Washington, Nov 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) One person was killed and four others wounded in a shooting in Washington’s Logan Circle neighbourhood in the United States on Thursday, police said. The suspected gunman was later found with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound inside an apartment where he had barricaded himself.
One of the four surviving victims was in critical condition, Interim Police Chief Jeffery W. Carroll said. The other three appeared to have injuries that were not life-threatening. The suspect’s condition was not immediately available.
The shooting began inside a gym in the 1500 block of 15th Street Northwest, about a mile north of the White House. Police received the first call shortly before 8 am and officers arrived within 30 seconds, Carroll told a briefing alongside Mayor Muriel Bowser.
Officers found an adult man who had been shot, then received further reports of gunfire and victims at nearby locations.
Police confirmed that the person killed was inside the gym. Other victims were found near a construction site across the street and in a lobby or alley area, Carroll said. Investigators were still establishing the sequence of events and precise locations.
Officers searching for the gunman began clearing buildings in the area. Gunshots rang out on the seventh floor of an apartment building, where police determined the suspect had barricaded himself.
Carroll said the man fired through the apartment door at officers on at least two occasions. Police believed the apartment was his, but were still checking the unit.
Emergency Response Team negotiators contacted the suspect and spoke with him by telephone for more than an hour.
“Just moments ago, while communicating with that individual, officers heard a gunshot,” Carroll said. “As a response to that, officers forced entry into the apartment.”
They found the suspect suffering from a gunshot wound. Carroll said it appeared to be self-inflicted and that medical personnel had responded to treat him.
Police had not released the names of the suspect or victims. Carroll said investigators believed the man was a gym member and were examining a dispute involving the apartment building’s homeowners association.
He cautioned against drawing conclusions about a motive.
“We’re two hours into the situation. We can’t say the exact motivation,” he said.
Investigators also had not established what relationship, if any, the suspect had with those shot. Police knew he had possessed a handgun but had not determined whether other weapons were involved.
Carroll said police believed a fire had also been set inside the building. The alarm and sprinklers activated, leaving substantial water inside. The fire had been contained and extinguished, he said.
Fire and emergency medical crews transported four victims to hospital, Chief John A. Donnelly Sr. said. Some reached responders themselves, while law enforcement officers brought others to medical crews.
“We’re devastated,” Bowser said, describing the killing as a senseless act of gun violence. She thanked emergency responders and residents who followed police instructions.
“The White House has been briefed, as is my process,” she said.
Police said the investigation remained preliminary and appealed for witnesses who had left the area to contact investigators.
Source: IANS
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