By Joanna Putman
Police1
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department has released body camera footage of an officer-involved shooting of a man who grabbed an officer’s service weapon, WTOP reported.
The shooting occurred on Sept. 1 after police responded to a crash at a McDonald’s, according to the report. Officers arrived to find a man unresponsive in his vehicle, which had crashed into the restaurant. Police said a firearm was visible on the man’s lap.
In the body camera video, the man can be seen partially lowering his driver’s side window as he regained consciousness and officers surrounded the car. One officer placed his service weapon through the window while repeatedly shouting commands for the man to raise his hands and not touch the weapon.
“He’s grabbing the officer’s weapon,” Chief Pamela Smith said, describing the footage. “There is an exchange of words and the officer … discharges his weapon.”
Two officers fired approximately 12 shots at the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
The incident is under investigation by the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department’s Force Investigation Team, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for D.C. set to review whether any laws were violated, according to the report. The department’s internal affairs division will also determine if the officers followed department policies.
The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.
“Any loss of life is a tragic outcome for the family and for our community,” Smith said during a news conference on Sept. 9.