Two teenage boys, 14-year-old Tyale Coates and 12-year-old Mhilo Young, were tragically shot and killed in Washington, D.C. earlier this month, as they were having lunch at a food truck. Authorities have not yet made an arrest in the double homicide, and the investigation continues.
The Tragic Incident
The shooting occurred on April 14, at approximately 3:25 p.m., on the 700 block of Kenilworth Avenue in the northeast part of Washington, D.C. This area is where both Tyale and Mhilo lived. The teens were visiting a food truck in the parking lot when gunfire erupted.
Authorities say that multiple people began firing at someone in the parking lot, and the two boys were caught in the crossfire. A total of 60 shots were fired, and both Tyale and Mhilo were struck.
Officers arrived on the scene to find both boys with gunshot wounds. Tyale was pronounced dead at the scene, while Mhilo was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Tyale Coates’ Sheltered Life and Family’s Heartbreak
Tyale was described by his family as a sheltered young boy. His family revealed to local ABC affiliate WJLA that he had a 7:30 p.m. curfew and was not allowed to go outside in his neighborhood. His mother reportedly walked him everywhere, but recently, they had allowed him to take the bus home from school for the first time.
On the day of the shooting, Tyale had asked his mother for permission to visit the food truck down the street, and she agreed. His aunt, Morgan Wingate, confirmed that Tyale had permission to be where he was and was in contact with his mother just before he got there.
A Community in Shock
The heartbreaking moment came when Tyale’s mother called Wingate in a state of distress. “She was screaming. She was screaming,” Wingate recalled. “I’m like, ‘What?’ She was like, ‘They shot my son.'”
Tyale’s family described him as a young boy who loved fishing with his uncles and father and was just beginning to learn how to drive. They now face the unbearable pain of losing him in a senseless act of violence.
The Investigation and Reward for Information
The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the double homicide and has not made any arrests in connection with the deaths of Tyale and Mhilo. In an effort to find those responsible, the police have offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact them at (202) 727-9099.
A Heartbreaking Loss for the Family and Community
The tragic deaths of Tyale Coates and Mhilo Young have left their families, friends, and the community in shock. These young boys were just starting to experience life, and their futures were cruelly taken away in a random act of violence. The investigation continues, and the families are seeking justice for the senseless loss of two young lives.
