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The U.S. Attorney's office in the District has officially told the family of DeOnte Rawlings that the officers who shot the teen in September 2007 will not be prosecuted in the case.
Prosecutors told Charles Rawlings there was not sufficient evidence to charge the men.
Rawlings family members said they met with U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Taylor for about 50 minutes Thursday. The family spoke about the decision outside the U.S. Attorney's Office, saying the decision was a miscarriage of justice.
"We can't get no justice for my brother. It shouldn't have happened to him," said DeOnte's brother, Charles Rawlings, Jr. "I just want to say I miss him, I love him, and none of this stuff that's going on now is not never going to bring him back. But I can tell you what -- he always going to be remembered. He ain't never gonna be forgot him, because every day I think about him, every day."
Fourteen-year-old DeOnte Rawlings was fatally shot September 17 in Southeast D.C. by two off-duty D.C. police officers. Anthony Clay and James Haskel were in a private vehicle searching for Haskel's stolen minibike when they encountered Rawlings.
The off-duty officers said Rawlings was riding the stolen minibike and opened fire when Haskel and Clay confronted him. The officers said they only returned fire in what was described as a running gun battle.
Two problems with the officers story led to scepticism in the community about the officers' story. An autopsy revealed that Rawlings had been shot in the back of the head. Also, police did not find Rawlings' alleged gun on the scene or the minibike.
The minibike was later recovered in Prince George's County. Gunshot sensors confirmed another weapon was fired before the off-duty officer fired his weapon.
D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier (web|news|bio) had this statement: "The United States Attorneys Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation informed me today of the conclusion of the investigation into the police involved shooting death of DeOnté Rawlings. The officers have been informed of the results of the investigation and the administrative process has been started."
Shell casings from a .45-caliber gun were found, but the weapon the teen allegedly fired was not.
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