DC Police Shooting Suspect Wanted for Violent Crimes in MD: Police

Police say a man who opened fire on D.C. officers was wanted in Maryland for attempted murder, attempted sex assault and arson

A man accused of shooting at D.C. police officers on Wednesday is the same man wanted for a multitude of violent crimes in Prince George's County, police said.

D.C. police said Richard Butler III, 34, opened fire on a police vehicle about 5:45 p.m. Wednesday in the 600 block of Mellon Street, SE, just off Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue.

Butler was charged with assault on a police officer.

News4's Jackie Bensen confirmed the suspect is the same Richard Butler III wanted for attempted first-degree murder, second-degree sex offense, arson and other charges in Prince George's County.

A D.C. police officer was on patrol Wednesday when he recognized Butler from the Prince George's County police warrant.

He and another officer tried to stop Butler and chased him on foot when Butler took out a gun and started shooting, police said. The officers fired back and no one was hurt, police said.

Butler tried to sexually assault a young girl he knew March 4 at a Hyattsville apartment, police said. According to police, he later threw an incendiary device through the window of the victim's apartment, sparking a fire. No one was injured.

Three days later, Butler confronted his girlfriend outside a home in Upper Marlboro. Butler allegedly stabbed the victim multiple times before running away. The victim was seriously injured, police said.

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