WASHINGTON — The U.S. Park Police say they’ve learned the bizarre story behind mysterious gunfire that witnesses heard near the World War II Memorial Tuesday afternoon.
Maurice Holmes, 30, was arrested and charged with fleeing police. He was the driver of a white Hyundai that was seen speeding away from the memorial after a gun went off inside his vehicle, shattering one of the windows. He was taken into custody following a manhunt that lasted three hours.
“At this time we know there was an altercation between several subjects who were all passengers within the same vehicle,” the park police said in a statement.
In an interview with The Washington Post, Holmes admitted he was high on PCP at the time of the incident. He told The Post that the gun went off as his friend began fighting with a second passenger who was trying to rob them.
Investigators found a gun on the ground near the Kennedy Center. It is still unclear whether anyone was injured by the gunshot.
Police have questioned Holmes, as well as a second person who is being treated as a witness.
“Detectives are pursuing leads and requesting assistance in identifying and locating the third subject,” police said.
