WASHINGTON — The D.C. mayor’s office has released D.C. Police body-worn camera video that shows the Christmas Day police shooting of a man armed with a knife.
“Put the knife down. Put the knife down,” says a voice on the video and audio recording. Videos recorded by two of the responding officers — one lasting 7 minutes and another lasting 7 minutes and 23 seconds — have been made public.
The incident in the 3200 block of Walunt Street NE began as a domestic disturbance. The video shows officers arriving at the home and encountering 29-year-old Gerald Hall in the doorway. The shiny glint of a knife is clearly visible in Hall’s right hand.
Also made public are 911 logs that reveal an escalating situation in which police were called to the scene more than once. 911 operators had been told that Hall was armed with a knife and turned on the gas in the house, ignited sheets of paper towels and prevented his girlfriend from leaving the premises.
As police approach the doorway of the brick home Hall’s girlfriend exits.
“Get out, get out, get out,” the officers command the woman.
“Please don’t shoot his crazy ass,” a woman’s voice can be heard.
An officer, with gun drawn, fires four shots from outside the doorway into the home, striking Hall once in the chest.
The video then shows officers providing first aid to Hall in the foyer of the home before the ambulance crew arrives, while in the background a woman can be heard weeping and wailing.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said the recordings were being released in the public interest in the spirit of transparency.
