Witnesses say this truck hit several individuals in Adams Morgan before crashing into garbage truck on Adams Mill R… https://t.co/Sj2JKsl1Mt
Two Washington, DC, police officers and a government employee were injured Thursday night in a hit-and-run crash that ended with authorities arresting two people and finding an assault rifle inside their vehicle.
The incident happened shortly before 9 p.m. in the Adams Morgan neighborhood. According to Metropolitan Police Chief Peter Newsham, a person driving a truck at a high rate of speed struck two on-duty bike officers and a District Department of Transportation employee. The driver then proceeded down the street until the truck crashed into a parked sanitation vehicle.
Newsham said Friday morning that officers recovered an assault rifle from the truck that struck the officers. After conducting interviews and performing background checks, police "do not have any information to suggest that this was a terrorist-related event," he said.
"I will reiterate the fact that there is, at this point, absolutely no link to suggest that this is terrorist-related," Newsham added.
Police identified the two suspects as Dwayne Nicholas Taylor, 23, and Brandon Figures-Mormon, 22. Mormon was charged with assault with intent to kill and possession of an unregistered firearm. Taylor was charged with possession of an unregistered firearm. Both suspects were transported to a hospital with injuries.
One of the officers was taken to the hospital in "very critical condition" and on Friday Newsham tweeted he remained critical but stable. The other officer was in fair condition.
Images from the scene showed a major response from police and emergency workers.
Scene here after crash in Adams Morgan
Massive police response in Adams Morgan
Images taken by witnesses also showed the truck after it had collided with the sanitation vehicle, as well as a man in handcuffs.
Adams Morgan, Washington DC. Bicycle cop down.
@AdMoBID @ABCNetwork @fox5dc @CBSDC video of suspect being put in handcuffs #thisismyvideo #pray for cops and victi… https://t.co/Z2cHOa6kAx
Newsham said Thursday night that the investigation was ongoing, and when asked if the officers were targeted said he did not know. He added that, in the aftermath of the incident, he felt "horrible."
"Thankfully no body else was injured, but I have two of my officers unnecessarily in the hospital," he said. "It's the last think in the world that a chief of police wants to have to do is come to the hospital when one of their officers is critically injured."