Mayor Releases Video of MPD Officer Involved Shooting

From MPD:

“Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser authorized the release of FOIA-exempt body-worn camera (BWC) footage related to the officer-involved, fatal shooting of Sherman Evans, a 63-year-old resident of Northeast DC.

On June 27, 2016, at approximately 10:22 pm, members of the Fourth District of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) responded to a 911 call of a man brandishing a gun. Officers arrived on scene to find Mr. Evans holding a firearm. MPD officers ordered Mr. Evans to drop the gun over the period of several minutes. Mr. Evans refused to comply with numerous demands to drop his weapon. As a result, MPD officers discharged their weapons, shooting Mr. Evans, who was transported to an area hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

An MPD officer who was among the first to arrive at the scene was equipped with a body-worn camera. An additional officer was also equipped with a BWC and captured footage after the shooting. The video released today includes footage from both cameras. The shooting is being separately investigated by MPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The release of the footage has also been deemed in the public interest and is consistent with the goal of the District’s BWC program, including creating broader accountability between law enforcement and communities and maintaining an open and transparent government. The Administration consulted Channing Phillips, the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, and Karl Racine, the Attorney General for the District of Columbia; and notified Kenyan McDuffie, the Chairman of the Council’s Committee on the Judiciary, prior to this release.”

Previously MPD reported:

“Chief of Police Cathy Lanier and Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department responded to a police-involved shooting that occurred on Monday, June 27, 2016, in the 100 block of Varnum Street, Northeast.

At approximately 10:22 pm, MPD officers responded to the location in reference to a man with a gun. Upon arrival, officers encountered an individual holding a weapon. After numerous demands to drop the weapon, the suspect failed to comply and raised the weapon toward the officers. The officers then discharged their service weapons, striking the suspect. The suspect was transported to an area hospital, in critical condition, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

The decedent will be identified once next of kin has been notified.

The suspect’s weapon was recovered on the scene. Investigation revealed the weapon produced by the suspect was a BB Gun.”