Crime

US: Homeowner Kills African-American 13-Year-Old Boy

Published

2 years ago

Jan 12, 2023.

Police in Washington DC are facing pressure to charge a homeowner who fatally shot a 13-year-old boy.

Eko Hot Blog reports that Karon Blake, who is black, was gunned down in the early hours of last Saturday, investigators said.

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According to police, the homeowner, who is also black, said he heard noises outside his home and saw the teenager “tampering with vehicles”.

Officials said the man went outside with his registered gun and shot the boy following an “interaction”.

No criminal charges have been pressed so far, and police have resisted public calls to name the homeowner who opened fire.

Police said the man called 911 after he shot the child.

Officers said they found him performing CPR on the boy when they arrived at the scene in the north-east of the city.

The shooting took place in Brookland, a neighbourhood that has undergone rapid gentrification in recent years, like other parts of the US capital.

Karon – who attended the nearby Brookland Middle School – was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Police have said the teenager had “gunshot wounds”, but have not disclosed how many times he was shot.

Karon’s grandfather voiced frustration at a meeting with city council members on Tuesday night.

Sean Long said: “I didn’t know you could get a gun permit and shoot someone for messing with a car.”

He added: “I’m black, if I were to kill a white boy on that street, they would’ve put me under the jail.”

Mr Long told local media he was “sad, depressed and mad”, not knowing whether his grandson would see justice.

An online fundraiser posted by someone identifying himself as Karon’s father said the boy had been “a quiet and inquisitive scholar who loved fashion and football”.

A video on Twitter posted after the city council meeting shows dozens of people chanting “Justice for Karon” in the streets.

Flyers have been posted in the area by an individual or group calling itself the “DC Safety Squad”, demanding police release the shooter’s name and photo.

“We have compiled the names and identities of all homeowners on the street and we intend to be able to identify Karon’s murderer,” the flyer says.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee condemned “reckless” misinformation about the shooting. He said innocent people were being accused and having their photos shared around.

Mr Contee, who is also black, said suggestions that the shooting was racially motivated were “wrong”.

The police chief told reporters the homicide branch was still reviewing the case for potential criminal charges.