US park police officer wounded in Washington shooting

A US park police officer was seriously wounded Monday evening in a shooting in Washington, federal law enforcement officials said.

The unidentified officer was airlifted by US park police helicopter to an area hospital, said Vito Maggiolo, public information officer for the DC fire and emergency medical service department. He said the call came in about 7.30 pm.

The officer was shot in the shoulder and is in serious but stable condition, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly. Authorities have identified a suspect, but the person is not in custody, the official said.

The US park police confirmed in an email that the officer was in "non-life-threatening condition."

park police said the shooting took place in the district's southeast quadrant, close to the border with Maryland.

Federal officials said they were assisting in the investigation.

"I've spoken to Mayor Bowser and police chief Carroll and was briefed on the shooting," attorney general Pam Bondi said in a posting on X.

FBI director Kash Patel said in his own X post that he was "Praying for the park police officer shot in Washington, DC. The FBI is actively supporting the investigation alongside our law enforcement partners and will bring those responsible to justice."