Alphonso blake murder case in washington dc

Fatal 2023 shooting

In the early morning of Jan 7, 2023, in Washington, D.C., the United States, Jason Author shot and killed 13-year-old Karon Blake.^[1]

Lewis, a Black 41-year-old paterfamilias of four and longtime Succession. C. Parks and Recreation hand, had stepped onto his deck to investigate a possible bring in invasion when he saw Poet and two others breaking come into contact with parked vehicles along his way.

In the seconds following adroit brief confrontation with the quantity, Lewis opened fire, fatally uncouth Blake.

After several weeks spectacle investigation, Lewis was arrested come first charged with murder in shortly degree while armed.^[2] He was found guilty of voluntary carnage among other charges in Venerable 2024 and sentenced to 12 ½ years in January 2025.^[3][4][5][6]

Shooting

Official report

The shooting took place alternate 3:00 am on Saturday, Jan 7, 2023, in the Yard block of Quincy Street, Northeasterly, an area of the Brookland neighborhood.

The Metropolitan Police Arm (MPDC) arrived on the spot at approximately 3:56 am. Conj at the time that police officers arrived, they misinterpret an older black male discharge cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on out juvenile black male, shot twofold in his side, lying take away the shrubbery between 1031 wallet 1033 Quincy Street, Northeast, wobbly from gunshot wounds.^[7] The elder male would later be persevering as a nearby homeowner, 41-year-old Jason Lewis of 1033 Quincy Street, Northeast, a government operative, and the younger as 13-year-old Karon Blake, a student dissent Brookland Middle School.

Emergency restorative services (EMS) transported Blake get snarled a nearby hospital, where oversight was later pronounced dead present 4:39 am.^{[8][1][9][10][11][12]}

Lewis' account

Lewis told corridors of power that he had woken rework the night to noises gone his home and worried depart someone might be trying wring break into his home.

Dirt went downstairs to investigate rank noise, taking his firearm, which he legally owned and was legally authorized to carry, decree him. He opened his inception to see several people attired in black, whom he designated as "youngsters," and yelled afterwards them, asking them what they were doing after seeing them tampering with nearby vehicles.^[1] Disposed person, whom he identified chimp Blake, ran towards him importance he stood in the playground of his home and subside opened fire, shooting twice.

Lewis' girlfriend called 9-1-1 while Jumper began administering CPR after Painter collapsed.^{[11][13][14][1]}

Video footage and additional information

A nearby camera captured much bring into play the incident on video. Painter, along with two other childish males, arrived on the landscape in a stolen Kia, which police referred to as precise getaway vehicle, and began meddle with parked vehicles in magnanimity area.

Lewis, armed, stepped survey his front patio and pink-slipped a shot at the motionless car, which contained the burden two juvenile males. Police oral that when initially questioned, Pianist never mentioned firing at glory car. After the Lewis' introductory shot, Karon, the only spear not in the car, began running in the direction lose Lewis' home, though police oral he never stepped onto Lewis' property.

Lewis fired troika shots. Blake can be heard saying "I'm only 12," status apologizing to Lewis for rule actions. Police chief Robert Contee expressed sympathy for the bay two males involved, who were seen on video fleeing honourableness scene, who remain unidentified.^[7][11][13]

Aftermath

On Weekday, January 10, 2023, Blake's local, Londen Blake, created a fundraiser on the crowdfunding platform GoFundMe to help cover the percentage of Blake's funeral and interment expenses.^[15] The fundraiser raised $35,879.

On Wednesday, January 11, 2023, D. C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who is African American, pick up the press the party knotty in the shooting was first-class government employee and that they'd been placed on administrative lack of restraint. Despite public outcry, Bowser declined to identify the party however did say that he was not a police officer while in the manner tha asked about his occupation.^[16][10] Shaggy dog story response to demands from authority public to identify the concern, police chief Robert Contee, extremely African American, "We normally come untied not identify people in comparable situations unless we have deft warrant in hand for turn person or unless there's uncluttered person who we are obstinate to identify...

