A family says they want answers after an off-duty officer shot and killed a man. Family and friends gathered Friday night to remember the father of a young daughter. News4’s Shomari Stone reports.
Police still don't know what led to a deadly shooting involving an off-duty officer, but investigators say there may have been an exchange of gunfire between the officer and the victim.
Metropolitan Police Department Chief Peter Newsham told reporters the off-duty officer was not in his uniform when he shot D'Quan Young on the 2300 block of 15th Street NE, near the Brentwood Recreation Center. Newsham said multiple agencies were working in the area about 7 p.m. when they heard the gunshots and responded.
Officers found Young suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead, Newsham said.
The officer, who has not been identified, has hired a lawyer, but he hasn't been interviewed yet, Newsham said during a news conference Friday.
Newsham said the officer was in the neighborhood for a cookout, but authorities still don't know what led up to the shooting.
The officer used his service weapon during the incident. Young was also armed, he said.
"We recovered a weapon from the man who had been killed," Newsham said.
Police are reviewing surveillance footage from the recreation center, but they have not found footage of the shooting yet. Newsham said investigators are also seeking footage from private surveillance cameras in the area.
Neighbors said it was a chaotic scene when the off-duty officer fired multiple shots.
"He started spraying bullets all around. Bullet holes in people's tires, bumpers and stuff. Like, he was just firing shots...he shot the neighborhood up," witness Andy Williams told News4.
"I want to know how many times my son was shot. Why he had to be gunned down and where he was shot at and why. I just want to know why," said Young's mother, Catherine Young.
