2 gunmen fired dozens of shots at US Park Police officer investigating recent shooting

A U.S. Park Police officer who was shot and wounded in Southeast D.C. on Monday night was released from the hospital and is recovering from what authorities say was likely a targeted attack.

Two suspects are in custody and will be charged in the shooting.

The men approached the officer, who was in plainclothes in a white Tesla, and fired dozens of shots at about 7:30 p.m., police said.

The officer was struck in the upper body at least once and did not return fire. He was able to drive from the 5100 block of Queen’s Stroll Place SE, in the Marshall Heights neighborhood, to the intersection of Southern Avenue and Benning Road.

The officer was found by police and taken to a hospital by helicopter.

Multiple law enforcement sources tell News4 that when the officer was shot, he was investigating a shooting that occurred in Anacostia Park on Friday. No one was injured in that shooting.

Metropolitan Police Department Chief Jeffery Carroll told reporters Monday night that the shooters likely targeted the officer.

“What we do know is the officer was targeted inside the vehicle, albeit not a marked police car,” he said.

“We do have some indication that we believe, potentially, they did know he was a police officer, but that will all be part of the ongoing investigation, Carroll added.

Police are executing a search warrant related to the officer shooting and possibly the Anacostia Park shooting as well, sources said.

Sources said the men approached the officer’s car on foot. Their motive is still unclear.