Brookland community searches for answers after teen is arrested for homicide at metro station
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) – Neighbors in Brookland are still shaken up following the arrest of a teenager for a fatal shooting at the Brookland Metro station last week.
Police announced Tuesday that a 16-year-old boy is charged and in custody for killing 14-year-old Avion Evans. Officials said last week a group of teens were fighting on the platform when the suspect, who was not involved in the fight, pulled out a gun and started shooting. Evans was hit and died at the scene.
“It broke my heart and I felt like, even though I didn’t know the kid, I felt like it was my family because it was right here in my backyard,” said Tim Kime, who lives in the neighborhood.
Kime is one of a few dozen people who attended a community safety meeting Tuesday night.
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“I almost feel like I want to cry because it’s too much, it’s too much. I cannot imagine what the family went through that lost their teen. It’s a kid, it’s a baby,” he said. “I’m frustrated and then I wanted to take action. I’m mad, as every resident is in our community because it’s happening too often, and we want to help.”
The meeting was led by Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker.
Police leaders from both the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and Metro Transit Police shared crime data and crime tactics.
Neighbors had a chance to ask questions.
Boy dead after Brookland Metro station shooting in DC; person wanted
“What is being done? My kids are completely terrified to go to the Metro now,” said one mother.
“Two children have been murdered in the past year,” said another neighbor. “Both were reported missing children before they were murdered.”
District 5 Commander Sylvan Altieri sympathized with the community.
“It’s a terrible thing, no mother should bury a child. It’s terrible and it happened,” he said. “Fortunately, the perpetrator has been put in custody which might give some relief for the family but it’s not going to bring a life back.”
Altieri said that MPD is responding to crime trends. Specifically in Brookland, police are addressing robberies by increasing police presence.
Boy arrested in murder of 14-year-old at Brookland Metro Station in DC
“The department was able to get resources for us for overtime. We were able to look at our deployment and look at crime statistics to figure out areas we need to have officers,” said the commander.
Still, neighbors asked about how the city is protecting juveniles and ensuring young people receive the services they need.
Parker explained that he and other council members have introduced legislation that addresses truancy, which is when students miss several school days. While council members work through that, residents are looking inward.
“Me as an artist, can I do something where kids come and do art with me after school? So there’s an adult that cares about them,” said Kime.
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