WASHINGTON, Aug 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two people were killed and three others were injured in a shooting in northwest Washington, D.C. Wednesday afternoon.
Police were called to North Capitol and O Street, Northwest, around 12:50 p.m. for reports of fired gunshots.
Officers found two people with gunshot wounds who were pronounced deceased on the scene.
Three others had walked into nearby hospitals for treatment, police said. Their conditions are unknown.
All of the victims were said to be adults.
An initial investigation determined that at least two suspects exited a “small, black SUV” in front of a building and started shooting with semi-automatic guns at people on the street before driving away.
“This appears to be an open-air drug market,” Executive Assistant Chief of Police Ashan Benedict told reporters, adding that officers routinely polices this area and makes arrest for narcotics possession.
The shootings, which took place about one block from a school, continue a violent trend for the nation’s capital. Homicides have risen for four years straight; the 2021 murder count of 227 was the highest since 2003, and the city is on pace to exceed that this year.
Mayor Muriel Bowser, who is seeking reelection for a third term this fall, spent much of the Democratic primary race fending off charges that she was mishandling the violent crime situation.
“We need to get these people off the street. We need the criminal justice system to be a part of that,” Benedict said. “We can always be better.” — NNN-AGENCIES
