The D.C. public employee who shot and killed 13-year-old Caron Blake turned himself in Tuesday to a second-degree murder charge, D.C. Police Chief Robert Conte said.
Blake yelled “sorry,” “I’m a kid” and “I’m only 12” several times as the suspect fired in the direction, according to court documents showing surveillance video. Conte said the video was crucial to the investigation.
Jason Lewis, 41, was charged with second-degree murder while armed for shooting Blake on Quincy Street NE in the Brookland neighborhood about 4 a.m. on Saturday, January 7, court documents say.
Lewis hears a noise and sees someone who appears to be “disturbing a vehicle.” The resident came outside armed with a legally registered handgun and opened fire after encountering the teenager, police said.
Police say they performed CPR on Blake after the man was shot. Blake died a short time later in the hospital.
Officers found a stolen car near the scene that they believe was used by Blake, police said. Two sources familiar with the investigation told News4 the car was a stolen KIA and the engine was running.
D.C. Police Chief Robert Conte said earlier this month that a grand jury was called to investigate the case.
He said people are making racial allegations and photos of innocent people accused of murder are being circulated on social media. Conte said the allegations were false and that the person involved was African American.
“I think it’s becoming reckless and dangerous with some of the behavior that I’m seeing. Normally we can’t identify people … in this same situation unless we have a warrant in hand for that person or there’s someone we’re trying to identify and we don’t know who that person is. That’s what we’re dealing with here. No,” Conte said.
The man who shot Blake has cooperated with police, and has retained an attorney, Conte said. City officials said he was placed on administrative leave after the shooting.
News 4’s Aimee Cho has the latest on the investigation into the shooting death of 13-year-old Caron Blake, 13, in Northeast Saturday, according to police, and how people and loved ones at Brookland Middle School remember the boy.
Blake was a student at Brookland Middle School.
“He was a quiet and inquisitive scholar who loved fashion and football. Although he loved the environment, he loved Brookland MS (the faculty and peers) and the structure even more. He leaves behind his mother and three younger brothers,” said Brookland Middle School Principal Kerry Richardson.
Blake was remembered as the “best kid” in his class, making his siblings laugh during a vigil earlier this month.
The killing has led safety advocates and members of the D.C. Council to question why deadly force was used.
D.C. Councilwoman Christina Henderson tweeted: “Property does not trump life. Caron must live today.”
Ward 5 Councilman Zachary Parker said, in part, “No car or property is worth a life – under any circumstances, I join the residents of Ward 5 in calling on the MPD and the United States Attorney’s Office to hold the perpetrator accountable” that took Caron’s life.
“If you feel there’s a public safety issue in your home or neighborhood, call 911. That’s the right thing to do, call 911,” said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.
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