DC man shot and killed by officer after foot chase in Deanwood
Washington, DC – A 25-year-old man was shot and killed by a police officer Monday night in the Deanwood neighborhood following a brief foot chase and physical struggle that ended in gunfire after the suspect reportedly reached for a firearm in his waistband.
Officers from the Sixth District and members of the DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force were patrolling the 4700 block of Minnesota Avenue Northeast around 8 p.m., after recent community concerns about gunfire in the area. During the patrol, officers approached a man later identified as David Warren Childs, who appeared to be armed.
Childs fled on foot, prompting officers to give chase and shout multiple commands for him to stop, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. The pursuit ended in the 1200 block of 47th Place Northeast, where an officer caught up with Childs and attempted to detain him.
Police say a struggle followed, during which the officer gave repeated verbal commands for Childs to show his hands. When Childs reached toward his waistband, the officer fired their weapon, striking him.
EMS was immediately requested, and other officers on scene attempted lifesaving measures. Despite those efforts, Childs was pronounced dead at the scene. A firearm was recovered next to his body and photographed by investigators.
Per department policy, all officers involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave. The shooting is now under review by the Internal Affairs Bureau’s Force Investigations Team. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will also conduct an independent review.
The MPD said body-worn camera footage will be released according to District law.
Childs, a Northeast DC resident, had not been named as a suspect in any specific incident tied to the earlier reports of gunfire, but the area had been under heightened patrol after residents voiced safety concerns at a community meeting one day before the incident.
No officers were reported injured during the encounter. The investigation is ongoing.
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Key Points
- David Warren Childs, 25, was fatally shot during a struggle with police in Deanwood
- Officers say he fled with a firearm before being shot after reaching for his waistband
- The shooting is under review by MPD Internal Affairs and the U.S. Attorney’s Office