Avion Evans

Avion Evans was a 14-year-old Black male and an eighth-grade student at Ida B. Wells Middle School in Washington, D.C. His family described him as a beloved son and brother. For his parents, India Wells and John Evans, the tragedy was an unimaginable echo of a past loss; Avion’s 15-year-old brother, John Rufus Evans III, had also been killed at a D.C. Metro station in 2016.

On the afternoon of Thursday, April 4, 2024, Avion was on his way home from school. Just before 4 p.m., a fight broke out among a group of young people on the platform of the Brookland-Catholic University Metro station in Northeast D.C. Avion was involved in the altercation. According to police, a teenager who had not been part of the initial conflict then pulled out a handgun and fired. Avion was struck in the chest. Though emergency responders and police were on the platform and attempted life-saving measures, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department launched an investigation and released surveillance camera images of a person of interest to the public. The subject was described as a male with a light complexion wearing a black jacket and hoodie, light blue jeans, and a gray backpack. Thanks to tips from the community, police were able to identify a suspect. On April 9, authorities arrested a 16-year-old male from Northwest D.C. in connection with the shooting.

The teenager was charged as a juvenile with second-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon. Due to his age, his name has not been publicly released. A judge ordered him to be detained at the Youth Services Center pending legal proceedings.

In September 2024, the case took a new turn when clinicians from the Child Guidance Clinic evaluated the defendant and found him incompetent to stand trial. He was ordered to attend competency training. During a subsequent hearing in November 2024, clinicians again found the teen incompetent, reporting to the court that he was refusing to participate in the mandated training sessions. The judge emphasized that the classes were not optional and ordered him to undergo the training while remaining in custody. As of November 2024, the case was pending further hearings on the matter of his competency.