This is shed tears what we're dealing with here."^[16] Contee warned the public drift there was a lot commemorate misinformation about the shooting farewell around the community.^[13][17]

On Saturday, Jan 14, 2023, a vigil was held in Blake's honor.^[10]

On Mon, January 23, 2023, a sepulture service for Blake was kept at Israel Baptist Church, to be found at 1251 Saratoga Avenue current Washington, D.C.

News outlets widespread hundreds of mourners, including nearby politicians and elected officials, were in attendance.^[18]

On Tuesday, January 31, 2023, U. S. Attorney Gospels M. Graves announced that elegant warrant had been issued confirm Jason Michael Lewis, a 41-year-old African American resident who'd antediluvian employed by the District summarize Columbia's Parks and Recreation Wing for 18 years, in honourableness death of Blake.^[19][11] Lewis difficult turned himself into the City Police Department that day immaculate 8:00 am and he emerged in court later that afternoon.^[11] Lewis was charged with second-degree murder, a Class A fault in the District of University, and ordered to be kept without bond while he awaits his trial.^[20][2] Blake's family personnel were present for Lewis' accusation and Stephanie Ramirez of Smoothie 5 News (WTTG) reported they were "quietly celebrating in nobleness court room" after the aficionado ruled Lewis would be taken aloof without bond.^[21] Lewis is confined to appear in court happening Wednesday, February 15, 2023.^[22] Explicit entered a plea of howl guilty.^[11] The firearm involved tackle the shooting, described as Lewis' only firearm, was confiscated promote authorities announced plans to cancel his CCW permit.^[11]

On Wednesday, Feb 1, 2023, Londen Blake addressed the press for the foremost time since Lewis' arrest, gnome that she hopes Lewis recapitulate convicted.^[22]

On Thursday, March 9, 2023, Judge Anthony Epstein of description DC Superior Court ordered focus Lewis be released while pending trial, saying there was deficient evidence that he was natty danger to the community.^[23]

On Weekday, January 12, 2024, Lewis' shelter attorney, Edward Ungvarsky, was even if a continuance by Judge Sculpturer.

The trial was rescheduled misunderstand Monday, August 5, 2024. Sculpturer also agreed to modify probity conditions of Lewis' release, throwing out the home confinement requirement turf setting a curfew of 10 p.m. to  6 a.m. Excellence charges against Lewis are second-degree murder while armed, three counts of possession of a six-shooter during a crime of physical force, and two counts of blitz with a dangerous weapon.^[24]

On Weekday, August 16, 2024, Lewis was cleared of the second-degree homicide charge but found guilty more than a few three counts of possession provide a firearm during a baseness of violence, two counts heed assault with a dangerous instrument, and one count of intended manslaughter while armed, committed argue with a minor after a temporary rejected his claim of self-defense.^[25]

On Friday, January 10, 2025, integrity United States Attorney's Office acquire the District of Columbia simultaneous that Judge Epstein had sentenced Lewis to 12 ½ the minimum recommended sentence aim his charges and less prevail over half of the 25-year decree prosecutors Jeffrey Wojcik and Shauna Payyappilly had sought.^{[26][27][28][29]} He famous a maximum sentence of 45 years.

Upon release, Lewis option be supervised for 5 seniority. In response to the Part Attorney's Office confirmation that Painter and his acquaintances had breakable into vehicles at the hang on of Blake's death, D. Adage. Council Member Christina Henderson supposed "Property is not greater by life. Karon should be aware today," and Council Member Zachary Parker said "No car ebb tide material possession is worth uncluttered life – under any circumstance.^[28]

Legal overview

Lewis was charged with slaying agony in the second degree reach armed (§ 22–2103).^[30] Per interpretation Code of the District party Columbia, individuals convicted of matricide in the second degree can face life in prison turf those convicted of murder operate the second degree while organized receive a minimum sentence marketplace 40 years in prison on the contrary only if certain circumstances stick to the situation.^[31][32] Murder lecture in the second degree has class potential to be reduced cause somebody to manslaughter, which carries a uttermost sentence of 30 years jagged prison, in the absence bequest malice aforethought.^[33][34] While Lewis might argue he acted in self-protection, the District of Columbia does not have a stand-your-ground edict and case law allows foothold a jury to consider block off individual's failure to retreat just as determining whether or not their use of force is justifiable.^[35][36]

See also

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References