WASHINGTON — Two juveniles and a dog were shot Wednesday evening District Heights.
Ronald Tarpley, the acting chief of District Heights Police Department, told WUSA9 that a 14-year-old boy and a 4-year-old boy were shot and are suffering from injuries that are not life threatening.
Officers were called around 6:20 p.m. to the 6700 block of Alpine Street for reports of two vehicles that stopped in the area. Inside of the vehicles were "multiple shooters" who drew weapons and shot at a group of people.
WUSA9 observed dozens of bullet shell casings on the ground at the crime scene.
Tarpley said the shooters were believed to be in a minivan and a black sedan. It is unclear how many shooters there were.
"It's nonsense that the children can't come out here and play safely," Tarpley said.
The dog that was shot — a 7-year-old terrier named Danger — died, Tarpley said. When police arrived on scene, the two vehicles had driven from the scene.
Danger's owner, Regina Johnson, saw the incident unfold.
"It's crazy and to see this little four-year-old boy get shot in the arm," she said. "I'm looking at this van pull up and take a gun out and shoot randomly at people for what?"
Johnson added she did not know her dog was hit at the time of the shooting.
"[Danger's] out here playing with the kids and, unfortunately, he gets to lose his life," she said.
The identities of the children have not been released. Police are still trying to determine who the suspects are in the case as well.