DC police shoot, kill man who had gun, crashed car into McDonald’s, MPD says

WASHINGTON ( DC News Now ) — The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said a man died after he refused to drop his gun and tried to take an officer’s weapon outside of a McDonald’s in Southeast Sunday.

MPD posted about the shooting in the 2500 block of Marion Barry Ave. SE on the X platform at 7:03 a.m.

In a news conference, Chief Pamela Smith said officers received a call about a car crash at the McDonald’s restaurant at the location shortly after 5 a.m. When police arrived, they found that a car hit the building, causing minor damage to it.

The driver of the car, a man, was inside it, unconscious. Officers saw that he had a gun, and they called for other police. The man began moving. Smith said the officers, who had their guns extended, gave him commands, including telling him to drop the gun.

While that was taking place, Smith said the man grabbed an officer’s gun. At that point, two officers opened fire, hitting the man.

DC Fire and EMS, which was already at the scene of the crash, tried to keep the man alive, but he died.

Smith said MPD recovered the man’s gun. They were in the process of identifying him and notifying his family about what happened.

No officers were hurt.

Smith said MPD Internal Affairs agents were working with criminal investigators in looking into the circumstances surrounding the incident. She added that the United States Attorney’s Office would conduct an independent review.

Smith said the officers who used their guns were on administrative leave, per department policy. She said that their body cameras were activated during the encounter with the driver.

“This is yet another reminder of the daily dangers that our officers face, and the residents and the visitors across the District of Columbia,” said Smith.

Nico Spence, a resident of Anacostia who has lived there most of her life, told DC News Now that the crime in the area has made her feel unsafe.

“I really am considering moving away just because I don’t feel safe anymore,” said Spence. “We deserve to live in a community that is safe; we deserve to live in a community that is free of crime.”

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