Person of interest sought after 4 shot in DC; officer struck by car at scene

WASHINGTON - Four men were hospitalized after a shooting in Northwest D.C. The shooting occurred in the area of North Capitol Street and New York Avenue, according to police.

D.C. police responded to the shooting at around 4:24 p.m. Wednesday. Police said the gunman reportedly approached a man outside the Big Ben liquor store and shot him before firing shots at three bystanders.

All four victims were conscious and breathing when they were transported to local hospitals for medical treatment, police said. Their conditions are unknown at this time.

An officer responding to the scene by bicycle suffered non-life-threatening injuries after being struck by a car. He was also taken to a hospital.

"When the sound of gunshots rang out, we had an officer on mountain bike patrol that was about a block away," said D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier. "As he is coming across North Capitol Street to come up to the scene, he is struck by a car. That car did stay on the scene."

Police are on the lookout for a black male suspect with a medium complexion standing 5'6" tall. He was last seen wearing a black mask, a black hoodie, a black Adidas jacket with dark-colored pants.

Tony Fleet said this shooting is not the norm in this neighborhood.

"Overall, it's not a bad community and there is not killings every week," he said.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call D.C. police at 202-727-9099.