DC officials reveal Carjacking death of 13-year-old

Vernard Toney Jr., age 13, was shot and murdered during a carjacking in downtown Washington, D.C.

Toney and another juvenile attempted to carjack an off-duty federal security officer, with one of them feigning possession of a firearm. The officer opened fire, shooting Toney, who subsequently died from his injuries.

Toney was described as a smart, funny, and talented seventh grader who enjoyed basketball. The incident emphasizes the ongoing crime crisis in Washington, D.C., with a large number of carjackings involving firearms and a large proportion of those arrested being under the age of 18.