Three police officers were shot and a suspect continues to open fire from a residence in Southeast D.C. Wednesday, D.C. police said. A fourth officer had minor injuries, multiple sources said.
The shooting suspect remained barricaded in the house as of 9:20 a.m. and continued to fire shots at police after law enforcement shut down several city blocks, forcing multiple schools into lockdown.
Officers were serving an arrest warrant for cruelty to animals in the 5000 block of Hanna Place Southeast near Benning Road and the Maryland line about 7:30 a.m., Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela A. Smith said at a news conference.
An individual refused to come out of a home. When officers tried to enter the single-family residence, someone began firing from inside. A barrage of gunfire can be heard on surveillance camera footage.
Three officers with gunshot wounds are expected to survive, D.C. police confirmed. One officer was shot in the hand, and another in the foot or leg, Smith said.
One officer was struck twice, but his ballistic gear stopped the bullets, D.C. Police Union Chairman Greggory Pemberton said.
A fourth officer was injured, but hadn’t been shot, sources said.
Some officers were taken to the hospital in police vehicles instead of ambulances, sources said. News4 saw several police cars outside MedStar Washington Hospital Center, where the four officers were getting treatment.
It’s unclear if anyone besides the officers was injured. There may be dogs inside the home.
Police are trying to figure out the identity of the shooting suspect. It’s unclear if anyone else is inside, but there may be dogs in the house, Smith said.
Smith said it’s an “active situation” about 10:20 a.m.
Garfield Elementary School on H Street SE and Plummer Elementary School on Texas Avenue SE were placed on lockdown, D.C. Public School said.
Officials in uniforms were seen shuttling children into a KIPP charter school near 46th Place and Benning Road SE. A swarm of police cars and emergency vehicles were seen near the doors to the school.
“I’m outraged because my son goes right here to this school. I was coming to take him to school and wasn’t able to get through and I’m just like… I’m shocked. I’m really shocked,” said one mother.
A large, black vehicle resembling an armored truck was seen driving into the cordoned-off area.
Police asked members of the media to stay far from the scene.
Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela A. Smith responded to the scene. News4 is working to learn more.
Stay with News4 for more on this breaking news.