Officer Shoots Man During Scuffle Near RFK Stadium

A D.C. police officer shot and critically wounded a man last night during a scuffle in Northeast Washington near RFK Stadium after the man allegedly beat the officer with his own police baton.

The 1st District officer was sent to the 2000 block of C Street about 7:30 p.m. to check on a report of a person staggering in the road, said police Capt. Mike Gottert. When the officer arrived and confronted the man, a fight broke out, Gottert said.

Investigators think that the man grabbed the officer's collapsible baton and struck him on the head several times, Gottert said. He said the officer, whose name was not immediately released, then fired once, striking the man in the shoulder.

Both were flown to Washington Hospital Center. The man was listed in critical condition; police said the officer's injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

Authorities had few details because the officer and the man were the only witnesses at the scene when other officers arrived to help, Gottert said, and investigators had not yet interviewed them.

A 49-year-old man, who said he witnessed the end of the fight and the shooting as he drove past, said the two grappled on their feet, on the ground and on their feet again before the man got the upper hand and hit the officer on the jaw. The witness said he did not see the man with a weapon before the shooting.

Officials said the officer would be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.