DC Interns Shot With Paintballs After Fire Alarm Goes Off

A shooter armed with a paintball gun opened fire on a group of interns late Sunday as they stood outside their residence hall near Union Station, they told police.

Six people were bruised and cut after someone in a car began shooting the paintball gun outside The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars' residential facility in the NoMa neighborhood, a police report says.

Patrick Kalie was hit in the ribs on his left side. 

"I leaned over and touched [the place the paintball hit] and was like 'Ah! It's wet. I was shot,'" he said. "Then I looked at my hand and it was green paint, and I've never been so happy in my life to see green paint."

The interns went outside about 11:30 p.m. Sunday after a fire alarm sounded in their building on the 1000 block of 3rd Street NE, the report says.

They were standing across from the building when someone in a white Dodge Charger began shooting, they told police.

The interns were terrified the shooter was opening fire on them with a real gun, Kalie said.

"People hit the floor immediately," he said. "People were very confused."

Six people were struck with paintballs, with one victim hit in the eye, causing swelling, the police report says. A photo obtained by News4 shows a dark bruise one of the residents received. All six people refused medical help.

The car fled westbound on K Street NE, according to the report, which classifies the incident as a simple assault.

Information on a suspect was not available immediately.

The Washington Center connects college students with internships, among other offerings. 

Administrators said in a statement that they are increasing security and "referring students to professional counselors as needed."

Stay with News4 for more details on this developing story.