Former DC employee convicted of manslaughter in fatal shooting of 13-year-old boy

WASHINGTON– A former Washington DC city employee was found guilty of manslaughter on Friday for shooting an unarmed 13-year-old boy, sparking a public uproar in the nation's capital.

Jurors found 42-year-old Jason Lewis not guilty of first-degree murder but convicted him of manslaughter and other charges following his trial in Washington State Supreme Court in the killing of seventh-grader Karon Blake.

Lewis, a longtime Parks and Recreation Department employee, turned himself in last year to face charges in Blake's killing. The killing occurred around 4 a.m. in January 2023 across the street from the middle school Blake attended, authorities said.

Video shows Lewis leaving his home and shooting at two young people who had broken into cars, prosecutors said. After one car was hit by gunfire, Blake ran toward Lewis, and Lewis fired two shots, killing him, prosecutors said.

According to media reports, the prosecution played a video to the jury in which Blake can be heard repeatedly saying “I'm sorry” and telling Lewis, “I'm just a kid.”

A lawyer for Lewis did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment Friday.

Lewis took the stand in the case, arguing that he acted in self-defense, telling jurors he saw another person shoot him and feared for his life, local media reported.

The verdict is scheduled for October. He faces up to 45 years in prison for manslaughter.