Washington DC police in hours-long standoff with gunman who shot three officers: Live

Two parents told NBC Washington about their concerns for their children as the shooting unfolds near two elementary schools.

“This is a magnitude of police cars I’ve never seen in my life,” one mother told the outlet.

“I’m outraged because my son goes right here to this school. I was coming to take him to school and wasn’t able to get through and I’m just like … I’m shocked. I’m really shocked,” another mother told NBC Washington.

The incident comes as the District of Columbia is struggling with a sharp increase in violent crime, which went up 39% in 2023. It was largely fueled by a 35% rise in homicides and growth in carjackings, which nearly doubled.

Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith has previously pushed lawmakers to pass legislation that would strengthen penalties for gun offences in the nation’s capital.

Read more from Kelly Rissman and Mike Bedigan:

Negotiators are at the scene of the active shooting to speak with the suspect, who has barricaded himself inside a Southeast Washington, DC home, DC News Now reports.

Police are approaching six hours since the initial incident began around 7.30 am local time, when officials arrived at the home to serve an animal cruelty warrant.

Officers first arrived at the Washington, DC home to serve an animal cruelty warrant around 7.30 am local time, officials say. The suspect is still barricaded inside the home as of 12.30 pm local time, as officers pass five hours since the incident began.

As the end of the school day approaches, it is yet unclear how authorities will handle student dismissal in the area.

Two nearby elementary schools are on lockdown amid the shooting in Southeast Washington, DC, NBC Washington reports.

Eyewitnesses also say that police were escorting students into a nearby charter school, KIPP DC LEAP Academy, per the outlet.

The Humane Rescue Alliance conveyed their support for Washington, DC police, who arrived at the home to serve a warrant for animal cruelty. “Our thoughts are with our partners at MPD who are being treated in the hospital and we are wishing them all the best in their recovery,” the group said in a statement. “We could not fulfill our mission without them. We are also concerned for the safety of the officers who remain on scene, the community members who continue to be affected, and the animals whom we were there to protect.”

Muriel Bowser told reporters that the three officers wounded by gunfire on Wednesday morning will likely be “just fine.”

“But it goes to show you how important it is to support our police, to make sure we’re hiring the best of the best police, to make sure as a community if we see something wrong, we call MPD, because MPD is going to show up for us every single time,” Ms Bowser said.

A fourth officer sustained injuries on scene during the shootout, but was not shot and has been transported to the hospital with only minor injuries, officials said on X.