A National Guardsman was shot in Washington, D.C. while attempting to break up a fight near the U.S. Capitol.
The incident occurred around 11:10 p.m. on Sunday in the Eastern Market area of Capitol Hill. According to D.C. police, the guardsman, whose identity has not been released, was part of a group of officers responding to a brawl.
Interim Police Chief Jeffrey Carroll from the Metropolitan Police Department indicated that the guardsmen had parked their vehicle on a sidewalk in the vicinity of 8th Street SE when they observed the altercation and then heard gunfire.
“An individual that had been involved in the fight had pulled out a firearm and began shooting,” Carroll stated, noting that the person aimed the gun at authorities after they ordered him to drop it.
In response to the suspect’s use of a weapon, three National Guardsmen drew their own firearms. Both the guardsman and the suspect were injured during the exchange—specifically, the guardsman was shot in the leg, and the suspect sustained a bullet wound to the abdomen. Both were taken to local hospitals, but fortunately, they are expected to survive, according to the police chief.
Fire department personnel from a nearby location also provided assistance to the injured before they were transported for medical care.
After the incident, Carroll assured the public that there were no ongoing threats to the community. While authorities reported no further suspects, they expressed interest in finding anyone who might have more information about the events leading up to the altercation.
