WASHINGTON — A 19-year-old shot a younger teen in the head during a robbery attempt, and then later shot himself while attempting to put away his handgun, according to charging documents filed in D.C. Superior Court.
On Wednesday, a grand jury indicted Christ Tchakounte on seven felony counts in connection with a shooting that occurred Jan. 19 near the intersection of 16th and A Streets SE. The charges include assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.
According to an affidavit filed in D.C. Superior Court in January when Tchakounte was first arrested, witnesses saw two men – one later identified as Tchakounte – approach a 15-year-old boy while he and others were shoveling snow in the Hill East neighborhood. A witness who identified as a close friend of the teen said the men ran up to the victim and tried to rob him while pointing a gun at him. Multiple witnesses then reported hearing gunshots.
Police arrived and found the victim, who has not been identified because he is a juvenile, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the head, shoulder and armpit. The teen was transported to a District hospital where he had to undergo emergency surgery to relieve pressure on his brain. At the time the affidavit was filed in late January, police said the teen had not yet regained consciousness and remained on a ventilator. A press release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Wednesday said the teen had survived the shooting after several months of intensive care, but did not provide a further update on his status.
Tchakounte was identified as a possible suspect when he too showed up at a hospital with a gunshot wound. According to the affidavit, surveillance cameras show Tchakounte arrived at Children’s Hospital in a Chevrolet sedan with no tags approximately 12 minutes after the shooting. When he arrived, Tchakounte was reportedly wearing the same black Moose Knuckle jacket as the suspect in the teen’s shooting.
Tchakounte arrived at the hospital suffering from a gunshot wound to the left side of his appendix. Without being asked a question, he reportedly stated, “I shot myself.” According to the affidavit, the injury was “consistent with a self-inflicted gunshot wound sustained while placing a weapon in one’s waistband.”
Tchakounte was arrested and charged on Jan. 23 with a single count of assault with intent to kill while armed. He was ordered held without bond. Tchakounte was next scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 21 at 9:30 a.m.