Jury finds DC government employee guilty of manslaughter in deadly shooting of 13-year-old Karon Blake

WASHINGTON ( DC News Now ) — A jury found a D.C. government employee not guilty of second-degree murder on Friday after he shot and killed a 13-year-old boy in January of 2023.

Jason Lewis, who worked with youth as a DC Parks and Recreation employee, faced a second-degree murder charge, manslaughter and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon. While the jury acquitted him of the murder charge, it still found him guilty on other counts.

The shooting happened on Quincy Street NE outside Lewis’ home. Lewis testified on Wednesday that he heard sounds outside and left his home. 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 and killing 13-year-old Karon Blake.

Juror Kevin Hanley read the verdict aloud in court. He said self-defense is why they did not find Lewis guilty of murder, but was still responsible for Blake’s death.

“At that point in time regardless of what happened before, he was scared for his life. He didn’t know what to do at that point,” Hanley said.

“The major sticking point was whether or not it was self-defense,” he added.

Prosecutors said Lewis wasn’t acting in self-defense, didn’t wait to see if Blake was holding a gun before firing and he didn’t need to leave the safety of his home, but chose to anyway, before shooting the boy.

“It was an unfortunate situation. Both families are changed for life now,” Hanley said.

The jury found Lewis not guilty of second-degree murder but convicted him of manslaughter, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and three counts of related firearm possession charges.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 25 at 2 p.m.

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