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).
A 13-year-old boy was lured out of his Washington, D.C., apartment before being fatally shot in the chest and "dragged to the sidewalk" where he was found, according to authorities and witnesses.
Ahmad Mims was the victim, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced. As authorities search for the person or persons responsible, witnesses believe they may know the motive behind the attack.
Ahmad lived in an apartment on the 1600 block of Rosedale Street in the nation's capital. On Saturday evening, he was home when someone asked him to come outside, witnesses say.
"They knocked on the door to ask him to come outside," Ahmad's grandmother, Monica Mims, told local NBC affiliate WRC. She then responded in the affirmative and began to cry when her interviewer asked if that was the "last time anybody saw him?"
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.