Washington DC standoff ends with arrest of gunman who shot three officers
The incident began after Washington, DC police arrived at the home to serve a warrant for animal cruelty
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A standoff which lasted over 12 hours between Washington DC officers and a suspect has now come to an end, after police negotiated his surrender, according to the DC Police Department.
Three officers of the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, DC, were injured after a suspect began firing and barricaded himself in his home. A fourth officer also sustained injuries that were not gunshot-related.
The multi-hour standoff began when police arrived at a southeast Washington, DC home around 7.30 am local time to serve a warrant for animal cruelty. It was at that time the shooting began.
The police said that the suspect then barricaded himself inside his residence and continued shooting sporadically throughout the standoff.
But his surrender was “successfully negotiated” and he has been charged with cruelty to animals, with additional charges for the assault on the officers pending.
Police said that the suspect – Julius James, 46 – is now in police custody.
Mr James was arrested and charged with Cruelty to Animals and additional charges for the assault on the officers are pending.
When asked to expand on the animal cruelty charges, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith focused instead on the officers wounded when serving the warrant.
“So let me not be glib about my response to your question specifically related to the animals,” Ms Smith said. “I don’t want it to be lost on anyone today that we’ve had three officers who were shot with the Metropolitan Police Department. Three of our officers were shot today, serving an arrest warrant on someone who was cruel to animals.”
“The same type of response that we provide for our officers, we have that same care for animals as well, but I don’t want it to be lost on anyone today that the reason why we are here right now is because three of our officers have been shot,” she continued.
Suspect remains barricaded: police
The suspect remains in the home as the stand-off hits eleven straight hours, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said at a 6 pm press conference.
Ms Smith said sometimes the suspect is “agitated, and then there are moments where he’s having positive interactions with our emergency response team personnel.”
How long could standoff last?
When asked at a Wednesday night press conference about how long the standoff will be “tolerated,” Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith minced no words in her response:
“I will tolerate this as long as we continue to engage with the subject to get him to surrender to our law enforcement personnel.”
Police chief directed focus towards wounded officers rather than animal cruelty charges
When asked to expand on the animal cruelty charges, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith focused instead on the officers wounded when serving the warrant.
“So let me not be glib about my response to your question specifically related to the animals,” Ms Smith said. “I don't want it to be lost on anyone today that we've had three officers who were shot with the Metropolitan Police Department. Three of our officers were shot today, serving an arrest warrant to someone who was cruel to animals.”
“The same type of response that we provide for our officers, we have that same care for animals as well, but I don't want it to be lost on anyone today that the reason why we are here right now is because three of our officers have been shot,” she continued.
SEE IT: Doorbell camera captures gunshots in Washington, DC
WATCH: ‘Why is this happening?’ DC resident responds to Southeast shooting
Washington DC police thank partners for help in ‘critical’ operation
Washington DC police department expressed gratitude to men and women of the Metropolitan Police Department and other departments and agencies for their help during the standoff.
“We would like to thank the men and women of the Metropolitan Police Department, our local, state, and federal partners, and the multiple District of Columbia agencies for their assistance during this critical incident,” police said.
DC resident reacts to shooting
Some residents described how the incident unfolded, and said that the police needed to have “better communication and relationships” with those living in the neighbourhood.
One woman told Fox5 : “I don’t live too far, I heard a lot of the sirens - that was concerning. At the point that the sirens didnt stop I came outside to understand what’s going on.
“From my understanding the person who has caused all this commotion has not been caught. Why is this happening? Why did the individual feel the need to shoot the police? ... just why? There’s a lot of whys.”
She continued: “Things do happen like this, not necessarily the police getting shot but people getting shot and when they do, we have never had the street shut down like this. We have never had 100 police officers telling us we cannot leave the area.
“We have never had this for our citizens who got shot. So this is a matter for the police, they’re handling their own.”
Read more from The Independent’s Kelly Rissman and Mike Bedigan:
Three police officers shot as gunman remains barricaded in Washington DC home
Police say violence broke out after suspect ‘refused to come outside’ as officers attempted to serve arrest warrant for cruelty to animals
Parents worried for their children at nearby schools on Wednesday afternoon
Two parents told NBC Washington about their concerns for their children as the standoff unfolded near two elementary schools.
“This is a magnitude of police cars I’ve never seen in my life,” one mother told the outlet on Wednesday.
“I’m outraged because my son goes right here to this school. I was coming to take him to school and wasn’t able to get through and I’m just like … I’m shocked. I’m really shocked,” another mother told NBC Washington.
Wednesday’s shooting in context
The incident comes as the District of Columbia is struggling with a sharp increase in violent crime, which went up 39% in 2023, The Independent’s Kelly Rissman and Mike Bedigan reported. It was largely fueled by a 35% rise in homicides and growth in carjackings, which nearly doubled.
Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith has previously pushed lawmakers to pass legislation that would strengthen penalties for gun offences in the nation’s capital.
Read more:
Three police officers shot as gunman remains barricaded in Washington DC home
Police say violence broke out after suspect ‘refused to come outside’ as officers attempted to serve arrest warrant for cruelty to animals
ICYMI: DC shooting coincided with Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade tragedy
While police engaged in a multi-hour standoff in Washington, DC, at least one person was killed and several were injured by a shooter at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade on Wednesday afternoon.
Keep up with The Independent’s live coverage of the tragedy here:
One killed and 14 injured in shooting at Kansas City Super Bowl parade: Live
The shooting was reported shortly after 3pm
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