Washington DC police in standoff with gunman after three officers shot while serving warrant: Live

When asked to expand on the animal cruelty charges, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith focused instead on the officers wounded when serving the warrant.

“So let me not be glib about my response to your question specifically related to the animals,” Ms Smith said. “I don’t want it to be lost on anyone today that we’ve had three officers who were shot with the Metropolitan Police Department. Three of our officers were shot today, serving an arrest warrant to someone who was cruel to animals.”

“The same type of response that we provide for our officers, we have that same care for animals as well, but I don’t want it to be lost on anyone today that the reason why we are here right now is because three of our officers have been shot,” she continued.

When asked at a Wednesday night press conference about how long the standoff will be “tolerated,” Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith minced no words in her response:

“I will tolerate this as long as we continue to engage with the subject to get him to surrender to our law enforcement personnel.”

The suspect remains in the home as the stand-off hits eleven straight hours, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said at a 6 pm press conference.

Ms Smith said sometimes the suspect is “agitated, and then there are moments where he’s having positive interactions with our emergency response team personnel.”

While police engaged in a multi-hour standoff in Washington, DC, at least one person was killed and several were injured by a shooter at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade on Wednesday afternoon.

Three of the wounded were in critical condition as of Wednesday afternoon, according to local news reports.

Two suspects have reportedly been detained in connection with the shooting.

Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said she was “angry” about the shooting, and offered her sympathies to those affected.

“This tragedy occurred even in the presence of uniformed law enforcement officers who again ran towards them and took them into custody. To the people who were injured in this tragedy,” she said. “Our hearts go out to you and your families.”

Keep up with The Independent’s live coverage of the tragedy here:

The Humane Rescue Alliance conveyed their support for Washington, DC police, who arrived at the home to serve a warrant for animal cruelty. The stand-off has now reached hour nine.

“Our thoughts are with our partners at MPD who are being treated in the hospital and we are wishing them all the best in their recovery,” the group said in a statement. “We could not fulfill our mission without them. We are also concerned for the safety of the officers who remain on scene, the community members who continue to be affected, and the animals whom we were there to protect.”

Three police officers in Washington, DC, were shot as they attempted to serve an arrest warrant for cruelty to animals, authorities said.

The suspect, who has not yet been named, was barricaded in a house in the 5000 block of Hanna Place Southeast near Benning Road, police said at a press conference on Wednesday. Multiple loud gunshots could be heard, captured on neighbours’ home security systems.

Authorities say that around 7.30am the individual “refused to come outside” and as officers “attempted to gain entry, the individual fired upon them.” As of 4 pm local time the incident is ongoing.

Read more from The Independent’s Kelly Rissman and Mike Bedigan:

Police are now going on hour eight of the standoff with a Washington, DC man who has barricaded himself inside a Southeast home.

In their last update to the media, officials said a negotiator is on the scene speaking with the suspect. The three wounded officers were also reported to be in “good spirits” after they were transported to a local hospital.

“This shooting is yet another distressing and painful reminder of the toll gun violence is inflicting on families, on our communities and, obviously, on our nation,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Wednesday afternoon. Ms Jean-Pierre also said Joe Biden was praying for the officers to make full recoveries and called for more congressional action on guns.