Suspect killed in officer-involved shooting during foot chase in Deanwood
WASHINGTON, DC — A 25-year-old man was fatally shot by a Metropolitan Police Department officer Monday night during a confrontation in the Deanwood neighborhood, following a foot pursuit sparked by an armed suspect fleeing from a proactive patrol.
The incident began around 8:00 p.m. on November 17 in the 4700 block of Minnesota Avenue, Northeast, where officers from the Sixth District and the DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force were conducting a patrol in response to recent community concerns about gunfire in the area.
During the patrol, officers observed a man with a firearm tucked in his waistband. When approached, the suspect fled on foot. Officers pursued him and issued repeated commands for him to stop. The chase continued to the 1200 block of 47 Place, Northeast, where an officer caught up to the suspect and a physical struggle occurred.
According to MPD, the suspect did not comply with commands to show his hands and instead reached toward his waistband where the weapon was located. At that point, the officer fired their service weapon, striking the suspect. Officers on the scene rendered emergency aid and called DC Fire and EMS, but the suspect was later pronounced dead.
The suspect has been identified as David Warren Childs, 25, of Northeast, DC. A firearm was recovered at the scene.
Per department policy, all involved officers have been placed on administrative leave. The Internal Affairs Bureau’s Force Investigations Team is leading the investigation, with oversight and an independent review by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The release of any body-worn camera footage will follow D.C. law.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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Key Points
- A 25-year-old man was fatally shot by an MPD officer after fleeing during a patrol in Deanwood
- Officers say the suspect reached for a firearm during a struggle before being shot
- A gun was recovered at the scene and the investigation is ongoing
