WASHINGTON — Three DC Police officers who were shot Wednesday while attempting to serve an arrest warrant in Southeast – sparking a day-long barricade situation – were released from the hospital on Thursday.
Dozens of officers and supporters lined up along both sides of the exit at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, giving the injured officers a standing ovation and a send off as they came down a red carpet of sorts as the three men got to return home.
DC Police Chief Pamela A. Smith spoke to reporters at the hospital after her officers headed home.
"We know that they have a long recovery ahead of them, but whenever we have these types of situations that occur ... it's a good feeling when we can see our officers walking out of the hospital or even going out in a wheelchair."
Smith said the officers being released from the hospital were feeling good.
"The spirits was pretty high," Smith said. "One of them shouted out to me, 'Don't worry, chief, we'll be right back!'"
The ordeal began around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday in Southeast D.C.
Officers responded to the 5000 block of Hanna Place, Southeast – near KIPP DC LEAP Academy – to serve a search warrant for animal cruelty to Julius James, 46. Smith said he refused to come out and fired at officers through the door.
James barricaded himself inside the home and continued to fire shots, the chief said. Several nearby schools and one day care center were on lockdown or secure status for the whole day as a precaution.
At 3 p.m. police said James was still barricaded inside his home, periodically firing shots.
At 8:30 p.m., DC Police confirmed that James surrendered and the day-long barricade was over.
The police department said many as 30 dogs were recovered from the property where James had barricaded himself – 11 of which were puppies.
On Thursday, Smith said she expects him to be charged with assault on police officers in addition to the animal cruelty case.
While WUSA9 had cameras there to see the officers be released from the hospital, the officers who were shot have not been identified by the department.
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