A D.C. police officer was wounded and an armed man was killed during an exchange of gunfire Monday evening in Southeast Washington.
A second male at the scene was found shot and critically injured inside an apartment, Newsham said. He said it was not clear who shot him.
Newsham said that when officers arrived, an armed man came out of the building and fired at officers. One or more officers returned fire. “It sounds like the officer didn’t have much choice,” the chief said.
The armed man apparently died at the scene. Newsham said that “he showed no apparent signs of life.”
The man was not named.
Police found “what appears to be” the weapon that was used to fire at officers, Newsham said.
Police continued to investigate Monday night.
The shooting occurred in a residential area south of Alabama Avenue and west of Suitland Parkway.
Newsham said that each day police do a “hard job” in which they are “more than willing” to confront armed suspects.
However, he said, officers “have to defend themselves.”
Newsham said in a news conference near the scene that it “sounds like a round struck the officer in the vest.” Even if a bullet is blocked by a protective vest, it is possible for the impact of a gunshot to cause injury.
