D.C. Police Officer Guns Down Man in Apartment Building

TheeBadOne · January 24, 2005, 09:29 PM

Washington (AP) - The Metropolitan Police Department (website - news) was investigating a fatal shooting Saturday involving one of its own.

Sgt. Andre Wright, a 10-year veteran of the force, apparently shot a man to death outside of his Southeast Washington apartment in the 2600 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, police said. The incident happened around 5 a.m.

A preliminary investigation revealed that Wright opened his door and found 25-year-old Timothy Giddings who pointed a gun at the officer, Sgt. Joe Gentile said. Giddings was reportedly confronting a man in the hallway of the apartment complex who was allegedly banging on doors.

When Giddings pointed the gun, Wright fired several shots, killing Giddings, Gentile said.

Police recovered a handgun, and Wright is on routine administrative leave pending an investigation.

Police were also investigating a homicide early Saturday morning near 16th and U streets in Southeast D.C. Officers were called to the scene for the report of a Pontiac hitting several parked cars. But the officers found the 48-year-old driver suffering from several gunshot wounds. The man was pronounced dead at Howard University Hospital.

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Talk about pucker factor! Can you imagine hearing a disturbance in your hallway, opening your door, and having a gun stuck in your face!

I'm guessing Wright had a gun in his hand when he cracked open his door. I bet he'll install a peep-hole now!
I never open my door if I don't know who's out there.

PsychoSword · January 24, 2005, 09:35 PM

Grow up.

TheeBadOne · January 24, 2005, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Grow up.

txinvestigator · January 24, 2005, 09:52 PM

Quote:

D.C. Police Officer Defends Himself from gun wielding man.

Fixed the title.

Sir William · January 24, 2005, 10:13 PM

Sorry guys. I think if a citizen had simply opened their door and shot, there would be a problem. IIRC, firearms ownership is illegal in DC. LEOs are trained. The newspaper article leaves out key information but, I don't think jerking open the door with a firearm in hand is the proper tactical response to a disturbance. I read this as even the benefit of T&E fails at times. I would expect this one to go to a grand jury and there may just be a manslaughter indictment.

70-101 · January 24, 2005, 10:37 PM

Quote:

I don't think jerking open the door with a firearm in hand is the proper tactical response to a disturbance.

You ever lived in DC? And have your life threatned by crack addicts who would kill you for a $10.00 rock? I moved out of DC [Georgetown] in 1992 when a close friend was robbed at gun point for his Rolex 10 minutes after leaving a party at my home. And,on one other occassion,two years before along the C&O Canal two blocks from my home a person tried to rob me of my Ray Bans. But,the only thing he got for his efforts was a broken wrist and I would assume a very bad headache.

FatMick · January 24, 2005, 10:42 PM

Wow way to jump to conclusions! Cops "jerking open" doors to "gun down" innocent civilians.
Yes guns are banned in D.C. so I guess Giddings had a hair dryer.

**Mike Irwin** · January 24, 2005, 11:45 PM

No, guns are not banned in DC.

Handguns, except those grandfathered in before 1976, are.

Certain shotguns and rifles can be owned, but are restricted.

Sir William · January 25, 2005, 12:34 AM

As presented, a CITIZEN, not a LEO opened his door to find an altercation between two other citizens. One citizen was startled and turned towards the third citizen while armed. This citizen COULD have been robbing another citizen or defending himself or even illegally been in the middle of a FTF firearm sale. We don't know from the information provided. We know three citizens were involved, two were armed and one killed the other. Even the police should call 911 and stay inside? We just don't know all the facts. The way the story reads though, a citizen shot another citizen due to fear. I would like more information. It simply comes down to one citizen shooting another citizen. Why? What crime was in progress?

**Mike Irwin** · January 25, 2005, 12:47 AM

No, guns are not banned in DC.

Handguns, except those grandfathered in before 1976, are.

Certain shotguns and rifles can be owned, but are restricted.

Wildcard · January 25, 2005, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Police recovered a handgun, and Wright is on routine administrative leave pending an investigation.

Sounds like he was off duty, and at his own place....guess he will get treated better than a non LEO in this situation.

mvpel · January 25, 2005, 01:22 PM

Sounds like Giddings will be counted as another "child victim of gun violence" by the Brady bunch.

