A Washington DC police officer died Wednesday after being shot when a gun he was trying to retrieve from a storm drain accidentally fired, officials said.
The officer, Wayne David, was a member of the Metropolitan Police Department for more than 25 years, Assistant Chief Jeffery Carroll said.
“Wayne is a true hero for the District of Columbia, and today he gave his life to serve the visitors and residents here,” Carroll said. “We will never forget that.”
Carroll said earlier Wednesday that officers saw someone get out of a suspicious vehicle in the northeast part of the city, take off on foot and jump onto Interstate 295. Officers saw the person throw a gun into a storm drain before fleeing on the back of a motorcycle, Carroll said he.
The officer was trying to get the gun out of the drain when it went off and struck the officer at least once, Carroll said. The police are looking for the suspect who placed the gun in the drain, he says.