An 18-year-old in Baltimore is facing murder charges after he shot and killed his 8-year-old brother with a shotgun he purchased after trading in a puppy, according to court documents. Devin Wilson was arrested Tuesday and charged with first-degree murder and weapons charges in connection with the death of Dylan King.
Wilson reportedly babysat his four younger siblings, ranging from 2 to 8 years old, at the family's home on December 30, 2022. He then called his mother and told her she had to come home because Dylan had been shot, according to court documents obtained by WBAL-TV.
After Wilson's stepfather returned home, he told him the 8-year-old had accidentally shot himself, the charging documents claim.
Officers with the Baltimore Police Department responded to the home on reports of a shooting.
When authorities arrived at a home on Presbury Street, they discovered a next-door neighbor performing CPR on Dylan, who was unresponsive after suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the head, Fox 5 Baltimore reported. First responders were also at the scene and transported the boy to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to a news release from Baltimore police.
"Our detectives will be working to find out what happened," said police commissioner Michael Harrison in a press statement reported by Fox 5. "And we will make sure that we will bring justice and hold whoever's responsible and accountable to the fullest extent of the law." Harrison noted the shooting is being investigated as a homicide.
As authorities searched the home, they found Wilson 'sobbing' in an upstairs bedroom.
According to court documents, officers entered the room and found Wilson pointing a shotgun at his forehead. After negotiating with the teen, officers convinced him to lower the weapon and exit the bedroom, reported Fox 5. Authorities arrested Wilson, who later underwent a psychiatric evaluation after attempting to take his own life, court documents stated.
Wilson was transported to the Department of Public Safety’s Central Booking and Intake Center on charges of first-degree murder, the news release noted.
Several residents in the neighborhood were shocked after learning what happened to the child.
"It's sad for the family, I feel for the family," neighbor Leo Eades told Fox 5. "I'll put it this way, a sad tragedy, I'll put it that way, sad tragedy."
Police claim Wilson had developed an interest in shooting guns. His stepfather said after he went to a shooting range for his 18th birthday, he wanted to purchase a gun. The man also told authorities his stepson had recently traded in a puppy for a Silver Eagle pump action shotgun, the weapon that killed Dylan, WBAL-TV reported.
Another neighbor, Robert Carter, said shotguns are easily accessible to children.
He said: "Another tragedy in the Black community, but it's children, and that goes to show you how easy it is for a child, an 18-year-old, to get a shotgun. That's how easy it is."
Wilson is currently in jail as he awaits his first court hearing.
He is being held without bail, and his next court hearing is scheduled for February 15.
Dylan was an elementary student at the Matthew A. Henson Elementary School in Baltimore. A GoFundMe was launched earlier this month by Rebecca Bishop, a close friend of the child's mother, to help raise money for funeral costs and other expenses.
Dylan King was laid to rest on Friday, January 13, at Morning Star Baptist Church in Woodlawn, Maryland, The Baltimore Sun reported.
