Washington, D.C., police are investigating the possibility that an officer wounded in a shootout with a man was struck by gunfire from a fellow officer, the Washington Post reports. Officials cautioned that the inquiry is in its opening stages and that no conclusion has been reached. Offficials said both the gunman, who was killed by police, and the responding officers were armed with 9-millimeter handguns. They said the bullet that struck the officer, who had graduated from the academy three weeks earlier, can’t be removed for medical reasons, so a comparison cannot be made.
Paris Lewbel, a police spokesman, said that the officer was struck once and that the man who was killed, Arthur Porter, 33, was hit multiple times “as he fired shots toward officers.” Police said officers had responded to calls about a man with a gun who was arguing with two women. The officers confronted him and he ran, shooting at them during a pursuit. At least two officers fired their weapons. On Monday, two police officials said the officer who was wounded did not fire his gun. Officials said body-camera footage from the officers shows a running gun battle and that it is not clear who fired the bullet that hit the officer.