An armed security guard at Walter Reed Army Medical Center yesterday fired at a fellow guard across a busy street outside the hospital’s entrance after an argument, police said.
No one was injured during the incident, which began about 8:45 a.m. Police said Dwan Thigpen of Fort Washington and the other guard began arguing near the front gate of the medical center in Northwest.
Mr. Thigpen drew his service weapon and fired about 10 shots across Georgia Avenue at the other guard, who had crossed the street to get away from Mr. Thigpen, police said.
The other guard, who was not identified, ran down Dahlia Street to the nearby home of a woman, who let him inside to call police.
“The gentleman thought he had called him ’stupid,’ and he said, ’Look man, I didn’t call you stupid. Let’s forget about this,’ ” Dr. Carol C. Jagdeo, told WRC-TV (Channel 4). “He said the next minute, the guy pulls out his gun and starts shooting at him.”
Mr. Thigpen, 34, was arrested by Metropolitan Police and taken to the 4th District police station. He was charged with assault with intent to kill while armed.
He was expected to be arraigned today.
Mr. Thigpen and the other guard were employed by Vance Federal Security Services, an Oakton, Va.-based private security firm under contract to Walter Reed, authorities said. Joe Gavaghan, a spokesman for Vance, confirmed that the men were employed by the company but would not give any other details.
Vance is “cooperating fully with the authorities investigating this incident,” Mr. Gavaghan said.
Surveillance video from the scene shows the two men arguing, while a third guard attempts to intervene, 4th District Police Cmdr. Hilton Burton said.
“The video shows a brief struggle between the security guard and the suspect,” Cmdr. Burton said. The tape also captured Mr. Thigpen pulling his weapon and firing at the second man as the victim runs away, he said.
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