Teen Shot in Head in D.C. Gunfire Between Masked Man, Guard

A teenage girl was shot in the head and critically wounded Thursday night during an exchange of gunfire between at least one masked gunman and a security guard outside a Northeast Washington apartment complex, D.C. police said.

According to preliminary accounts, two masked men approached the front of 515 Edgewood St. in the Edgewood Terrace housing complex about 8:20 p.m. and at least one fired at the security officer, who returned fire, police said.

The girl, a 17-year-old who was not identified, was hit in the crossfire. She apparently had been talking with the guard before the shooting began, a law enforcement source said. Police were investigating who fired the shot that wounded her.

She was taken to Washington Hospital Center, police said.

Police said gunfire from the security officer might have struck one of the men in the shoulder. Both men escaped on foot.

It was not clear what prompted the attack, officials said.

Police used a helicopter and canine units to search for the suspects but had only a vague description of them.