WASHINGTON, DC – Three officers from the Metropolitan Police Department were injured in a shooting incident on Wednesday morning while serving an arrest warrant related to animal cruelty, according to Police Chief Pamela A. Smith.
The situation escalated when the officers, affiliated with the criminal apprehension unit, arrived around 7:30 a.m. ET at a residence on Hanna Place SE to execute the warrant. The individual in the dwelling refused to comply, barricading themself instead. When officers attempted entry, the person inside began shooting, as stated by Chief Smith.
All three officers were injured in the shooting and rushed to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A fourth officer also sustained minor injuries. Despite ongoing negotiations, the suspect remained holed up in the house, sporadically opening fire from within. The police have cordoned off surrounding streets and urged the public to keep a safe distance from the volatile scene.
This incident comes amid a troubling increase in violent crime in Washington, DC, contrasting with a general decrease across the United States. Police data indicates a significant upswing from 2022 to 2023 in the District of Columbia, with homicides up 35%, robberies by 67%, and motor vehicle thefts by a notable 82%.
Addressing the worsening crime situation at her Wednesday news conference, Chief Smith refrained from labeling DC crime as “out of control.” Instead, she chose to attribute the incidents to a “group of individuals who do not respect law enforcement and authority.”
Smith commended her officers for their commitment and adherence to duty, assuring their persistence in law enforcement efforts.