Two D.C. police officers shot and killed an armed man early Sunday in Southeast after authorities said the suspect tried to grab a gun out of an officer’s hands.
Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said the man, who hasn’t been identified, was “unresponsive” in the driver’s seat of his car around 5:30 a.m. Sunday after he crashed into a McDonald’s restaurant in the 2500 block of Marion Barry Avenue SE.
Chief Smith said responding officers noticed the driver had a gun in his lap when they approached his car.
Police said the man eventually started moving around in his seat, and officers told him to drop his weapon as they walked toward him with guns drawn.
Chief Smith said the man reached for one of the officer’s firearms. Two officers responded by opening fire on the man, and the suspect died at the scene.
Agents from the Force Investigations Team of MPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau continue to investigate this morning’s officer involved shooting in the 2500 block of Marion Barry Avenue Southeast. The suspect’s weapon is pictured below. Read more: https://t.co/u4bdgqJPR0 pic.twitter.com/ZfZNUaYVXH
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) September 1, 2024
“This is just another reminder of the daily dangers that our officers face protecting the residents and visitors across the District of Columbia,” Chief Smith said.
Both officers have been placed on administrative lead as the shooting is reviewed by the department’s internal affairs division.
Police said prosecutors are reviewing the officers’ body-worn cameras.
The McDonald’s only suffered minor damage from the driver’s collision.
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.
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