident went outside, armed with a registered firearm, to further investigate. There was an interaction between a juvenile male and the male resident. During the interaction, the male resident discharged his firearm, striking the victim.”
Police have not arrested the resident who shot Blake, although law enforcement informed the Associated Press that their investigation is still ongoing.
Rumors swirled that Blake had been attempting to steal from cars. But that has not been confirmed. And even if he had been stealing, Blake’s family and neighbors pointed out that it doesn’t justify shooting a 13-year-old.
“I didn’t know you could just kill somebody over property damage. That’s just crazy,” said Sean Long, Blake’s grandfather, at a local town hall meeting, according to the AP.
Roughly 300 residents showed up to the meeting hosted next to the Brookland Middle School, which Blake attended, according to the AP.
At the meeting, DC Assistant Police Chief Morgan Kane told residents that she could not reveal the shooter’s identity.
“We want the same thing you want,” Kane said, according to the AP. “We want to find out what happened and whatever chips fall, they fall.”
Source: A 13-Year-Old Was Killed and DC Residents are Demanding Action
