In the light of a Tuesday afternoon, on April 14, 2026, the life of 12-year-old Mhilo Young was tragically cut short in a hail of gunfire. The young boy was standing with a group outside the Circle Seven convenience store in the 700 block of Kenilworth Avenue in Northeast Washington, D.C., when the shooting erupted in broad daylight. Dozens of shots were fired, creating a scene of chaos and terror.
Mhilo, a former student at KIPP DC Valor Academy, was a beloved son and a protective older
brother to his two younger siblings. Remembered as a "good kid" with a "super loving" nature, he had a passion for basketball and football and was known for being a big jokester. His family recalls that he didn't have a bad bone in his body. He was also a member of the Metro Hurricanes youth football team, where he was a cherished part of the organization.
When the shooting ceased, another young life, 14-year-old Tyale Coates, was also extinguished at the scene. Mhilo was rushed to a nearby hospital with critical injuries. Despite the tireless efforts of medical personnel, he succumbed to his wounds. Police believe the group the boys were with was the intended target of the shooters, though it is not thought that Mhilo and Tyale were the specific targets.
In the aftermath of this senseless violence, the community has been left to grapple with the loss of two of its children. Authorities are actively searching for at least two gunmen who fled the scene. The investigation has been hampered by the fact that the security cameras at the convenience store were not operational at the time of the incident. The Metropolitan Police Department is offering a substantial $50,000 reward for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the individuals responsible for this devastating act. As of now, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified.
