He Was A Very Happy Teen Says Family Member of Shooting Victim

Thank you for reading D.C. Witness. Help us continue our mission into 2024.

A homicide victim’s family member testified the boy was a very happy child in a trial before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein on Aug. 7.

Jason Lewis, 42, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Karon Blake on Jan. 7, 2023. The incident occurred on the 1000 block of Quincy Street, NE.

The victim’s grandmother said Blake was very happy and a big jokester, pulled pranks and loved food.

When the prosecution asked how Blake’s mother reacted to the news of his murder she said she “shut down” and was “hurt and lost.”

According to the prosecution, Lewis heard noise outside of his house when he was about to go to bed, grabbed his .40 caliber gun and went to see what was going on. Prosecutors say surveillance footage will prove that Lewis shot at Blake and another young individual, ultimately causing Blake’s death.

The security footage from a PNC bank and a dentist’s office down the street allegedly shows two young people get out of a gray Kia and break into several cars, one of which was Lewis’ gray Audi.

Prosecutors called on a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer, who continued his testimony from Aug. 6. The prosecution asked the officer to recall if Lewis mentioned anyone shooting at him when he was interviewed at the scene. According to the officer, Lewis had not.

During cross-examination, Lewis’ defense attorney, Edward Ungvarsky, pressed the officer about why he didn’t do CPR on Blake when he arrived at the scene. The officer believed Blake was already dead and did not want to disrupt the bullet wound as evidence in the case.

Footage from his body-worn camera, which was shown in open court, depicts the officer feeling a faint pulse, stating he was unsure, and needing a second opinion from another officer. Ungvarsky went on to ask whether the officer knew of the life-saving efforts that occurred in the ambulance and at the hospital before Blake was pronounced dead.

A forensic scientist with the Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) who processed the scene described the victim’s clothes including a hoodie, a long-sleeved shirt, pants, and boxer shorts. She testified that they all had a hole. According to the witness, a black ski mask was also found on the victim.

The forensic scientist also provided testimony on a Kia Sportage, which was located in an alleyway near the incident. When officers and the forensic scientist arrived on the scene, the Kia was still in gear with the driver’s side door open and the passenger’s side door bent in the opposite direction.

Prosecutors also called the owner of a Kia Sportage who said her car was stolen after parking it at a friend’s overnight. When she returned the morning of Jan. 7, 2023, it was gone.

A witness to the shooting said he had been unable to sleep, when he had heard noises sounding like a metal shovel. A man’s voice was heard saying, “Hey,” followed by gunshots and an engine revving.

He recalled the first shot being very loud and sounding like a rifle, followed by three-to-five more gunshots.

He testified he saw two people, who he said appeared to be juveniles, run into the alleyway. At one point while looking out his window blinds, he called 911.

Once the police arrived, the witness testified, he heard what he thought was the same voice say, “Over here, over here.”

Parties are slated to return on Aug. 8 to continue with trial.