WASHINGTON — The Metropolitan Police Department has released a picture of a suspect who was with a 13-year-old boy accused of attempting to carjack a federal security officer in Northwest D.C. Saturday night. The security officer shot the 13-year-old, killing him, but the other person got away.
Police have since identified the 13-year-old boy killed as Vernard Toney, Jr., of Southeast, D.C.
Investigators claim the man who shot the teen was sitting in his car when two teenagers approached him and demanded he get out of the car. One of the teens was allegedly holding his hand in his front pocket as if he had a gun but it is unclear which teen was doing this.
The second suspect ran away after Vernard was shot. They have yet to be found. On Monday evening, police released a photo of the person believed to have been with Vernard when he was killed. The photo was captured by a surveillance video as the suspect ran.
Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at (202) 727-9099 or text the department's tip line at 50411.
The man who shot and killed the 13-year-old was an off-duty federal security officer who was waiting in his vehicle for his shift to begin. He had a legally owned firearm and police say he is cooperating with the investigation.
Vernard was a seventh-grade student at Kelly Miller Middle School, according to a letter from Principal Donnell Cox, Ed.D.
Cox described Vernard as a smart and talented student.
"He had a natural comedic ability and loved to make people laugh, especially when he would joke that he was the principal of Kelly Miller MS," Cox wrote. "Vernard also loved to play basketball and spend his free time on the court with his friends.