Background: A section of the 1600 block of Rosedale Street in Washington, D.C. (Google Maps). Inset: Ahmad Mims peers through the Ring camera of his apartment before his death (WRC/YouTube).
Authorities report a tragic incident where a 13-year-old boy was coaxed out of his Washington, D.C., residence, subsequently shot in the chest, and “dragged to the sidewalk” where his lifeless body was discovered.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) identified the victim as Ahmad Mims. Investigators are actively seeking those responsible, while witnesses have hinted at possible motives driving this heartbreaking event.
Ahmad, a resident on the 1600 block of Rosedale Street, was at home one Saturday evening when, according to witnesses, someone summoned him outside.
“They knocked on the door to ask him to come outside,” Ahmad’s grandmother, Monica Mims, recounted to WRC, a local NBC affiliate. When asked if that was the “last time anybody saw him?” she confirmed through tears.
Ring camera footage provided by the woman shows two apparently young males waiting in the hallway outside the apartment when Ahmad exits his home. He sees the two individuals, closes the door, and then peers through the camera.
Sometime later, while inside a building on that block, Ahmad is believed to have been shot in the chest and killed.
According to court records obtained by the TV station, one witness said they saw Ahmad’s body “laying on the front stairwell” of a building on Rosedale Street “with his feet facing the front door and his head on the stairs.” He was “being dragged to the sidewalk by a Black male, wearing all black clothing and with a muscular build.”
Officers with MPD responded to the area at about 8:30 p.m. that evening due to a report of a “person shot.” They found Ahmad “unconscious and not breathing, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the chest.”
He was pronounced dead minutes later.
“To, like, drag him out like a bag of trash, that just hurts me even more,” Mims said. “Like, a little boy that can think like that, to even drag someone outside after you shoot ’em.”
The age of the suspect or suspects is unclear. Ahmad’s grandmother reportedly said he had been in a fight at school recently, though police have not shared whether they believe that is connected to the killing.
Witnesses, however, have told authorities they believe Ahmad was killed for hitting the suspected shooter’s sister. MPD has said the homicide investigation is ongoing.
“Anyone who has knowledge of this incident should take no action but call police at (202) 727-9099 or text your tip to the Department’s TEXT TIP LINE at 50411,” MPD said, adding that anyone who gives information that leads to an arrest and conviction can be rewarded with up to $25,000.