Three Metropolitan DC police officers were shot and wounded Wednesday morning serving an animal cruelty warrant. A fourth officer was injured but not by gunfire.
According to Chief Pamela Smith, police arrived at the residence to serve the warrant around 7:30 a.m. Police attempted to gain entry and the suspect fired gunshots.
Three officers were struck by gunfire, all with non-life-threatening wounds to the foot or hand.
At presstime, the suspect remained barricaded inside the residence, Fox 5 reported.
Both Chief Smith and D.C. Mayor Bowser visited the injured officers this morning. "Our officers are in good spirits and appear to be doing okay," Smith said.
The Humane Rescue Alliance released a statement about the early morning incident. The full statement can be read below:
"This morning, the Humane Rescue Alliance and the Metropolitan Police Department were serving an arrest warrant for alleged animal cruelty at a home on the 5000 block of Hanna Place SE. As MPD has reported, three of their officers were struck when the suspect shot through the door. HRA Field Services Director Dan D'Eramo, who was on scene, was not injured.
We cannot reveal additional details at this time, as this is now part of a larger investigation with MPD. As this dynamic situation unfolds, our thoughts are with our partners at MPD who are being treated in the hospital and we are wishing them all the best in their recovery. We could not fulfill our mission without them. We are also concerned for the safety of the officers who remain on scene, the community members who continue to be affected, and the animals whom we were there to protect. We will share more information as we are able."
