Chaos erupted on a DC street where Metropolitan Police Department officers shot a man during a confrontation Monday night, authorities said. The incident, which left the suspect hospitalized with serious injuries, occurred after officers from the Violent Crime Suppression Division spotted him during an alleged altercation and believed he was armed.
According to a press release from the MPD, the chaos broke out in the 2100 block of Bladensburg Road, Northeast around 8:52 p.m. Investigators attempted to intervene when they noticed the man, later identified as Deion Hinnant, 31, of Northeast, DC. Hinnant reportedly fled, ignoring orders to show his hands and, at one point, turned toward officers in a manner that prompted one investigator to open fire.
Hinnant has since been charged with a slew of offenses including Assault on a Police Officer and drug-related charges. Following the shooting, responding officers provided first aid until D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services arrived to rush him to a local hospital. The investigators involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, as per standard policy.
Officials have revealed that the encounter was recorded, and body-worn camera footage will be made public in accordance with District of Columbia law. Meanwhile, the MPD Internal Affairs Division's Force Investigations Team is carrying out a thorough investigation into the shooting. Independent reviews from the United States Attorney’s Office are also expected, as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives contributes to the ongoing investigation.
