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The Metropolitan Police Department announced the arrest of Randolph Thomas Jr., 40, in connection with the 2009 killing of Durant. The teen's life was famously depicted in the award-winning documentary "17 Blocks."
On Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009, officers from the department responded to the 200 block of Webster Street NE to investigate a reported shooting, where they found Durant not far in the 200 block of Hawaii Avenue NE suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Durant was rushed to an area hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
During the ongoing investigation into Durant's death, Thomas was identified as a suspect, and he was arrested without incident on a warrant charging him with first-degree murder while armed.
Parts of Durant's life was chronicled in the documentary, which began as a series of family films for the aspiring filmmaker when he was just 9 years old, and extended through his death and explored his family's grief.
"When Emmanuel expressed interest in becoming a filmmaker, (Davy) Rothbart periodically lent him a video camera," The Hollywood Reporter wrote about the documentary. "The little boy began shooting home movies, a project that continued on and off among the family members for the next 20 years.
"Tragedy of a horrific kind eventually strikes the Sanfords, making the film’s final section deeply harrowing in a way that Rothbart would never have wanted," THR continued.
"By the time it occurs, we’ve come to know the family so well that the events have an impact that feels almost personal.
The film was widely praised by critics and viewers alike after it debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2019 and later was released virtually to the masses.
No information about Thomas' initial court appearance was announced. Check Daily Voice for updates.
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