Model520Fan · January 26, 2005, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sir William

It simply comes down to one citizen shooting another citizen. Why? What crime was in progress?

The crime of pointing a gun at someone smart enough (and armed enough) to shoot him until he stopped pointing the gun at him. Sounds like the only reasonable response, once he opened the door.

January 24, 2005, 09:29 PM	#1
TheeBadOne Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2002 Location: USA Posts: 1,200	D.C. Police Officer Guns Down Man in Apartment Building Washington (AP) - The Metropolitan Police Department (website - news) was investigating a fatal shooting Saturday involving one of its own. Sgt. Andre Wright, a 10-year veteran of the force, apparently shot a man to death outside of his Southeast Washington apartment in the 2600 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, police said. The incident happened around 5 a.m. A preliminary investigation revealed that Wright opened his door and found 25-year-old Timothy Giddings who pointed a gun at the officer, Sgt. Joe Gentile said. Giddings was reportedly confronting a man in the hallway of the apartment complex who was allegedly banging on doors. When Giddings pointed the gun, Wright fired several shots, killing Giddings, Gentile said. Police recovered a handgun, and Wright is on routine administrative leave pending an investigation. Police were also investigating a homicide early Saturday morning near 16th and U streets in Southeast D.C. Officers were called to the scene for the report of a Pontiac hitting several parked cars. But the officers found the 48-year-old driver suffering from several gunshot wounds. The man was pronounced dead at Howard University Hospital. article ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Talk about pucker factor! Can you imagine hearing a disturbance in your hallway, opening your door, and having a gun stuck in your face! I'm guessing Wright had a gun in his hand when he cracked open his door. I bet he'll install a peep-hole now! I never open my door if I don't know who's out there.

January 24, 2005, 09:35 PM	#2
PsychoSword Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2002 Location: North Dakota Posts: 1,488	D.C. Police Officer Guns Down Man in Apartment Building Grow up. Last edited by PsychoSword; January 24, 2005 at 09:57 PM. Reason: Sorry, I didn't make it plain enough..

January 24, 2005, 11:45 PM	#8
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 21,782	No, guns are not banned in DC. Handguns, except those grandfathered in before 1976, are. Certain shotguns and rifles can be owned, but are restricted. __________________ Coworkers. A convenient source of food in a post apocalyptic world.

January 25, 2005, 12:47 AM	#10
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 21,782	No, guns are not banned in DC. Handguns, except those grandfathered in before 1976, are. Certain shotguns and rifles can be owned, but are restricted. __________________ Coworkers. A convenient source of food in a post apocalyptic world.

January 25, 2005, 01:22 PM	#12
mvpel Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2000 Location: Merrimack, NH Posts: 1,850	Sounds like Giddings will be counted as another "child victim of gun violence" by the Brady bunch. __________________ Not a blacksmith could be found in the whole land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, "Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears!" 1 Samuel 13:19

January 24, 2005, 10:13 PM	#5
Sir William Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2004 Posts: 3,264	Sorry guys. I think if a citizen had simply opened their door and shot, there would be a problem. IIRC, firearms ownership is illegal in DC. LEOs are trained. The newspaper article leaves out key information but, I don't think jerking open the door with a firearm in hand is the proper tactical response to a disturbance. I read this as even the benefit of T&E fails at times. I would expect this one to go to a grand jury and there may just be a manslaughter indictment.

January 24, 2005, 10:42 PM	#7
FatMick Junior Member Join Date: November 2, 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Va Posts: 9	Wow way to jump to conclusions! Cops "jerking open" doors to "gun down" innocent civilians. Yes guns are banned in D.C. so I guess Giddings had a hair dryer.

January 25, 2005, 12:34 AM	#9
Sir William Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2004 Posts: 3,264	As presented, a CITIZEN, not a LEO opened his door to find an altercation between two other citizens. One citizen was startled and turned towards the third citizen while armed. This citizen COULD have been robbing another citizen or defending himself or even illegally been in the middle of a FTF firearm sale. We don't know from the information provided. We know three citizens were involved, two were armed and one killed the other. Even the police should call 911 and stay inside? We just don't know all the facts. The way the story reads though, a citizen shot another citizen due to fear. I would like more information. It simply comes down to one citizen shooting another citizen. Why? What crime was in progress?