D.C. police officer Wayne David passed away on Wednesday evening following an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound sustained while attempting to retrieve a weapon from a storm drain, according to police reports.
The incident occurred as officers responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle. A man had exited the car, run onto the I-295 highway, and placed a gun inside a storm drain before fleeing the scene on the back of a motorcycle.
Officer David, a 25-year veteran of the police force, was trying to recover the weapon when it accidentally discharged, striking him in the upper torso. Fellow officers immediately provided aid, and David was transported to a local hospital.
Executive Assistant Chief of D.C. Police Jeffery Carroll informed reporters that David, a crime scene search officer, was “trained to recover evidence and firearms” and had successfully recovered “hundreds of guns” over the course of his career.
Pamela A. Smith, the D.C. chief of police, expressed deep sorrow in a statement: “Our hearts are heavy tonight after the tragic loss of one of our own.”
She continued, “Investigator Wayne David, a veteran MPD officer, lost his life while serving in the line of duty. The pain and grief felt by Officer David’s family and the entire MPD is indescribable.”
“Investigator David was the epitome of a great officer. He was a dedicated and highly respected member of the department, and this loss is immense for all of us.”
“Over more than 25 years, Investigator David committed himself to protecting and safeguarding the District of Columbia. He served with passion, honor, and earned the utmost respect from his peers.”
“I will always be grateful for Investigator David’s service to the Metropolitan Police Department, and his life will never be forgotten,” the statement concluded.
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The police department is still searching for the suspect who abandoned the gun, and they have clarified that there is no evidence to suggest the man knew the motorcyclist who facilitated his escape. An image of the suspect has been released to the public.
