Five people were shot after a fight broke out on a Metrobus in the Brightwood neighborhood of D.C. on Thursday.
Interim Chief of Police Jeffery Carroll said at a news conference on Thursday night that during a dispute on a Metrobus around 5:40 p.m., the bus stopped at the 16th Street and Military Road stop. When the bus stopped, Carroll said, the argument among passengers spilled out onto the sidewalk, and that’s when gunshots rang out.
Five people, two juveniles and three adults, were shot and treated for non-life-threatening injuries at a local hospital.
Carroll said they are looking for one suspect, who fled the scene on foot.
“This is not the way we resolve disputes. If there’s any sort of conflict, obviously we work things out. We don’t pull out gunfire, and that’s the issue we have — too many illegal firearms here in the community,” Carroll said.
In regard to questions about bus drivers’ protocols during violent incidents, WMATA General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke referred reporters to contact the Metropolitan Police Department which he said is “leading the investigation.” He called it “an awful situation,” but assured that bus operators “get training” on safety protocols.
In a five-part response thread on X, Clarke said Metro trains its bus operators “to always do what is safest for them and customers.”
“Once police arrive the bus would not be moved as it’s secure and now part of the crime scene so police can interview witnesses and collect evidence like video,” he wrote. “Like you, our operator likely experienced trauma as well.”
Below is the area where the shooting happened:
Police are asking anyone with information in this case to contact their Real Time Crime Center at 202-727-9099.
Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.
© 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
