Police say the man had targeted the store in previous robberies. The incident comes as city officials have sought to crack down on crime in the neighborhood.
A security guard shot and wounded a man who authorities say took a firearm from another guard during a robbery attempt Sunday at a Walgreens pharmacy in D.C.’s Chinatown neighborhood, according to D.C.
police. Fast, informative and written just for locals. Get The 7 DMV newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. The man who was shot was treated at a hospital for critical injuries, police said in a statement. A police spokesman said authorities expect to charge him in as many as eight previous robberies, many at the same drugstore targeted Sunday. His name was not immediately made public. D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser and Police Chief Pamela A. Smith are expected to discuss the incident during a news conference Monday morning to announce a new public safety initiative along Chinatown’s main commercial corridor, which includes the Walgreens and the nearby Capital One Arena. The news conference, which had been scheduled before Sunday’s incident, is to announce the city’s first “Safe Commercial Corridor Hub,” the mayor’s office said. As part of the initiative, city officials will staff an office in the Chinatown area that will offer an array of social services to help address drug addiction, homelessness and crime.For the past several months, law enforcement officials have paid special attention to the Chinatown area — a hub of businesses and restaurants in downtown D.C. that includes the Chinatown-Gallery Place Metro station. Police have made arrests, and prosecutors have obtained court-ordered stay-away orders in hopes of keeping offenders out of the area. Business owners, including executives from Monumental Sports & Entertainment — which owns the Capital One Arena and its two principal tenants, the Washington Capitals and Wizards —, loitering and other crimes that they said put patrons and staff members at risk. The area is often cited as an example of how D.C.’s downtown has deteriorated in the wake of the pandemic. In December, the owner of the two sports franchises announced plans toto a new arena in Alexandria’s Potomac Yard neighborhood in Northern Virginia as soon as 2028. Sunday’s robbery occurred about 6:30 p.m. at the Walgreens at Seventh and H streets NW, across the street from the Metro station and two blocks from the arena. Police said an armed man entered the pharmacy and followed a security guard to a backroom, then took the guard’s firearm.“At that point the suspect was armed with two firearms,” police said in a statement. Police said a second security guard fired his weapon and wounded the man.Armed guards, called special police officers, are licensed by the District. D.C. police said their criminal investigation division and internal affairs are investigating Sunday’s shooting. Tom Lynch, a police spokesman, said the man who was shot is suspected in several previous armed robberies in the area, including at that same Walgreens. Additional details are expected to be made public later Monday. Bowser’s office said that the safe commercial corridor will link residents and others to a variety of city services in the area, and that outreach teams from public safety and human services agencies will respond in real time to community issues.“When we talk about a whole-of-government approach to public safety, these are the people and teams who are working together every day to keep our city safe and healthy,” Bowser said in a statement. As part of the initiative, officials will create a hub at 675 H St. NW. It will be staffed from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with representatives from the police department, the city’s night-life office, the Department of Behavioral Health and the Department of Human Services. Officials said two additional community hubs will be established this spring in the U Street area and in Anacostia.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Building Philadelphia: From the Chinatown Stitch to capping I-95 to redoing 30th Street StationGet an update on how the I-95 CAP, Chinatown Stitch, PATCO Franklin Square Station, Bellwether District and 30th Street Station upgrade projects are moving…
Read more »
Former Dolton police chief exposes Mayor Tiffany Henyard's alleged misuse of police detailA former south suburban police chief is shedding light on the actions of embattled Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard, accusing her of misusing a police security detail that has cost taxpayers thousands of dollars in overtime.
Read more »
As militant attacks surge, Pakistan votes for new parliamentTens of thousands of police and paramilitary forces were deployed at polling stations to ensure security.
Read more »
Four Kings to bring Hong Kong food to SF ChinatownFour Kings, a novel izakaya-style establishment from chefs Chris Long and Franky Ho will showcase Hong Kong-inspired casual fare when it opens in March
Read more »
Barnes & Noble moving into former bank-turned-Walgreens in Wicker ParkThe other stores coming this summer are near Clark and Diversey, in Village Square of Northbrook and in Prairie Market shopping center in Oswego.
Read more »