Northeast DC

1 person killed in shooting near DC elementary school track meet

A District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletics Association (DCIAA) track meet was being held at the former Spingarn High School when someone opened fire. “I can’t believe it’s actually happening to us,” one mother said.

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One person was killed in a shooting near an elementary school track meet in Northeast D.C. on Tuesday afternoon, school officials told families. No students or staff were reported to have been hurt.

The shooting occurred near the former Spingarn High School. Three nearby schools were put on alert status.

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Someone opened fire in the 800 block of 26th Street NE, near Benning Road, police said. Emergency crews were called to the area just before 2 p.m.

The victim was walking on the sidewalk near Spingarn Track Field when he was approached by three suspects and was shot, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said in a briefing.

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The suspects are being described as three males who were seen fleeing in a vehicle, Smith said. Officers located the vehicle, which was on fire, in the Fort Lincoln area.

MPD said the ATF and the FBI are assisting with the investigation, and police are reviewing surveillance video from the area.

An elementary-age track meet of the District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletics Association (DCIAA) was being held at Spingarn High. Efforts were underway to return all students to their schools, school officials said.

“We thought they were like testing the starting pistol,” said student athlete Erin Schmidt. “[…] Then I glanced at the field and I was like, wait, nobody’s on there.’”

Erin was hoping to run the 200 and the 400, but instead, the 11-year-old and her teammates wound up running for cover. Hundreds of fourth and fifth graders were on the field when bullets started flying.

“After a couple more, my mom and everybody, like all of the adults that were there, were yelling ‘Get down,!” Erin said.

Phelps High School, J.O. Wilson Elementary School and Browne Education Campus were on alert status, a DC Public Schools spokesman said. “All students are safe and accounted for,” he said.

"Sad, scared, worried for anybody that was out there," Erin said.

One mother was headed to see her son compete when she saw police cars speed past.

“I can’t believe it’s actually happening to us,” she said.

Hours later, D.C.’s chief of schools, Kim Jackson, sent a letter home to families informing them that
“[…] no one associated with the meet was involved with the shooting, and for the safety of our students, coaches, and staff, the meet was cancelled and return transportation was coordinated as quickly as possible.”

"It’s a bummer because I really wanted to run and, like, this was the last meet of the year," Erin said.

Anyone who has information that could help with the investigation is being asked to contact police.

“We’re going to do everything we can to find out who these individuals are and we’re going to hold them accountable,” Smith said. “[…] No child should ever have to experience what was experienced on today. Today’s incident is completely unacceptable, during an elementary school track meet.”

Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.

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