A shooting in Southeast D.C. early Sunday left a young father dead and 20 others injured, including an off-duty police officer, after multiple people opened gunfire on a large gathering, police say.
Police Chief Peter Newsham said in a press conference that "hundreds" of people were gathered at 33rd Street and Dubois Place SE for an unsanctioned block party after midnight Sunday when gunmen opened fire.
Christopher Brown, 17, died in the shooting.
“I really don’t understand how my child’s life is just gone,” Brown's mother, Artecka Brown, told News4.
Brown was the father of a 1-year-old boy, and relatives described him as a young man who cared deeply about his family.
Newsham said an off-duty D.C. officer hurt in the shooting was “struggling for her life.”
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Six people were taken to the hospital in critical condition. Others suffered graze wounds, according to police.
Newsham said he believes there were three gunmen with semi-automatic handguns.
“There was some kind of a dispute,” Newsham said. “Multiple weapons were produced.”
Cellphone video posted to Facebook shows the aftermath of the shooting.
A flyer advertised the gathering as an annual block party and cookout, calling it a "drama free" event.
“We can’t tolerate these types of gatherings in our city during COVID-19," Newsham said. “It’s just too dangerous.”
Gatherings of more than 50 people are prohibited in D.C. during the pandemic.
“It’s very important that as a community we have a zero-tolerance for this activity,” Mayor Muriel Bowser said.
Video posted to social media shows people running for their lives.
Police have not yet made any arrests.
This is a developing story. Stay with News4 for updates.
