D.C. Shooting On Connecticut Ave.: Suspect Took His Own Life

Updated at 10 p.m.

WASHINGTON, DC — The search has ended for a person of interest in Friday's shooting in Washington, D.C.'s Van Ness neighborhood, and the suspected shooter took his own life, authorities said.

Robert J. Contee III, DC police chief, said he can't yet release the name of the suspect, who took his life as officers tried to force entry into the apartment in the area of Connecticut Avenue and Van Ness Street, NW, where the suspect was located. The name will be released when the dead man's family has been notified.

At an earlier press conference, authorities said Raymond Spencer, 23, of Fairfax is person of interest in the case. Contee said at a 10 p.m. news conference that they are no longer looking for Spencer.

Authorities were called to the 4100 block of Connecticut Avenue Northwest on Friday afternoon for reports of an active shooter, police confirmed on Twitter.

Four people were taken to the hospital to be treated for gunshot wounds, according to police. Two of the victims are adults, who are in stable condition at area hospitals, police said. The other victim is a juvenile female, who is stable and suffering from a minor gunshot wound, police said.

A fourth victim suffered a graze wound and was not hospitalized.

Earlier in the evening authorities said they wanted to speak to Spencer to clarify his connection to the gunfire.

Inside the suspect's apartment, police found six firearms, several of which were long guns, multiple rounds of ammunition, and handguns, Contee said.

"We will get to the bottom of this, we find out what the motive is," Contee said. "Right now we do not have that answer."

There is no indication any other shooters were involved, the chief said. The shots were fired randomly from the fifth floor of an apartment building at people on the street.

Spencer's name came up on social media, and authorities had wanted to talk with him, said Assistant D.C. Police Chief Stuart Emerman late Friday afternoon.

Authorities are looking into posts on a platform called 4chan, where a user named Raymond Spencer wrote, “Dear God please forgive me” at 3:24 p.m., The Washington Post reported.

Investigators were still determining where the shots were fired from, and where they were aimed at, police said.

The shelter in place order has been lifted and roads are reopening in the area, police said before 10 p.m. Friday.

"Thank you to our community for your cooperation and thank you to our DC government and federal partners for your assistance today," police tweeted.

Mayor Muriel Bowser said she had to look parents in the eye who were terrified thinking of what might happen to their children.

"The epidemic of gun violence, the easy access to weapons has got to stop. People should not be scared taking their children to school," Bowser said.

One young man seen taken into custody was not connected to the case, police told The Washington Post.

Residents told the newspaper they heard three bursts of gunfire, with about 20 shots fired in each burst. The shooter appeared to fire from a balcony in an apartment building on Van Ness Street NW, the Post reported.

A message sent from the Alert DC system Friday afternoon warned people of an "active threat." Police told residents of the Cleveland Park and Van Ness neighborhoods to shelter in place.

Police in tactical gear were seen escorting people out of an apartment building. Officers pointed their rifles upward toward other buildings and windows as the people moved quickly down the street with their hands raised above their heads.

Police closed several streets in the area including Connecticut Avenue Northwest between Sedgwick and Yuma streets; Tilden Street between Reno Road and 29th Street Northwest, and Van Ness Street at Connecticut Avenue Northwest, WTOP reported.

The shooting prompted the University of DC-Van Ness to lock down campus, according to a tweet by the college. Howard University also urged students at its west campus to shelter in place, according to a campus alert.

The U.S. Secret Service provided aid to Metropolitan Police Department Officers, according to Anthony Guglielmi, the agency's chief of communications.

Residents were asked to avoid the area or shelter in place. A reunification site has been set up at Cleveland Park Library, 3310 Connecticut Ave. N.W. Anyone looking for a family member or loved one should go to this location to speak with authorities, police said.

Anyone with information about the shooting should call 202-727-9099 or text 50411.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.