US Park Police fatally shoot teenager in another killing by DC law enforcement officer

A Park Police officer shot and killed a teenager found asleep in a stolen car in Northeast Washington, D.C., over the weekend. This is the second killing by a Washington police officer in less than a month.

The officer attempted to detain Dalaneo Martin, 17, who was in the car’s driver’s seat, but other details relating to the shooting are limited.

D.C. police arrived on the scene and called U.S. Park Police for backup upon running the vehicle’s license plate. The officers discovered that the car was stolen.

“After the driver did not comply, the USPP officer discharged their firearm,” Park Police Sgt. Thomas Twiname wrote in a press release. “A male was pronounced dead on the scene. A firearm was recovered inside the vehicle.”

Local abolitionist group Harriet’s Wildest Dreams posted a condemnation of the U.S. Park Police on Twitter. “Park Police shot and killed Debo, a father, son, brother, nephew & community member,” the group wrote. “@DCPoliceDept was present too. #BlackLivesMatter.”

The shooting comes weeks after a U.S. marshal shot and killed Alaunte Scott, 22, in Washington’s Highlands neighborhood. DC Police Chief Robert Contee told reporters that officers fired after Scott pulled out a gun, but they have not confirmed whether Scott was holding the gun or if he fired it. The marshals were not wearing body cameras.