WASHINGTON, D.C. (Wednesday, August 25, 2021) – A D.C. police officer fatally shot a man early this morning who was sitting inside a vehicle on New York Avenue in NE.

Police Chief Robert Contee says the incident occurred around 3am at the intersection of New York and Florida Avenues.  According to police, officers were called to the area because a man was apparently stopped at the intersection and appeared to be asleep in the car.

Contee says officers tried  to awake the man without startling him.  But at some point during the encounter,  the man who has not been identified, woke up and a police officer fired.  It is not clear why the officer fired.  Contee says police are investigating.  Contee says the officer’s body camera was activated, but that part of the shooting was obstructed by the protective shield the officer was holding.

The shooting marked the 2nd police involved shooting in less than 24 hours in DC.  Earlier Tuesday, a man was shot be officers in the 1700 block of Minnesota Avenue in SE.  Police say the man was wielding a weapon and ignored officers’ demands to drop it.  His injuries are said to be non-life threatening.

Both shootings are under investigation and the officers are on routine administrative leave.