Bodycam: Armed Man in Body Armor Fires at D.C. Police
What to know
- Washington, D.C., police arrested a man wearing body armor after he fired at officers responding to a report of an armed individual in a Northwest neighborhood.
- Body camera video shows officers pursuing the suspect and returning fire after police say he shot in their direction, though no one was injured.
- The incident remains under review by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and D.C. police internal investigators.
Source Officer.com News
A man wearing body armor was arrested after firing at Washington, D.C., police officers who approached him following a report of an armed individual in a Northwest neighborhood last week.
Officers responded to a 9-1-1 call shortly before noon April 22 when a neighbor reported seeing a man carrying a gun, WUSA‑TV reports. Body camera footage of the incident was released Wednesday.
An officer spotted a man matching the suspect's description and radioed “man with a gun” before trying to stop him in a cruiser. Moments later, gunfire can be heard on the video as the officer calls in “shots fired.”
Another responding officer confronted the man and ordered him to stop, police say. The suspect ran into an alley, where the officer radioed that the man was continuing to fire shots.
Police said the two officers converged in the alley and continued searching for the suspect when he fired in their direction. One officer returned fire, shooting five times as the encounter unfolded.
The suspect was not struck during the exchange but dropped his gun and went to the ground, police said. Officers took the man into custody without further incident.
Investigators recovered a firearm, an extra magazine and two knives from the suspect, according to police. Authorities said the man appeared to be under the influence at the time of his arrest.
The suspect, who was not identified, was charged with assault on a police officer while armed and additional firearms offenses. He was taken to the hospital following the arrest.
The shooting is under investigation.