WASHINGTON — In a case that has gripped Washington, D.C., and sparked deep community reflection, a jury reached a verdict Friday in the trial of Jason Lewis, the man who claimed he was defending himself when he shot and killed 13-year-old Karon Blake.
In the early morning hours of Jan. 7, 2023, Lewis shot and killed Karon. The 42-year-old former D.C. government worker admitted to shooting Karon after the boy and his friends were caught breaking into cars on Quincy Street, NE. Lewis was charged with second-degree murder in the teen's death.
After two days of deliberations, a jury found Lewis guilty of voluntary manslaughter while armed, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. He was acquitted of second-degree murder. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 25, and faces a maximum of 45 years in prison.
Here's how we got there.
What Happened
It was just before 4 a.m. when the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) received a call about a shooting in the 1000 block of Quincy Street, Northeast. When officers arrived, they found Karon lying on the ground, shot multiple times. Standing over him was Lewis, administering chest compressions.
Lewis later told officers that he was woken up by noises outside his home. Fearing that someone might be trying to break into his house, he grabbed his gun and went downstairs. He saw a car and a group of “youngsters” in black near his property. When he yelled at them, Karon ran toward him. According to Lewis, he fired two shots in what he believed was self-defense.
But Karon was unarmed. The only weapon found at the scene was Lewis’ gun. As the boy lay dying on Quincy Street, he reportedly cried out, “I’m a kid, I’m a kid.” It was a plea that would echo through the courtroom months later, as the prosecution argued that Karon, despite his mistakes, did not deserve to die that night.
The Trial Unfolds
During the trial, new court documents brought additional details to light. The jury learned that there had been several theft-from-auto reports in the neighborhood, including the night of the shooting. A damaged gray Kia Sportage with Maryland plates was found near the scene, alongside three other cars with shattered windows or visible damage.
Lewis’ account of the events was scrutinized as the prosecution and defense painted very different pictures of what happened that night. The prosecution described Lewis as the first aggressor, a man who chose to leave the safety of his home to confront a group of kids who were trying to flee. They argued that Karon’s tragic death was not an act of self-defense, but a result of unnecessary and excessive force.
On the other hand, the defense maintained that Lewis feared for his life. He testified that he believed he was being shot at from the getaway car, though no weapons were found in the vehicle, and police never located the other two boys involved. The defense emphasized that Lewis cooperated fully with the investigation, even providing police with footage from his Blink security camera. However, crucial video data from the time of the shooting was missing.
The Jury’s Decision
As the jury deliberated, they faced the daunting task of sifting through the evidence and testimonies to determine whether Lewis was guilty of second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, or whether his actions were justified under the law. They also had to consider two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon for the shots fired toward the fleeing car.
The jury weighed the gravity of the case for two days before delivering their verdict.
The Blake family's attorney released a statement following the decision:
"The family is disappointed that Mr. Lewis was not found guilty of the more serious charges but they respect the time and attention of the jury and appreciate their participation in the process. They miss Karon dearly and hope that a sentence will reflect the loss that they experience every day."
A Community Left to Heal
Lewis’ trial has transcended the courtroom, serving as a profound moment of reckoning for a community mourning the tragic death of Karon. The shooting led to vitriol on social media with commenters saying cruel things about both Karon and Lewis. The prosecutor reminded the jury, “Karon should not have been breaking into cars that night, but he didn’t deserve to die in someone’s garden either.”