A deadly shooting occured in Southeast Washington DC Sunday morning.
Police say 21 people were shot, 11 of them women.
The shooting left a 17-year-old dead, and an off-duty police officer struggling for her life.
ABC News has the story:
A 17-year-old was killed and an off-duty police officer was "struggling for her life," after they, and many others, were shot during a large gathering in southeast Washington D.C. early Sunday morning, police said.
The incident took place at 33rd Street and Dubois Place at around 12:30 a.m. where over 100 people had gathered, D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham told reporters at a news conference. During the gathering, a dispute broke out and "multiple weapons were produced," by at least three individuals and they opened fire into the crowd, Newsham said.
In total, 21 people were shot, 11 of whom were women and two of whom were teens, police said. One of the teens, Christopher Brown, 17, was pronounced dead, according to Newsham.
"Just an innocent kid's life taken away," Artecka Brown said of her son.
The D.C. Fire Department said nine of the victims transported to hospitals suffered serious to critical wounds.
Tragically, 17-year-old Christopher Brown was the teenager pronounced dead Sunday.
The young man was a father to a 1-year-old, and had another child on the way.
WUSA9 with more on this tragedy:
WASHINGTON — The mass shooting of 21 people at a DC party is calling into question the issue with large gatherings during the pandemic. Some neighbors want police to do more.
DC Police Chief Peter Newsham said Sunday that hundreds gathered at the 3300 block of Dubois Place, Southeast Friday into Saturday. It defied the mayor's order to limit groups to 50 people.
The chief said it's a trend happening throughout the DMV — and unfortunately, this one ended tragically.
A 17-year-old father, Christopher Brown, was shot to death when police said at least three gunmen opened fire at around 12:20 a.m. Saturday. A female off-duty officer was also seriously injured. Chief Newsham said 19 others sustained non-life threatening injuries.
“Nobody can predict that a shooting like this is going to happen at a gathering like this, but we can’t have these large gatherings in the city," Chief Newsham said at a press conference Sunday.
Despite community members circulating flyers advertising the block party days before, police said organizers did not have a permit for the party.
WUSA9 reached out to confirm if the organizer had requested a permit but did not hear back Sunday.
The Mayor's COVID-19 guidelines prohibit groups larger than 50, with a possible fine of up to $1,000 for violating it.
“It’s important as a community that we have a zero-tolerance for this kind of activity," Mayor Bowser said Sunday.
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