One killed, five wounded when shooters open fire on crowd in DC neighbourhood in U.S.

Man killed, children injured in Washington shooting; Chief Pamela Smith calls for tougher gun laws amid rising crime.

A man was killed and five others — including two children — were injured in a barrage of gunfire on April 10 in the nation's capital.

“The shooting happened just after 6 p.m. in the Carver Langston neighbourhood of Washington,” Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said. Investigators believe the suspects exited a vehicle and then began shooting into a crowd of people on the street. Multiple people were shot.

One of the victims, an adult man, was killed. Two men, a woman and a 9-year-old were taken by ambulance to local hospitals. “A 12-year-old later arrived at a hospital with a gunshot wound and is also believed to be a victim in the shooting,” Ms. Smith said.

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The shooting comes as the District of Columbia is struggling with a sharp increase in violent crime, which went up 39% in 2023. The increase was largely fuelled by a 35% rise in homicides and growth in carjackings, which nearly doubled.

Ms. Smith has pushed lawmakers to pass legislation that would strengthen penalties for gun offenses in the nation's capital.