WASHINGTON: A teenage boy was shot Friday afternoon in Southwest Washington in an incident that also left damage to a window at the National Air and Space Museum.
Shortly before 2 p.m., authorities say, the victim — believed to be 17 years old — and another person were walking in the 200 block of 6th Street SW when an argument escalated and gunfire erupted. Multiple rounds struck the boy, and then he ran into the nearby Graduate School USA building on Maryland Avenue, where he was found by responding officers.
He was conscious and breathing when transported to a local hospital; police have said his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
Investigators report that at least one bullet shattered a window of the museum, though it did not pass fully through. The museum’s Independence Avenue entrance was closed temporarily, and 6th Street SW between Maryland Avenue and E Street was shut down as officials worked to secure the area. The institution itself remained open, with access limited while repairs and investigations were underway.
A van being used by a group of Spanish tourists was also struck and damaged, with a bullet shattering the rear windows. The tourists were eating lunch and not in the vehicle.
Officials say the suspect fled south on foot. At this time no arrests have been reported. Law enforcement agencies including the D.C. Metropolitan Police, U.S. Park Police, and the Federal Protective Service responded to the scene.
The shooting occurred in a heavily trafficked part of the city, surrounded by federal buildings, schools, and hotels, and lined with tour buses. The area is a routine destination for visitors on the National Mall.
The case remains under examination as city officials and museum staff assess both security measures and physical damage in the aftermath.
