The special agent and the man scuffled and rolled eight feet off the platform into the Metro Center station.
Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
A Off-duty FBI agent fatally shot a man on a crowded Washington DC train platform. during the afternoon rush hour on Wednesday, police said.
The special agent and the man scuffled and rolled eight feet off the platform into the Metro Center station around 6:20 p.m. before the agent shot the man multiple times, killing him, DC police reported during a press conference.
He sWashington DC Deputy Police Chief Ashan Benedict said the slain man appeared to have started the altercation and the officer, whom he described as a “veteran,” is believed to be the victim.
“The man assaulted the agent and the couple got into a fight. One grabbed the other and they both fell over a wall into a lower hallway away from the tracks,” Benedict said.
“The fight continued on the lower level until the off-duty officer drew his gun and shot the other man.”said.
It is unclear if the slain man had a firearm. None were recovered when the press conference was held some two hours later.
The officer was taken to an area hospital to be treated for minor injuries.
The sound of gunshots echoing through the busy station sent passengers into panic and suspended service along the Red Line.
Witnesses said they saw dozens of people running out of the station and people lying on the ground when they heard the shots, according to social media reports.
At least one train continued straight through the station without stopping, apparently after the conductor heard the shots.
“Truly grateful for the quick reaction and attention from our rail operator tonight, whose response during tonight’s incident involving a shooting at @wmata Metro Center kept customers out of potential danger,” the CEO and director tweeted. Metro executive Randy Clarke.
DC police are leading the investigation into the shooting with the help of the FBI.