A 16-year-old boy found dead in an abandoned apartment in Southwest D.C. on Friday had been reported missing earlier this month, then found Wednesday.
Construction workers discovered Domonique Franklin’s body in a public housing unit in the 200 block of M Street SW. He had been shot multiple times overnight.
“Whenever you have young people getting killed in our city unnecessarily, it’s heartbreaking,” D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham said.
Police confirmed Franklin had been reported missing Aug. 14 but was located this week.
There is a surveillance camera directly above the unit, but it wasn’t working.
“This is D.C. Housing Authority property, so we’re going to make an inquiry to them as to find out why that camera wasn’t operating,” Newsham said. “A camera like that could be instrumental in closing a case like this.”
The D.C. Housing Authority is looking into how long the camera hasn’t been working and is cooperating with the investigation.
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Dantrell Dean, a friend of Franklin, said he didn't have any enemies.
"He actually had a good head on his shoulders," he said. "It's just surprising to see."
