17-Year-Old Jump On Instagram To Brag About Allegedly Killing A 14-Year-Old

Lorenzo Thompson shot Estep as his mother stood behind him and watched. Three days after the shooting, Thompson bragged about killing Estep on an Instagram Live

A 17-year-old in Washington D.C. has been charged as an adult for the shooting of 14-year-old Niko Estep in the Columbia Heights neighborhood on Nov. 3. According to the Washington Post, Lorenzo Thompson shot Estep as his mother stood behind him and watched.

Three days after the shooting, Thompson bragged about killing Estep on an Instagram Live. According to the police warrant obtained by the Post, officers saw the Live as the actions of someone who was not remorseful about the act of taking a life. “The defendant shows no remorse during this broadcast and it appears that [he] is celebrating with others as he demonstrates someone turning around to run and then falling after being shot.”

At present, the police have not ascertained a motive for the shooting, but currently have charged Thompson with second-degree murder while armed, which according to the Code of the District of Columbia, is a felony charge that carries a minimum recommended sentence of 30 years and a maximum of life in prison. Another teenager was wounded in the shooting, but police say that there was no other target besides Estep.

DC Police say Lorenzo Thompson, 17, shot two people at a gas station, killing Niko Estep, 14.

Thompson's own mother is believed to have casually watched the murder while holding her son's scooter for him.

Thompson bragged about the shooting on Instagram three days later. pic.twitter.com/acJqJycWDq
— National Conservative (@NatCon2022) November 15, 2023

Pursuant to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant, members of the Third District located & arrested 17-year-old Lorenzo Thompson of Northwest, DC yesterday. He was transported to the Homicide Branch and charged, as an adult under Title 16, with Second Degree Murder While Armed. #MPD https://t.co/xK3pSVF2EE
— Allison Papson (@AllisonPapson) November 10, 2023

Surveillance video from the gas station shows someone whom the police identified as Thompson reach under his jacket and produce a gun which he points in the direction of some individuals in front of him who were on scooters. Officers say he let off at least 12 rounds of the 9mm pistol in approximately seven seconds, some of which hit Estep and another person who was on the scooters. According to the Post, a woman with red braids was seen using a scooter to leave the scene in the same direction that Thompson went in. According to the warrant, a detective has identified the woman with the red braids as Thompson’s mother.

Police informed the Post that they have searched the apartment that Thompson and his mother live in, and found 9mm magazines in a backpack belonging to Thompson, but have been unable to locate a weapon. Video showed the pair entering the apartment approximately eight minutes apart from each other, Thompson entered the apartment first, at 11:39pm. The police have made several attempts to contact Thompson’s family, including his mother, but have not yet been successful. Thompson is currently detained and is awaiting his hearing on Nov. 16. Washington D.C. is currently dealing with a wave of juvenile or youth crime in the city, a lot of young people and teenagers are being killed or arrested for violent crimes like murder or carjackings. There have been 458 arrests made for violent crimes by juveniles over the first 9 months of 2023.

On Nov 13, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a state of public emergency over the violence and opioid epidemic, telling reporters present at the press conference, “This number alone tells us that we have to provide more intervention for kids who are in trouble,” Bowser said.

“To that end, this public emergency will allow us to increase capacity more quickly and efficiently across the continuum of placements for kids that are ordered by judges into care.”