A Father's Day celebration for a Washington, D.C. family took a tragic turn, ending in the shooting deaths of two teenage cousins. On the evening of Sunday, June 18, 2023, 15-year-old Demarcos Pinkney, a male, was with his family in the 2700 block of Langston Place, SE. Earlier in the day, he had pleaded with his mother to let him stay overnight with his older cousin, 17-year-old Kevin Mason.
The two boys, who were also best friends, stepped outside the residence where the family had gathered.
Around 8:40 p.m., gunfire erupted in the neighborhood. Demarcos was struck in the back, and Kevin was hit in the neck. Both teenagers were rushed to a nearby hospital, but they succumbed to their injuries, dying about two hours apart. Authorities have not determined if the cousins were the intended targets of the shooting, and it remains unclear whether the assailant was firing at them specifically or indiscriminately.
Demarcos was a bright and outgoing student who had just completed his freshman year at Digital Pioneers Academy, a charter school in Southeast D.C. He was an athlete who loved football and basketball and was known for being loyal to his friends and family. His godmother described him as a funny and energetic young man who was very close with his relatives. His school's CEO remembered him as a bright student, athlete, and a loyal brother and friend.
In the wake of the shooting, no arrests have been made, and the Metropolitan Police Department has asked for the public's assistance in gathering information about the homicides of Demarcos Pinkney and Kevin Mason. Their deaths were part of a violent weekend in the city that marred the Father's Day and Juneteenth holidays. The loss of the two cousins left their families heartbroken and grappling with the sudden and violent end to their young lives.
