In the summer of 2015, a dispute between children over thrown rocks escalated into a tragic event that ended the life of 31-year-old Tenika Fontanelle in Washington, D.C. On August 18, in the 1300 block of Congress Street, SE, Fontanelle was fatally shot inside her own home. The incident, which also resulted in injuries to her 12-year-old son and the suspect, stemmed from a seemingly minor neighborhood quarrel.
The conflict began earlier that day when Fontanelle's son and his friends
were reportedly throwing rocks and sticks at 17-year-old Kevin Lee. Angered by this, Lee went to his residence, retrieved a handgun, and then proceeded to Fontanelle's apartment. Accounts of what transpired inside the apartment differ. Fontanelle's son told authorities that Lee forced his way into their home and, following a physical altercation with both him and his mother, shot his mother.
Lee, however, claimed that he went to the apartment to speak with Fontanelle about her son's behavior when she became aggressive. He alleged that during a struggle between the three of them, the gun discharged accidentally, and he believed Fontanelle may have shot herself. Despite his claims, investigators found a. 25-caliber semiautomatic pistol with blood on it in Lee's bedroom. A medical examiner later determined that Fontanelle died from a gunshot wound to the chest.
Kevin Lee was subsequently arrested and charged as an adult with murder. He pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon. Lee, who was a father to a young child himself, expressed remorse for his actions, stating it was a mistake. For the killing of Tenika Fontanelle, he was sentenced to 19 years in prison.
