D.C. police on Monday mentioned a male sufferer was shot and killed in Union Station throughout the night rush hour.
Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith mentioned the sufferer, who wasn’t recognized, was gunned down by an obvious acquaintance round 4:45 p.m. close to the historic practice station’s parking storage.
Chief Smith mentioned the suspect, who was solely recognized as male, was socializing with the sufferer moments earlier than he opened fireplace.
“The decedent grabs one thing off of the particular person of the capturing suspect, the capturing suspect then begins to return fireplace,” the chief mentioned. “The decedent then runs out of the ready space after which will get to the escalator and falls down and collapses.”
Chief Smith mentioned the sufferer died on the scene, whereas the suspect ran off and continues to be at-large.
She mentioned the gunman was final seen sporting grey pants and light-colored sneakers.
CNN political commentator Scott Jennings mentioned he occurred to be at Union Station when the pictures rang out.
“Not often a breaking information reporter however I used to be in Union Station when this occurred,” Mr. Jennings posted on X.
“Heard the pictures. Noticed the sufferer hit the ground on the backside of the escalator. Noticed two individuals flee the scene. Occurred on second flooring, escalator close to Andrews Ties. They ran proper previous me,” he wrote.
Killings are on the rise within the District by way of the early a part of the 12 months.
Monday night time’s Union Station capturing is the twenty second murder within the metropolis. At this level final 12 months, the District had 13 killings.
Different classes of violent crime — reminiscent of robberies, carjackings and weapons assault — are beneath 2024 ranges.
A killing in Union Station might have political reverberations, because the historic facility is inside a brief stroll of the U.S. Capitol and frequented by lawmakers and town’s elite.
It’s the District’s flagship practice station, not solely as a vacation spot on the realm’s subway system and each Maryland’s and Virginia’s commuter-rail providers, but in addition the terminus for Amtrak’s Acela routes linking Washington with New York, Philadelphia, Boston and different East Coast cities.
Worsening public security was an impetus final week for Republican congressmen to suggest repealing the D.C. House Rule Act.
The legislation, handed in 1973, permits District residents to elect politicians to deal with native issues. If repealed by the Republican-controlled Congress, it might basically abolish the workplace of Mayor Muriel Bowser and the complete D.C. Council.
“The radically progressive regime of D.C. Mayor Bowser has left our nation’s capital in crime-ridden shambles. Washington is now recognized for its homicides, rapes, drug overdoses, violence, theft, and homelessness,” mentioned Rep. Andy Ogles, Tennessee Republican, when saying the invoice.
“Bowser and her corrupt Washington Metropolis Council are incapable of managing town. As such, it appears acceptable for Congress to reclaim its constitutional authority and restore the nation’s capital,” he mentioned.
