Police are looking for a person who shot and killed two people and injured five others in Washington D.C

Police in Washington D.C. are on the hunt for a gunman responsible for a tragic shooting incident that claimed the lives of two people and left five others injured on Sunday morning.

During a brief press briefing, Executive Assistant Chief Jeffrey Carroll of the D.C. Metropolitan Police informed the public that officers responded to reports of a shooting at the intersection of 7th and P Streets in the northwestern part of the city at approximately 3 a.m. on Sunday.

The shooting occurred in close proximity to prominent landmarks such as the White House and the National Mall, near the Kennedy Recreation Center. All the victims of the shooting were adults, although their identities have not yet been disclosed by authorities. Neither has any information regarding the motive behind the shooting nor the circumstances leading up to it been provided.

According to officials, the suspect was last observed fleeing the scene in a southerly direction. Assistant Chief Carroll urged anyone with relevant information or who may have witnessed the incident to come forward and assist the D.C. Metropolitan Police in their investigation. Additional details regarding the incident are expected to be released by the department later on Sunday.

This tragic event occurs against the backdrop of a surge in crime within the nation’s capital. In 2023, Washington D.C. experienced a significant increase of 40% in violent crimes and a 35% rise in homicides. This escalation in criminal activity prompted the Department of Justice to allocate additional resources in January to support law enforcement efforts in the district.