Lawyers say D.C. Government employee charged with killing 13-year-old in Northeast acted in self defense

WASHINGTON D.C., DC — The District government employee charged with shooting and killing a 13-year-old boy in Northeast D.C. last year was back in court on Wednesday on day two of his murder trial.

Jason Lewis faces a charge of second-degree murder while armed for the Jan. 7, 2023 killing of Karon Blake. Lewis' defense argues that their client acted in self defense after someone fired at him.

Investigators allege that Lewis shot Blake at around 4 a.m. on the 1000 block of Quincy Street. Lewis suspected that Blake was breaking into vehicles including his own car which was parked along the Northeast D.C. street. 

Blake was shot multiple times and was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

On Wednesday, jurors heard from five witnesses including Lewis' neighbor, Blake's grandmother, and a woman whose stolen car was found near the scene the day of the shooting.

The defense focused their attention on poking holes in the testimony provided by the first D.C. police officer who arrived on scene. The officer said he found Lewis administering CPR on the boy who was lying on the ground. In the body-warn camera footage showed in court, the officer is heard saying that Blake might still have a pulse, but the officer did not administer CPR to the teen. 

Prosecutors spent over an hour going through photographs and evidence found at the scene by Ninotchka Sylvester who works with the D.C. Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS). 

Sylvester testified she found three casings that belonged to the semi-automatic pistol used by Lewis who had a concealed carry permit. 

Sylvester also photographed at least four cars near Lewis' home that had the windows broken out. 

The photographs presented to the jurors, showed multiple holes in the bloody clothes that Blake was wearing. The holes appeared to be from gunshot wounds and were only on the back side of the clothing items.

During questioning, the defense argued that Sylvester did not collect evidence to determine if someone had fired at Lewis and that she had arrived to the scene with the notion that a crime had occurred. 

One of Lewis' neighbors took the stand and said he heard at least five gunshots before police officers arrived on scene. It is believed that Lewis fired three shots the morning of the incident.

As soon as Thursday, prosecutors could wrap up with their witnesses which includes a firearms expert. 

Lewis is due back at D.C. Court on Thursday morning.