An off-duty FBI special agent shot and killed one Wednesday night after the two fell about eight feet apart in an altercation. subway platform In downtown Washington, officials said.
Metropolitan Police Department Assistant Chief of Police Ashan M. Benedict said at a press conference that the shooting occurred just before 6:30 p.m. at the busy Metro Center station, just a few blocks from the White House. It is the hub of the city’s transportation system and a major transfer point.
Authorities said “one grabbed the other and they both went over the side wall” as the two were standing on the platform. A battle ensued, with agents firing their guns and killing others.
Police said the FBI agent was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Chief Benedict said several shots were fired, although it was unclear how many. He declined to name the agent, saying only that the agent was a “veteran” and was assigned to FBI headquarters. Authorities also did not identify the person killed.
Authorities said no other guns were found at the scene. When asked if the person killed was armed, Chief Benedict said, “We’re still processing the scene.”
Some video evidence is already under investigation, and agents “appear to be victims,” Chief Benedict said.
Megan Gamble, 39, said she was on the Red Line to go to a fundraiser for the DC Abortion Fund when the train passed the Metro Center station. “I could clearly hear gunshots,” she said in an interview.
Without thinking, she and dozens of other passengers fell to the ground as the train passed the station without stopping. It felt like time stood still for two seconds before I fell to the ground.”
“When we realized there was no immediate danger, the passengers on the train started checking in on each other and asking if everyone was okay,” Gamble said. I am very grateful to the train driver who acted swiftly to save me from the accident.”
FBI Washington Branch said in a statement posted on Twitter. He said he was cooperating with the authorities.
“The FBI takes shooting incidents involving investigators or task force members very seriously,” the FBI said. “In accordance with FBI policy, the shooting is under investigation by the FBI’s Office of Inspectors.”
The train had bypassed the Metro Center station, as authorities investigated.red line train I was running on a single track.
The shooting comes five days after an FBI special agent was acquitted of attempted murder after shooting a passenger while on a Red Line train in 2020. According to CNN.
In April, the Metro Traffic Police announced it would increase its police presence on trains and buses to make public transport safer. according to the agency.
