WASHINGTON — The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer who shot and killed 26-year-old Vedo Hall will not face charges, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.
Police say a barricade situation unfolded at an apartment in the 1100 block of Mississippi Avenue in Southeast for several hours after a woman was reportedly being held against her will by her ex-boyfriend, later identified as Hall. Officers claim Hall was inside the home, holding a "long gun" with a drum-style magazine attached to it.
According to a release from the attorney's office, officers knocked on the apartment door and announced "police." Hall reportedly replied "I'm about to shoot" and the woman inside the home was heard saying “please don’t! please don’t!” Officers claim Hall opened the door and told officers he was about to shoot while holding a rifle.
Police say MPD's Emergency Response Team eventually made it inside the apartment but found it empty. Officers say a window was found open and the screen had been pushed out. Investigators determined Hall and his ex-girlfriend had run from the apartment.
Hall and his ex-girlfriend were found hours later outside the Congress Heights Metro station on Alabama Avenue. Officers claim Hall was holding a large cardboard box in front of him. Investigators say Hall began to back away from police but then drew a rifle from the cardboard box he was holding. His ex-girlfriend screamed and ran away.
According to a release from the attorney's office, the officer yelled for Hall to stop and "put it down" before Hall allegedly took a shooting stance and pointed the rifle at the officer. The officer then shot at Hall twice, hitting him once in the face and once in the leg.
Hall died from a gunshot wound to the head, according to the attorney's office.
The U.S. Attorney's Office and MPD worked together to investigate the deadly shooting. The team says they interviewed witnesses, reviewed recorded audio communications, body-worn camera footage and medical reports.
Investigators announced Thursday that there is insufficient evidence to prove that the officers used excessive force with Hall.
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