Two people have been arrested after a D.C. Housing Authority police officer was shot in the Navy Yard area of Southeast D.C. Thursday morning.
D.C. Housing Authority police chief Michael Reese said during a news conference that police responded just before 6 a.m. to reports of “unwanted guests” at the Carroll Apartments at 410 M St. SE.
D.C. Housing Authority officers found a man and woman who were not building residents outside of one of the apartments. They refused to leave and a struggle ensued as police tried to arrest them. This led to the man shooting one of the officers in the abdomen, underneath his bullet proof vest, police said.
The officer was taken to a hospital while he was conscious and he is currently in stable condition, according to officials. He is a six-year veteran of the force, Reese said.
Reese said gunfire was exchanged between police and the man as he was pursued through the lobby and out of the building.
The man then fled to the 1300 block of 4th Street SE, where he barricaded himself in a parking garage, Reese said. He was arrested a few hours later by an emergency response team and charges are pending.
The woman is facing charges of unlawful entry.
No one else was hurt in the incident.
Reese said that he is reminding law enforcement officers “to remain vigilant” as D.C. officers have been shot numerous times in the beginning of 2024, including an incident in Southeast two weeks ago where three officers were shot.
“It’s very disturbing, the violence that seems to be escalating. It’s just a challenging time right now for our law enforcement officers in the community at large,” Reese said.
D.C. Council member Kenyan McDuffie also praised D.C. police officers and “the courage that it takes to do this job” during the news conference.
“It is deeply disturbing that we find ourselves yet again at a scene with yellow tape with gunshot shells on the ground,” McDuffie said. “This is steps away from a school where parents and kids expect to be safe. So I’m thankful for law enforcement’s swift action identifying a suspect, making an arrest and now we have to bring those individuals to justice for what they’ve done.”
Authorities said on X that police activity caused road closures on 4th Street between Water Street and L Street; 5th Street between L Street and M street; and Tingey Street between New Jersey Avenue and 4th Street.
A map with the approximate location of the shooting is shown below.
WTOP’s Grace Newton contributed to this report.
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