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4 people shot in Washington near University of DC; suspect dead, police say

By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

WASHINGTON — At least four people, including two men and a juvenile female, were wounded during a shooting in Washington near the University of the District of Columbia on Friday, authorities said.

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According to the Metropolitan Police Department, the shooting took place in the Van Ness area of the city at about 3:30 p.m. EDT, WJLA-TV reported. Residents were ordered to shelter in place, and police were responding to an “active threat,” according to the television station.

Update 9:47 p.m. EDT April 22: A suspect in the shooting in a northwest Washington neighborhood was found dead in his fifth-floor apartment, police said Friday night.

At a night news conference, Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee said six firearms were recovered in the suspect’s apartment. An official said the shooting was “a sniper-type setup,” and the suspect was shooting randomly.

“The person we believe was responsible for this is deceased,” Contee said. “We believe the suspect took his own life as the MPD members were entering or breaching, his apartment.”

Earlier, police named Raymond Spencer, 23, of Fairfax, Virginia, as a person of interest, but police did not identify him as the person found dead in the apartment.

“I am unable to confirm the identity of the suspect at this time ... but I will say that we put out a person of interest earlier,” Contee said. “And we are no longer looking for that person.”

The Washington Post, citing two officials “with knowledge of the investigation,” said Spencer was the person found dead in the apartment near the scene of the shooting.

Most of the children at the Edmund Burke School have been reunited with their families, authorities said.

Update 9:12 p.m. EDT April 22: A shelter-in-place order remained in effect at the University of the District of Columbia’s Van Ness campus, university officials said in a tweet.

Update 7:47 p.m. EDT April 22: The Metropolitan Police Department identified Raymond Spencer, 23, of Fairfax, Virginia, as a person of interest in connection with Friday’s shooting.

At a Friday evening news conference, police said three adults and one juvenile female were wounded during the shooting.

“We are seeking a person of interest that we would like to speak with,” Assistant police Chief Stuart Emerman said.

Emerman said the fourth victim was a woman in her mid-60s, who was shot in the upper back. She was treated at the site and was not hospitalized, Emerman said.

The other victims were a 54-year-old man, who was in stable condition at an area hospital; a woman in her mid-30s, who was also in stable condition; and a 12-year-old girl, who was shot in the arm. She was also in stable condition, Emerman said.

Update 5:43 p.m. EDT April 22: The shootings occurred shortly after the Edmund Burke School dismissed students for the day at 3:15 p.m. EDT, according to The Washington Post. The juvenile was listed in stable condition with a minor gunshot wound, while both adults were in critical but stable condition, Assistant police Chief Stuart Emerman said during a news conference.

No officers were injured, Emerman said.

Update 5:36 p.m. EDT April 22: Police in tactical gear were seen escorting people out of an apartment building, according to The Associated Press. Officers could be seen running along Connecticut Avenue NW and others had their guns drawn, WRC-TV reported.

At least one person was seen being led away by police in handcuffs at about 4:35 p.m. EDT, WUSA-TV reported. No arrests nor suspect information has been released or confirmed by police, according to the television station.

Original report: The gunfire erupted just as parents were picking up their children from the Edmund Burke School in northwestern Washington, The Associated Press reported.

The conditions of the victims are unknown, police said.

“MPD is responding to an active threat,” Mayor Muriel Bowser tweeted. “Residents in the Cleveland Park and Van Ness area should shelter in place.”

UDC, which is located near the shooting scene, went into lockdown, according to The Associated Press. University officials told telling students and staff to shelter and stay in place. In a tweet, the school said there was an “active shooting incident near student housing” and the suspect remained at large.

Secret Service officers are assisting Metropolitan Police in searching for the suspect or suspects, WJLA reported.



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