Two Boys, Just 12 and 14, Killed While Buying Juice at Food Truck as Suspects Allegedly Seek Revenge for Unrelated Shooting

Two young boys were killed in a shooting in Washington, D.C., after stopping at a food truck for a snack — and investigators say they may have been targeted simply because of the neighborhood they lived in. Now, two suspects have been arrested months after the deadly attack, while authorities continue searching for a third person allegedly involved.

The victims were identified as 12-year-old Mhilo Young and 14-year-old Tyale Coates. On April 14, 2026, the boys were visiting a food truck near the 700 block of Kenilworth Avenue in Northeast Washington, D.C. According to investigators, the two had just gotten food and juice when three masked men arrived in a car, opened fire, and quickly fled the scene.

The shooting was devastating. Local reports said Mhilo was struck 18 times and Tyale 12 times, while investigators recovered approximately 70 shell casings from the area. Both boys were rushed into a medical emergency, but neither survived. Their deaths left families and members of the community struggling to understand how two children out for an ordinary afternoon could become victims of such violence.

According to charging documents, investigators believe the attack was connected to the recent killing of Dereon Womack, a friend of the suspects. The alleged gunmen were reportedly seeking someone from a rival neighborhood in retaliation. Authorities believe the boys were caught in the crossfire of that dispute, rather than being targeted because of their own actions or identities.

The investigation eventually led to the arrests of Antonio Terry, 18, and Markell Woodings, 20. Both have been charged with two counts of first-degree murder while armed in connection with the deaths. Investigators reportedly used witness accounts, surveillance footage, and forensic evidence — including DNA recovered from shell casings — to help identify suspects. Authorities also alleged that the suspects posted pictures of firearms on social media and bragged about the killings to a friend.

A third suspect remains at large, and the case is still under investigation. Tyale’s family described how closely he was watched and how he had asked his mother for permission to get food from the nearby truck that day. His aunt recalled the anguish of hearing the news that he had been shot. At school, both boys were remembered as valued members of their community, and their loss has renewed concerns about children being caught in neighborhood violence.

The two defendants have been charged, but the allegations must still be tested through the legal process. For the families of Mhilo and Tyale, however, the arrests cannot undo the loss of two young lives — children who had simply gone out to get something to eat and drink.

Source: Law&Crime