3 police officers shot in Washington, DC; suspect surrenders after standoff

Three police officers were injured Wednesday when they were shot by a man who barricaded himself in a home in Southeast D.C., according to the Washington Metropolitan Police Department.

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The officers were helping to serve an arrest warrant when they were shot. They were taken to a hospital with injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening, officials said.

“This remains an active scene and for your safety, we ask that you stay away from the area,” police said Wednesday morning in a social media post.

Suspect surrenders to police

Update 11:04 p.m. EST Feb. 14: A man who barricaded himself in a Washington, D.C. home and shot three police officers surrendered at about 8:30 p.m. EST, authorities said.

According to a news release from Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department, Julius James, 46, of Washington, was arrested and charged with cruelty to animals. Additional charges for the assault on the officers are pending, the release stated.

A fourth officer sustained injuries that were not gunshot-related, police said.

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Negotiations with barricaded man continue

Update 2:40 p.m. EST Feb. 14: Police Chief Pamela Smith said that negotiations continued Wednesday afternoon with a man who opened fire on police as they were serving an arrest warrant at a home in Southeast D.C. earlier in the day.

“Sometimes he’s up, sometimes he’s down, but we are still in communication with the subject,” she said.

The chief added that she and Mayor Muriel Bowser visited the three officers who were hospitalized after being injured in the shooting.

“The officers are in good spirits,” she said. “They seem to be doing OK.”

Gunman shot through door as officers were serving arrest warrant, group says

Update 1:45 p.m. EST Feb. 14: A man shot through the door of a home in Southeast D.C. on Wednesday morning as officers and members of the Humane Rescue Alliance were serving an arrest warrant, according to a statement issued by the animal welfare group.

Three police officers were struck by gunfire and taken to get medical care. Officials said they were expected to survive their injuries.

Officers were shot in foot, hand, chief says

Update 11:55 a.m. EST Feb. 14: Police Chief Pamela Smith told reporters on Wednesday that three officers who were injured while serving an arrest warrant at a house in Southeast D.C. were hit in their feet and hands.

Police were working to identify the man who barricaded himself on Wednesday morning. It was not immediately clear whether he was the man who was being served with an arrest warrant for a charge of cruelty to animals.

Animal rescue group shares well wishes for injured officers

Update 11:30 a.m. EST Feb. 14: In a statement obtained by WUSA, officials with the Human Rescue Alliance shared thoughts and well wishes for the three officers taken to a hospital following Wednesday morning’s shooting.

Officials said that the officers were helping the group to serve an arrest warrant for animal cruelty when a man opened fire on them. The Human Rescue Alliance said that its field services director was at the scene, though he was not injured, WUSA reported.

“Our thoughts are with our partners at MPD who are being treated in the hospital and we are wishing them all the best in their recovery,” the group said. “We could not fulfill our mission without them. We are also concerned for the safety of the officers who remain on scene, the community members who continue to be affected, and the animals whom we were there to protect.”

Authorities have asked people to steer clear of the area as negotiators continue working to get the man who opened fire on police to surrender peacefully. He remained barricaded as of Wednesday morning.

Shooting happened while officers served arrest warrant for animal cruelty

Update 10:30 a.m. EST Feb. 14: Police Chief Pamela Smith told WUSA that officers were helping the Humane Rescue Alliance to serve an arrest warrant for animal cruelty around 7:30 a.m. when a man barricaded himself inside a home and began firing at officers.

Smith said a fourth officer was also treated for minor injuries after the shooting.

On Wednesday morning, she told WTTG that the situation remained ongoing, as the gunman “continues to fire from this location.”

Three police officers were injured. Their wounds did not appear to be life-threatening.

Original report: Several roads have been closed due to the shooting, which happened in the 5000 block of Hanna Place SE.

The incident happened as authorities were trying to serve an arrest warrant, The Washington Post reported. A person barricaded themselves in a home and fired several shots toward officers, according to WRC-TV.

Authorities continue to investigate.

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