Two Suspects Arrested in Southeast D.C. Shooting of U.S. Park Police Officer
An unmarked U.S. Park Police vehicle was ambushed Monday night in Southeast Washington when two men opened fire on an officer in a white Tesla; the officer was shot in the shoulder, continued driving, pulled over, received first aid, was airlifted to a hospital and has since been treated and released. Metropolitan Police arrested Darren Foster, 21, and Asheile Foster, 22, on charges of assault on a federal officer with a firearm, carried out an armed raid near the scene with K-9 units, and said investigators — including MPD’s NIBIN unit, ATF agents, U.S. Park Police detectives and FBI support — are probing the case amid information suggesting the suspects may have known the victim was an officer, though no motive has been released.
📌 Key Facts
- Park Service Police Chief Scott Brecht says two Park Police officers in an unmarked white Tesla were ambushed by two gunmen during an ongoing investigation; D.C. Metropolitan Police Interim Chief Jeff Carroll described the wounded officer as targeted.
- The officer was shot in the shoulder, continued driving before pulling over to receive first aid, was airlifted by a U.S. Park Police helicopter to a hospital in serious but stable condition, and has since been discharged; injuries were reported as non-life-threatening.
- Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel publicly acknowledged the shooting; Patel said the FBI is actively supporting the investigation and vowed to bring those responsible to justice.
- Metropolitan Police arrested Darren Foster, 21, and Asheile Foster, 22, both of Southeast D.C., shortly after the Monday night shooting.
- Both suspects were charged with assault on a federal police officer with a gun; MPD says it has information suggesting the suspects knew the person in the unmarked Tesla was an officer, though no motive has been released.
- Authorities conducted an armed raid on a home near the shooting location on Tuesday, with a K-9 unit responding.
- The case is being investigated by MPD’s NIBIN Investigations Unit, which includes ATF agents, together with U.S. Park Police detectives.
📊 Relevant Data
In Ward 8 of Washington D.C., which is part of southeast D.C., 81% of the population is Black and 10% is White, based on recent census data.
Ward 8, DC - Profile data — Census Reporter
In Ward 7 of Washington D.C., part of southeast D.C., 79% of the population is Black and 8% is White.
Ward 7, DC - Profile data — Census Reporter
The poverty rate among Black residents in Washington D.C. decreased to 21.3% in 2022 from 27.7% in 2021, while Black residents are five times more likely to live below the federal poverty level than White residents.
DC Made Progress on Poverty Thanks to Public Investment in Residents — DC Fiscal Policy Institute
In May 2023, the unemployment rate in Ward 7 was 7.2% and in Ward 8 was 9.1%, areas with predominantly Black populations.
DC's Extreme Black-White Unemployment Gap is Worst in the Nation — DC Fiscal Policy Institute
From 1990 to 2024, homicide victims in Washington D.C. were overwhelmingly Black, ranging from 87% to 96% of total victims.
Homicide in DC: 1990-2024 — Remapping Debate
Violent crime in Washington D.C. increased most sharply east of Rock Creek Park in 2023, which includes southeast D.C.
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Metropolitan Police Department arrested Darren Foster, 21, of Southeast D.C., shortly after the Monday night shooting, and arrested Asheile Foster, 22, of Southeast D.C., on Tuesday.
- Both suspects have been charged with assault on a federal police officer with a gun.
- U.S. Park Police say the officer’s injuries were non-life-threatening and he has now been discharged from the hospital.
- MPD has information suggesting the suspects knew the person in the unmarked Tesla was an officer, though no motive has been released.
- Authorities conducted an armed raid on a home near the shooting location on Tuesday, with a K-9 unit responding.
- The case is being investigated by MPD’s NIBIN Investigations Unit, which includes ATF agents, along with USPP detectives.
- Park Service Police Chief Scott Brecht says at least two Park Police officers in an unmarked white Tesla were 'ambushed' by two gunmen during an ongoing investigation.
- D.C. Metropolitan Police Interim Chief Jeff Carroll describes the wounded officer as having been 'targeted.'
- The officer, shot in the shoulder, continued driving before pulling over and receiving first aid, then was airlifted by a U.S. Park Police helicopter to a hospital in serious but stable condition.
- Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel both publicly acknowledged the shooting, with Patel saying the FBI is 'actively supporting the investigation' and vowing to bring those responsible to justice.
- The assailants remained at large as of early Tuesday, and the exact circumstances of the ambush on the unmarked vehicle are still unclear.