4 people shot near White House in Washington DC, police hunt for suspect

Four people were shot in Washington, DC's Logan Circle neighbourhood, about a mile north of the White House, early Thursday, prompting a major police response and road closures in the area.The shootings were reported at multiple locations in the neighbourhood, police said. However, authorities had not immediately disclosed the exact locations of the incidents or provided details about the victims' conditions.Police Officer Nathan Clarke said officers were responding to multiple locations following reports of the shootings. Authorities urged residents and commuters to avoid the area around the 1500 block of 15th Street as investigations continued.Much of the block was cordoned off, with several surrounding streets closed to traffic. The area includes a VIDA Fitness centre, St Luke's Episcopal Church and residential buildings. A Whole Foods supermarket is also located around the corner. Schools near the scene were placed under lockdown as police continued their response. Residents were asked to stay away from the affected area while officers carried out their investigation.The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) said it had sent agents to the scene to assist local authorities.POLICE SEARCH FOR SUSPECT AFTER WASHINGTON SHOOTINGS Brooke Pinto, a member of the Washington DC Council, also confirmed the shootings in a post on X on Thursday morning. In a post published at 8.24 am, she said police were searching for a suspect. (Credits: X/Brooke Pinto) Authorities had not released further details about the suspect, including a description or possible motive, at the time of reporting. It was also not immediately clear whether the shootings at the multiple locations were connected.The police response involved a significant deployment of officers, while road closures and cordons remained in place around the affected block.Logan Circle is a residential and commercial neighbourhood located around one mile north of the White House. The incident prompted heightened security measures in the area, including the lockdown of nearby schools.Police had not announced any arrests or provided an update on the number of people hospitalised. Further details about the circumstances surrounding the shootings were awaited.- Ends