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WASHINGTON - Mayor Adrian Fenty defended his expansion of the city's summer jobs program Monday, days after it was revealed that an intern in Councilman Jim Graham's office is a suspect in a shooting outside the Columbia Heights Metro station.
Devyn Black, 19, turned himself into police Friday with Councilman Graham at his side.
"Am I upset about what happened? Yes, I am profoundly upset about what happened," Graham said Monday.
Prior to Thursday's shooting, detectives say Black was at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, attending the mayor's summer youth orientation. A fight broke out among what has been described as rival gangs. The dispute continued on Metro and ended in gunfire outside of the Columbia Heights station. Two men were wounded, including a bystander; both survived.
According to the warrant for his arrest, Black was known to police. There was a use caution warning because police indicated he has violent tendencies. Documents show Black was picked out of a photo spread by a victim, who identified him as the shooter that day.
The 22,000 young people who are part of the city's summer jobs program do not undergo background checks. Mayor Adrian Fenty says he doesn't want to close off opportunities to very people he's trying to get off the streets.
"Young people under the age of 21 need opportunities," Fenty said, "and we are going to give them opportunities, including the ones who have gotten into trouble in the past."
The mayor made the state as he kicked off his green summer job corps Monday, where more than 800 youths are working on projects across the city that focus on energy, watersheds, parks and trees.
Graham also defended the summer jobs program.
"For all of the success stories, I'd hate to lose that because of this one case if in fact the allegation is true," Graham said.
Police have said Black belonged to a gang or crew. Court records show Black was arrested last year for simple assault, carrying a pistol without a license, and failure to register a firearm.
All three charges were dismissed or dropped by prosecutors, court records show.
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