Slain D.C. teen was DYRS ward

A D.C. teen fatally stabbed Saturday was a ward of the District's Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services who had fled the agency’s custody, The Washington Times has learned.

Jamar Michael Freeman, 17, of Southeast was found in the 900 block of Quincy Street NW at about 7:25 p.m. Saturday suffering from stab wounds, police said. He was transported to a local hospital where he died.

Sources familiar with the case who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter confirmed the teen’s status.

The sources said Freeman was the subject of two warrants — one for being an absconder from a group home in Southeast that is contracted by DYRS, the other for robbery. Freeman left the group home about three weeks ago, and it was unclear whether the robbery he was being sought for occurred before or after that.

D.C. Council member Jim Graham, Ward 1 Democrat and chairman of the Committee on Human Services that has oversight of DYRS, said he was exploring what was done to return Freeman to the group home, and “how could we have done better?”

“This is a true tragedy,” Mr. Graham said. “If this boy had been taken back to the group home, he may have been alive today.”

DYRS officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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