Crime & Safety
Star Athlete Dies Defending Himself, Killing Robber: D.C. Police
Two teens died in an attempted robbery in Northeast. The victims are Sequan Gillis, 19, and Zaire Kelly, 16, a senior at Thurgood Marshall.
WASHINGTON, DC — A star athlete at a local D.C. public school died defending himself during an attempted robbery in Northeast Wednesday night, also killing the teen who tried to rob him, police said.
Zaire Kelly, 16, was walking home from a convenience store in the 2200 block of 13th St. NE shortly after 8:30 p.m. when Sequan Gillis, 19, allegedly tried to rob him, police said.
Kelly pulled out a pocket knife to defend himself, and Gillis then shot and killed him, police said. Both teens were taken to local hospitals, where they died from their injuries.
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Police said it appeared to be a random robbery.
Kelly was a senior at Thurgood Marshall. D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham called Kelly an "excellent student" and an "excellent track athlete."
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Zaire Kelly. A young man with so much determination, with a hunger for success in whatever he did. The good really die young. R.I.P
— Dierra . (@Juhmeeuh_) September 21, 2017
zaire b. kelly
— nae (@uptownnae) September 21, 2017
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