Police are looking for a person of interest in a Monday shooting that killed a man near D.C.’s Thomas Circle.
It happened on the east side of Thomas Circle just before 9:30 a.m., when officers were in the area patrolling and heard gunshots, said Assistant Chief Andre Wright.
They were directed to a homeless encampment, where they found a man suffering from a gunshot wound.
Fire and EMS also responded to the scene and rendered aid, but the man died.
A gun was recovered from the scene, Wright said, and officers are investigating whether it’s connected to the shooting. Police are also checking surveillance footage around the scene.
“We want to talk to this individual to find out his involvement in this shooting,” Wright said.
Jamal Weldon, Deputy Chief of Staff for the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, said that they are dismantling the homeless encampment near Thomas Circle after the shooting on Monday.
He said that they were doing a site closure on Monday at the encampment.
“We decided that it was time to use our authority under the income voting statute to close this encampment going forward,” Weldon said. “There has been much transient behavior cited where residents will come and go between this and other sites of the District.”
He said their goal is to find people safe spaces instead of having them living on the streets.
“Any resident that currently resides here and is willing to engage and work with the District as well as our coverage area outreach providers, we will work to assist them with all service connections that they may be eligible for that is up to and including housing as they may be eligible,” Weldon said.
Amy Butler, senior minister at National City Christian Church, said she’s been concerned about gun violence in D.C.
“It is a terrible tragedy and loss for our community,” Butler said. “We have been increasingly concerned about the increase of gun violence here in our city.”
She said that their church has been trying to help homeless people in the area. They have a Wednesday morning food pantry, and Luther Place Memorial Church across the street has continued outreach.
“It’s hard to find housing in the city,” Butler said. “That process takes such a long time and people are frustrated, they’re scared, and the businesses on our circle are concerned as well. It’s a very difficult time here on Thomas Circle.”
Anyone with information is asked to call D.C. police at 202-727-9099 or send a text message to 50411.
See a map where the shooting happened below:
WTOP’s Kristi King contributed to this report.
