11 Hurt in DC Shooting, Police Search for Suspects
Reports from the nation's capital indicate that 11 people were injured during a drive-by shooting early Monday, according to Metropolitan police.
Police in Washington D.C. revealed that the shooting occurred in front of an apartment complex in northwest Washington around 2:00 a.m.
A video camera at the intersection of North Capitol Street and New York Avenue showed multiple gunshots being fired from two cars that then quickly sped away.
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"We have confirmed that we have 11 individuals that are injured. We have mostly gunshot wounds to the legs, extremities, hands, some graze wounds," Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy Lanier said during a morning news conference.
Assistant Police Chief Peter Newsham revealed that 11 people were taken to area hospitals with gunshot wounds that appeared to be non-life threatening. One man was reportedly shot in the back and seriously wounded, but all victims were said to be conscious, stable and expected to fully recover.
Lanier said that the incident may have started after a popular nightclub closed. Reports indicate that a large group of people were gathered outside of the club when a dark-colored car, followed by a lighter-colored car, drove by the group. As the cars passed the crowed street corner, they began to fire indiscriminately into the crowd before racing off.
"Everybody was screaming," said Jonique Douglas, 21, told WTOP. "They shooting like directly at us … it coulda been a bloody mess." she added.
Police added that it is not clear as of now if anyone from the crowd returned fire or if there was a particular target of the perpetrators, but detectives were scouring the crime scene Monday afternoon collecting evidence, talking to witnesses and trying to locate the gunmen.
The area has seen violence before as club patrons leave during the night.
"A whole lot of people with cash in their pockets come out onto the street, and the guys from Tyler House are waiting for them. That's when you get the holdups and that's the source of the shootings in the neighborhood," Commander Andy Solberg told The Washington Post.
