CNN
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Three officers from the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., were shot Wednesday morning while trying to serve an arrest warrant for animal cruelty, Police Chief Pamela A. Smith said. The standoff lasted more than 11 hours with the suspect barricading themselves inside the home.
The incident began around 7:30 a.m. when officers with the Criminal Apprehension Unit and the Humane Rescue Alliance responded to a home in the 5000 block of Hanna Place SE on the city's southeast side to serve an arrest warrant for animal cruelty. ED, the chairman said. A man inside the home refused to come out, and when officers tried to enter the home, the man opened fire on them, Smith said.
All three officers were shot and taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries, he said. A fourth officer also suffered minor injuries. The officers faced no “serious, life-threatening injuries” and are doing well, Smith saidNa news conference Wednesday evening.
There were times throughout the day when the suspect “had a shot here and there,” Smith said at an evening news conference.
Police were negotiating with the suspect, who repeatedly became agitated during phone conversations, Smith said. At other moments, the suspect was “very positive,” Smith said. Smith said police have not seen the suspect since this morning.
“There's a conversation going on and we're continuing to work,” said Tom Lynch, a police spokesman.
Asked how long he would allow the standoff, the police chief said, “I will tolerate this until we continue to engage the suspect and surrender him to our law enforcement personnel.”
Some nearby residents were evacuated from their homes, Smith said. She would not share details of how many were transferred or where they were taken.
Police also cordoned off several neighboring streets and warned the public to stay “well away from the scene”.
According to a source, there are nearly a dozen pit bulls inside the house.
Animal services provider Humane Rescue Alliance released a statement confirming they were on the scene.
“As this dynamic situation unfolds, our thoughts are with our partners at MPD who are being treated at the hospital, and we wish them the best of luck. We cannot accomplish our mission without them,” the group said.
There has been a shooting in Washington, DC Increase in violent crime In the past year, like many others American cities were in decline. From 2022 to 2023, a 35% increase in murders, a 67% increase in robberies, and an 82% increase in motor vehicle thefts in DC. According to police data.
“I wouldn't say DC crime is out of control,” Smith said at his press conference Wednesday. “I think we have a group of individuals who don't respect law enforcement and authority. Our officers, again, were where they were supposed to be, doing exactly what they were supposed to be doing, and we'll continue to do that.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
