WASHINGTON — Several people were shot, including a 13-year-old boy, in Southeast D.C. near a convenience store Tuesday morning, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.
Officers responded to the reported shooting just before 9 a.m. at the 2200 block of Alabama Avenue in Southeast.
Police said five victims were hurt during the shooting at Alabama Plaza. Two women were shot in the lower body, a man was also shot in the lower body, another man was shot in the upper torso (in critical but stable condition) and a 13-year-old boy was shot and driven to the hospital. The victims are all said to be conscious and breathing and are expected to survive, police said.
D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee was also at the scene alongside detectives investigating the scene.
"It's unacceptable for someone to shoot into a crowd of people at 8:38 in the morning, that's unacceptable," Chief Contee said. "Whoever did this has terrified this community."
Police released a video of a person of interest in the shooting Tuesday evening.
The events leading up to the shooting and whether the gunman was targeting a specific person are unknown at this time.
Police have not released any information on the identities of the victims, but one of the business owners WUSA9 spoke with said an employee of Alabama Convenience who was sweeping the sidewalk at the time was shot.
Another witness said he started comforting a lady who just left an early childhood learning center from around the corner.
Taurus Phillips of FP2 Barbershop said he just got out of his vehicle when he watched the gunman turn the corner of the shopping center and began firing shots at innocent bystanders. He had to duck for cover behind his vehicle and witnessed the gunman run past him on Savannah Place.
"I was hoping that he didn't think that I saw him shoot somebody, but I also thought about it in my mind if should I tackle him but I said no," Phillips said. "I ducked for cover until he passed by."
Police are on the lookout for a man about 5'5-5'7 tall in a black hoodie, wearing gray sneakers and blue jeans.
If you have information, call 202-727-9099 or text police anonymously at 50411 with any tips.
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