An off-duty FBI agent fatally shot a person on a crowded Washington D.C. train platform in the course of the evening rush Wednesday, police said.
The special agent and the person tussled with each other, falling eight feet off the platform contained in the Metro Center Station around 6:20 p.m. before the agent fired several times at the person, killing him, DC police said during a press conference.
DC Executive Assistant Chief of Police Ashan Benedict said the person who was killed appeared to have began the altercation and that agent, who he described as a “veteran,” is believed to be the victim.
The person “assaulted” the agent and the pair got right into a struggle. One grabbed the opposite and each tumbled over a wall to a lower walkway away from the tracks, Benedict said.
The brawl continued on the lower level until the off-duty agent took out his gun and shot the opposite man, he said.
It’s unclear if the person who was killed had a firearm. No gun was recovered by the point the press conference was held about two hours later.
The agent was taken to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
The sound of gunfire echoing through the busy station created panic amongst commuters and suspended service along the Red Line.
Witnesses said they saw dozens of individuals sprinting out of the station and straphangers drop to the bottom upon hearing shots, in response to social media reports.
No less than one train continued straight through the station without stopping, apparently after the conductor heard the shots.
“Really grateful for the fast response & thoughtful attention by our rail operator tonight whose response during tonight’s police involved shooting at @wmata Metro Center kept customers from potential danger,” Metro General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke tweeted.
DC police are leading the investigation into the shooting with the help of the FBI.
