In a shocking incident on Wednesday afternoon, a U.S. Park Police officer was wounded and another person was injured in a shooting near the Logan Circle neighborhood in the District. The incident took place around 2:33 p.m. in front of Horizon House, an apartment complex for senior people with disabilities, located near 12th and M streets NW.

Eyewitnesses reported hearing about six to 10 rapid-fire shots, leaving the area filled with panic and chaos. A man, whose identity remains undisclosed, was seen lying on a curb with blood seeping through his jeans, while the injured Park Police officer was found on the ground with a tourniquet around his right thigh. Both victims were promptly transported to nearby hospitals, although their current conditions have not been disclosed at this time.

Residents of the normally peaceful Logan Circle neighborhood were taken aback by the sudden violence. Ella Cleveland, a 74-year-old resident in the area, expressed her shock, describing the neighborhood as safe despite the incident. She stated, "It's upsetting when something like this happens."

The Logan Circle neighborhood, known for its charming tree-lined streets, restaurants, and rowhouses, has largely remained untouched by the surge in homicides that has afflicted other parts of the District in 2023. No killings have been reported in the area where Wednesday's shooting occurred so far this year. However, there has been an increase in the number of robberies, with 15 reported since January, compared to only five in the same period last year, according to D.C. police data.

This incident marks the second time this fall that a police officer has been wounded by gunfire in the District. In October, a D.C. police officer was injured in an exchange of gunfire with a 33-year-old man, Arthur Porter, outside a Southeast apartment building. Porter was killed during the incident, and an investigation is currently underway to determine if the officer was hit by friendly fire from his partner.

The shooting near Logan Circle comes at a time when the District is grappling with a significant increase in violent crime. Police data shows a 40 percent rise in violent crime compared to the same period last year, with 249 homicides reported so far in 2023. This marks the highest number of homicides in the city since 2002 when 262 people lost their lives.

D.C. Police Chief Pamela A. Smith, who recently took office after serving over two decades with the U.S. Park Police, has inherited the daunting task of curbing the alarming rise in violent crime. As the investigations into Wednesday's shooting continue, law enforcement agencies remain focused on ensuring the safety and security of District residents.