At least one shot was fired near the World War II Memorial Tuesday afternoon, U.S. Park Police confirmed -- and a driver believed to be involved was charged with leading police on a dangerous chase.
At least one shot was fired inside a Hyundai parked near Independence Avenue and 17th Street SW, off the National Mall, about 2:30 p.m., police said in an update Wednesday afternoon. Men were seen fighting in the backseat of the car when a window blew out and the car took off.
The car with New York license plates headed north on Rock Creek Parkway, and then a gun, a Yankees baseball cap and bloody rags were found along the way, near the Kennedy Center.
Driver Maurice Holmes, 30, was arrested and charged with fleeing to elude law enforcement. Police spotted the white car with New York license plates on Rock Creek Parkway about 4:40 p.m., police said. An officer turned on the patrol car's flashing lights and tried to stop the car near Piney Branch Parkway and Beach Drive NW, but the Holmes refused to stop, police said.
Police said Holmes then sped more than a mile west, veered into opposing traffic and nearly hit oncoming cars. He finally came to a sudden stop at Connecticut Avenue and Van Ness Street NW, about six miles north of the initial scene, police said.
Holmes appeared in court Wednesday, was released and is set to appear again August 25, according to court records.
About an hour later, just after 6 p.m., police questioned a second man on Monroe Street NW who is believed to have been in the Hyundai. He was released without charges and is being treated as a witness, police said.
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
A third man is being actively sought. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact U.S. Park Police at 202-610-8737 or by emailing uspp_tipline@nps.gov.
