8th grader shot, killed while making TikTok videos, authorities say

WASHINGTON (Gray News) - A 17-year-old is accused of fatally shooting an eighth grader filming a TikTok video, authorities said.

The teen, who was 15-year-old at the time of the shooting, was arrested and charged Wednesday with second-degree murder while armed, Metropolitan Police said.

Zytina Mason Brown, another girl and the then-15-year-old suspect were in an apartment on May 21, 2025, when the shooting happened.

At the time, the teen said Zytina was making TikTok videos with a gun he stole from his uncle, WJLA reported.

The boy claimed Zytina shot herself in the head.

Police said officers responded to the apartment on the day of the shooting around 5 p.m. and found Zytina unconscious and not breathing. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

At the time, the teen boy was charged with gun possession.

Police said the medical examiner investigating the case determined that Zytina’s manner of death was a homicide, offering a $25,000 reward for information in the case.

Months after the shooting, authorities said the other girl in the room offered them a different story.

According to the witness, Zytina was making videos with the gun when the suspect began to dance close to her.

She allegedly shoved him off, handed him the gun, and then sat down. Then, he allegedly sat across from her and shot her, WJLA reported.

They were all allegedly at the boy’s home at the time, and his mother knocked on the door after hearing the gunshot.

The suspect told the girl to be quiet and they called police.

Other people may have also been in the room, and authorities have reviewed social media messages and apparent photos of Zytina’s body in an attempt to get to the truth.

At this time, the teen’s identity has not been revealed.