Shots broke out at a large gathering in Washington, D.C., leaving at least 20 people wounded and one 17-year-old dead.
Police responded to reports of shots being fired before 1 a.m. on Sunday morning at a gathering in a residential neighborhood in Southeast D.C. At least nine people were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment, according to police.
Among the victims was Christopher “Poppy” Brown, a 17-year-old man who was killed by gunfire. His cousin Octavia Brown told WTOP that he was the father of a 1-year-old and lived with his grandmother near the scene of the party.
“He had not lived life and for him to have a 1-year-old … they just took my cousin away,” Octavia Brown said. “This stuff has to stop.”
The D.C. Police Department said of the victims, at least 11 were women. Police Chief Peter Newsham said the second most serious injury was suffered by an off-duty police officer, who was taken to a hospital by other officers near the scene.
“She was shot,” Newsham told reporters on Sunday during a press conference with Mayor Muriel Bowser. “She’s struggling for her life right now at a local hospital.”
Currently, there are 20 people injured, including two who are 17 years old. Aside from Brown and the hospitalized officer, the rest of the injuries are non-life-threatening, Newsham said. He added that there were at least three gunmen with handguns who shot from three spots at the same time. No motive has been offered, but he believes it was over some kind of dispute.
8.9.20 Chief Newsham provides an update on shooting that occurred in the 3300 block of Dubois Place, SE pic.twitter.com/T2RWNNEHEi
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) August 9, 2020
Bowser said the gathering was illegal on a number of levels, including having the presence of marijuana on the streets, having illegal guns present, and gathering in a group of over 50 people during the coronavirus pandemic.
“We had a lot of people that were in a dangerous situation last night, and sadly, several people who have no regard for human life opened fire,” Bowser said.
No arrests have been announced yet.
