Closing arguments delivered in trial of DC government employee for 2023 murder of 13-year-old

WASHINGTON ( DC News Now ) — The jury is deliberating in the case of a D.C. government employee who shot and killed a 13-year-old boy in January 2023.

Jason Lewis, who worked with youth as a DC Parks and Recreation employee, is facing a second-degree murder charge and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon.

The shooting happened on Quincy Street NE outside Lewis’ home. Lewis testified on Wednesday that he heard sounds outside, left his home and then he believed a shot was fired from a car in an alley. He said that was when he fired the first shot toward the alley. Then, a boy ran toward him, and he fired a second and third shooting, killing the boy.

The boy was identified as Karon Blake.

Lewis said he called 911 right after and told the operator he had a concealed weapons permit. The operator instructed Lewis how to perform CPR until D.C. police officers arrived.

Once the officers arrived, Lewis called his mother, a former police officer.

“I may have murdered a child,” Lewis told her.

In closing arguments on Thursday, U.S. Attorneys prosecuting the case said Lewis did not act in self-defense and should be found guilty for the murder.

“[Lewis] became the first aggressor,” Shauna Payyappilly argued for the government. She said that when he shot into the alley, he forfeited a right to self-defense.

The prosecution also argued that Lewis did not wait to see a gun before he raised his gun, and that he did not need to leave the safety of his home, but he chose to do so anyway.

As for why Blake ran toward Lewis, prosecutors said they’ll never know because Blake cannot answer that question, but fleeing after hearing a gunshot was a natural response based on fear.

They also played audio and video of the incident.

The government’s attorneys argued while Blake should not have been breaking into cars, he did not deserve to die.

“We are more than our childhood incidents,” they said. “They don’t want a confrontation. They just want to steal stuff.”

Meanwhile, a defense attorney spent nearly 90 minutes in closing arguments attempting to poke holes in the case, portraying Lewis as “a conflict revolver” and “someone who helps kids.”

They also detailed why it is reasonable to believe Lewis felt threatened and attacked.

“Jason Lewis did exactly what the law allowed him to do,” they argued.

The jury began deliberations shortly before 2:30 p.m., with the key question: whether Lewis acted in self-defense.

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