A quiet Friday afternoon near Washington D.C.’s Union Station shattered as gunfire erupted along Massachusetts Avenue, leaving a 15-year-old boy wounded. The shooting occurred in a bustling corridor, just a stone’s throw from the U.S. Capitol, a location usually heavily monitored by federal law enforcement.
Police responded swiftly to reports of the incident, arriving at the unit block of Massachusetts Avenue NE around 4:10 p.m. They discovered the injured teenager conscious and breathing, suffering from a gunshot wound. Emergency medical services immediately transported him to a local hospital.
The quick response didn’t end with medical aid. U.S. Capitol Police officers, already present in the area, quickly apprehended two suspects near the scene of the shooting. Their intervention proved crucial in containing the situation.
Investigators identified the suspects as a 17-year-old male from Northeast D.C. and a 16-year-old male from Southeast D.C. Both now face charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, marking a significant step in the ongoing investigation.
A search of the area by a Metropolitan Police Department K-9 unit yielded further evidence: a firearm was recovered near the site of the shooting. This discovery adds a critical piece to the puzzle as detectives continue to piece together the events of that afternoon.
While the victim’s injuries were thankfully not life-threatening, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential for violence even in highly visible and secured areas. The investigation remains active as authorities work to understand the full circumstances surrounding the shooting.
