A former Washington, D.C., city employee was convicted of manslaughter on Friday for the fatal shooting of an unarmed 13-year-old boy, an incident that sparked widespread outrage in the nation’s capital.
Jason Lewis, 42, was acquitted of second-degree murder but found guilty of manslaughter and other related charges by a jury in D.C. Superior Court. The case revolved around the killing of Karon Blake, a seventh grader.
Lewis, who had worked for the Parks and Recreation Department for many years, surrendered to authorities last year to face charges in connection with Blake’s death, which occurred in January 2023 at around 4 a.m., just across the street from the middle school Blake attended.
Prosecutors presented evidence showing Lewis leaving his home and firing at two individuals who were breaking into cars. After one of the cars was struck by gunfire, Blake ran toward Lewis, who then fired two shots, killing the boy.
During the trial, prosecutors played a video in which Blake could be heard repeatedly apologizing and telling Lewis, “I’m just a kid,” according to media reports.
Lewis took the stand in his defense, claiming that he acted out of self-defense. He testified that he believed he saw another person opening fire on him and feared for his life, local media reported.
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Lewis is set to be sentenced in October. The manslaughter conviction carries a potential prison sentence of up to 45 years.
