The longtime Washington, D.C., employee who is suspected of fatally shooting 13-year-old Karon Blake turned himself in to police on Tuesday morning.
Jason Lewis, who worked for the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation, is facing a second-degree murder charge, according to his attorney, Lee Smith, via the Washington Post.
KARON BLAKE SHOOTING: HERE’S WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE SHOOTING OF A 13-YEAR-OLD DC RESIDENT
Lewis allegedly shot Blake multiple times in northeast Washington in the early morning on Jan. 7 after he saw him allegedly breaking into cars on the 1000 block of Quincy Street NE. There was no indication that Blake was armed, police said.
After the shooting, Lewis reportedly called 911 and performed CPR on Blake until the police arrived.
Blake later died from his wounds at the hospital where he was transported. Lewis was placed on administrative leave on Jan. 11.
Mayor Muriel Bowser alerted the community that the shooter worked for the city but did not reveal his name or department, only saying that he did not work in public safety. D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee previously stated that names and descriptions of suspects are not released until an arrest warrant is served.
Lewis is expected to make an initial appearance in D.C. Superior Court on Tuesday afternoon, Smith said.
“The public will see, no crime was committed here,” Smith said.
Police have not offered details as to how many shots were fired or how many times Blake was struck. The firearm Lewis allegedly used was legally registered, and he had a concealed-carry permit, per the Washington Post.
The shooting of the 13-year-old boy sparked outrage across the community, particularly after both Metropolitan Police and the mayor’s office would not comment on the shooter’s identity.
Blake’s grandfather has previously said the shooter should be put in jail for the death of his grandson and that the incident should have never happened.
“You don’t need to shoot him. And then you shot more than once. That doesn’t make sense,” Blake’s grandfather said. “How are you going to shoot someone more than once? An unarmed, young black man, a child, and you shoot him three or four times. For what?”
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Washington police are expected to hold a press conference at 11 a.m. EST on Tuesday.
