Who is Devin Wilson? Baltimore teen kills younger brother, 8, with shotgun he got from puppy trade-off
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND: A young Baltimore man fatally shot his eight-year-old brother with a shotgun that he got from a puppy trade-off. Devin Wilson, 18, has been charged with first-degree murder on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, after the death of his younger brother Dylan King who was shot in his head on December 30, 2022, prosecutors said. At the time of the incident, Wilson was babysitting his four siblings.
According to Fox45, Wilson initially claimed that King died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police found a neighbor performing CPR on King after arriving at the crime scene and a sobbing Wilson locked in a bedroom while pointing the gun at his head. He was not criminally charged at the time but was arrested for a psychiatric evaluation. It is not clear though what led to this ordeal but authorities said Wilson immediately called his mom to inform her King shot himself before calling the police.
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Police heard him crying in the bedroom when they arrived at the home on Presbury Street and convinced him to not shoot himself. Authorities have treated the investigation like a homicide since the night of King's death. "Our detectives will be working to find out what happened. And we will make sure that we will bring justice and hold whoever's responsible and accountable to the fullest extent of the law," said police commissioner Michael Harrison.
As per the news outlet, authorities later came to know that Wilson previously showed interest in purchasing a gun and went to a shooting range for his birthday. He received the shotgun used to kill King in a trade-off for a puppy but it is unclear who gave him the firearm.
The gun exchange was not illegal as the police said that Wilson is above 18. The teenager has been jailed without bail and is set to appear in court on February 15. King's close ones remembered him as "the sweetest child you will ever meet."
"It's sad for the family, I feel for the family. I'll put it this way, a sad tragedy, I'll put it that way, sad tragedy," said neighbor Leo Eades. "His silly personality and welcoming snagga [sic] tooth smile could warm and cheer anyone up," GoFundMe family representative Rebecca Bishop wrote, according to Daily Mail. "His care for others and the love he sent out into the world was infectious and our world is forever darkened with him gone," Bishop added.
King was one of 12 siblings with eight brothers and three sisters. As of Thursday evening, January 19, a GoFundMe set up to support the family raised more than $7,400.