Late Tuesday night in Northeast Washington, a 3-year-old boy was grazed by a bullet on the 1700 block of Benning Road NE and rushed to the hospital, after a shooting that turned a routine weeknight into a crime scene. Officers found the child with an injury to his ear, and he was conscious and breathing as police moved in and detectives launched an investigation.
According to WJLA, officers responded at about 9:50 p.m. and discovered the wounded toddler, who was then taken to a hospital for treatment. Police have not released any suspect information, and investigators were out canvassing the block late into the night, asking anyone who saw or heard anything to speak up.
Police asking neighbors to share tips
The Metropolitan Police Department is urging residents with information, photos or video from the area to contact the department so detectives can track down whoever pulled the trigger. Tipsters can reach the Metropolitan Police Department at 202-727-9099 or text 50411 to send information directly to investigators.
The Benning Road corridor has seen several shootings recently, and heavy police response earlier this week underscored how on-edge the neighborhood has been. Police are reminding residents not to confront any potential suspects and to share any surveillance or cellphone footage straight with officers.
Context for residents
Long-running incidents along Benning Road, along with body-camera controversies tied to traffic stops and shootings, have kept the corridor in the headlines, as reported by The Washington Post. For now, officials are holding back on additional details about Tuesday night’s shooting and say they will share more with the public as the investigation moves forward.
