At least four people were injured in a shooting on Friday afternoon in northwestern Washington, DC, authorities said. The DC Police Department and other law enforcement agencies are currently searching for a person of interest and are asking residents in the area to take shelter on the spot.
During a press conference Friday night, Assistant Chief of Police Stuart Emerman identified 23-year-old Raymond Spencer of Fairfax, Virginia, as a person of interest in the shooting. He said authorities would like to speak to him, and DC police shared photos of him on their Twitter account.
🚨MPD is looking for the person below who is of interest in connection with the shooting at block 2900 on Van Ness Street, NW. This person is 23-year-old Raymond Spencer from Fairfax, Virginia. 🚨 pic.twitter.com/ziR0Vutw0p
– DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) April 22, 2022
The investigation into the shooting continues and police continue to encourage people to avoid the area and take shelter on the spot.
At approximately 3:20 p.m., police responded to reports of gunfire near Connecticut Avenue and Van Ness NW Street. A 30-year-old woman, a 60-year-old woman, a 54-year-old man and a 12-year-old girl were injured in the shooting. A 60-year-old woman received medical treatment on the spot. The other three were transported to local hospitals and are in stable condition, Emerman said.
4.22.22 DC officials provide additional update for shooting at block 2900 on Van Ness Street, NW https://t.co/htb5FldGK4
– DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) April 22, 2022
“This is a very early moment in our investigation,” Emerman said earlier on Friday. “And we’re still trying to figure out the motive or what exactly happened here.”
The shooting took place near the University of Columbia and an independent college preparatory school. Both were closed for several hours. Emerman said Friday night that authorities are working to reunite the students with their parents. A unification site has been set up at the Cleveland Park Library. The UDC campus in Van Ness remains blocked, the school tweeted on Friday night.
Authorities are responding to the shooting in Washington
During an afternoon press conference, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser expressed concern for the wounded.
“We pray for their health and well-being,” she said.
Video and photos shared on Twitter show employees entering a residential building in the area as well as evacuating locals.
#BREAKING – @DCPoliceDept confirms 3 people shot.
You can see that there are officers with long weapons focused on Van Ness NW.
What it looks like is also a mobile shield. @ Wusa9 pic.twitter.com/xh0Zbf14ho
– Evan Coslof (@ekoslof) April 22, 2022
#BREAKING – @DCPoliceDept confirms 3 people shot.
You can see that there are officers with long weapons focused on Van Ness NW.
What it looks like is also a mobile shield. @ Wusa9 pic.twitter.com/xh0Zbf14ho
– Evan Coslof (@ekoslof) April 22, 2022
The uniformed officers of the US Secret Service and the FBI Washington Field also reacted on stage.
Police have asked anyone with information about the incident to call the DC Police Department.
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Tori B. Powell
Tori B. Powell is an extraordinary news reporter for CBS News. Contact her at tori.powell@viacomcbs.com
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