WASHINGTON — The fatal shooting of a 24-year-old D.C. man by an off-duty D.C. police officer likely involved a shootout between the officer and the man who died, said D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham.
“There is forensic evidence and witness statements that suggest that there was an exchange of gunfire,” Newsham said during a Friday news conference. “The officer used his service weapon.”
The officer, who was not wearing a uniform, shot and killed D’Quan Young, 24, Wednesday night on 15th Street in Northeast near the Brentwood Recreation Center.
A gun that Young had been carrying was found at the scene, investigators said.
It is not yet clear what led to the confrontation or whether the officer identified himself during the incident.
“The off-duty police officer had arrived in the block to attend a cookout with friends,” said Newsham, who added that there was no indication the officer had been drinking alcohol at the party.
Police have not released the officer’s name, only saying he was hired in late 2016 and is now on administrative leave.
“Regardless of the circumstances, there is a family who is suffering from the loss of a loved one,” Newsham said. “We’re aware of that hurt and we’re going to do everything that we possibly can to get them the answers that they deserve.”
As part of the investigation, police are reviewing body camera footage from officers who responded to the shooting and are asking residents who live around the recreation center to contact the police department if they have private surveillance cameras that may have captured something.
Another thing investigators are looking into is whether a police sergeant, who took the officer away from the scene, waited too long to notify others that the shooting involved a police officer.
“We have some concerns about the timing,” Newsham said. “We’re going to do an internal investigation to see if proper notifications were made.”
