Man Fatally Shot Inside Homeless Encampment Tent In Northwest: Police

WASHINGTON, DC — D.C. homicide detectives are investigating the fatal shooting of a man inside a homeless encampment near Thomas Circle on Monday morning, according to a police release.

Around 9:47 a.m., officers heard the sound of a gunshot and were directed by witnesses to a homeless encampment at Thomas Circle and Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest. Inside a tent, they found a man suffering from a gunshot wound, according to police

D.C. Fire & EMS examined the man and found that he had died from his injury. They later took him to the Office of the Chief Coroner. Police, who did not release the victim's name, are notifying next of kin.

Assistant D.C. Police Chief Andre Wright told the Washington Post that city workers had been in contact with those living or visiting inside the encampment. Over the last six months, Metropolitan Police Department officers had visited the encampment for "minor spats involving weapons" and had made arrests, he said.

On Monday, Brooke Pinto, who represents Ward 2 on the D.C. City Council, posted a message about the shooting on her Twitter account:

"Today, there was a homicide at the Thomas Circle encampment — sadly, another life lost to gun violence. This site has not been safe. All remaining residents in the encampment will be moved into PEP-V shelter today as @DMHHS_DC [Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services] works towards permanent supportive housing."

MPD is currently offering a reward of up to $25,000 for anyone who supplies information that leads to the arrest and conviction of any person responsible for a homicide in the District.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call MPD at 202-727-9099. Anonymous tips may be submitted via the department's text tip line by texting a message to 50411.