Youth Worker Sentenced to 12-and-a-Half Years for Teen Manslaughter

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DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein sentenced a manslaughter defendant to 12-and-a-half years of incarceration on Jan. 10 in a case characterized by ironies.

Jason Lewis, 42, was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter, three counts of possession of firearm during crime of violence, and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon for his involvement in the shooting of 13-year-old Karon Blake on the 1000 Block of Quincy Street, NE on Jan 7, 2023. Lewis worked as an advocate for DC Youth.

During the hearing, the prosecution played surveillance footage of the incident, in which Blake can be heard yelling “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry – help! I’m a kid, I’m only 12,” following the gunshots.

They requested Judge Epstein sentence Lewis to 25 years incarceration, stating that he did not accept accountability through a plea deal, and “continues to make the three young men villains.” Through the trial, the prosecution provided evidence that Blake and two companions were shot at by Lewis as they were looking into cars that early morning. Lewis thought they might have been attempting to break into the vehicles.

The prosecution argued that Blake “ran at the gunman,” to protect his two friends who were under fire despite Lewis’ claiming he only fired because he thought someone was shooting at him.

“There was no one who shot at the defendant that morning,” the prosecution insisted, stating that although the defendant has done a lot of good in the community by working with vulnerable kids in the area, “he chose gun violence here.”

The prosecution argued Lewis should have never left the safety and comfort of his home to confront three kids allegedly committing property crimes. They argued he “had no authority to fire at them with deadly force, narrowly avoiding another homicide.”

As for Blake’s two unidentified companions, the prosecution argued they could not imagine the “unbearable grief they must feel, abandoning their friend as he died.”

They requested all sentences run consecutively, stating “each victim’s life mattered – the defendant does not get a two-for-one deal because these victims didn’t come forward.”

However, Judge Epstein stated the assault with a dangerous weapon charges and their respective possession of a firearm charges would merge, since the same shot almost hit both victims.

Blake’s family voiced their anger with Lewis, with his grandma saying “your irresponsibility with a firearm took away a human life, a son, brother, nephew, cousin, and friend. An adolescent who begged for his life.”

“When he took [Blake’s] life, he didn’t just take his life, he took all of ours,” Blake’s aunt cried.

“I see all too often the toll that gun violence takes on our community,” Judge Epstein stated, as he extended his condolences to the family.

Edward Ungvarsky, Lewis’ attorney, continued saying Lewis acted in defense and his loved ones, stating he had worked two jobs until early morning and thought someone was trying to break into his home.

According to Ungvarsky, Lewis believed the person running at him was threatening him, so he took action. “That was a mistake,” Ungvarsky said, adding that Lewis remained on scene, called 911, and performed CPR on Blake as he waited for responding officers.

“The young man was dying in his hands,” Ungvarsky told Judge Epstein, adding “things went really bad really fast.”

Ungvarsky requested Judge Epstein sentence Lewis to five years of imprisonment, stating that is “sufficient punishment,” for an individual who “found his calling working for and with DC’s children.”

“He’s the kind of person who gives hope in our community,” Ungvarsky insisted, stating he’s “tortured by what he did.” He requested Lewis, who remained on release throughout his trial and after his conviction, be allowed to surrender himself following his appeal – against an objection by the prosecution.

In a statement to the court, Lewis apologized to Blake’s and his family, stating “Blake was a young man who deserved to live a full life,” adding, “I know I’ve destroyed the trust I built with the youth of the city.”

“Everyone agrees this was a very serious crime,” Judge Epstein stated, adding Lewis “wrongly took the life of a 13-year-old boy” in a needless act of violence.

However, Judge Epstein stated, there was no way for Lewis to know the age of the figure he saw approaching him, insisting that “this is not a case where a person deliberately killed a child.”

“I think it’s fair to say Mr. Lewis is a good man – a good man who committed a serious crime, but a good man nonetheless,” Judge Epstein said, sentencing him to 12-and-a-half years of incarceration.

As part of his sentence, Lewis is required to register as a gun offender and pay $400 to the Victims of Violent Crimes Fund. Judge Epstein reminded him he has 30 days to appeal.

No further dates were set.