The D.C. government worker who shot 13-year-old Karon Blake while yelling “I’m just a kid” earlier this month turned himself in Tuesday to a charge of second-degree murder, according to court documents and the Robert County Metropolitan Police Chief.
Blake shouted “I’m sorry” and “I’m only 12” several times as the suspect fired in her direction, according to court documents recorded in the surveillance video. Contee said the video was integral to the investigation.
Jason Lewis, 41, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for shooting Blake on Quincy Street NE in the Brookland neighborhood around 4 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, court documents say.
Lewis heard noises and saw someone who appeared to be “tampering with the vehicle”. A DC resident armed with a legally registered gun outside then opened fire on the police. Lewis said Blake was a “getaway vehicle” before the group, Contee said.
Witnesses told police they heard four to five gunshots during the incident, according to an arrest warrant for Lewis. An arrest warrant said police found three shell casings.
Surveillance footage reviewed by DC police and the arrest warrant shows Lewis firing his gun in that “getaway vehicle” once and twice at Blake.
Shooting Karon Blake: Timeline of Events
Contee confirmed Tuesday that a group of “young people” were using flashlights and “breaking into” cars in the block on the morning of January 7. Three cars in the crash had damaged or broken windows, according to court documents.
Surveillance footage reviewed by police and shown in the arrest warrant showed two people, one of whom was Blake, getting out of a car parked near the scene and walking up to those three cars with flashlights, the stipulation said.
Officers found a stolen car near the scene, which they believe was used by Blake, police said earlier.
Contee said there was no direct confrontation or exchange of words between Lewis and Blake. According to police documents, Lewis told police, “Hey! What are you doing?”
The famous footage contained in the passport included the hearing of Louis coming out of his house and shouting “Hey” and footage of two boys running with flashlights.
Contee said it appeared the first gun was fired in front of the private vehicle. Annotated footage included in the warrant also appeared to show Lewis shooting once in the direction of that vehicle, the document said.
It appeared Blake may have tried to make his way to the vehicle, but the vehicle reversed into an alley, Contee said. The second man ran back to the vehicle before it started back up, according to the arrest warrant.
“At some point,” Contee said, Blake ran to Lewis. It’s unclear if Blake knew where Lewis was, Contee said.
“It’s 4 o’clock in the morning; it’s dark out there,” Contee said. “And as we’ve learned through the investigation, which was initially described to us, there were some discrepancies there as we went through our investigation. The first shot being fired at a private vehicle was not part of the initial discussion that we had; Mr. Lewis.”
According to the arrest warrant, Lewis fired two more shots in Blake’s direction, as seen in the police custody listed in the investigation.
After these two shots were fired, Blake can be heard on the surveillance footage hearing “I’m sorry” several times, then “don’t” and “No” several times. Blake also yells “I’m a kid” and “I’m only 12” multiple times to warrant an arrest.
Police said the man, now identified as Lewis, performed CPR on Blake after he was shot. Blake died a short time later in hospital.
“Anytime we have a loss of life, especially a child, that’s what really just breaks my heart,” Contee said Tuesday.
Contee urged someone to come forward with Blake that night, but declined to say whether any charges would be brought, saying it would be up to the attorney general’s office.
“My assessment is, these young people need an intervention from somebody,” Contee said.
Contee said earlier this month that a grand jury has been convened to investigate the case.
He said people were making allegations about the race and were circulating pictures on social media of innocent people who had been accused of murder. Contee said those accusations are false and that the man is African American.
“I think it’s really reckless and dangerous with some of the behavior that I see.” People usually do not recognize … in a case like this, unless he stands for that person, or unless he is a person. we are trying to find out and we do not know who he is. That’s not what we’re doing here,” Contee said.
Lewis was cooperating with police and an attorney, Contee said. He was placed on administrative leave from his city job after the shooting, city officials said.
Police say a homeowner fatally shot 13-year-old Karon Blake on Saturday in East East when someone tampered with a vehicle around 4 a.m. News4’s Aimee Cho has the latest in the investigation and how loved ones and people at Brookland Middle School remembered the boy.
Blake was a student at Brookland Middle School.
“He was a quiet and curious student who loved fashion and football. Although he loved the neighborhood, he loved Brookland MS (faculty & his peers) and the structure it offered him more. He leaves behind his material and three younger siblings,” Brookland Middle School Principal Kerry Richardson said.
Blake recalled being the “cute boy” in his class who made his siblings laugh earlier this month.
The killing led to the safety of the patrons and DC Councilors to question why deadly force was used.
“Nothing is bigger than life. Karon needs to live today,” Council member Christina Henderson tweeted.
Ward 5 Council member Zachary Parker released a statement saying in part, “No car or material possession is worth life – under any circumstances. I join the residents of Ward 5 in calling on MPD and the US Attorney’s office to hold accountable everyone who took Karon’s life.”
“If you feel there is a public safety issue in or around your home, call 911. The appropriate thing to do is call 911,” DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said.
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