Two arrested over DC shooting deaths of 12-year-old and 14-year-old boys

Antonio Terry, 18, and a second suspect have been charged with murder in the April killing of Mhilo Young and Tyale Coates in Northeast Washington, D.C.

Arrests made in murder of two boys outside DC convenience store

Two suspects have been charged with murder in connection with the shooting deaths of a 12-year-old and a 14-year-old in Northeast Washington, D.C. this spring, nbcwashington.com reports.

The victims were identified as Mhilo Young, 12, and Tyale Coates, 14. Both were outside a convenience store at the 700 block of Kenilworth Avenue NE on the afternoon of 14 April — during their spring break — when gunmen opened fire on the area. The boys had just bought French fries and juice from a nearby food truck.

Antonio Terry, 18, was arrested Sunday and charged with first-degree murder while armed, the office of U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro announced. He appeared in D.C. Superior Court and was ordered held without bond. A second suspect was arrested and charged within hours of a Monday afternoon press conference held by the interim police chief.

Court documents describe "three masked males" who arrived in a stolen black Honda Accord, pulled up to the entrance of the Circle 7 Express store, stepped out, opened fire and drove off. Investigators recovered 70 shell casings at the scene.

The interim police chief said the victims appear to have been targeted in retaliation based on their neighbourhood, not on their personal identities. Police later found what they believe was the stolen getaway vehicle burned in Prince George's County.

Coates was an eighth grader at KIPP DC Valor Academy; Young was a former student at the same school. "Both students were cherished members of the KIPP DC Valor Academy family, and their loss is profoundly felt by our students, staff, and families," the school said in a statement issued shortly after the shooting.

Community activist Terra Martin was among local residents who spoke to News4 in the aftermath. "These kids are babies!" she said.

Terry is due in court on 9 November. Details of the second suspect's court date had not been released at the time of reporting. A search for at least one additional suspect remains ongoing.

Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)