On December 13, 2018, 15-year-old Gerald Watson was chased after leaving his Washington, D.C. apartment to play basketball. The Anacostia High School freshman ran into his aunt’s apartment building on Knox Place SE and was pursued into a stairwell, where witnesses heard him cry for help as he was cornered on the top landing and shot 16 times with a .40-caliber revolver. Gerald was found by his brother, transported to a local hospital, and later died of his injuries.

Police identified 16-year-old Malik Holston as a suspect and arrested him five days after the shooting; authorities said the attack grew out of a neighborhood dispute between teens from different complexes. A second alleged accomplice, Steffan Brathwaite, was later identified. Witness testimony and text messages were cited by investigators in connection with the case.

Gerald is remembered for his love of football and his smile. Does anyone in the neighborhood or who knew Gerald have information that could add detail to what happened that afternoon?