A man is recovering in the hospital after a Wednesday shooting in the Washington Highlands neighborhood of Southeast Washington, D.C., according to police. Authorities said he drove himself to an area hospital, where he was treated for injuries described as non-life-threatening, while officers stayed in the neighborhood to search for witnesses and video.
Initial calls brought officers to the 600 block of Mississippi Avenue SE, while the gunfire was reported in the 800 block of Xenia Street SE near KIPP DC - Legacy College Preparatory, DC News Now reported. The outlet noted that the man sought medical care on his own and that detectives are working to pin down the timeline of the shooting.
Police response and scene details
The Metropolitan Police Department said officers responded to reports of gunfire and canvassed the surrounding blocks. When they first checked the reported scene, they found no victim, according to the department. Detectives began collecting evidence and looking for surveillance or doorbell video that might have captured the shooting or the moments before and after it. Officers also urged residents who saw or heard anything to come forward.
School and neighborhood context
KIPP DC - Legacy College Preparatory is listed at 3999 8th Street SE, placing the campus a short distance from the reported Xenia Street block, according to DC Schools. The incident unfolded in a residential stretch of Washington Highlands where neighbors and local groups have been closely watching an uptick in violence.
Recent violence in Southeast D.C.
The Washington Highlands area was also the site of a deadly early-morning shooting last month, a case that rattled the same part of Southeast and renewed calls for solutions to gun violence, according to reporting on a deadly 2 a.m. shooting. Elsewhere in Southeast this month, three people - including two juveniles - were injured in a separate shooting, as FOX 5 reported.
How to help
Investigators are asking anyone with information about the latest case to call the MPD tip line at 202-727-9099 or to text a tip to 50411, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. Detectives say doorbell, dash camera, or other video from the area could be useful as they work to piece together what happened.
As of the initial reports from DC News Now, no arrests had been announced and the investigation remained active. Police said they expect to release additional details as detectives develop leads and follow up on tips.
