UPDATE: Here’s the official statement from MPD regarding the incident, which confirms Graham’s version of events and confirms that the 17-year-old was taken into custody:
This morning, a 17 year-old juvenile male attempted to rob a citizen at gunpoint in the 1300 block of Harvard Street, NW. The suspect tried to snatch the complainant’s purse but failed. He then fled the scene on foot. A witness that had observed the attack followed the suspect to the 1400 block of Columbia Road. The witness observed 2 Special Police Officers walking in the block and alerted them to the armed robbery suspect. The SPOs approached the suspect and ordered him to the ground. Instead, the suspect reached for his waistband. One of the SPOs drew his weapon and fired at the suspect. The shot did not take effect. The suspect continued to flee but was apprehended a short distance away at 14th & Irving Streets by the SPOs and an off-duty MPD officer.
Due to the seriousness of the offenses, the suspect is being charged as an adult.
ORIGINAL POST:The Metropolitan Police Department isn’t saying much about what exactly happened this morning near the intersection of 14th and Irving Streets NW, when a security officer discharged a gun while chasing an individual. But Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham has shined a light on what happened — as it turns out, the shooting stemmed from a robbery on the 2900 block of 13th Street NW.
Graham reveals that security officers from Columbia Heights Village were the ones pursuing the individual, and cites concern about shots being fired in such a high-traffic area like 14th and Irving. Here’s the full statement as obtained by Prince of Petworth:
“I want to provide information that I have received from MPD regarding the incident that occurred on the 3000 block of 14th St around 8:45 a.m. this morning.
MPD is in the very early stages of the investigation. But here is what I have been told.
A robbery occurred on the 2900 block of 13th St. NW. Moments later, Special Police Officers at Columbia Heights Village received information on the suspect. The suspect was seen on Columbia Heights Village property and pursuit of the suspect began. During the pursuit, shots were fired by Special Police on the 3000 block of 14th St.
Fortunately, there are no injuries. Both the robbery and the shots fired are under MPD investigation. And I am very concerned about shots being fired under any circumstance, but especially in a crowded area such as this.
If you have additional information please contact MPD or myself.”
On the other hand, WUSA9 blogger Simon Landau spoke with a friend of the individual who was shot at. The interviewee claims that the officers shot at the 17-year-old because they mistook him for the robbery suspect and thought he had a gun:
“When he was just walking across the street, a man had pointed him out, saying that he just robbed somebody. So the security started chasing him, fired a shot at him, then they fired another shot and he laid on the ground, security got over top of him, and the police all came….The security shot at my man…for nothing. They said he was reaching (for a gun), but he wasn’t reaching for nothing. Somebody got robbed on (nearby), and they thought it was him. So they started chasing him, and fired two shots at him.”
“They locked him up…and (he didn’t rob anybody), not that I know of….I was mad. That’s my man and he didn’t even do @%^&, what the @#%^ are you shooting at him for?”
Obviously, we’ll keep an eye on this story and update as the police continue their investigation.
