On a Tuesday afternoon, the 14th of April, 2026, the life of 12-year-old Mhilo Young was tragically cut short in a burst of gunfire in Northeast, D.C. He and a friend, 14-year-old Tyale Coates, were shot in the parking lot of a Circle Seven convenience store located in the 700 block of Kenilworth Avenue. The shooting occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m. Emergency services arrived to find both boys with gunshot wounds.
Coates was pronounced dead at the scene, while Young was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Despite the efforts of medical staff, he later succumbed to his injuries.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, Young and Coates were part of a larger group that was targeted by at least two shooters. Dozens of shots were reportedly fired in the incident. Investigators believe the group was the intended target, though it remains unclear if the two boys who were killed were the specific individuals the assailants were after. Mhilo's grandfather expressed his belief that his grandson was not the intended target, describing him as a good kid who was full of life and loved basketball and football.
As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the double homicide. The Metropolitan Police Department's Major Case Squad is actively investigating the case. Authorities have not released any detailed descriptions of the suspects. The police are urging anyone with information to come forward and have offered a substantial reward of up to $50,000 for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the deaths of Mhilo Young and Tyale Coates. The community has mourned the loss of the two young boys, with vigils being held in their memory.
