In a shocking revelation, a 17-year-old Washington, DC. teenager, Lorenzo Thompson, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder as an adult for the fatal shooting of 14-year-old Niko Estep on November 3, as reported by FOX 5 in DC.<
The Metropolitan Police Department apprehended Thompson, who allegedly boasted about the murder on Instagram, a claim supported by court records.
The court documents indicate that Thompson was captured on an Instagram live stream on November 6th, seemingly boasting about the murder. He referred to Estep by his nickname and used language implying he was responsible for the boy's death. The report further alleges that Thompson showed no remorse for his actions, even appearing to celebrate the murder with others and reenacting the shooting.
Thompson's arrest on November 9th led to the recovery of a 9 mm magazine from a backpack in his University Place apartment. The police report states that multiple surveillance cameras recorded Thompson firing at Estep around 11:30 p.m. in a gas station parking lot on 14th Street.
Adding to the horror, the report included a disturbing image of Thompson aiming the gun while a woman, identified by police as his mother, watched from a short distance away. The woman, clad in a white jacket and hat, seemed to look towards the direction of the gunfire without attempting to intervene.
Following the shooting, Thompson, the woman, and another individual reportedly fled to a University Place apartment. Estep managed to run about a block before collapsing in the street. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries shortly after. Another minor injured in the incident was also hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
The investigation into this tragic incident is still underway. This year, the D.C. police have recorded a staggering 243 homicides, marking a 34% increase from the previous year.
In response to the escalating violence, Mayor Muriel Bowser has declared a public emergency in the District, announcing that her office will employ new strategies to combat the ongoing opioid crisis and surge in youth violence.
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