Washington:
Three people were injured after a gunman opened fire with an automatic weapon in an upmarket area of the US capital.
Washington’s
Van Ness neighborhood
on Connecticut Avenue went under lockdown after the mid-afternoon shooting and residents were evacuated as the police hunted for a gunman.
Assistant Police Chief Stuart Immerman said three people had been taken to hospital, including two adults in serious but stable condition and a girl with bullet injuries.
Immerman said police did not have any suspects in custody and were searching homes and apartment buildings in the area. “We have no motive at this point of time. We have sealed off the neighborhood,” he said.
Neighborhood residents could be seen being evacuated by police, who surrounded the area with dozens of heavily armed officers. Several ambulances were also present at the spot.
Social media videos showed recordings of automatic gunfire near a secondary school and a university in the neighborhood, which also houses several embassies.
Police were seen pointing weapons at an apartment building as they escorted residents from the area where the shooting took place.
The University of the District of Columbia, across the street from the shooting location, went into lockdown.
“Active shooting incident near student residence located on Van Ness Street/Connecticut Avenue NW. The suspect is currently out. Law enforcement is at the scene. Take shelter and stay in place until further notice,” the school said in a statement on Twitter.
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