Good morning, D.C. It was a violent night in the metro area last night. Police are currently investigating two shootings in the District — the first involving an unidentified man who was shot outside the Anacostia Metro station and later, a fatal incident on the 1800 block of M Street NE. No arrests have been made in either case. But gunfire was hardly the end the disturbing news this morning: there’s also this frightening story about a woman in Fairfax County who was tied up in the bathroom of her home and stabbed numerous times. If that’s not depressing enough for you, more details are coming to the surface about Friday morning’s helicopter crash on Interstate 70 which killed four people on their way back from a charity event.

Alright, that’s enough. Here’s some adorable puppies.

In other headlines this morning:

>> A Metro operator who opened the doors on the wrong side of the train at the Waterfront-SEU station has been placed on paid administrative leave.

>> The first debate between Virginia gubernatorial candidates R. Creigh Deeds and Robert F. McDonnell will take place tonight in the rural resort town of Hot Springs.

>> If you’re moving through the center of town today, keep an eye out for Iranian human rights protests, according to an AP report.