A mental heath crisis turned deadly in the nation's capital Wednesday after the victim assaulted a medic, jumped out of an ambulance and threatened officers.
A specially trained police officer had spoken with the man for more than two hours before he agreed to go to a hospital for treatment, WRC reported.
But during the ride to the hospital, he reportedly became agitated and assaulted the lone female firefighter/medic. The unrestrained man then jumped out of the ambulance and ran away.
The crisis intervention officer who was following the ambulance quickly called for help.
An officer sprayed him in an attempt to stop him, but he continued running through morning rush hour traffic. Eventually, he was found hiding under a truck.
He emerged holding a “metal object raised in his hand,” Chief of Police Pamela Smith said during a press conference.
Police ordered him to drop the item. But, he didn't. The officer who earlier had tried to calm him down was the one who pulled the trigger.
The EMS crew immediately treated the man for his wounds but he did not survive.
“This is a tragic situation, and our condolences go to the family,” D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly said.
The medic and a police officer were treated at the scene for minor injuries.
The officer was placed on leave after the shooting.
First responders began to take the man to a hospital via ambulance for treatment, with the crisis officer following behind in his cruiser. During the ambulance ride, the man became agitated and assaulted a woman firefighter/paramedic who was alone with him inside the ambulance. The man was not in custody or handcuffed at the time.
The man jumped out of the ambulance and more officers were called to the scene. An officer deployed O.C. spray to try to stop the man and the assault, but it did not take effect, Smith said.
The man ran through traffic on N. Capitol Street and was found hiding under a truck. He emerged from beneath it holding a “metal object raised in his hand.”
