Current:Home > ScamsWashington DC police officer killed while attempting to retrieve discarded firearm -ProgressCapital
Washington DC police officer killed while attempting to retrieve discarded firearm
View
Date:2025-04-24 17:34:31
A Washington, D.C. police officer was killed Wednesday after he was shot while trying to retrieve a weapon from a storm drain.
The Metropolitan Police Department said that Investigator Wayne David had been with the department for more than 25 years.
“Investigator David was the epitome of a great officer. He was a dedicated and highly respected member of the department, and this is a tremendous loss for all of us,” Metropolitan Police Department Chief of Police Pamela Smith said in a statement.
Killed while attempting to recover discarded firearm
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, David was among a group of police officers canvassing a street in northeast Washington D.C.’s Kenilworth neighborhood on the afternoon of August 28, when they attempted to approach a man exiting a nearby vehicle. The officers attempted to approach the man, who was seen discarding a firearm in a nearby storm drain before fleeing the area on a motorcycle.
While attempting to recover the weapon, it discharged, striking David once. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died.
Metropolitan Police Department Executive Chief Assistant Jeffrey Carroll said Wednesday evening at a press conference that, “Wayne is a true hero to the District of Columbia tonight. Today, he gave his life to serve the visitors and the residents here in the District of Columbia, and we will never forget that. This is considered a line-of-duty death.”
The incident remains under investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to a report compiled by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 71 law enforcement officers had died in the line of duty in 2024 as of June 30. Those numbers included two other instances of accidental shootings.
Max Hauptman is a Trending Reporter for USA TODAY. He can be reached at MHauptman@gannett.com
veryGood! (65)
Related
- Meet 11-year-old skateboarder Zheng Haohao, the youngest Olympian competing in Paris
- Michigan State Police trooper killed when struck by vehicle during traffic stop
- Rauw Alejandro, Peso Pluma, Maluma headline Sueños 2024, Chicago's Latino music festival
- Defending champion Sabalenka beats US Open winner Gauff to reach Australian Open final
- Olympic disqualification of gold medal hopeful exposes 'dark side' of women's wrestling
- Danish report underscores ‘systematic illegal behavior’ in adoptions of children from South Korea
- Voters got a call from Joe Biden telling them to skip the New Hampshire primary. It was fake.
- Swedish PM says he’s willing to meet Hungary’s Orban to end deadlock over Sweden’s NATO membership
- Organizers cancel Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna over fears of an attack
- Alaska charter company pays $900k after guide caused wildfire by not properly extinguishing campfire
Ranking
- 'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
- US expresses concerns over Sri Lanka’s controversial internet regulation law
- Water service restored to rural Tennessee town a week after winter storm, sub-freezing temperatures
- Here's how much the typical American pays in debt each month
- Meta releases AI model to enhance Metaverse experience
- Justin Timberlake will perform a free concert in New York City: How to score tickets
- New York Philharmonic set to play excerpts from 'Maestro' with Bradley Cooper appearance
- It's Apple Macintosh's 40th birthday: How the historic computer compares with tech today
Recommendation
US Open player compensation rises to a record $65 million, with singles champs getting $3.6 million
Vermont wants to fix income inequality by raising taxes on the rich
Witness says fatal shooting of American-Palestinian teen in the occupied West Bank was unprovoked
Melanie, Emmy-winning singer-songwriter whose career launched at Woodstock, dies at 76
Mega Millions winning numbers for August 6 drawing: Jackpot climbs to $398 million
What's the best food from Trader Joe's? Shoppers' favorite items revealed in customer poll
Antisemitic acts have risen sharply in Belgium since the Israel-Hamas war began
Harrowing helicopter rescue saves woman trapped for hours atop overturned pickup in swollen creek