WASHINGTON — Police have identified the man shot dead by a police officer in D.C.'s NoMa neighborhood Wednesday following a mental health crisis call. Investigators did not identify the officer, but said they are a 31-year veteran of the department.
On Thursday, DC Police investigators said the man shot and killed was 41-year-old Clifford Brooks of Northeast D.C.
Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said officers first responded to a mental health crisis call in the 2500 block of Benning Road Northeast around 6:45 a.m. One of the responding officers was a trained crisis intervention officer. After speaking with Brooks for nearly two hours, Brooks decided to go to an area hospital.
While on his way to the hospital in an ambulance, Smith said Brooks became combative and assaulted the medical personnel inside, pinning a paramedic against an inside wall. The paramedic broke free and slipped out the side door in the area of North Capitol Street and New York Avenue, Northwest. Brooks followed the paramedic outside.
Smith said officers who were following behind the ambulance attempted to bring the man into custody by giving him commands, which Brooks ignored. One officer used pepper spray on the man, but Smith said it "did not take effect." More officers were called to the scene.
Brooks then ran into traffic and crawled under a truck on North Capitol Street. He emerged a short time later with a metal object in his hands. Smith said police are still investigating what the object was. Officers gave Brooks several commands to drop what was in his hands and he did not.
Police said Brooks charged toward the officer, swinging the metal object at him and grabbing at him. That's when Smith said one of the officers fired at the man. Brooks was struck and later died from the gunshot wound.
>Watch the full news conference below:
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According to Smith, no other significant injuries were reported.
The case is now under investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office. The unidentified officer who fired their weapon has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the shooting investigation, as is protocol.
Police say the officer was wearing his body camera. Body-worn camera footage will be released pursuant to District of Columbia law.
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