A Washington, DC police officer was killed Wednesday after he was shot while trying to retrieve a gun from a sewer.
The Metropolitan Police Department said Investigator Wayne David has been with the department for more than 25 years.
“Investigator David was the epitome of a great officer. He was a dedicated and highly respected member of the department, and this is a tremendous loss for all of us,” Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said in a statement.
Killed while attempting to recover a discarded firearm
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, on the afternoon of August 28, David was part of a group of officers searching a street in the Kenilworth neighborhood of northeast Washington, D.C., when they attempted to approach a man who was exiting a nearby vehicle. Officers attempted to approach the man, who was observed throwing a firearm into a nearby sewer before fleeing the area on a motorcycle.
While attempting to retrieve the weapon, a shot went off and David was hit once. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he later died.
Jeffrey Carroll, deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, said at a press conference Wednesday evening: “Wayne is a true hero for the District of Columbia tonight. Today he gave his life to serve the visitors and residents here in the District of Columbia, and we will never forget that. This is considered a death in the line of duty.”
The incident remains under investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to a report by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 71 police officers died in the line of duty as of June 30, 2024. These figures also include two additional cases of accidental shootings.
Max Hauptman is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]
