A woman has died and multiple people were injured in a shooting inside a Northwest Washington, D.C., hotel early Thursday when gunfire erupted during a party, police said.
Police were called to the 4400 block of Connecticut Avenue, in the Van Ness area, about 3:30 a.m. for reports of gunshots. Multiple victims were found inside the Days Inn hotel, Bedlion said.
Five men and women were injured in the shooting, Second District Commander Duncan Bedlion said. Some were taken to hospitals by ambulance and others took themselves.
One woman who works at a bakery nearby described the scene.
“I saw a person on a gurney coming out of the hotel getting put into an ambulance that then got escorted by a police officer. As I was locking up my bike, more and more cops just kept coming,” she said.
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A swarm of police officers and emergency vehicles, including a K-9 unit, were seen between Albemarle and Yuma streets. That block is a commercial area with some residences, and several apartment buildings are located on surrounding streets.
Police were seen coming in and out of the Days Inn. Bedlion said the members of the community have complained about the hotel before.
“We receive complaints related to drug activity and that’s something we actively work to address with the community,” Bedlion said.
MPD initially reported only a shooting and issued an update saying said the woman died and three other women were injured. Then, a watch commander told News4 that no fatalities were confirmed. MPD later issued a correction and said the woman was gravely injured. Finally, D.C. police told News4 that the woman was declared dead.
Connecticut Avenue was blocked in both directions by the police investigation. It reopened after 7 a.m.
Police didn’t immediately detail what may have led to the shooting.
There was no lookout for a potential suspect.
Stay with News4 for more on this developing story.
