A gunman impersonating a cop — complete with a “police” vest and a fake badge — shot and wounded a boy and a man in Washington, DC on Tuesday, authorities said.
The suspect entered a residential facility for juveniles awaiting trial by introducing himself as a police officer serving a warrant on one of the residents, NBC 4 Washington reported.
Surveillance video showed the bogus cop sporting a vest with “police” printed on the front and back, and wearing a star-shaped badge on a chain around his neck.
Once inside the privately owned facility, police said the intruder produced a handgun and fired multiple shots, striking an adult man and teenage boy. He then fled in a dark-colored Honda.
Officers were called to the scene just after 3 p.m. on a report of a shooting and found an adult man and a teenage boy suffering from gunshot wounds.
The victims were taken to area hospitals to be treated for serious injuries. Their conditions were unknown Thursday.
Metropolitan Police Department Cmdr. John Haines told the NBC station it appeared the perp specifically targeted the young victim.
“He recognized that individual who was in the facility, immediately pulled out a handgun and started shooting at that individual,” Haines said.
According to the cop, the adult victim is an employee at the facility who was just an “innocent” bystander.
Besides the fake police getup, the gunman was last seen wearing a grey beanie with the phrase “think positive” stitched across the back.
Police are offering a reward of up to $10,000 to anyone with information that leads to the suspect’s arrest and conviction.
