WASHINGTON — Three people were shot outside Nationals Park during Saturday’s game against the San Diego Padres, DC Police said. Officials said one of the victims was a woman who had been attending the game and was caught in the crossfire of two vehicles involved in a shootout.
The shooting happened in the 1500 block of South Capitol Street, Southwest, and two suspects from one of the cars involved in the shooting are receiving treatment for injuries at a hospital in the area, police said. The woman who had been attending the game is expected to recover from her injuries, according to Executive Assistant Chief of Police Ashan Benedict.
In videos from the ballpark on social media, fans can be seen running sporadically through the stadium’s concourse after gunshots were heard. Players can also be seen exiting the field of play as some fans jumped over seats and rushed onto the field amid the commotion.
People leaving say it was chaotic and terrifying as they heard gunshots echo in the park. People told WUSA9 they were carrying children out, holding one another and hiding from what they thought was a possible shooting inside of the stadium.
The Washington Nationals were in the middle of a game with the San Diego Padres when the shooting happened, but the game was postponed.
“A shooting has been reported outside of the Third Base Gate at Nationals Park. Fans are encouraged to exit the ballpark via the CF and RF gates at this time. We’re working with law enforcement to provide more information as soon as it becomes available,” said the Washington Nationals on Twitter.
Federal and local law enforcement are investigating the shooting outside of Nationals Park.
As of now, no one that was in the stadium at the time of the shooting has been injured.
The shooting comes only hours after Mayor Muriel Bowser and other D.C. and federal law enforcement officials held a news conference following a Friday night shooting in Southeast D.C.
That shooting claimed the life of a 6-year-old girl and injured five other people.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser was at the White House last Monday, joining President Biden and local leaders from around the country who are scrambling to deal with a surge in murders in a number of cities.
The president said one key is stemming the flow of firearms used to commit violent crimes.
There are over 100 homicide deaths in Washington D.C. in 2021.
The D.C. Police Union said this is the earliest the city has recorded 100 homicides since 2003. Over the last decade, the city has, on average, hit the grim mark by Oct. 25.
WUSA9 will continue to provide updates as more information comes into our newsroom.