A suspect accused of shooting three officers surrendered after an hour-long standoff. The alleged gunman reportedly shot three Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers in Washington, D.C., while they were attempting to serve an arrest warrant for animal cruelty.
The incident unfolded on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, around 7:30 a.m. Officers with the criminal apprehension unit and the Humane Rescue Alliance responded to a home in the 5000 block of Hanna Place SE. They went to serve an arrest warrant on a subject wanted on a charge of cruelty to animals.
Police Chief Pamela Smith claims officers tried to contact the individual inside the home, but he refused. Then, officers tried to go inside the house, and the suspect then fired at them, Smith said. The police claim the suspect fired multiple shots through the door, hitting the three officers.
Consequently, three officers suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds and were reportedly in “good spirits” at local hospitals. A fourth officer got injured but was not shot. The police expect the injured officers to recover, the MPD said to the press. They took the officers to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
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While updating reporters on the standoff, Smith said the injured officers were not facing any “serious, critical injuries.” Also, she said they were doing well. Although a fourth officer sustained injuries, the police claim his injuries weren’t gunshot-related.
Following the shooting, Smith said the suspect fired “a shot here and there” throughout the day. However, she said he remained barricaded in the home. The MPD identified the suspect as 46-year-old Julius James of Southeast, D.C. They arrested him and charged him with cruelty to animals after his surrender.
However, the police noted that additional charges in connection to the officers’ shooting are pending. Police reportedly spent hours negotiating with James. They pointed out that the suspect would become agitated at times. However, he was “very positive at other times,” Smith said.
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During the standoff, Smith revealed the police evacuated some residents in the immediate area from their homes. However, the police chiefs didn’t mention how many people they relocated. Furthermore, police blocked off several neighboring streets and warned the public to stay “far away from the scene.”
Following James’ surrender, Samantha Miller of the Humane Rescue Alliance said they recovered dozens of dogs from his house. “Officers with the Humane Rescue Alliance removed 31 dogs, 20 adults and 11 puppies, from the home,” Miller said.
“The dogs are in the care of HRA at a secure location, where they will be examined and provided with the care they need.” Also, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that President Joe Biden is praying for the officers’ recoveries.
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“This shooting is yet another distressing and painful reminder of the toll gun violence is inflicting on families in our communities and obviously on our nation,” Jean-Pierre said. In addition, she noted that Biden has taken actions to keep guns out of dangerous hands.
Jean-Pierre further noted that the Department of Justice is implementing a new gun law to make communities safer. The shooting comes as Washington, D.C., has seen a sharp rise in violent crime over the past year. According to police data, D.C. saw a 35% increase in homicides and a 67% increase in robberies from 2022 to 2023.
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