National Guard member shot while intervening in a fight in Washington, suspect also wounded
A member of the National Guard was shot in Washington, DC, on Sunday night in an incident in which the suspect was also shot, police have said.
DC Metropolitan Police Department Interim Police Chief Jeffery Carroll confirmed the shooting. According to him, the incident began with a fight, and National Guard members had attempted to intervene in that confrontation.
Police say the suspect allegedly opened fire during the confrontation. Three National Guard members returned fire in response.
Two people were wounded in the exchange — the National Guard member and the suspect. Police have not yet released detailed information about their current condition.
Details of exactly where the incident took place and the full circumstances have not been released at this early stage. According to the information provided by police, Guard members moved in to break up a fight, and the situation escalated into gunfire from there.
The National Guard is a reserve military force in the United States, usually deployed for disaster response, emergencies and domestic security support. A shooting involving its members in the capital naturally raises fresh questions about security.
Interim Chief Carroll gave an initial account of the incident but shared little beyond that, citing the investigation. The suspect's identity and motive for opening fire have not yet been officially disclosed.
This is a breaking and developing story. As the police investigation proceeds, more information may emerge about the condition of the wounded, the identity of the suspect and the full sequence of events.
The shooting of a member of a force that assists with law and order in Washington is likely to intensify debate about the capital's security arrangements.
