A man who was shot and wounded by a D.C. police officer during a confrontation inside a home in Northeast Washington on Tuesday has been charged with several criminal offenses, according to police.
The man, identified as Jaron Wimbish, 25, was shot after police said he fired what was initially believed to be a firearm at an officer in the basement of the home in the first block of McDonald Place NE, in the Manor Park neighborhood. Officials said they later determined that Wimbish had a paintball gun that resembled a semiautomatic handgun.
Support our journalism. Subscribe today ArrowRight
Police said they charged Wimbish with assault on a police officer while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon. Police said he set a fire inside the home, and they also charged him with arson.
Story continues below advertisement
Wimbish, who was hospitalized after the shooting, did not make a court appearance Wednesday. It could not be determined if he has an attorney; efforts to reach his family were not successful.
Advertisement
Authorities said Wimbish has a history of mental health issues and had in the past set a fire at his home. Police said an officer shot Wimbish after a standoff at the -single-family home in Manor Park that lasted more than four hours.
Executive Assistant Police Chief Ashan Benedict said officers and counselors with the Department of Behavioral Health were on the scene Tuesday trying to defuse the situation peacefully.
D.C. police shoot man during standoff at Northeast Washington home
“Our crisis intervention officers were front and center with this individual, trying to talk him down, trying to get him to surrender, and not have this house burn or go up in flames,” Benedict told reporters.
Story continues below advertisement
Police said they were initially called to the home — on a short street between Blair Road NE and New Hampshire Avenue — shortly after noon on Tuesday for a report that a man had shot someone with a BB gun.
Advertisement
Benedict said the caller described the BB gun as black and having an orange tip, distinguishing it as a nonlethal weapon.
He said officers arrived at the home to find Wimbish standing outside with a large knife that resembled a machete. Benedict said Wimbish then took another weapon from his waistband that had no orange tip and did not resemble the BB gun that had been described earlier.
Wimbish went into the home and into the basement, police said. Tactical officers were called and went into house, to the top of the basement stairs, police said.
Story continues below advertisement
Benedict said police talked to Wimbish for several hours.
“We were going to take as long as we needed to bring this situation to a safe conclusion,” the assistant chief said.
But about 4:30 p.m., police said officers smelled smoke and, given the past issue with fire, Benedict said commanders moved to confront Wimbish.
Advertisement
He said officers went down the stairs and into the basement. When an officer turned the corner, Benedict said, Wimbish fired “what appeared to be a firearm.”
Police said that object did not resemble a typical paintball gun, which is long and has an attached canister for paintball pellets. Benedict said the pellets that were fired missed the officer but punctured drywall behind him.
Story continues below advertisement
Benedict said one officer returned fire, striking Wimbish, who police said was taken to a hospital with critical injuries. Police listed his condition as serious Wednesday.
The officer who fired was placed on routine administrative duties for the course of the investigation.
Police said the officer activated his body camera; the department has five business days to release the video and identify the officer.
D.C. officer charged with murder after deadly pursuit
U.S. prosecutors ask judge to sentence men accused of plotting ‘race war’ ahead of Va. gun rally as domestic terrorists
Va. judge rejects proposed plea deal for alleged child rapist saying 3-year sentence is too lenient