National Guard member shot breaking up street fight in Washington D.C.; suspect wounded and arrested

Why it matters

A National Guard member was shot in the leg late Sunday night, October 18, while trying to break up a street fight in the 400 block of 8th Street SE, near the Eastern Market Metro station in Washington, D.C. The suspected gunman was also shot — in the abdomen — by returning Guardsmen and arrested.

According to Metropolitan Police Department Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll, who briefed reporters at the scene in the early hours of Monday, seven or eight Guard members were traveling in a van when they saw a fight break out on the sidewalk around 11:10 p.m. and got out to intervene. An adult male involved in the brawl produced a firearm and began shooting.

The Guardsmen ordered the man to drop his weapon; he instead pointed the gun toward them, prompting three Guard members to return fire. The wounded Guardsman was taken to hospital and later released; the suspect was hospitalized with injuries police described as non-life-threatening. Both were expected to survive. Firefighters brought the two wounded men inside a nearby fire and EMS station before calling police.

The Metropolitan Police Department's Internal Affairs Division and Criminal Investigation Division are investigating the exchange of gunfire. Police said there was no continuing threat to the public and asked witnesses to the fight or the shooting to come forward. No identities have been released and no charges announced.