Maryland man charged with shooting snow-shoveling 15-year-old in head

A Maryland man accused of shooting and seriously wounding a 15-year-old boy who was shoveling snow in Southeast earlier this year has been indicted on felony charges.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia said Christ Tchakounte,19, of Hyattsville, was charged with assault with intent to kill, as well as other robbery, assault and weapons offenses, in connection to the near-fatal January shooting that took place in the Kingman Park neighborhood.

Prosecutors said the boy spent months in intensive care following the point-blank shooting but is expected to survive.

Court documents accuse Mr. Tchakounte and an accomplice of pulling up to the 1500 block of A Street Southeast in the middle of the day on Jan. 19 while the young victim was out helping clear the snow.

According to the indictment, the two suspects parked in an alley and surrounded the boy near the corner of 16 Street and A Street.

The gunmen are accused of shooting the 15-year-old victim three times — once in the side of the head, once in the shoulder and once in the armpit.

The boy collapsed in the street, authorities said, and the two suspects fled.

Court documents said Mr. Tchakounte was arrested days later. He has been in jail since as prosecutors worked to secure a grand jury indictment.

Police said the second suspect has not been identified.