A MANHUNT is underway in Washington, DC as police search for a shooter who opened fire near a school, injuring a juvenile and leaving two adults in critical condition, cops said.
Video captured the sound of the horrifying gunfire around 3.20pm near Edmund Burke School. It has led to a massive police response with officers escorting residents from nearby buildings, some running to safety, as the motive for the shooting is unclear.
Washington DC Metro Police said two adult males and one juvenile female were injured in the shooting.
The two adult victims are in critical but stable condition. The juvenile victim is suffering from a minor gunshot wound, officials said. The relationship between the victims, if any, is unknown.
The “hope and understanding is that they will survive,” DC officials said at a press conference.
There is no suspect yet in custody and a motive for the shooting remains unknown as the investigation is in early stages. Police said they do not yet have an indication of the type of weapon used despite videos capturing the sound of the gunfire.
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“Several people, naturally, ran from the scene after hearing gunshots and as the officers responded very quickly to the scene, as individuals were running, we did detain several individuals to determine their status,” officials said, adding they do not believe any suspects have been detained at this time.
Police are canvassing and going door-to-door in the area, including at apartment buildings in the area, as they urgently hunt for a suspect.
Officials said they have not yet authenticated the social media video that is circulating claiming to be from the incident.
They do, however, believe the gunfire was in the “immediate area” of the school but are working to confirm exactly what occurred.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has responded to assist DC Metro police. Secret Service agents have also deployed to the scene.
The school remains on lockdown. Police are in the school with the students and will alert parents when it is safe to begin the reunification process. Officials are asking parents not to go to the school at this time.
Howard University and the University of DC also issued shelter in place orders following the incident, asking its students and staff to “take shelter and stay in place until further notice.”
For others in the area, there is an established Family Reunification Site located at the Cleveland Park Library. Those looking to find a family member or child are encouraged to go to this location to speak with officials from the Metro Police Department and other assisting agencies.
Footage from the scene showed law enforcement officials with their guns drawn escorting people away from the area near Edmund Burke.
Neighbors are also seen being led out of a Van Ness Street apartment building in a single file line, escorted by police.
It was described as a extremely tense situation as other residents were seen running alongside officers to safety.
Witnesses at the scene told WLTX that they saw people running around, hiding under cars when the shooting occurred.
News cameras captured a person at the scene being led away by police in handcuffs.
However, cops have not made it clear who the person was, or how they are related to the incident.
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The DCPD are asking residents in the Cleveland Park and Van Ness area to shelter in place.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the DC Command Information Center at (202) 727-9099 or text 50411.
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